EQUALIZER NOT SO EQUAL?

November 29, 2022 by strategyhandlers Leave a comment

(Fuqua 2014)

INTRODUCTION 

Don’t we all just love a good action movie ?!  

The thrill, the cool moves and especially seeing popular actors like Denzel Washington!  

 Equalizer 1 is an American action film which premiered in 2014. The movie was written by Richard Wenk, directed by Antonie Fuqua and its main character Robert McCall was played by Denzel Washington. Robert McCall’s character represented a mysterious man that created a new life for himself after leaving his past life as a former United States Marine and later Defense Intelligence Agency officer. 

However, in the film we see the main character thrusted back into his role as US operative after meeting a young teenage prostitute, Teri who was brutally beaten by Russian mobsters. The events of her abuse  resulted in McCall tapping back into his powerful and formidable skills, as he comes out of retirement and adopts the role of vigilante in his community.

Throughout the movie, the character places himself in dangerous and combative situations as he endeavored to avenge the wrong doings and bring justice to the criminal elements. He assumes the role of The Equalizer and fearlessly battles his opponents throughout the movie. In the end he dismantles the Russian organizations by tricking the leader to electrocute  himself.  

After reviewing The Equalizer, it’s clear that Robert McCall is one man you don’t want to piss off! He seems like a cool and humble guy. I mean he works at Home Mart, takes the bus, eats at the local diner and even goes to great lengths to help his friend lose weight. What a guy!  

Even though Robert gave off this friendly and warm personality, when his diner friend Teri was assaulted his true colors came out and he inflicted a lot of pain on those responsible. Now don’t get me wrong, they all deserved what they got. There was a lot of bodily harm, pointy equipment and explosions which can all be classified as hazards!  

What exactly are hazards you may ask? Well, we can say a hazard is any source of potential damage. It can cause injury or loss of life or even property (Robert surely caused a lot of injury and damage).  When we’re discussing hazards it’s important to understand the different types to pay attention too. For example, physical, biological, chemical, psychosocial and ergonomic hazards.

 Each hazard has a distinct difference and reaction. Different hazards were identified within this movie and we’ll take some time to explore those hazards, their effects and how to prevent them.  

Hazard Assessment 

Physical Hazards

As mentioned, the movie has a lot of hazards identified with many of them being physical. From the kicks, punches, wounding and even gun shots!  What are physical hazards? I’m glad you asked. Let’s look at some literature reviews to get a concise definition.  

According to Che Huei L, et al., 2020, Physical hazards, which are defined as environmental risk factors that can harm the body without contact. Bob (Teri calls him Bob, so we’re going to call him Bob) works at Boston Home Mart which is a home improvement and construction store where you can purchase home products, tools and construction materials. 

The store he works in is surrounded by many different hazards such as heavy equipment and lumber but, we’re going to focus on one particular scene. 

Bob was seen operating a panel saw cutting a piece of plywood you know, just performing his daily duties. The panel saw is seen as a physical hazard because I mean there’s a sharp blade!   Panel saws are very powerful machines and have been known to cause serious injuries and operators have  experienced finger and hand amputations.  Ouch! 

Recommendation

Proper PPE must be worn at all times. In the scene Bob is not wearing his full protective wear. The required PPE when operating panel saws are as follows: 

• Eye wear 
• Ear Protection 
• Hard Hats 
• Protective Footwear  
• Gloves 
• Mask 
• Lead aprons

In the movie Robert can be seen wearing only overalls, eyewear and ear protection. Where is the rest of your PPE Robert! 

I mean even The Equalizer needs to practice safety! 

2) Always ensure the area is blocked off when the machine is in use! We can see a chain with what seems to be possibly a “caution” sign, or “closed area” sign attached to it while he works. Once the machine is in use the operator should follow all precautions to ensure his/her safety let’s look at some precautions:  

• Always wear PPE 
• Never stand or lean too close to the machine once it is in use 
• If machine is malfunctioning stop use immediately  
• If possible, always follow the lock out/tag out method when operating machines 

This movie just screams hazards from the beginning to the end. As we can see, Home Mart is a store with many hazardous items on display. Something we noticed was while workers were moving around products, sawing or drilling it was done around shoppers. In a scene in the movie showed a forklift operator carrying pieces of lumber into another lane. During this scene customers can be seen pushing their carts and shopping without the worry of their safety. Not cool Home Mart!  

