WORKPLACE SPECIFICATION

• 01.01 - Workplace ventilation
  
• 01.02 - Floor, walls, ceilings, roofs
  
• 01.03 - Falls from height, dangerous zones
  
• 01.04 - Docks and handling-loading platforms
  
• 01.05 - Free space, suitable air volume
  
  

Discription of chapter

In this chapter, the minimum specifications of a workplace are described according to the EU Directive 89/654. This chapter aims at the familiarization of those who are engaged in Occupational Health and Safety with the minimum specifications in a work place and especially in Metal Processing workshops, resulting in better workplace construction.

Workplace ventilation

In metal processing workshops there should be adequate fresh air volume, having taken in mind the kind of the work (especially in the workplaces where welding is taking place) and the physical effort employee is putting.

Air quality should be secured in base of hygiene.In case that air renewal is being achieved through mechanical way (air conditioning), they should work continuously, being kept in well situation and every trouble must be specified.

Employees must avoid air streams produced by the ventilation system and should make sure that that improper air can be extracted from low height to a safe place in the open air away from people, sources of ignition and nearby buildings and equipment.

Exposure to fumes involves health risks for the employees especially fumes from welding, chemical fumes, spray painting fumes and chape fumes.

Floor, walls, ceilings, roofs

Floors should be stable, without dangerous slopes and adequately resistant. They should also have a drain, be resistant against corrosive chemicals and fire and should also have adequate vibration absorbing capacity.

The covers of any sort of floor openings should be safely established. If they are temporarily removed, proper labelling should be placed, to prevent slips and trips of employees. Any disorders (e.g. broken drains) in the floor must be immediately repaired.

Walls surface must be easily cleaned, plain-faced and liquid-proof (against metal liquids, cleaning chemicals, etc.), at least 1,5 meters from the floor. Any glass walls should be indicated and labelled clearly and be made of safe materials. In workshops where flames are used (e.g. welding), walls should be fire-resistant. Ceilings must be easy for cleaning and maintenance.

Roofs must be easy accessed. Suspension of weights from ceiling should only take place after an expert’s permission.

Fall from height, dangerous zones

Working surfaces, corridors, loading bays, platforms and any other level placed above 0.75 metres should have a protective screen of 1.00 at least, either of compact structure or a fence with handrail, baseboard of 0.15 metres and a middle horizontal bar (M03.01.10). Anywhere there is case of fall, protective measures should be taken. Dangerous zones have to be identified.

Docks and handling-loading platforms

Docks and loading platforms should be of proper size with a minimum width of 0.80 m. If is possible they should also have a rain screen and at least one exit along their frontage (if their length is above 20 metres two exits, one for each side). These exits should be stable. In certain cases where the level of the dock is higher than 0.75 metres, there should be a protective arrangement (though not a compact wall or fence). This kind of arrangements (portable fences) should be placed also near loading platforms in such way that would serve the easy handling of bulks. They may be convertible and easily basifugal.

Free space, suitable air volume

All workplaces should have adequate surface, size, height and air volume that will permit employees to do their job without danger. The size of the workplace should fill all requirements. They should provide safety both for normal everyday tasks, maintenance, fixing or installation of equipment. In all cases, the size of the workplace must allow employees to move through bulky equipment or materials that would be present.