The server that weighed too much
Two new technicians must move a rack server. It weighs 25 kilograms. One says, "I will do it alone, it is quicker."
He lifts it, twists, and hurts his back. He is off work for six weeks.
Laws exist so that jobs like this are planned, not guessed. Today you meet three of them.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Employer | the person or firm that gives someone a job |
| Employee | a person who works for an employer |
| PPE | personal protective equipment, such as gloves or safety boots |
| Regulations | detailed legal rules made under an Act of Parliament |
| Manual handling | lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling something by hand |
| Display screen equipment | screens and the desk, chair and keyboard used with them |
| HSE | the Health and Safety Executive, the body that checks the rules are followed |
| Safeguarding | taking steps to keep people safe from harm |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name three safety laws and say what each means for a digital infrastructure job.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The Health and Safety at Work Act
This is the main law. It says an employer must keep employees safe, so far as is reasonably possible.
The employer must give a safe place, safe equipment, training, and the PPE a job needs, free of charge. The employer must also look after the safety of visitors.
Employees have duties too. Take care of yourself and others, and follow the rules.
Who must do what
| Who | Duty | Example in an infrastructure job |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Give safe equipment and training | A trolley for moving servers |
| Employer | Give PPE free | Gloves and safety boots in a store room |
| Employer | Protect visitors and others | Tape off a cable run across a walkway |
| Employee | Take reasonable care | Do not lift alone what needs two people |
| Employee | Use PPE and report problems | Report a frayed power lead |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check the Act
Have a go
Check the Act
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.