It’s very clear of the danger heavy duty machines like forklifts can cause to those around. They are powerful machines and usually carries heavy loads, it’s no surprise that it poses several hazards.  

Let’s take a peep of some of the dangers of this machine: 

• Running into shelves occupied with other hazardous items 
• Colliding with customers 
• Dropping materials, it’s carrying 
• Too much load 
• Overhead obstructions in store 
• Attachments 
• Fall from the forklift itself 
• Malfunctioning 
• Blind Spots 

Whew and the list goes on!  

Recommendations 

• Close off area where the forklift is operating. This is for the safety of the employees and customers of the store. Customers casually shopping around the forklift is never safe or appropriate. This would avoid collision with other employees and customers. Those around can be struck or crushed, or the operators can fall off which can cause bodily harm or be fatal.  
• Follow safety protocols when operating/around forklift. This applies to the operator and other workers working in close proximity of the machine.  This can be done by wearing PPE such as hard hats, safety boots, gloves and safety vest so others can see the operator. Let’s not forget to wear seatbelts!  
• Avoid overloading: It’s been a long day, it’s busy and you probably missed lunch, so you try to add more load to the forklift. This can cause the machine to tip and fall causing sever damage to property and most importantly life! 

Fall Hazard 

“It is not the fall that hurts but rather the sudden stop at the end!” The former is a well known phrase used to describe the impact of a fall. OHSA describes the elements of a fall as sudden, unprepared for descent in time carried out by gravity.  A fall can lead to minor injuries , disabling injuries and even deadly outcomes. The seriousness of a fall is a direct correlation to the quickness in which the fall can occur. A fall can happen in mere seconds !

Hence, a fall hazard in the workplace consists of all factors that result in loss of balance accidentally or body support and lead to falling. Therefore it is recommended that within the workplace personnels are equipped with knowledge to identify a falling hazard as a mechanism to help prevent and mitigate.  

 In the movie Equalizer 1 the beginning scene (3:08) demonstrated the main character in an overcrowded train. He and many others are standing closely together, visibly  only supported by  straphangers. The use of straphanger is for standing passengers in trains ideally for rush hour or full capacity situations. One one had the provision can be seen as an accommodation for standing passengers however it poses severe health and safety threats to these individuals. 

 In the movie viewers see Robert and many other persons utilize these straphangers but the close proximity and quick and unpredictable movement of the train can result in these standing passengers being highly susceptible to suffering from falls. Likewise passengers who are shorter may not be able to reach the height of the straphangers, thus leaving them with no support as the train moves. Moreover, the quantity of standing passengers, the fast pace movement of the train and the possibility for the train to make sudden unanticipated stops, invites the high chance of a fall. A fall in this instance can result in head injuries, broken bones and cuts. 

Recommendation 

A recommendation would be to adopt a safety-monitoring system. The former is defined by OSHA as a set of procedures assigned to a competent person for monitoring or warning workers who may be unaware of fall hazards.In this case train attendants can be put in place to monitor or control train capacity and adverse patrons of the potential harm of being a standing passenger. Likewise, warning signs against standing in the train can also be implemented in trains as a form of signaling to the passenger of the potential danger and risk. 

Physical Hazard – Electrical Hazard 

According to OSHA an electrical hazard can be defined as a serious workplace hazard that exposes workers to the following:

•  Burns
•  Electrocution
•  Shock
•  Arc Flash/Arc Blast
•  Fire
•  Explosions

Electrocution is a fatal outcome caused by electricity. Therefore, human exposure to lethal amounts of electrical energy results in death. As we know, electricity is essential to modern life, both at home and on the job. Some employees may work directly with electricity  for example, electricians, engineers, electronic technicians, and power line workers. As such, training in electrical hazards will provide workers with information that will enable them to recognize major electrocution hazards. 

