ICT Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines

Overview

This lesson introduces occupational safety and health (OSH) standards in ICT environments, emphasizing safety guidelines, hazard identification, and fire safety.

5S Review

• The teacher reviews 5S concepts and matches descriptions to corresponding terms.
• Focus is on proper arrangement, order, cleanliness, and maintenance in the workplace.

Types of Hazards

• Students identify the type of hazard for different items or situations.

OSH in ICT Environments

• Topic: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards in ICT work areas.
• Content standard: Demonstrate understanding of OSH standards in ICT environments.
• Learning competency: Discuss OSH standards in ICT environments.
• Objective: Explain safety regulations while working in ICT environments.

Objectives of Safety Guidelines

• Following safety guidelines and precautions in ICT environments is crucial.
• Three major objectives:
  • Protect people from injury.
  • Protect equipment from damage.
  • Protect the environment from contamination.

General Safety Precautions When Working

• Always ground or discharge yourself before touching any part of the computer.
• Do not work alone so someone can assist in case of accident or emergency.
• Be careful with tools that may cause a short circuit.
• Always pull the cable connector by the handle, not by the cable itself.
• Use only rubber shoes when standing on the ground or concrete floor.
• Ensure pins are properly aligned when connecting a cable connector.
• Always power off and unplug the computer before working on it.
• Remove any liquids, such as mineral water or soft drinks, from the working area.
• Contingency measures for accidents, fire, and emergencies are recognized.
• Personal protective equipment is correctly used as per organizational procedures.
• Hazards and risks, with their indicators, are identified to minimize or eliminate risks.
• Take precautions to protect computer components from electrostatic discharge (ESD).
• Hold components by the edges; do not touch the ICs.
• Read and follow instructions in the manual carefully.
• Do not use excessive force if parts do not fit easily.

Fire Safety Guidelines

• Know locations of fire extinguishers, how to use them, and which type suits electrical or combustible fires.
• Find and remember an escape route if a fire gets out of control.
• Know how to contact emergency services quickly.
• Keep the workspace clean to reduce fire risks.
• Store most solvents in a separate designated area.

Follow-up Questions for Understanding

• What are the three major objectives of following safety guidelines?
• Why is it strictly prohibited to plug electrical appliances like computers when hands are wet?
• What is an emergency exit?
• As a teacher managing a computer laboratory, how would you ensure the safety of learners?

Activities and Performance Task

• Students fill in a chart listing the three major objectives of safety guidelines.
• Performance task: Observe a picture and decide if it shows correct safety precautions in an ICT environment, explaining why.

Reflection

• Students copy a reflection checklist in their TLE notebook.
• They mark whether they understood the lesson well.
• If not, they indicate which part of the lesson they did not understand.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): Standards and practices to protect people, equipment, and environment in workplaces.
• ICT Environment: Work setting involving information and communications technology equipment and activities.
• Hazard: A source of potential harm or adverse effect to people, equipment, or environment.
• Chemical Hazard: Risk from substances like cleaning agents that can harm health or environment.
• Electric Shock Hazard: Risk of injury caused by electric current, such as inside a computer.
• High Voltage Hazard: Danger from equipment like open CRT monitors that operate at high voltages.
• Physical Hazard: Risk from physical conditions, such as slippery floors causing falls.
• Mechanical Hazard: Danger from moving or sharp mechanical parts, such as computer chassis.
• Electrostatic Discharge (ESD): Sudden transfer of static electricity that can damage electronic components.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Equipment worn to reduce exposure to hazards, used following procedures.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the three major objectives of safety guidelines and be able to state them clearly.
• Memorize and practice the listed safety precautions when working with computers.
• Learn local fire extinguisher locations, escape routes, and emergency contact procedures.
• Complete the reflection in the TLE notebook, noting any unclear parts of the lesson.