Occupational Safety Definitions and Workplace Risk Management Protocols

Key Definitions in Occupational Safety

Prevention of Occupational Hazards

A set of activities or actions taken or planned at all stages of the company's activity in order to prevent or lessen a worker suffering a disease condition or injury by reason or occasion of work.

Occupational Risk (Labor Risk)

The probability that a worker suffers an injury from work.

Risk

The probability that damage occurs and the severity of this, valued together.

Damage

Physical pathological disease or injury caused at work.

Prevention

A set of activities taken in all phases of company activity to avoid or reduce risks associated with work.

Protection

A set of activities and measures taken to reduce or eliminate the damage caused as a result of the accident. Protection measures are classified as collective and individual.

Protective Measures

These are intended to reduce or eliminate the damage caused as a result of an accident.

Classification of Occupational Risk Factors

• Security Requirements

  • Workplace safety
  • Machinery and equipment safety

• Environmental Conditions (Contamination)

  • Physical contamination
  • Chemical contamination
  • Biological contamination

• Workload

  • Physical load
  • Mental load

• Labor Organization

  • Work shifts
  • Repetitive work

Types of Occupational Risks

General Risks

These are common to different sectors or branches of production:

• Entrapment
• Cuts and amputations
• Physical workload
• Fire and explosion
• Poor organization of work

Specific Risks in Electrical Installations

These risks are related to electrical contacts:

• Direct Contacts
• Indirect Contacts
• Direct and Indirect Contacts

Definitions of Electrical Contacts

Direct Contacts

The contact of a body part with a live electrical conductor or part of the installation that is normally energized.

Indirect Contacts

The contact of a body part with an exposed conductive part that accidentally becomes energized due to an insulation fault.

Classification of Protective Measures

Collective Protection Measures

Implementing safety measures to protect the working environment for all workers exposed to the risk.

• Railings
• Differential switches (RCDs)
• Safety nets
• Signage
• Machine protection elements
• General ventilation

Personal Protection Measures (PPE)

Aims to protect workers against external hazards encountered while performing a task.

• Helmet
• Face shield
• Impact and non-actinic goggles
• Protective gloves
• Safety shoes
• Hand tools (e.g., insulated tools)

Environmental Management and Tools in Indoor Facilities

Materials Requiring Management in Indoor Facilities

General environmental considerations include managing the following materials and hazards:

• Paper and paperboard
• Debris
• Plastics
• Cables
• Lighting fixtures (Receivers)
• Fuses
• Cells and batteries
• Other hazards: Noise, smoke, dust, and gases

Tools and Procedures for Indoor Electrical Installations

The following tools and steps are used, particularly for new facilities:

Installation Procedures

1. Layout of the installation and placement of conduits and boxes.
2. Wiring and connections.
3. Placement and connection of mechanisms.

Essential Tools

• Tracer string
• Tape measure
• Grommets and cable guides
• Screwdrivers
• Pliers (various types):
  • Standard pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • Flat-nose pliers
  • Round-nose pliers
  • Multi-wire strippers and riveting tools
• Electrician's scissors
• Electrician's knife