 In the final scene of the movie Equalizer 1 (2:02:00) viewers saw one of the antagonists in the film was electrocuted. The former occurred because electrical phone wires were cut on the floor.  After cutting these wires, Robert  McCall left on the sink. Faucet water overflowed from the sink onto the ground. When the individual stepped out of the shower and into the water, the exposed electrical wires released an electrical current into the water. This resulted in immediate electrical current entering his body, paralyzing his muscles and causing him to scream in agony. Hence, resulting in electrocution of the individual.

Recommendation 

It must be understood that water is a conductor of electricity and  it allows current to flow more easily in wet conditions and through wet skin. Hence, a suggestion is to always avoid coming into contact with any electrical sources when wet. Additionally, one should always ensure that the electrical wires are not exposed, cut or tampered with before coming into close contact. 

Psychological hazard

According to OSHA, aspects of the workplace and how work is structured can be linked to mental problems and/or physical harm or disease are known as psychological hazards. Psychosocial risks can have a detrimental effect on organizational metrics like productivity, absenteeism, and turnover if they are not properly managed.

Workplace PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD can interfere with the individual’s ability to work in numerous ways. These include memory problems, lack of concentration, poor relationships with coworkers, trouble staying awake, fear, anxiety, panic attacks, emotional outbursts while at work, flashbacks, and absenteeism.

This job as a retired intelligence operative entitled killing people and hurting them as such, he became obsessed with structure and habits. Robert would get flash backs thoughts when someone bad is going to occur, in the movie you would hear him talking to himself after killing the Russian mafia in the office apologizing saying sorry as that is the promise he made to him departed wife that he would stop

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment to the person it is directed at, anyone witnessing the behavior, broader work- the girls go through this as their job in the escort service dealing with men who disrespected them and even hit them from the movie Teri who real name is Alina was being abused by a client and the owner of the escort service would call her names and abuse her leaving psychological trauma

Being Held Hostage

Being held hostage on the job is a traumatic experience that can be triggering in the movie regarding this, The cashier being robbed as the woman was crying and  a gun was pointed to her This can be traumatizing experiences as such can lead to paranoia.

 

Recommendation

Based on the hierarchy of control, the process of elimination is best suited for these situations in the movie when it comes to psychological hazards with regards to Alina is elimination, removing her from the environment and sending her to therapy to deal with all the trauma she would have faced with a job like that. For Robert as he is retired he should go to a psychologist and deal with his PTSD and according to the assessment then they would see how he can be treated. For Jenny who encountered a robbery at gunpoint, that can be a traumatic experience so she should be placed into another department till she is placed into counseling to deal with her experience until she can go back to her regular job. 

Ergonomics 

According to the U.S, Department of Labour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Ergonomics is the science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to the job. Poor ergonomic planning by an organization can lead to Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

 Musculoskeletal disorders affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligament and tendons of an individual. Employees of all organizations can be exposed to this risk of MSDs in the work environment through repetitive action task, poor posture when sitting when sitting, unnatural postures for a long period for example having a bent/arched back to complete a task, lifting a heavy object improperly and working extensive hours without breaks. Many of these examples listed, one will only feel the effect after a long duration of executing the action when a feeling of discomfort or pain begins.

It is important for an organization when strategizing and engineering the best work environment and schedule for their employees to consider existing and potential ergonomic hazards. Planning to prevent such hazards will benefit both the Organization and its employees as it will reduce employee turnover, employee physical stress for example fatigue, body pains and internal and external injuries.

In the selected movie The Equalizer, Individuals bodies were exposed to ergonomic hazards and unknown stress doing regular daily activities. Below we will list a few of the compromising positions where ergonomic hazard were present: 

Posture

 In the above video we can see Robert assisting Ralphie with his weight loss journey. They were doing a tire pulling exercise, this exercise if not executed correctly can cause Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as it’s continuous pulling of a heavy object. Ralphie’s arms and back muscles can be damaged if continuous improper posture is used to pull the tire. The continuous stress to these muscles can restrict Jake’s movements and increase discomfort over a period of time.

