Introduction to Health and Safety

Award/Certificate/DiplomaLevel 1Subject TitleJanuary 2010XXXXxxDraft 2

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Unit X:Introduction to Health and Safety

Unit code:Y/502/1763

QCF level:Entry 3

Credit value:6

Unit aim

This unit aims to introduce learners to health and safety in the workplace, including potential hazards and risks, common basic safety signs, safe practices and protective equipment.

Unit introduction

Motor vehicle maintenance and repair is, by its nature, a hazardous occupation. Rates of dermatitis and skin disease among technicians in the UK motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector are up to seven times the average for UK workers. Those working in the sector are in daily contact with chemicals and flammable materials, electrical devices, heavy lifting equipment and moving vehicles. Slips and falls (for example into an inspection pit) are a common risk. There is also a real risk of potentially fatal accidents from working beneath incorrectly or inadequately secured vehicles. Safe working practices are therefore essential.

This unit will help learners to understand the importance of health, safety and welfare in the workplace and to identify common hazards, risks and safety signs in a workshop. The unit builds learner knowledge of health and safety practices and procedures that will underpin and enhance the specific motor vehicle safety practices and processes contained in the associated Entry 3 units, H/502/1765: Planning and Organising for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Tasks and K/502/1766: Carrying Out Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Operations.

On completion of this unit, learners will understand the legal responsibilities surrounding health and safety and demonstrate an awareness of safe working practices in a motor vehicle workshop.

This unit is intended for learners considering a career in the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector – a rapidly advancing technological sector and growth employer. The unit is suitable for learners with little or no prior experience of the motor vehicle industry and for those learners not yet ready for level 1 or GCSE studies.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard required to achieve the unit.

On completion of this unit a learner should:

Learning outcomes / Assessment criteria
1Understand the importance of health, safety and welfare in the workplace / 1.1Explain why health and safety in the workplace is important
1.2Identify the responsibilities of employers and employees in relation to health and safety
2Know potential hazards and risks in the workplace / 2.1Identify hazardous materials and non-hazardous materials
2.2Name common hazards in the workplace and offer a description of how such hazards may be caused
2.3Determine whether common access equipment is secure or not (steps, ladders, ramps and simple non-hydraulic/non-powered platforms)
3Know common basic safety signs found in the workplace / 3.1Identify the different basic safety signs and recognise the hazards they indicate
4Demonstrate an awareness of safe practices and protective equipment / 4.1Recognise common firefighting equipment
4.2Recognise items of personal protective equipment
4.3Describe some of the precautions to be observed when using non-powered equipment that might be hazardous
4.4Identify where first aid equipment is usually located in the workplace
4.5Outline fire and emergency procedures
4.6Outline why it is important to report accidents, ill health and other incidents

Unit content

1Understand the importance of health, safety and welfare in the workplace

Importance: importance of accident prevention and reducing risk eg maintaining a clean and uncluttered workplace; identifying and anticipating risk; risk of fatal hazards eg poorly maintained lifting equipment; risk of skin disease/dermatitis from handling chemicals; risk of falls, trips and slipping hazards; importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) eg slip-resistant footwear, steelcapped boots, eye protection, disposable gloves; risk from faulty or poorly maintained equipment eg unguarded drive belts on compressors; safe disposal of waste materials and components (fluids, filters, batteries, tyres)

Responsibilities of employers and employees: legal responsibilities eg Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

2Know potential hazards and risks in the workplace

Risks and hazards: chemical risks and fire hazards eg handling and storing flammable materials; risk of skin disease/dermatitis, identification of materials hazardous to skin eg body fillers, sealants, oils, solvents, fuels; risk in lifting of vehicles eg use of jacks, chocks, props, axle stands, lifting equipment; electrical hazards eg safe handling of batteries, ECUs, minimising risks by using low voltage tools where possible and avoiding trailing leads, importance of earthing equipment eg pressure washers; risk from tools and equipment eg safe use of basic engineering tools and hand tools, importance of cleaning and maintaining tools; securing common access equipment eg steps, ladders, ramps, lifting equipment

3Know common basic safety signs found in the workplace

Basic safety signs: meaning of colour and shape of safety signage; recognising basic (red) prohibitory signs eg no smoking; recognising basic (yellow) warning/danger signs eg toxic material; recognising basic (blue) mandatory signs eg eye protection must be worn; recognising basic chemical hazard signs (orange) eg highly flammable; recognising fire safety signs

