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Basic Knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health

Food and Beverage Manufacturing · 飲食料品製造業 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Preventing Industrial Accidents and Basic Safety Activities

Injuries and illnesses occurring during work are called industrial accidents. According to Heinrich's Law, behind 1 serious accident lie 29 minor accidents and 300 near-misses (Hiyari-Hatto—incidents that nearly caused an injury), making it vital to report and share near-misses to take preventive measures.

Prevent human errors and accidents through pre-work KY (Hazard Prediction) activities, Pointing and Calling (pointing at an object and calling out its status aloud), and workplace 4S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize).

Always follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual, and never operate unfamiliar machinery on your own without asking a supervisor. Practice thorough Horenso (Report, Communicate, Consult) and conduct reliable shift handovers.

Key points


  • Based on Heinrich's Law (1:29:300), report and share near-misses (Hiyari-Hatto) rather than ignoring them to prevent severe accidents.

  • Prevent careless mistakes by conducting pre-work Hazard Prediction (KY) activities and Pointing and Calling.

  • Strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and practice Horenso (Report, Communicate, Consult) whenever unsure.
WordMeaning
industrial accident (occupational injury)
Heinrich's Law (1:29:300 ratio)
near-miss incident (Hiyari-Hatto)
hazard prediction activity (KY activity)
pointing and calling (Shisa Kosho)
standard operating procedure manual (SOP)

Safe Work Attire and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

To avoid getting caught in machinery, wear properly fitting work clothes with snug cuffs and hems, tuck all hair inside your cap, and never hang towels from your neck or waist. Never wear woven cotton work gloves (Gunte) when operating rotating machinery or drills, because the fibers easily get entangled.

Wear cut-resistant gloves when washing slicer blades or cutters, and use heat-resistant gloves when handling hot kettles or ovens. In noisy work areas, wear earplugs or earmuffs to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Wear safety glasses when handling chemicals or using a compressed air gun to blow away water droplets or dust (pointing an air gun at anyone is strictly prohibited). Wear slip-resistant safety shoes or work boots and replace them when the soles wear down.

Key points


  • Never wear cotton work gloves (Gunte) when operating rotating machines to prevent entanglement accidents.

  • Wear cut-resistant gloves when washing blades, heat-resistant gloves for hot work, and safety glasses for chemicals or air guns.

  • Wear earplugs or earmuffs in noisy areas, and never point a compressed air gun at a person.
WordMeaning
personal protective equipment (PPE)
cut-resistant gloves
heat-resistant gloves
safety glasses (goggles)
noise-induced hearing loss

Machine Safety (Preventing Caught-In, Entanglement, and Cut Hazards)

Accidents where workers get caught or entangled in mixer blades, rollers, or conveyors occur frequently in food plants. Perform pre-work inspections on safety guards, interlocks (devices that stop the machine when a cover opens), two-hand controls, and optical safety sensors, and never remove or disable them.

Before cleaning, clearing jams, inspecting, or repairing a machine, always stop the machine, turn off the power, and perform Lockout/Tagout (locking the switch and attaching a Do Not Operate tag). Also verify there is no residual rotation, pressure, or heat.

If a machine makes an abnormal noise, vibration, or smell, stop it immediately and report to your supervisor. When feeding ingredients into a meat grinder (chopper), never push them in by hand—always use the dedicated pusher stick.

Never step over or crawl under a moving conveyor; use a crossover bridge or walk around. In addition, inspect knives and slicer blades before and after work to confirm their count and check for any chipped edges.

Machine Safety (Preventing Caught-In, Entanglement, and Cut Hazards)

Key points


  • Always stop the machine, cut off power, and perform Lockout/Tagout before cleaning, clearing jams, or inspecting.

  • Never remove safety covers or disable interlocks, and stop the machine and report immediately if abnormal noise or odor occurs.

  • Use a dedicated pusher stick instead of your hands to feed hoppers, and never step over or crawl under conveyors.
WordMeaning
caught-in and entanglement hazards
interlock safety device
Lockout / Tagout (LOTO)
pusher stick
pre-work inspection

Preventing Slips, Falls, and Lower Back Pain, and Safe Transport

Wet or oily floors cause slip-and-fall accidents, so wipe spills up immediately or put up warning signs. Keep aisles and emergency exits free of obstacles, and hold the handrail on stairs. When using a stepladder, lock the spreader bars and never stand or work on the top plate.

To prevent lower back pain when lifting heavy loads, stand close to the load, bend your knees and lower your hips, keep your back straight, and lift using your leg muscles. Do not overexert yourself—use a hand cart or lift with two or more people using vocal signals.

Load hand carts and hand lifts stably below eye level so your view is clear, and push them slowly (standing in front of a cart on a downhill slope is dangerous). Walk strictly within designated pedestrian lanes in areas where forklifts operate.

Key points


  • Wipe up water or oil on floors immediately, and never place objects in aisles or around emergency exits.

  • Lock the spreader bar when using a stepladder, and never stand on the top plate to work.

  • Prevent lower back pain by bending your knees, lowering your hips, and keeping heavy loads close to your body when lifting.
WordMeaning
slip and fall (same-level fall)
stepladder
top plate of a stepladder
lower back pain
hand cart (dolly)

Burns, Electric Shock, Chemicals, Oxygen Deficiency, and Emergencies

Open steam kettle lids slowly while releasing steam away from your body, keep water out of hot fryer oil, and clean fryers only after the oil cools. If burned, cool the area immediately under clean running water for at least 15–20 minutes (cool over clothing without removing it first, and do not pop blisters).

To prevent electric shock and short circuits, never touch switches or plugs with wet hands or splash water on distribution boards. Check GHS pictograms and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before handling chemicals, and never transfer chemicals into beverage PET bottles. Never mix chlorine-based and acidic cleaners because toxic chlorine gas is released; if chemicals enter the eye, flush with running water for 15+ minutes and see an eye doctor.

Wear cold-weather gear inside walk-in freezers and check the internal emergency release to prevent entrapment. Ventilate gas equipment to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning; in rooms using dry ice (CO2) or nitrogen, ventilate and verify oxygen concentration is 18% or higher to prevent oxygen deficiency (gas masks cannot prevent oxygen deficiency).

If a coworker is caught in a machine, stop the machine first to prevent secondary accidents before rescuing them. JIS safety sign colors mean: Green = Safety/Evacuation (emergency exit), Yellow = Caution/Warning, Red = Prohibition/Stop/Firefighting, and Blue = Mandatory instruction (wear PPE).

Key points


  • Cool burns immediately with running water for 15–20+ minutes; if chemicals enter the eye, flush with running water for 15+ minutes and seek medical care.

  • Never mix chlorine-based and acidic cleaners/sanitizers because doing so generates poisonous gas.

  • Storage rooms using dry ice or nitrogen pose an oxygen deficiency hazard; ventilate thoroughly and confirm oxygen is at least 18%.

  • When a machine accident occurs, stop the machine first to prevent secondary accidents before rescuing the victim and reporting.
WordMeaning
electric shock and current leakage
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
carbon monoxide poisoning
oxygen deficiency (below 18% oxygen)
secondary accident (secondary disaster)
safety sign

Workplace Safety and Health

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Official references