Another more commonly yet not taken as seriously hazardous activity is posture when sitting. In this movie, a lunch-room scene in the home store where Robert worked, in this scene we saw Ralphie sitting on a chair slightly slouched about to eat his sandwich. Slouching goes against the natural shape of a human’s spine hence adds tension to the muscles and bones over time, which in the long term can lead to misshape of the human spine. 

Recommendation

•  Ralphie to avoid any muscular injury to back or arms should have trained on proper lifting techniques as seen in the picture above. Even though he’s not exactly doing the same activity, a similar concept can be used. Pulling the tire with a straighter back position and as well PPE that can be used to support him is a weight belt. If Robert took into consideration the potential ergonomic risk he would have trained Ralphie on better Lifting or Tire pulling techniques that will not harm him and be more effective in completing his activity. Following those lifting tips would reduce the risk of MSDs occurring which will affect the compatibility of Ralphie to continue doing his different task.

• Sitting is an activity everyone takes part in, however everyone does not do it correctly. The picture above shows the proper posture for sitting that will reduce back pain. Improper sitting posture is an Ergonomic hazard many experience but is not aware of the damage till it’s too late. An individual should sit in an upright position maintaining the S-curve of one’s back. Organizations can reduce the risk from this activity by training and provide the correct PPE. Training workers how to sit with the correct posture and providing comfortable chairs with a high backrest that does not influence individuals to slouch, these actions will lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for example Scoliosis.

Lengthy Hours

During the movie while Robert visited Susan and it was identified that Robert did not sleep throughout the night. Lack of sleep or rest over a period of time can affect an individuals health and it will increase the risk of ergonomic-related injuries of workers who handle heavy machinery on a regular basis and is now susceptible to sleep deprivation, fatigue, body pains and lost of focus. In Robert’s case he was preparing for his mass murderous activity due to lack of sleep leading to reduced focus, unnecessary physical injuries to by standers/unintentional targets for example his friends from work who were held in hostage could have occurred.

Recommendations

Even though it may be necessary for some employees in different jobs to work long hours, it’s important their management ensures the workers take necessary breaks to recover to avoid as many mistakes as possible and mishandling of equipment during the working hours. These breaks are important to reduce the level of ergonomic risk that can potentially occur due to the lack of rest and sleep deprivation. It was important for Robert to be well rested because during his revenge scene when he killed his opponents, he handled various tools and machinery hence focus was needed to execute the task. 

Biological Hazards

Even though Robert Mc Call is a highly trained and slightly OCD former CIA operative, he still found himself exposed to some biological hazards. Who knew that could happen while fighting Russian bad guys? Shocking, right?

So, what is a biological hazard? According to NIOSH “biological hazards are disease-producing agents (pathogens) that can be transmitted to individuals through various routes of exposure” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2022). Some sources of these biological hazards (biological agents) can include threats like bacteria, viruses, plants, insects, animals, birds and humans. Other vectors for spreading these hazards are saliva, blood, semen, human tissues and human cells. Some of the health effects of exposure to these hazards range from skin irritation, needlestick and sharp injuries to allergic reactions, cancer, AIDS, TB, infections, flu, COVID, Hepatitis A, B & C and Monkeypox. Sounds pretty serious! That’s not to mention any indoor air quality issues like moulds and fungi. Naturally, workers exposed to these modes of transmission may cause acute or chronic health conditions. Occupations such as medical staff, healthcare services, cleaning services; jobs where you deal with waste and rubbish collection and disposal. Also, working at Home Mart is a clear hazard.

Biological Hazard 1

Direct human-to-human transmission/ needlesticks and sharps injury

So, how safe was Robert? Sad to say, but not so much! Very early in the movie (about 32:30 minutes in) Bob has an encounter with several Russian gangsters (no stereotypes here) who beat his friend and sent her to the hospital. Robert had a conversation with them that didn’t go so well. A fight broke out and we see a couple of hazards occur. Firstly, bodily fluids such as blood were sprayed onto Robert after he stabs Slavi’s friends with a corkscrew. This is a sharp injury hazard as the corkscrews we left unsecured on the table and were then used in the fight. Also, blood gets all over Robert’s hands, exposing him to a risk of infections and viruses such as AIDS, TB and Hepatitis. Unfortunately, exposure to needle-stick and sharp injury hazards led to the death of Slavi and his friends. So what could be done to mitigate the risks?

