Workplace Safety Fundamentals and Emergency Response Protocols

Workplace Safety and Emergency Protocols

1. Types of Fire

• Class A (Solids): Extinguished using water.
• Class B (Liquids): Extinguished with dry powder.
• Class C (Gases): Extinguished with dry powder or versatile dust.
• Class D (Metals): Extinguished with a special powder.
• Class E (Electrical Fires): Extinguished with carbon dioxide (CO2).

3. Fire (Combustion Requirements)

To produce fire, the following elements must align: fuel, combustion (oxygen), heat, and a chain reaction (the fire tetrahedron).

Emergency Management Levels

14. Minor Emergency

An emergency that is easily controlled using the resources available within the company.

15. Partial Emergency

Requires the action of human and material resources located within the building.

16. General Emergency

Requires human and material resources both within the company and from external services (e.g., firefighters and emergency medical services). Evacuation procedures must be initiated.

Evacuation Procedures

17. Evacuation

The process where workers move away from danger. It must be executed quickly, orderly, and under control.

18. Evacuation Rules

• Never turn back or return.
• Do not use elevators.
• Disconnect electrical equipment.
• Do not stop during movement.
• If smoke is present, proceed crouching low.

Occupational Health and Environmental Factors

2. Security

Security measures aim to improve working conditions and prevent accidents and injuries.

4. Signaling

Signaling is necessary when risks cannot be eliminated or sufficiently reduced by collective or individual protective measures.

5. Noise

There are three types of noise:

• Continuous: Constant over time.
• Discontinuous: Intermittent form.
• Impact: Short-duration sound event.

6. Lighting

The typical range for workplace lighting is 25 to 5000 lux.

7. Thermal Sensation

The result of various factors, including humidity, ventilation, and air speed.

8. Temperature

Recommended temperature ranges:

• Sedentary work: Between 17°C and 27°C.
• Light physical work: Between 14°C and 25°C.

9. Physical Load

The set of physical requirements imposed upon the worker.

10. Mental Load

The intellectual requirement necessary for carrying out the tasks associated with the job.

Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace

11. Stress

Work overload and excessive workload can produce sensations of helplessness, anxiety, aggression, or frustration.

12. Burnout

Occurs when the stressful situation has exceeded the individual's capacity for reaction and their resilience has been reduced.

13. Mobbing (Psychological Harassment)

Occurs when a person is the victim of psychological harassment continually underway for an extended period of time.