Health and Safety
Guide for
check out
Target Audience
This guide is for persons employed in different library
departments including:
administration,
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lending services,
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cataloging,
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information services,
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photocopying,
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shelving, and
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audiovisual services.
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housekeeping
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maintenance
鉂?
Summary
People employed in libraries do a wide range of auto-
mated and manual jobs. In large libraries these jobs may
be assigned to one person or a group of persons. In
smaller libraries the same person may do several
different tasks. Library work has a number of health
and safety hazards. These hazards include psychological
stress, risk of slips, trips and falls, back injury, personal
safety concerns, inadequate workstations, inadequate
lighting, dusts, moulds and poor indoor air quality.
The guide provides an overview on the methods of
recognition, evaluation and control of hazards in
libraries. Basic components of a health and safety
program are outlined.
Table of Contents
Section I. Basic Rules of Safety
1. The Law Says... ..............................................................2
2. Elements of On-the-Job Safety .......................................2
3. Safety Tips for New Library Employees.........................3
4. Safety Tips for Supervisors .............................................4
Section II. Monitoring Health and Safety in Your Library
1. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) .........................6
Responsibilities in Your Library
2. Workplace Inspection ......................................................7
3. Accident Investigation ...................................................11
4. First Aid ........................................................................13
Section III.`The Library Work Environment
1. Indoor air quality (IAQ) ................................................16
2. Formaldehyde ................................................................20
3. Solvents: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) ...........21
4. Asbestos .........................................................................23
5. Dusts ..............................................................................25
6. Mould.............................................................................27
7. Dust Mites .....................................................................31
8. Sanitation/Housekeeping ...............................................32
9. Pests ...............................................................................34
10. Noise..............................................................................35
11. Temperature & Humidity ..............................................36
12. Lighting .........................................................................38
13. Radiation from VDTs....................................................42
14. Fragrance Sensitivity.....................................................44
Section IV. Ergonomic Concerns in the Library Workplace
1. What is Ergonomics?.....................................................46
2. How do Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders ......47
(WMSDs) Occur?
3. Controlling Ergonomic Hazards? ..................................50
4. Posture ...........................................................................55
5. Ergonomic Aspects of Visual Display Terminals..........57
6. Workstation Exercises ...................................................67
7. Shelving Units ...............................................................71
8. Shelving Books..............................................................73
9. Shelving Equipment ......................................................76
10. Work Organization.......................................................83
Section V. Psychosocial Issues in Library Work
1. Psychological Stress ......................................................90
2. Workplace Violence .......................................................94
3. Stress and Violence Checklists....................................117
Section VI. Emergency Preparedness
1. Fire Safety ...................................................................126
2. Bomb Threats ..............................................................128
3. Emergency Evacuation Procedures .............................132
Section VII. Safe Work Practices
1. Library Safety..............................................................136
2. Manual Materials Handling.........................................139
3. Basic Electrical Safety.................................................141
Section VIII. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
1. Determining the Need for PPE....................................144
2. Foot Protection ............................................................144
3. Respirators ...................................................................145
Section IX. Health and Safety (OSH) Policy and Program
1. Purpose .......................................................................148
2. Health and Safety Policy .............................................148
3. Program Elements ......................................................149
4. Simple Checklist for An Occupational Health ...........150
and Safety Program
5. Sample Health and Safety Policy Statement ..............151
Section X. Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
1. Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Legislation .. 154
2. US Occupational Health and Safety Legislation.........159
3. Examples of Regulations and Codes Applicable ...........162
to Libraries
Section XI. Information Sources
1. Canadian Government Departments with ..................168
Responsibility for Occupational Health and Safety
2. U.S. Federal Safety and Health Agencies ...................173
3. State Occupational Safety and Health Plans ...............176
Section XII. Key Sources Used to Prepare this Publication
1. Bibliography ................................................................184
2.Websites ........................................................................186
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
(HVAC) System
The purpose of ventilation is to:
1. control temperature and humidity;
2. remove odours and airborne contaminants;
3. introduce outdoor air.
Symptoms and Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide
Concentration of CO2 Symptoms Reported
Less than 600 ppm None
600 - 1000 ppm Occasional complaints of headache,
drowsiness, stuffiness, etc.
Greater than 1000 ppm Above complaints are widespread
Source: 鈥淩eport of the Interministerial Committee on Indoor Air Quality鈥?
Government of Ontario, September 1988.
Checklist: Inspecting HVAC Systems
INSPECT outside air dampers, noting their position,
the type of control mechanism, and condition.