4Demonstrate an awareness of safe practices and protective equipment

Safe practices: precautions when using non-powered equipment that might be hazardous; location of first aid equipment; emergency procedures eg evacuation and securing an accident site; accident and incident reporting and its importance; safety checks and maintenance of equipment; good practice in using equipment; importance of hygiene, ventilation and effective use of space in a workshop

Fire extinguishers: recognising types (and colours) of fire extinguisher eg water (red band), foam (cream band), dry powder (blue band), CO2(black band), wet chemical (yellow band); recognising applications of fire extinguisher types eg combustible material fires, flammable liquids fires, electrical fires

Protective equipment: use of personal protective equipment (PPE) eg overalls, eye protection, foot protection, disposable gloves; equipment to prevent chemical contamination

Essential guidance for tutors

Delivery

Given the paramount importance of health and safety within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector, it is essential that a thorough knowledge check is applied during delivery of this unit to ensure that all learners have a full understanding of the unit content.

It is recommended that the unit is delivered and assessed before delivery of the accompanying practical and workshop-based units within this qualification. This will ensure that learners are able to demonstrate an awareness of safety issues and safe working practices before any hands-on assessments are conducted in a vehicle workshop. This is particularly important as Entry 3 learners may have had little or no exposure to a motor vehicle workshop prior to this programme. Furthermore, all necessary safety and risk assessments must be carried out before learners enter the workshop.

Delivery of this unit should stress the primary importance of health and safety as fundamental to good practice within the motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector, which is, by its nature, hazardous. Delivery should focus on developing a sound understanding of the importance of the role of health and safety in minimising and eliminating risks to customers, colleagues and oneself.

While it is possible to deliver this unit within a classroom environment, it is highly desirable, and strongly advised, to include practical demonstrations in a well-equipped and relevant workshop setting. Ideally, learners should have access to personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, equipment, materials and components under close supervision to reinforce principles and concepts through practical investigation, active participation and tutor-led demonstration.

The four learning outcomes in this unit are sequenced logically and it would be a reasonable approach to introduce them in the order listed. In this way, learners will begin by gaining a solid understanding of the importance of the concepts and principles underpinning health and safety practice and legislation before progressing towards demonstrating a sound practical awareness of safe working processes and procedures.

Outline learning plan

The outline learning plan has been included in this unit as guidance.

Topic and suggested assignments/activities
Understand the importance of health, safety and welfare in the workplace
Whole-class teaching
Describe methods of reducing risk to employees, customers and others in a motor vehicle workshop. Describe health and safety issues and requirements in a motor vehicle workshop. Describe safe handling of hazardous and waste materials. Introduce and demonstrate use of PPE. Distribution of PPE identification sheets and checklists. Tutor-led, whole-class discussion. Tour of motor vehicle workshop.
Individual learner activities
Investigation into health and safety issues relevant to a motor vehicle workshop using the internet and other sources. Learners may produce a handout (or report) on health and safety in a motor vehicle workshop and a handout (or report) on PPE and its uses. Learners may give a group (or individual) presentation to their peers on these topics.
Know potential hazards and risks in the workplace
Whole-class teaching
Tutor-led tour of a motor vehicle workshop to identify potential risks and hazards. Identification of fire hazards and explanation of the different types of fire and fire extinguisher. Explanation of the consequences of selecting the incorrect type of fire extinguisher. Identification of chemical risks and hazardous materials. Demonstration of safe use, storage, cleaning and maintenance of tools and equipment. Oral questioning of learners.
Individual learner activities
Learners produce reports (or handouts) on risks/hazards in a motor vehicle workshop, use of PPE, fires and fire extinguishers. Learners produce a plan of a workshop identifying risks and hazards – this may be set as a group activity.
Know common basic safety signs found in the workplace
Whole-class teaching
Video/film/presentation on this topic. Examples of safety signs shown (or identification sheets distributed) to learners. Presentations by HSE personnel and/or experienced industry-based health and safety professionals would be advantageous.
Individual learner activities
Peer-led testing/questioning on signage using examples of signs or identification sheets. Learner presentations (group or individual) on the significance of different shapes and colours in safety signage and sign types. Role play (group activity) of a safety inspection at a workshop with the emphasis on signage.
Demonstrate an awareness of safe practices and protective equipment
Whole-class teaching
Practical demonstration of the use of PPE in a motor vehicle workshop. Practical demonstration of safety checks in a motor vehicle workshop. Identification of the location of first aid equipment. Describe process for securing an accident site, process for accident and incident reporting and emergency evacuation procedures. Explain and demonstrate correct method of preparing a vehicle for maintenance, isolating electrical systems and safe handling of vehicle components, tools and materials.
Individual learner activities
Practise using of PPE and tools and equipment safely under supervision in a motor vehicle workshop.
Knowledge check and unit assessment
Centre-devised written tests, essays and reports covering the unit content. Tutor assessment of centre-devised practical tests in a motor vehicle workshop. Evidence of attainment for each learner to be included in the learner’s portfolio – evidence to include observation records, witness statements, photographic evidence (where applicable) and marked and signed written work. Feedback to learners and unit close.

