Engineering Technologies

Level 3

Mike Tooley

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781317199861
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Engineering Technologies covers the mandatory units for the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Technology:

• Each compulsory unit is covered in detail with activities, case studies and self-test questions where relevant.
• Review questions are provided at the end of each chapter and a sample multiple-choice examination is included at the end of the book.
• The book has been written to ensure that it covers what learners need to know.
• Answers to selected questions in the book, together with a wealth of supporting resources, can be found on the book's companion website. Numerical answers are provided in the book itself.

Written specifically for the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Technology, this book covers the two mandatory units: Engineering and Environmental Health and Safety, and Engineering Organizational Efficiency and Improvement. Within each unit, the learning outcomes are covered in detail and the book includes activities and 'Test your knowledge' sections to check your understanding. At the end of each chapter is a checklist to make sure you have achieved each objective before you move on to the next section. At www.key2engtech.com, you can download answers to selected questions found within the book, as well as reference material and resources.

This book is a 'must-have' for all learners studying for their EAL Level 3 Diploma award in Engineering and Technology.

UNIT 1
Engineering and environmental health and safety

CHAPTER 1
Health and safety: roles and responsibilities

Learning outcomes

When you have completed this chapter you should understand the requirements of an engineering organization in meeting health and safety legislation and regulations, including being able to:

1.1 Recognize the roles of key people involved in workplace health and safety.

1.2 Recognize the roles of organizations involved in workplace health and safety.

1.3 State the key duties of the employee in conforming with health and safety requirements.

1.4 State the key duties of an employer in the management of health and safety.

1.5 Recognize the content and application of key health and safety legislation.

Chapter summary

The ability to work safely in an engineering environment is essential not only for your own comfort and safety but also for the safety of those around you. This chapter will introduce you to the legislation and safety regulations that govern working practices in engineering. As you work through the chapter you will find a number of hands-on activities that will help you appreciate some of the potential hazards that exist in the workplace and the ways in which they can be minimized. Importantly, each of these activities will take you out of the classroom, preparing you for work in a real engineering environment.

Learning outcome 1.1

Recognize the roles of key people involved in workplace health and safety

Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that the workplace is a safe and healthy place. However, some people have specialist roles and key responsibilities that you need to be aware of. Of particular importance are:

• Inspectors appointed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

• Designated Safety Officers

• Health and Safety Representatives

• Environmental Health Officers.

All of these people have key roles in ensuring that the working environment is safe and they all have specific responsibilities coupled with knowledge and experience to make them effective in their roles. We will briefly look at each of the roles.

Health and Safety Executive Inspectors

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors conduct visits to engineering companies (and other businesses) to ensure that they comply with all aspects of health and safety laws and that workplaces are not the cause of ill health, injury or even death. HSE Inspectors will advise employers and investigate accidents, ensuring that the law is applied and, where necessary, enforced.

In particular, HSE Inspectors will be looking for evidence that a company has carried out an assessment of the risks associated with its activities. We will be looking at risk assessment later on but for now you just need to be aware that the key elements associated with an engineering activity or process are to ensure that:

• all hazards and risks are clearly identified

• an evaluation is carried out and any gaps are identified

• relevant workers are involved in the process of identification and evaluation

• effective solutions are developed in order to avoid hazards and minimize risks.

Key point

HSE Inspectors conduct visits to engineering companies (and other businesses) to ensure that they comply with all aspects of relevant health and safety legislation.

Designated Safety Officers

Designated Safety Officers liaise with employers, employees, directors and trade unions using their skills, knowledge and experience to promote a positive health and safety culture in the workplace. Because of their unique position they have a first-line role in ensuring that employers and workers comply with relevant safety legislation and that safety policies and practices are effective within the organization. Their roles and responsibilities may vary depending on the type and scope of the organization but in an engineering company they often include:

• carrying out risk assessments and considering how risks could be reduced

• outlining safe operational procedures which identify and take account of all relevant hazards

• carrying out regular site inspections, checking that policies and procedures are being properly implemented

• making changes to working practices, ensuring that they are safe and comply with relevant legislation

• preparing health and safety strategies and developing internal policy

• leading in-house training with managers and employees about health and safety issues and risks

• keeping records of inspection findings and producing reports (including suggestions for improvement)

• recording of incidents and accidents and producing statistics for managers

• keeping up to date with new legislation and maintaining a working knowledge of all Health and Safety Executive (HSE) legislation and any developments that affect the employer’s industry

• attending Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) seminars and reading professional journals

• producing management reports, newsletters and bulletins

• ensuring the safe installation of equipment

• managing and organizing the safe disposal of hazardous substances, e.g. asbestos

• advising on a range of specialist areas, e.g. fire regulations, hazardous substances, noise, safeguarding machinery and occupational diseases.

Key point

Safety Officers promote a positive health and safety culture in the workplace, carrying out risk assessments and ensuring that operational practices and procedures take into account potential hazards.

Health and Safety Representatives

Depending upon t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Unit 1 Engineering and environmental health and safety
• Unit 2 Engineering organizational efficiency and improvement
• Appendix 1: Sample assessment
• Appendix 2: Abbreviations
• Appendix 3: Using the Casio fx-83 calculator
• Appendix 4: Useful websites
• Index