DQM Basic Units
Occupational Safety and Health Skills cheat sheet
Every chapter's key points, formulas and definitions on one page, for the last week before the exam. Each heading links to the chapter that explains it.
Workplace hazards and risks
- A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm; a risk is the likelihood that the hazard actually causes harm, combined with the severity if it does.
- Workplace hazards fall into five categories: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 is Kenya's primary OSH statute: employers must ensure the safety, health and welfare of everyone at work, register workplaces with DOSHS and report specified accidents and dangerous occurrences. The Work Injury Benefits Act separately covers compensation.
- Occupational Safety and Health Standards are the specific technical requirements that give practical effect to the legal duties, and the yardstick an inspection or audit is measured against.
- Hazardous materials are segregated, kept in labelled sealed containers in a ventilated area with spill containment; hazardous waste is classified, collected by licensed handlers, treated and recorded; PPE is chosen for the specific hazard.
Key terms
- Hazard
- Anything with the potential to cause harm, a chemical, a machine, a poor procedure.
- Risk
- The likelihood that a hazard will actually cause harm, combined with the severity if it does.
- Physical hazards
- Noise, vibration, extreme temperature, radiation.
- Chemical hazards
- Toxic, corrosive or flammable substances.
- Biological hazards
- Bacteria, viruses and other organisms encountered at work.
- Ergonomic hazards
- Poor posture, repetitive strain, badly designed workstations.
- Psychosocial hazards
- Work-related stress, harassment, and excessive workload.
- Head protection
- Helmets, against falling or moving objects.
- Eye and face protection
- Goggles or face shields, against splashes, dust or radiation.
- Respiratory protection
- Masks or respirators, against dust, fumes or gases.
- Hand protection
- Gloves selected for the specific chemical or mechanical hazard present.
- Foot protection
- Safety boots, against impact, puncture or chemical exposure.
- Hearing protection
- Earplugs or earmuffs, in high-noise areas.
The rest of the sheet covers
- Controlling hazards
- OSH programmes
- Exam technique and revision
- Glossary