Development Of Single Chip Machine Vision Technology For Hazard Detection

My current place of work provides policies and procedures about the use of protective equipment and how/when you must use them as PPE is essential when working within hazardous activities such as disposing of hazardous waste, preparing/handling meals, cleaning etc.

The right to a safe and healthy workplace is one of the legal guarantees that employees in the United States have under workplace rights. Furthermore, Health and safety is one of the most important aspects in the internal environment for an organization. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an organization within the U.S. Department of Labor that created what is known as the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The mission of OSHA and its act is to prevent work related injuries, illness, and death by setting rules, regulations, and standards for workplace health and safety. Since the establishment of OSHA and its Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, workplace fatalities have been cut by forty percent, and occupational injury and illness rates have been cut by sixty percent, proving their success in improving worker safety and health (1). OSHA has been able to accomplish this by implementing training programs for the employees within many different companies, but especially for those in construction and hard labor. They create these programs because they know that some working sites are more dangerous than others. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that those in the construction industries have a “4.6 in 100 chance of being injured on or getting sick from their jobs”

All employees of Robinson’s Excavation are valued members of the organization which is why safety must always come first. The construction industry is traditionally a hazardous work environment, but with vigilance, dedication, and training, the dangers can be significantly reduced. In order to provide the employees of Robinson’s Excavation with a safe work environment, all employees, regardless of status, are required to follow and enforce all safety procedures, which are not all inclusive. Additionally, the following protocol is in compliance with all state and federal OHSA regulations.

Canada’s roads and parking lots are some of the busiest in the world. They also make up for some of the most unsafe work areas. In terms of overall occupational safety, current national figures show casualties and injuries are at their highest level. A good number of these safety problems are caused by workers being struck by oncoming vehicles, or them being injured by machinery and equipment or failure by the professionals to put on protective gear while at the work

Construction involves being really high off the ground, foundation trench collapses and equipment malfunctions. From building little house to building towers and skyscrapers takes hard work form hundreds of construction workers. Construction workers make sure everything will turn out perfect and try to avoid any complications by following the building plans. In the year 2016 a little more than 5,190 workers were killed on the job of construction. A estimate of ninety nine on average a week and more than fourteen deaths a day occurred on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also known as “OSHA” is a small Federal agency, that is responsible for the health and safety of employees lifes. For over four decades OSHA has come together with many organization to find different ways to have a more safe environment for workers, not only in construction but other careers that are just as dangerous. Construction involves so many tiny things that cause injury to many workers. Especially when dealing with electricity. Electricity in in the top eight percent for deaths in the United States. The highest percentage in construction is falls with thirty eight percent give or take. When individuals choose the career of construction they need to be aware of the risk that they will be experiencing; From falling objects,

Construction industry is known as one of the utmost hazardous activites (Hassan, 2007). In Malaysia, construction of skyscrapers and infrastructure had rapidly constructed due to the rapid influx of human workforce into the construction sites. (Omran, 2010). The increase in mega projects in Malaysia lead to more participation of the human workforce for the past few decades. (Omran, 2010). Hence, the influx of high participants had led to a high fatality rate in construction sites. (Omran, 2010). Health and safety awareness in construction industry is critical nowadays. The construction industry injury statistics reveal that the number of construction workers are injured and killed each year (Hinze, 2013). Besides that, the construction industry also characterized as one with a poor safety culture globally (Omran, 2010). Therefore, health and safety awareness level on construction sites have to improve in order to minimize the fatality rate in the construction industry.

According to a poll taken by Time Magazine (2016), construction workers have the twelfth uppermost dangerous jobs in America. (Johnson, 2016). Construction workers come to their job, with the assumption that they are safe and can perform their job with ease. They do not anticipate getting hurt on the job, but often are subject to injuries or even fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health act states that employees have the right to a safe work environment, and must ensure that safety measures are provided for these employees. (OSHA.gov, 2016).

There are few codes, by-laws, rules, regulations, standard or specific requirement to comply with the issue that related to the problem above is Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994). According to Section 15(2) in OSH Act, employer has to provide and maintain safe plant and safe system of work. A safe work environment must include regular provision and maintenance of the plant and systems of work that are safe and without health risk and safe access of worksite which is needed to guarantee by employer. Employer also obligates to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to every worker before start a new project. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) must be provided for every employees and ensure compliance

OSHA'S decision to issue new construction standards (1926.501) demonstrates an application of safety procedure through design. This new standard is aimed at saving or safeguarding the lives of workers working on residential construction sites. It aims at protecting the lives of those employees who are working at a height level beyond six feet from falling. Under this standard, the enforcers of the regulations expect all construction employers to adhere to three crucial steps to prevent falls. These steps include planning, providing, and training. Full compliance to these procedures will not only be in compliance with the OSHA safety procedures but will also keep the workers safe from injuries and even death (Bahr and Stallcup, 2003).

OSHA has started a Fall Campaign which is teaching ways to prevent falling and any other fatalities that may occur on the job site. They have a 3 step process, plan, provide and train. Plan ahead to accomplish the job safely, especially when working on scaffolding or working on any height. Provide the right equipment, less fatalities may occur if toting and using the right tools. Train everyone to use equipment safely and to stay aware of surroundings. These steps should help to prevent injuries and fatalities.

promote an improvement in workplace relations in the Australian building and construction industry. This may include taking court action to enforce laws. The main role of Australian trade unions is to resolve workplace issues by acting on an employee’s behalf as well assisting in bargaining negotiations for employees (Nicholson, Pekarek & Gahan, 2017, p. 309). The role of employers is to provide a safe workplace that is free from industrial hazards and is not injurious to health. Employers should also allow employees to join a union. The role of all employees is to report any incidents that indicate violations to their health. They also have the right to refuse to work where there are reasonable grounds to believe that there will be a risk of serious injury or harm to their health (Sheldon & Thornthwaite, 2015, p. 385). The outcome employees are clearly focused on is having a safe and injury-free experience in their workplace.

The construction sector is labelled as quite dangerous industry globally. According to the UK’s statistical record, the UK Construction Industry encompasses a place of being the most Hazardous industry even after the remarkable improvements made during the last decade. The reason due to which the construction industry is remarked as hazardous is due to its poor safety measures and catastrophic events that occurred throughout the history. Statistics from the HSE (Health & Safety Executive UK) showed that in the year 2009-2010 there were 42 accidents that proved fatal to the workers, making the UK construction sector approximately five times more vulnerable to the construction site hazards (Whitelaw, 2001, pp.22-24).

Lots of safety procedures have been put in place in the workshop and in the work place but there are still some hazards that can remain such as:

Falls are the largest cause of accidental death in the construction industry. They account for 50% of all fatalities. (There is no distinction between low and high falls). For any working at height, precautions are required to prevent or minimise the risk of injury from a fall.

A machine shop environment: activities that are undertaken in a machine shop environment can be things such as but not limited to milling, drilling, the use of lathes and the use of heavy duty machinery and due to such an accident and injury prone environment the PPE at work regulation 1992 is applicable. This regulation states that the employers are required to ensure that suitable PPE is used by the employees as well as keeping the PPE free of charge within the company. The PPE must be applicable for the activity at hand and the risks that may come along with it. The PPE must include equipment’s such as safety helmets, goggles as well as protective face masks. It must also be providing equipment such as air filters, overalls safety boots and gloves as well as ear defenders. It is also the employers’ job to provide competent training to their staff and provide the instructions on the use of the equipment.