NOTE the distance and direction of combustion
sources, building exhausts, cooling towers and other
potential sources of pollutants in relation to the
outside air intake.
EXAMINE garage and loading dock for proper
ventilation and pollution migration.
CHECK supply air fans for operational problems,
including defective belts, missing blades, build-up
of particulates, and microbial growth.
CHECK the interior of the mixing chambers for signs
of failing insulation, debris, rust, or microbial growth.
ENSURE that air ducts and ceiling plenums are being
maintained and cleaned to prevent dust from providing
a substrata for mould growth.
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AVOID manoeuvring a fully loaded book truck on
carpeting, uneven surfaces, ramps and differences
in floor levels.
CHECK that the book truck moves easily.
PUSH rather than pull, book trucks.
CONTROL the cart from the low side when going up
or down a slope.
PULL (not push) book trucks when exiting an elevator
KEEP book truck close to your body.
ENSURE that handles are at protected places on the
racks or body of the truck so that traffic, walls, or
other objects being passed will not crush or scrape
the operator's hands.
INSPECT book trucks for loose and worn out wheels
and stability.
DO NOT load in a manner that obstructs the operator's
vision.
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10. Work Organization
Work organization determines what jobs to do and
how to do them. Important components of good work
organization are:
job design,
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work pace,
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training and education,
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adjustment periods, and
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rest breaks.
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Job Design
Optimal job variety includes:
Use of a flexible scheduling system to avoid
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prolonged periods of intensive material handling.
Rotating of staff regularly during each shift
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among tasks available within their job description
(task rotation).
Rotating of staff regularly during each shift to tasks
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normally done by staff of a different category
(job rotation).
In all cases, employees must receive effective training
for the tasks they perform.
Job Rotation
Job rotation involves design of tasks to ensure subsequent
tasks do not stress similar muscles and joints.
In addition to a reduction in the risk of injury and
fatigue, the benefits of job rotation include:
decrease in mental monotony;
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increase in variety of work content;
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better knowledge and understanding of other
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operations;
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What Factors Increase the Risk of Workplace
Violence?
Certain work processes, situations and interactions
can put people at risk from workplace violence:
鉂? working with the public;
鉂? providing service, care, advice or education;
鉂? working alone or in small numbers;
鉂? having a mobile workplace (e.g., bookmobiles);
鉂? working during periods of intense organizational
change (e.g., strikes, downsizing).
Risk of violence may be greater at certain times
of the day, night or year:
鉂? the late hours of the night or early hours
of the morning;
鉂? specific times of the day, days of the week
or months:
鈥? tax return season,
鈥? overdue utility bill cut-off dates,
鈥? Christmas season in the retail market when
demand for service is higher.
鉂? in times of certain business or organizational
activities that may increase stress, such as:
鈥? report cards or parent interviews,
鈥? performance appraisals,
鈥? contract negotiations.
Risk of violence may be greater because of the
geographic location of the library:
鉂? near buildings or businesses that are at risk of
violent crime, e.g., bars, banks or certain social
service agencies;
鉂? in a location likely to be accidentally visited by
violent, criminal, intoxicated or drugged persons;
鉂? in high crime or dense manufacturing areas;
鉂? isolated from other buildings or structures.
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Establishing an Emergency Response Plan
It is essential that your library has a specific plan which
clearly outlines how to respond to emergency situations.
The plan should address most incidents, but be easy to
understand and remember.
Consider the following steps when developing
your plan:
1. Determine how to secure the workplace.
2. Establish internal emergency numbers and/or
code words to alert security or co-workers that
urgent help is required.
3. Identify the circumstances in which a command
centre would be necessary and how it would be
set up.
4. Assign responsibilities for decision making and
action to staff with the appropriate skills and
authority. Appoint alternates in case a key player
is absent during an incident.
5. Provide clear guidelines to follow in various
situations.
6. Provide the training necessary to respond to and
defuse potentially violent situations.
7. Outline how supervisors are expected to respond
to reported incidents of violence or harassment.
8. Identify scenarios where you would call for
emergency services.
9. Identify who is responsible for contacting
emergency services such as:
鉂? security.
鉂? the police.
鉂? emergency response personnel.
鉂? victim support resources.
鉂? other outside assistance.
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During a bomb threat evacuation:
SEARCH your immediate area.
UNLOCK drawers, cabinets, etc. for the search crew
and identify any strange or unfamiliar objects.
TAKE your personal property with you e.g., briefcase,
purse, lunch container.
FOLLOW standard evacuation procedures.
DO NOT touch any suspicious object or device.
Report only.
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