Distinguish between health and safety in a plumbing workshop. List three PPEs and justify their use. Explain the safe working angle for a ladder.

a)
Health refers to the prevention of long-term physical or mental illness and general well-being of individuals, while safety focuses on preventing immediate injuries, accidents, and damage to persons or equipment.

• Health (persons): Concerns the absence of disease, physical or mental impairment, and the promotion of overall well-being.
• Safety (persons): Concerns the prevention of immediate physical harm, injuries, and accidents.
• Safety (equipment): Concerns the prevention of damage to machinery, tools, and other assets, ensuring they operate without causing harm or malfunction.

b)
Three personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for a busy plumbing workshop are:

• Safety glasses/goggles: To protect eyes from splashes of water, chemicals, debris, and flying particles.
• Gloves: To protect hands from cuts, abrasions, chemicals, hot surfaces, and dirty materials.
• Steel-toed boots: To protect feet from falling objects, punctures, and crushing injuries.

c)

i)
The safe working angle for a ladder is typically based on the 4:1 rule, meaning for every 4 units of vertical height the ladder reaches, its base should be 1 unit away from the wall. This corresponds to an angle of approximately $75^{\circ}$ from the horizontal ground.

$$\text{Sketch of a ladder against a wall:}$$ $$\begin{array}{c} \text{Wall} \\ | \\ | \quad \text{Ladder} \\ | \quad / \\ | \quad / \quad \theta \approx 75^{\circ} \\ | \quad / \\ \text{------------------- Ground} \\ \quad \text{1 unit} \end{array}$$

In the sketch, the ladder leans against the wall, forming an angle $\theta$ with the ground. For a safe setup, if the vertical height is 4 units, the horizontal distance from the wall to the ladder's base should be 1 unit.

ii)
Five major causes of accidents in workshops are:

• Lack of proper training: Workers who are not adequately trained on how to use tools, machinery, or follow safety procedures are more prone to making mistakes that lead to accidents.
• Poor housekeeping: Cluttered workspaces, spills, obstructions, and unorganized tools can lead to slips, trips, and falls, as well as creating fire hazards.
• Defective or poorly maintained equipment: Using faulty tools, machinery, or equipment that has not been regularly inspected or maintained can result in unexpected failures and injuries.
• Failure to follow safety procedures: Disregarding established safety rules, operating procedures, or lockout/tagout protocols can expose workers to unnecessary risks.
• Inadequate or incorrect use of PPE: Not wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, or using it incorrectly, leaves workers vulnerable to hazards that could otherwise be mitigated.