Work Safety on the job - employers and Work Mentors perspective
In order for the employer or the work mentor to be able to provide the student with the necessary orientation, training and guidance it is important that the employer/work mentor knows what skills the student possesses and which machines etc. the student can use. When making the evaluation of existing skills we recommend that the mentoring teacher, work mentor and the student use the CERTIFICATES, SKILLS & COMPETENCES CHECKLIST created within the WorkSafe project together. The checklist provides information about the machines the student is skilled to use, which national certificates (s)he possesses, in which fields (s)he has had practical and theoretical training and what languages (s)he can use. More instruction and guidance must be provided whenever weaknesses are identified in an employee’s way of working and whenever changes are introduced, therefor it is recommended that the work mentor, mentoring teacher and the student have regular mentoring or Toolbox meetings.
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the responsibilities and rights work mentors
Students must be familiarised with their work, the working conditions, procedures and production methods employed in the workplace, the work equipment, the safe use of tools, and safe practices before they start working. Orientation is especially important before a student is given a new task or when their job description changes as well as whenever new work equipment, procedures or production methods are introduced.
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Students must be given training and guidance to protect them from the harmful effects of work and hazards in the workplace as well as to prevent risks to their safety or health. They must also be trained to adjust, clean, service and repair systems and to react correctly to faults and other malfunctions.
The work environment and employees’ health and procedures must be monitored continuously, and more instruction and guidance must be provided as required and when needed.
To learn more about the duties you as an employer/work mentor have during the work based learning period please visit DUTIES OF COMPANIES IN HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKLIST.
To learn more about the duties you as an employer/work mentor have during the work based learning period please visit DUTIES OF COMPANIES IN HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKLIST.
rESPONSIBILITIES IN THE OPERATING OF MACHINERY
The employer is responsible for providing students with training and guidance in the use of machinery and equipment. The training and guidance should consist of:
- Correct and safe use
- Settings and adjustments
- Identify the problem, if allowed fix the problem otherwise ask assistance
- Testing as necessary
- Assemble and disassemble mobile tools
- Avoid incorrect use
- Daily maintenance
- Removing from use
- Report particularities to the supervisor
The employer or work mentors must ensure that students understand and know how to comply with the instructions given. The employer or the work mentors must ensure that every machine is used for the purpose and under the conditions specified by the manufacturer. If the student is below 18 and working on machines that are hazardous a work mentor should be present and monitoring the student using the machine(s).
The employer must also ensure that the operating and maintenance instructions for each machine and piece of equipment are available to employees as well as students. The employer must constantly monitor the safety and working condition of the workplace and the machinery and equipment used there through inspections, testing, measurements and other appropriate ways.
The employer must ensure that every machine is in good working order throughout its useful life through regular maintenance and service and by ensuring the faultless operation of guidance systems and safety features. The employer must have a maintenance system that describes the procedures for keeping the machinery and equipment at the workplace in safe working order.
The employer must ensure that every machine is in good working order throughout its useful life through regular maintenance and service and by ensuring the faultless operation of guidance systems and safety features. The employer must have a maintenance system that describes the procedures for keeping the machinery and equipment at the workplace in safe working order.
Assessment of potential hazards
The employer or the work mentor shall together with the mentoring teacher assesses what hazards are involved in the work that the student is supposed to do during his/her work based learning. The risk assessment must cover all workstations and it must be revised every time the company hosts a new student or if the working conditions or methods change. The employer, work mentor and/or the mentoring teacher may call on experts for assistance in the assessment, for instance from the occupational health care service.
If it is not possible to reduce risks to an acceptable level through technical means, the employer must obtain the PPE items required in legislation and guidelines for the use of employees and enforce their use at work. The employer and the mentoring teacher must together agree in which situations the PPE must be used. In some cases it might be necessary to forbid students to work on certain machinery. In these cases the machines that the students are not allowed to use should be documented for example in the Training Agreement made between the employer and VET provider.
If it is not possible to reduce risks to an acceptable level through technical means, the employer must obtain the PPE items required in legislation and guidelines for the use of employees and enforce their use at work. The employer and the mentoring teacher must together agree in which situations the PPE must be used. In some cases it might be necessary to forbid students to work on certain machinery. In these cases the machines that the students are not allowed to use should be documented for example in the Training Agreement made between the employer and VET provider.
Personal protective Equipment
When selecting personal protective equipment (PPE), the following points should be taken into account:
PPE items acquired for the workplace must comply with the structural requirements imposed on them in legislation. A PPE item compliant with requirements will have its markings explained in the operating instructions. The operating instructions will contain instructions on the use and maintenance of the item and information on the availability of spare parts.
- What is the hazard that the PPE item is intended to prevent?
- What protective properties does the PPE item need to have in order to prevent that hazard?
- What are the hazards arising from the use of the PPE item?
- What are the personal characteristics of the employees and their needs for PPE?
PPE items acquired for the workplace must comply with the structural requirements imposed on them in legislation. A PPE item compliant with requirements will have its markings explained in the operating instructions. The operating instructions will contain instructions on the use and maintenance of the item and information on the availability of spare parts.
The employer is required to:
- acquire for students or provide the school with information regarding the PPE that students need during their work based learning,
- inform students about the hazards against which the PPE protects,
- post signs that PPE is required in those workspaces where PPE must be worn,
- provide students training and guidance in the correct use of the PPE or make sure that students have the required training and guidance to use the PPE in a correct manner,
- provide storage and maintenance for the PPE,
- supervise that students use the PPE as instructed, and
- issue a new PPE item to an student to replace a damaged or outdated item or ask the school to replace the damaged or outdated item. Note: if the school is responsible for replacing the PPE the student must not work on task where the PPE is mandatory until the PPE has been replaced
The employer/work mentor is also required to ensure that using the PPE is in itself safe. This calls for an investigation of the personal characteristics of each employee that have a bearing on the use of PPE (e.g. the shape of the face, the use of glasses, the size of the foot, and health factors such as allergy to rubber or nickel, or hypertension).
Some respiratory masks are heavy and make breathing arduous and also cause mental strain, and in using such items special provisions may be required, such as using auxiliary equipment or taking more frequent breaks from the work. It may also be necessary to take frequent rest breaks when wearing dense protective clothing such as chemical-resistant or heat-resistant suits. Note: Students below 18 years of age are not allowed to perform tasks that make breathing arduous and also cause mental strain
Some respiratory masks are heavy and make breathing arduous and also cause mental strain, and in using such items special provisions may be required, such as using auxiliary equipment or taking more frequent breaks from the work. It may also be necessary to take frequent rest breaks when wearing dense protective clothing such as chemical-resistant or heat-resistant suits. Note: Students below 18 years of age are not allowed to perform tasks that make breathing arduous and also cause mental strain