Assessment

While it is possible to integrate assessment of each of the criteria for this unit within the practical tasks and descriptive assignments carried out during delivery of associated units within this qualification, it is still necessary to conduct a thorough, separate knowledge check for all learners based on the unit content for this particular unit.

The assessment criteria within this unit may be assessed using a combination of written tests (for example multiple choice) and descriptive written evidence (for example essays, reports) as well as oral questioning. Centres are free to devise tests and set practical assignments appropriate for Entry 3 learners and suitable for achievement of the assessment criteria.

A small portfolio of evidence generated from guided activities and practical assessments should be created for each learner as evidence of their achievement. Suitable evidence would include signed observation records and/or witness statements as well as written work that has been marked and signed by the tutor/assessor.

Assessment of 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 may, in part, take place within the workshop environment through oral questioning (supported by observation records and/or witness statements). However, in addition, written test results for each learner (marked and signed by the tutor/assessor) relating to these criteria should also be included in each learner’s portfolio.

For 2.1, learners must identify at least three hazardous materials and at least three non-hazardous materials.

For 2.2, learners must name at least four common hazards in the workplace.

For 4.1, learners must recognise at least two pieces of common firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers (including types and uses) and fire blankets.

For 4.2, learners must recognise at least four pieces of personal protective equipment, including overalls, gloves, foot protection and eye protection.

Assessment criteria 1.1 and 1.2 should be assessed through written descriptive evidence (for example essays, reports, detailed bullet point lists), marked and signed by the tutor/assessor and included in each learner’s portfolio.

3.1 should be assessed by means of a centre-devised test which may take the form of a multiple choice test.

Further guidance on the use of observation records and witness statements is available on the Edexcel website.

Essential resources

This is primarily a theory-based unit and it is therefore expected that centres will have suitable classroom facilities with appropriate resources (for example computers with internet access, textbooks, whiteboards) to deliver this unit effectively.

For those elements of the unit that would benefit from practical demonstration and assessment in a workshop, it is expected that centres will have access to a motor vehicle workshop equipped with appropriate vehicles, tools and equipment (including PPE). Centres should ensure that workshops have sufficient tools and equipment to support the size of cohort undertaking the unit. In addition, centres need to have the appropriate documentation systems (for example risk assessments, COSHH assessments) and control measures (for example COSHH storage facilities) in place to ensure good practice.

Indicative resource materials

Textbooks

Health and Safety Executive – Health and Safety In Motor Vehicle Repair (HSE Books, 2009) ISBN 9780717663088

Health and Safety Executive – A Step by Step Guide To COSHH Assessments (HSE Books, 2004) ISBN 9780717627851

Hillier, V and Coombes, P – Hillier’s Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology – 6th edition (Nelson Thornes, 2011) ISBN 9781408515181

Stoakes G – Level 1 Principles of Light Vehicle Operations Candidate Handbook (Motor Vehicle Technologies) (Heinemann, 2011) ISBN 9780435048150

Websites

/ Website of the UK Health and Safety Executive

Other

Health and Safety Executive – Reducing Ill Health and Accidents In Motor Vehicle Repair (HSE leaflet, 2009) ISBN 9780717663767

Stoakes G – Level 1 Principles of Light Vehicle Operations Training Resource Disk (Motor Vehicle Technologies) CD Rom (Heinemann, 2011) ISBN 9780435048303