| Hazards
The Macquarie Dictionary defines
a hazard as "a potential source of harm.";
People who work in the food
industry have identified five major hazards.
They are:
| 1.
Manual Handling
|
Any
activity requiring a person to use force to lift, lower,
push, pull, carry or otherwise move or restrain an object.
Manual handling tasks
include
- lifting heavy objects
- repetitive or forceful
movements
- work carried out in
awkward postures.
Injuries
may happen as a result of a “one-off” event,
but more often they are the result of stress and strain
over a long period of time.
|
| 2.
The Work Environment
|
The
characteristics of the area where you work. Elements include
floors and other surfaces, noise, lighting, temperature,
ventilation, accessibility and housekeeping.
The most common causes
of injury arising from the work environment in the food
industry are slips, trips and falls, and heat stress.
|
| 3.Plant
|
The
term “plant” refers to both powered and non-powered
equipment.
Caterers, chefs and kitchen staff use many items (slicers,
mincers, knives, mixers, etc) which have the potential
to cause injury.
You should consider the
following issues:
- guarding moving parts
- the power source (e.g.
electricity)
- the risk of fire or
explosion
- noise
- vibration
- radiation
- stability (how well
plant is mounted or secured)
- the use of pressure
vessels (e.g. espresso machines.
|
| 4.
Heat |
Burns are very
common in the catering industry.
Many operations involve
contact with hot food, equipment, surfaces and liquids.
Heat is a risk when:
- cooking food
- taking food from ovens,
bain maries etc
- making beverages using
hot equipment or steam
|
| 5.
Electricity
|
Electrical
equipment is widely used in the food industry. Because
of frequent use and cleaning, its electrical safety may
be compromised, exposing workers to the risk of
shock, burns, or fatal injury.
Electrical accidents
are usually caused by:
- using faulty equipment
- working with damaged
leads
- unsafe work practices,
or
- a combination of the
above.
|
Other hazards include:
Gas
Noise
Personal
security and violence
Fire
Biological
waste
Hazardous
substances
|
