Workplace Safety and Risk Prevention Essentials

Workplace Risk Prevention Fundamentals

Prevention: A set of activities or measures designed to eliminate or minimize risk.

Preventive Techniques

Methods used to eliminate or minimize workplace risks, including:

• Job Security Analysis
• Occupational or Industrial Hygiene
• Psychosociology and Ergonomics
• Occupational Medicine

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Equipment worn by workers to minimize exposure to hazards.

Safety Signal Types

• Yellow: Warning
• Round Red: Prohibition
• Round Blue: Obligation
• Red (Specific Shape): Fire Equipment
• Green: Rescue or Emergency Escape/First-Aid

Industrial Hygiene Focus Areas

• Chemical Agents
• Physical Agents (e.g., noise, radiation)
• Biological Agents

Prevention must be implemented collaboratively and promoted at all organizational levels.

Risk Prevention Process for Health Improvement

A structured approach involving these steps:

1. Plan
2. Organize
3. Execute
4. Control

Prevention Service Structures by Company Size

Situation 1: Fewer than 6 Workers

• Employer assumes prevention tasks or designates a worker.
• Option to hire an external prevention service.

Situation 2: 6 to 250/500 Workers (depending on activity/risk)

• Designated workers acting as a prevention service.
• Utilizing a mutual insurance company's prevention service.
• Hiring an external prevention service (SPA - Servicio de Prevención Ajeno).

Situation 3: Over 500 Workers (or 250+ in specific sectors)

• Establish an in-house prevention service (SPP - Servicio de Prevención Propio).
• Utilize an external prevention service (SPA - Servicio de Prevención Ajeno).

Companies with an SPP (in-house service) are subject to a mandatory prevention system audit.

Collective Prevention Equipment Examples

• Surge Protection
• Grounding Systems
• Machine Safety Devices/Guards

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Examples

• Helmet
• Gloves
• Safety Boots

Functions of Prevention Delegates

• Collaborate with management on prevention matters.
• Promote and encourage worker training in safety.
• Be consulted regarding prevention planning and changes.
• Monitor and control prevention measures.

Classification of Chemical Hazards

Chemicals can be classified based on risks such as: Explosive, Oxidizing, Extremely Flammable, Flammable, Highly Toxic, Toxic, Harmful, Corrosive, Irritant, Sensitizing, Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Toxic to Reproduction, and Dangerous for the Environment.

Noise Exposure Limits

• Daily Exposure Limit Value (8 hours): 87 dB(A)
• Peak Exposure Limit Value: 140 dB(C)

Psychosocial Factors

Job Satisfaction

The result of an individual's perception regarding the degree to which their work meets their personal needs.

Stress

An imbalance between the demands of a task and the worker's capacity to respond to these work demands.

Mobbing (Workplace Bullying)

A set of negative behaviors occurring systematically within the company over a certain frequency and duration, directed towards one or more individuals.