Basic 7 · Career Technology · Personal
Workshop Accidents and Safety
In this topic you will describe the accidents that happen in workshops, sites and laboratories, explain their causes, and explain how to keep these places safe.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what an accident is and identify types of workshop accidents
- State the causes of accidents in workshops, sites and laboratories
- Describe safety measures and personal protective equipment
What you already know
- Healthy living and hygiene practices
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Health and Safety
- Sub-strand
- Personal
- Indicator
- B7.1.2.1.1 – Describe accidents in the workshop/site/laboratory
Introduction
A carpenter's workshop, a building site and a science laboratory are places full of sharp tools, heavy materials, chemicals and electricity. Without care, a simple task can end in injury.
1. What Is an Accident?
Accident: An unexpected and unplanned event that causes injury, damage or loss.
Accidents in workshops, sites and laboratories are injuries that occur suddenly while people are working. Most of them can be prevented if people follow safety rules and use tools correctly.
2. Types of Workshop Accidents
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| cuts | from knives, saws, chisels, broken glass |
| burns and scalds | from hot metal, flames, boiling water, chemicals |
| falls | slipping on oil or water, falling from a ladder or scaffold |
| electric shock | touching faulty wires or wet sockets |
| bruises and fractures | hit by falling objects or heavy materials |
| eye injuries | flying wood chips, metal filings, chemical splashes |
| poisoning | inhaling fumes or swallowing chemicals |
3. Causes of Accidents
| Cause | Example |
|---|---|
| carelessness | playing or running in the workshop |
| wrong use of tools | using a chisel as a screwdriver |
| faulty tools and machines | a hammer with a loose head |
| untidy workplace | tools and offcuts left on the floor |
| not wearing protective equipment | grinding metal without goggles |
| poor lighting and ventilation | working in a dark or smoky room |
| tiredness and lack of training | using a machine without instruction |
4. First Aid for Minor Injuries
First aid is the immediate help given to an injured person before professional treatment. For a small cut, wash it with clean water, press with a clean cloth to stop bleeding and cover it with a plaster. For a minor burn, cool it under running water for at least ten minutes; do not apply oil, toothpaste or ice. Every workshop should have a stocked first aid box. Report all injuries to the teacher.
5. Reporting and Recording Accidents
Every accident, even a small one, should be reported to the teacher or workshop supervisor at once. The details are written in an accident book: the date and time, the name of the injured person, what happened, the injury and the first aid given. Recording accidents helps the school find dangerous places and practices, so they can be corrected before someone else is hurt.
New words
- accident
- An unplanned event that causes injury or damage.
- hazard
- Anything that can cause harm.
- first aid
- Immediate help given to an injured person.
- scald
- A burn caused by hot liquid or steam.
Summary
- Accidents are unexpected events that cause injury or damage.
- Common workshop accidents include cuts, burns, falls, shocks and eye injuries.
- Most accidents are caused by carelessness, faulty tools, untidiness and lack of protection.
Class activity: Hazard Hunt
- Study a picture of an untidy workshop.
- Circle every hazard you can find and name the accident it could cause.
- Suggest a safety rule to prevent each one.
You need: Safety goggles, Work gloves, Dust mask
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A burn caused by hot liquid is a…
- A. scald
- B. fracture
- C. bruise
- D. shock
Show answer
Answer: scaldFrom boiling water or steam.2. Using a chisel as a screwdriver is an example of…
- A. wrong use of tools
- B. good practice
- C. first aid
- D. ventilation
Show answer
Answer: wrong use of toolsTools must be used correctly.3. Oil should be applied to a fresh burn.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseCool it under running water.4. Anything that can cause harm is called a ______.
Show answer
Answer: hazardA source of danger.5. Name four types of accidents that can occur in a workshop.
Show answer
Answer: Cuts, burns, falls, electric shock (or eye injuries, fractures).Any four.6. Explain how an untidy workshop can cause accidents.
Show answer
Answer: Tools and materials on the floor can cause trips and falls, and sharp items can cause cuts.Untidiness creates hazards.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Health and Safety
- Sub-strand
- Workshop and Food Laboratory Safety
- Indicator
- B7.1.2.1.2 – Explain the need for keeping the workshop/site and the laboratory safe
Introduction
Safety is everyone's responsibility. When everyone follows the rules, wears protective equipment and keeps the workplace tidy, the workshop becomes a safe place to learn and work.
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
| PPE | Protects |
|---|---|
| safety goggles | eyes from chips, sparks and splashes |
| work gloves | hands from cuts, burns and chemicals |
| dust mask or respirator | lungs from dust and fumes |
| apron or overall | body and clothes |
| safety boots | feet from falling objects and nails |
| helmet (hard hat) | head on building sites |
| ear defenders | ears from loud machines |
2. General Safety Rules
- Listen to instructions and never use a tool or machine you have not been taught to use.
- Wear the correct PPE for each task.
- Do not run, push or play in the workshop.
- Keep the floor clean and dry; clean up spills immediately.
- Carry sharp tools pointing downward.
- Report broken tools and faulty wiring at once.
- Return tools to their proper places after use.
- Know where the first aid box and fire extinguisher are.
3. Safety Signs
| Colour and shape | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| red circle with a line | prohibition (do not) | No smoking |
| blue circle | mandatory (you must) | Wear goggles |
| yellow triangle | warning (danger) | High voltage |
| green rectangle | safe condition | First aid, emergency exit |
4. Keeping Tools and Equipment Safe
Tools last longer and are safer when they are well cared for. Clean them after use, oil metal parts to prevent rust, keep cutting edges sharp and covered, and store them in racks or cupboards. In the laboratory, label all chemicals, keep lids tightly closed and store them away from heat.
Common mistake: A blunt tool is more dangerous than a sharp one, because you push harder and it slips more easily.
5. Fire Safety
Fires can start in workshops from electrical faults, sparks, hot tools or flammable liquids such as petrol and paint thinner. Keep flammable materials in labelled, closed containers away from heat. Switch off machines and unplug them after use. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket, and know the escape routes. If a fire starts, raise the alarm, leave the room calmly and call the fire service on 192.
New words
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment worn to protect the body.
- prohibition sign
- A sign that tells you not to do something.
- mandatory sign
- A sign that tells you what you must do.
- ventilation
- The flow of fresh air through a room.
Summary
- PPE such as goggles, gloves, masks and boots protects the body.
- Safety rules and safety signs guide safe behaviour.
- Clean, oil and store tools properly to keep them safe.
Class activity: Safety Sign Poster
- Wear goggles, gloves and a dust mask correctly and explain what each protects.
- Design four safety signs for your school workshop or laboratory using the correct colours.
- Display them and explain their meanings.
You need: Safety goggles, Work gloves, Dust mask
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which PPE protects the eyes?
- A. Safety goggles
- B. Gloves
- C. Boots
- D. Apron
Show answer
Answer: Safety gogglesEye protection.2. A blue circular sign means…
- A. you must do something
- B. danger
- C. do not
- D. safe condition
Show answer
Answer: you must do somethingMandatory.3. A blunt tool is safer than a sharp one.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt slips more easily.4. The flow of fresh air through a room is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: ventilationFresh air.5. State four safety rules for working in a workshop.
Show answer
Answer: Wear PPE, do not run, keep the floor clean, report faulty tools.Any four.6. Explain why tools should be returned to their proper places after use.
Show answer
Answer: It keeps the workshop tidy, prevents trips and cuts, and makes tools easy to find next time.Tidiness and safety.
Homework
- Draw five safety signs and write the meaning of each.