Recommendations

We can implement an infection control programme that includes both engineering and administrative work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) (United States Department of Labour 2022).

Protective clothing such as goggles or face shields, protective clothing like a protective cover-all, a disposal mask (N95 would be great) and gloves. This PPE would adequately protect Robert from exposure. Also, education should be provided to encourage the safe storage of sharp and use of sharp objects to avoid injury. Elimination was also an option as Slavi should have returned the wine corkscrews to the bar after use, thus removing the potential hazard.

Biological Hazard 2:

Direct human-to-human transmission and droplet/airborne contamination: Coughing up blood

We see this direct form of transmission when Slavi starts coughing up blood after being shot in his neck. Due to the blood in his throat (and the bullet), Slavi starts coughing up blood as Robert sits close to have a final chat with him. Slavi could have sprayed infectious agents directly into Robert’s face, or they could have become airborne due to his coughing.

Recommendation

Robert should have worn a mask and or a face shield when in proximity to Slavi. Droplets can be aerosolized when a person coughs, sneezes or talks and this can come into contact with the mouth, eyes or nose. This could cause him to contract influenza or any of the Covid viruses or even tuberculosis. There are OSHA standards which speak directly to the prevention of transmission of infectious agents such Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) (United States Department of Labour 2022)

Biological Hazard 3:

Indirect transmission through surface contact:

At one point in the movie, Home Mart is robbed and Robert was able to get the license plate of the guy involved. No, Robert didn’t give the information to the police. Instead, Bob choose to handle it his way. However, by doing this he put his co-workers and even customers at risk. In the scene we see Robert first take a sledgehammer from the store, and then sometime later he returns with it in hand. There was human matter (blood) on the hammer and Robert wipes it off with a cloth and places it back on the shelf! Not the best way to deal with the potential contaminated surface. To top it off he shook off the cloth as he walked away. Bloodborne pathogens could have present on the surface of the hammer and may have now been spread to the floor and other touch points.

Recommendation

The surface should have been decontaminated using disinfectant recommended for such purposes (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety 2022). Also, personal protective equipment like gloves should be used when cleaning products and cleaning contaminated surfaces. Afterwards, hands should be washed thoroughly with water. A dedicated cloth should be used for cleaning and not used for any other purpose.

Chemical Hazards

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Occupational Health and Safety Authority and Agency, hazardous chemicals are any substance which poses a physical or health hazard to persons in the workplace. Hazardous chemicals may be carcinogenic, or may cause burns, respiratory illnesses, skin irritation that are harmful to a person’s health. Chemical properties may be corrosive. explosive, or flammable. Some chemicals may be classified as mutagens which can cause genetic changes to a cell’s DNA and RNA, which can cause cancer, prevent the normal operation of biological functions, or may result organ malfunction. Hazardous chemicals may also pose carcinogenic, respiratory, or skin irritant hazards. Chemicals which are classified as teratogens can cause a fetus to develop birth defects and may interrupt the healthy advancement of pregnancy. Employers have a special duty of care for those who are pregnant. Reactive hazards arise when the mixing of chemical substances may result in an explosion when they are either mixed or combined with other substances.

Section 6 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Chapter 88:08 provides that employers have a duty to ensure that all hazardous chemicals present in the industrial establishment are properly labeled in a way that all employees can easily understand. The employer is required to obtain or prepare an up-to-date chemical safety data sheet which must be kept in the workplace. Such data sheets must be made available in English as well as any other prescribed languages. Employers are also required to properly label any secondary vessels which contain hazardous chemicals and notify the employees of 1) their identity, 2) any hazards and 3) all safety precautions associated with their use. Employers must ensure that all such hazardous chemicals are properly handled, stored, identified and labeled and that all safety data sheets concerning hazardous chemicals are properly maintained. Staff must be adequately trained regarding the use and proper handling and storage of such chemicals.

