Safety - Grade 7 Pre-Technical Studies Revision Notes

What you get:

• Personal safety
  • Potential hazards relating to personal safety
  • Demonstrating safety while performing various tasks in the locality
  • Handling tools and equipments safely while performing tasks
  • General safety rules and regulations for various tasks
  • Careers related to safety
  • Importance of safety in day to day life

SAFETY

Personal safety

Observing personal safety is doing activities that will protect us from accidents or getting injured.

Potential hazards relating to personal safety

Unsafe conditions or objects that harm us or cause injuries to us are known as potential safety hazards

Examples of potential safety hazards in day to day life are

1. Fires and hot surfaces which can cause burns
2. Sharp tools like knives which can cause cuts
3. Spills on floors which can cause falls
4. Poorly disposed waste such as fruit peels which can cause falls
5. Heavy objects like rocks, stones which can roll over us or fall on us
6. Items or objects that are properly kept on high shelves which can fall on us
7. Poisonous chemicals that are not store properly can harm us if we touch or drink them.
8. Poorly arranged equipments such as desks that can cause falls
9. Exposed naked electric wires that can lead to shocks
10. Poorly ventilated rooms that can lead to suffocation

Demonstrating safety while performing various tasks in the locality

Examples of task that we can do in our locality include digging, splitting firewood, pruning plants, riding bicycles

Some of the safety measures to observe while forming the above different tasks include

1. Always clean spills on the floor immediately to avoid falls
2. Keep a safe distance from your friend when performing tasks such as digging
3. Ask for help when you want to get things that are out of your reach
4. Always be alert around fire. Avoid loose clothing when near fires
5. Use kitchen gloves or a piece of cloth to hold hot kitchen tools and equipment
6. Handle different tools or equipments with care
7. Wear appropriate protective clothing when performing different tasks Eg wear gumboots while collecting and disposing waste

Handling tools and equipments safely while performing tasks

General safety rules and regulations for various tasks

The various task we do at home or school can expose you and other people to safety hazards.

You should follow general safety rules when performing these task to avoid injuries to self and others.

The general safety rules include

1. Work in a place with proper ventilation
2. Ensure you are working in a place that has enough lighting
3. Avoid crowding in the working area
4. Ensure the working area is well arranged when working and after working
5. Use tools and equipments for their correct purpose
6. Ensure all the tools you are using are in good working conditions
7. Do not touch sharp edges of cutting tools or test their sharpness with your hand
8. Ensure that your hands are dry before touching electric plugs or electrical appliances that have been plugged in
9. Do not pull heavy materials or objects towards your body
10. If working with or near fire, always stay alert and use moderate flame
11. Store tools and equipments safely  after use

Careers related to safety

A career is a profession which one trains for, acquires the skills and applies them for a long period

1. Crossing guards
   These are people who help children or adults to cross busy roads
2. Safety engineers
   These are people who monitor a working environment and inspects buildings and machines.
   They later recommend the safety precautions to be observed in the working environment
3. Life guards
   These are people who help children and adults to swim safely.
   There also ensure that all people are following rules set by the swimming place.
   Attends to those who face challenges while swimming
4. Risk manager
   This person researches and makes a report on the safety of a particular work and the hazards that are expected.
5. Environment health and safety consultants
   They perform some roles similar to those of safety engineers
   They offer advice on how to minimise health and safety risks in the workplace

Importance of safety in day to day life

• It is important to observe safety when performing different tasks at home, in school or in the community
• You should always keep your working areas clean and orderly to avoid accidents, injuries and illness.
• When you are free from injuries you can work well, attend school as expected, reduce hospital bills and live healthy