Unfortunately, industrial accidents are not uncommon. The most common cause of their occurrence is non-compliance with safety regulations and improper organization of production. Therefore, hazardous areas are the first things you should pay attention to to prevent accidents.
The concept
In order to understand the location, boundary calculation and graphic / constructive identification of hazardous areas, you should first familiarize yourself with the terminology. A hazardous area is an area of the workspace where there is a high risk of damage to the health and life of workers.
They are on any production area, regardless of its specificity. The nature of the work only affects the size and variety of hazardous areas. Therefore, when organizing work, pay close attention to potentially dangerous areas, take measures to ensure safety in this space.
Kinds
Since the danger zone is a place where special safety regulations apply, you need to understand its varieties. The classification is based on factors affecting the safety of workers. They are of two types:
This classification of factors was developed and established by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. In addition, there is a list of GOSTs that regulate the size and working conditions in the unsafe area of ββworking areas. Responsibility for their non-compliance lies with the employer.
Areas with constant exposure to risk factors
The hazardous work area must have fences to attract the attention of employees. The established norms for the designation of a dangerous space depend on its type.
Areas with a constant influence of hazard factors are located:
- next to uninsulated conductive parts of electrical installations;
- next to unfenced swings with a height of more than 1.3 m;
- with the concentration of harmful substances, noise, vibration and other harmful factors in excess of the established standards.
This list relates to the areas of construction and repair services, the production of building materials, the manufacture of building structures, structures and products. It is prescribed in building codes. You can familiarize yourself with the full text of the document in SNiP 12-03-2001.
Potentially unsafe areas
Potentially hazardous areas are affected by temporary factors. Therefore, more loyal requirements for the installation of fences apply to them . Potential risk areas include:
- the space near the erected (under construction) buildings and structures;
- plots on the floors of buildings and structures in one capture, over which construction and installation works are being carried out;
- driving areas of cars and other movable equipment;
- sections over which cargo is transported using cranes.
This list also applies to the construction industry. In places with constant and potentially dangerous production factors , zones of temporary and permanent residence of the organization's employees cannot be located.
Calculation of the danger zone during the operation of a crane
Since the rotation of the crane takes place around the circumference, the radius of the danger zone is taken as the desired value in the calculations. Signal barriers will be installed along it, preventing the presence of workers at the time of construction work.
For calculations, you need to know three values:
- boom turning radius (R s );
- total length of the structure (k);
- radius of departure (ΞR).
The radius of rotation of the boom depends on the technical characteristics of the crane, the total length of the structure depends on the object being built. To find the radius of departure, just use the tables with regulatory indicators.
The formula for calculating the danger zone is as follows:
R o = R s + 0.5k + ΞR.
Based on the data obtained, it is possible to determine the exact circumference of the danger zone by taking the installation site of the crane for its center. This area should be highlighted by signal fences corresponding to GOST 12.4.059.-89.
The formula and procedure for calculating the danger zone when working at height
By definition of the danger zone, it is clear that it does not have to be located directly in the place of construction and installation works. When working at height, objects that could accidentally fall from it are particularly dangerous. Therefore, under the site of high-altitude work, a horizontal projection area of ββthe working area is enclosed.
Walkthrough for identifying a hazardous area when working at height:
- Define the length and width of the workspace.
- Find the dimensions of the horizontal projection of the area under the workspace.
- Determine the remoteness (height) of the working area.
- Calculate safety distance.
- Find the boundaries of the danger zone.
To carry out the necessary calculations, two formulas are required: the formula for finding the safety distance and the boundaries of the danger zone. All other data are found using appropriate measurements.
Safety distance formula (b):
b = 0.3 * N,
where H is the height of the working area.
The formula for the boundaries of the danger zone:
K 1 = W + b;
K 2 = D + b,
Where W, D are the dimensions of the horizontal projection (length and width).
Hazardous Area Allocation
In order for employees to pay attention, avoid potentially dangerous space, it must be allocated in accordance with applicable state standards. As already mentioned, the nature of the marking depends on factors that create dangerous conditions in the workplace.
Zones with constant exposure to risk factors are highlighted by safety guards. They should be installed around the perimeter of the enclosed space.
As for areas with potentially acting factors, there are two ways to distinguish a danger zone: signal fences or signs. A warning sign is a rectangular or square white plate with a red Danger Zone sign. But both signs and fences must comply with the established GOST. Hazardous area fences are installed only after the exact calculation of the boundaries of the unsafe area.
Marking in warehouses
As mentioned earlier, a danger zone is a space where there is a real threat to the health and life of workers. Such sites are in any production enterprise, regardless of its field of activity. Therefore, they must be fenced not only at a construction site.
Warehouses are also a place where workers can often be injured. Most often this is due to the instability of boxes, containers, packaging, stored in specially designated places. Of course, with proper loading and storage, the risk of injury in the warehouse is low. However, due to the carelessness or carelessness of employees and people responsible for complying with safety rules, irreparable harm to health can be caused to employees. Therefore, a hazardous production area in warehouses is highlighted by appropriate marking.
How are hazardous areas marked in warehouses?
Special markup is designed to focus workers on potentially unsafe areas. Its application should be carried out only by repair or construction organizations. Self-marking is not recommended.
Signal marking can be represented as:
- marking lines;
- floor signs "Danger zone";
- shooter and other additional signal elements.
When applying special markings, repair and construction companies use brushes, paints with a special composition, stencils of letters, signs and other elements. The warehouse owner has the right to independently determine the marking method.
Labeling methods:
- bulk floors, different in color with the main working area;
- installation of color marking;
- drawing a signal marking.
As a rule, 4 colors are used for marking: red, yellow, green and blue. Allocation of potentially unsafe areas is a mandatory requirement prescribed in safety regulations. Therefore, the owner of the warehouse is responsible for the absence or marking that does not correspond to the boundaries of the danger zone.
The marking process. Labeling Benefits
If the owner of the warehouse is a private person, it is important that the entrepreneur follows the full process of designing and marking. If a separate labor protection service is provided for in the production, this process refers to its direct responsibilities. It includes several steps:
- Determining the location and type of potential threat.
- Coordination of the project in authorized organizations.
- Installation of marking in accordance with applicable standards and state standards.
To accurately determine the place and type of potential danger, the company can turn to the services of professionals who will conduct a thorough audit of the premises, correctly assessing all possible risks. Without this, it is impossible to start work in the danger zone, otherwise, in case of injury to the warehouse employee, its owner will not only suffer huge losses, but also risk being left without a license.
Labeling Benefits:
- identification of all potentially hazardous areas;
- the possibility of marking to highlight passages;
- safe organization of the movement of goods within the warehouse;
- protection against collision with motor vehicles.
Marking can be done not only to indicate hazardous areas, but also to graphically highlight workplaces, paths for pedestrians and tracks for vehicles, cells for floor storage of goods, and more. A well-prepared floor plan at times reduces the risk of any traumatic situation in the workplace.