Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Engineering
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 19
Grade code: 2.1.2.LI.6
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.1.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.1.2.LI.6
Theme: ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Subtheme: HEALTH AND SAFETY IN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
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This lesson introduces the fundamental process of risk assessment, a critical skill for any aspiring engineer. In Ghana, from the bustling "fitter" workshops in Suame Magazine to large-scale construction projects in Accra, understanding and managing risk is the difference between a successful project and a tragic accident. This lesson moves beyond simply knowing safety rules to actively identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards in any engineering environment. By learning this process, you will be equipped to create safer workplaces and communities, protecting lives and resources.
A. Hazard vs. Risk: The Fundamental Difference
This is the most important starting point. Many people use these words interchangeably, but in engineering, they have very specific meanings. Hazard: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. It is the source of danger. Ghanaian Examples: A trailing electrical cable across the workshop floor. A bottle of unlabelled chemical (e.g., acid for cleaning). An unguarded rotating belt on a fufu pounding machine. A deep, uncovered "galamsey" pit near a community. A pot of boiling palm nut soup left on the floor. Risk: Risk is the chance (likelihood) that someone will be harmed by the hazard, combined with the severity of that harm. Formula to remember: Risk = Likelihood × Severity Example Explained: Scenario 1: A venomous snake is securely locked in a glass cage at the Kumasi Zoo. Hazard: The venomous snake. Risk: Very low. The likelihood of it harming someone is almost zero. Scenario 2: The same venomous snake escapes and is loose in the engineering workshop. Hazard: Still the venomous snake. Risk: Extremely high. The likelihood of it harming someone is now very high, and the severity (death) is extreme. B. What is Risk Assessment?
Risk Assessment is a systematic process of: Identifying hazards. Analysing and evaluating the associated risks. Determining appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazards.
It is a proactive process done *before* an accident happens. C. The 5-Step Process of Risk Assessment