| A custodian in a health care facility was cleaning up a work area. She put the used needles and other sharp instruments in a plastic garbage bag. | Erika works in a small accounting office. She needed to get a box of toner for the photocopy machine. She stood on a sturdy chair to reach one of the high shelves. |
| Sara stayed late to finish some drafting work. It was a difficult drawing, so she was using lots of her tools such as compasses and metal rulers. She wanted to work on the project in the morning, so she left her tools around her work area. | Raymond was busy refinishing some wood floors. He was wearing safety shoes, safety glasses, a facemask, and work gloves. In the same area, other workers were running these machines: commercial sanders, circular saws, power nailers, and power drills. |
| Wilem needed to take some small boxes to storage. Since the boxes were light and only about 15 cm high, he decided he would carry 8 of them. | Marta was getting ready to give her sales presentation. She set up the overhead projector and plugged it into an outlet about 3 meters away. |
| Lewis was told to go up to the 10th floor to repair one of the hotel doors. He noticed that a few of the overhead lights were blown. He decided to fix the door first and the lights second. | Marina wanted to remove the paint from an expensive piece of art. Because she wanted to work in a quiet place, she took the materials to a small room off the main work area. |
Here are some answers that you may want to share with your learners. You may even want to have your learners write their own scenarios and check if their fellow students can find the safety problem and a solution!
| Needles and sharp instruments cannot be placed in a plastic bag because they can rupture it or make holes in it. They must be placed in a container that cannot be ruptured. | A chair, even a sturdy one, is a dangerous choice to help you reach high shelves. Always use a step ladder or ladder that is an appropriate size for the distance. |
| Compasses and metal rulers can be dangerous. These tools should not be left lying around. Someone could step on the compass or pick it up and get it stuck in his or her hand. | Raymond was wearing everything except ear protection. The surrounding work area is very noisy, so he should wear earplugs or other hearing protection. |
| If Wilem carried a stack of 8 boxes, he probably couldn’t see where he was walking. He should only carry a load that allows him to see clearly. | Someone could trip over the overhead projector cord. It should be taped to the floor so that it isn’t a trip hazard. |
| Working in a poorly lighted area is an unsafe work practice. Lewis could injure himself while he is fixing the door. Instead, he should get some temporary lighting and fix the lights first. | Paint remover should never be used in a small space. The fumes could make Marina sick. It should be used in a large, well-ventilated area. |