Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

11.11 
Non-mechanical machinery 
hazards
Non-mechanical hazards include:
➤
access: slips, trips and falls; falling and moving 
objects; obstructions and projections
➤
lifting and handling
➤
electricity (including static electricity): shock, burns
➤
fi re and explosion
➤
noise and vibration
➤
pressure and vacuum
➤
high/low 
temperature 
➤
inhalation of dust/fume/mist
➤
suffocation
➤
radiation: ionising and non-ionising
➤
biological: viral or bacterial.
➤
physiological effects (e.g. Musculo-skeletal dis 
-
orders)
➤
psycho-physiological effects (e.g. mental overload 
or underload)
➤
human 
errors
➤
hazards from the environment where the machine is 
used (e.g. temperature, wind, snow, lightning).
In many cases it will be practicable to install safeguards 
which protect the operator from both mechanical and 
non-mechanical hazards.
For example, a guard may prevent access to hot or 
electrically live parts as well as to moving ones. The use 
of guards which reduce noise levels at the same time is 
also common.
As a matter of policy machinery hazards should be 
dealt with in this integrated way instead of dealing with 
each hazard in isolation.
11.12 
Examples of machinery hazards
The following examples are given to demonstrate a small 
range of machines found in industry and commerce, 
which are included in the Certifi cate syllabus.
Offi ce – photocopier
The hazards are:
➤
contact with moving parts when clearing a jam
➤
electrical – when clearing a jam, maintaining the 
machine or through poorly maintained plug and 
wiring
➤
heat through contact with hot parts when clearing 
a jam
➤
health hazard from ozone or lack of ventilation in 
the area.