Inhalation of Cigarette Smoke – Carcinogenic, Respiratory Sensitizer Hazards

In the movie, we see Frank Masters’ character smoking a Marlboro cigarette. We can see from the cigarette butts surrounding the Marlboro package that he may have already smoked more than half the pack of cigarettes by that point.

According to the National Cancer Institute of America, cigarette smoke contains over 7000 chemicals, at least 250 of which are known to be harmful and at least 69 of which are carcinogenic. Harmful chemicals contained in cigarette smoke include ammonia, carbon monoxide, cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia. Direct and second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke is known to cause approximately 480,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. Cigarette smoke has been found to cause cancer of the lung, pancreas, stomach, kidney, mouth and throat as well as heart disease, stroke and lung disease. Cigarette smoke is also known to be a risk of a teratogenic hazard to pregnant persons as it may interrupt the development of the fetus. Masters’ cigarette is not only harmful to himself, but to any other person who may have been with him in the room.

Recommendation:

The only way that Frank can avoid the harmful effects of smoking, is to eliminate the risk altogether. Frank will have to stop smoking. Unfortunately, smoking has been found to be addictive and habit-forming, therefore quitting won’t be easy. Frank may need to develop a strategy that includes the use of one or more of the various stop-smoking aids, such as nicotine replacement therapy in the form of nicotine patches or nicotine cigarettes. Frank may also need the support of those closest to him to help him kick the habit. An employer ought to prohibit cigarette smoking at the workplace to avoid the risk of carcinogenic or respiratory health hazards caused by either direct cigarette smoke inhalation, or inhalation of second hand cigarette smoke. 

Inhalation of Car Exhaust Fumes – Carcinogenic, Respiratory Sensitizer, Teratogenic, Mutagenic and Asphyxiation Hazards

Frank is forced to inhale car exhaust fumes which contain a potentially lethal blend of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter such as mercury. The airborne toxins are pumped through a hose run directly from the car’s exhaust pipe into the vehicle where he sits handcuffed inside. Inhalation of car exhaust fumes poses a high risk of carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and asphyxiant hazards. Inhalation of car exhaust fumes is potentially deadly. The carbon monoxide chemical and other chemicals displace oxygen in the body as it is absorbed by the red blood cells, which in turn leads to oxygen deprivation and eventual suffocation and death.

Recommendation: 

It is safest to completely eliminate the risk of hazards by re-engineering the process to exclude this series of events altogether. To eliminate the risk, the car ignition should remain off and the parties should be in a well-ventilated area free of airborne toxins.

Proper storage, identification and handling of hazardous chemicals – marked and unmarked vessels – Reactive and Irritant Hazards

At various points in the movie, we see that there are bottles which appear to contain substances that may be categorized as hazardous chemicals. It is uncertain whether the bottle on the table or the various bottles in the restaurant kitchen contain hazardous chemicals because the labelling is unclear to the viewer.

Recommendation: 

Assuming that these bottles contain hazardous chemicals, an employer would be required to ensure compliance with all statutory duties and obligations with respect to the proper communication and notification regarding these chemicals. Employers must ensure the required identification, labelling, storage, use and disposal of hazardous chemicals (Nathai-Balkissoon and Pun, 2016). Restaurant management must ensure there is proper health and safety training of employees, in their native languages, taking into consideration the diversity of literacy levels and cultural attitudes toward safety and risk prevention.

Cargo Ship and Tanker Explosion – Respiratory Sensitizer, Skin Irritant, Carcinogenic, Reactive, Flammable and Asphyxiant Hazards

In one of the best explosion scenes in cinema, ever Robert McCall casually walks through a cloud of dust and fumes, after having set off a series of explosions that decimated Pushkin’s cargo ship and tankers. The chemical properties of the contents of the tanker are highly flammable. The fire from the explosion produces a complex toxic combination of flame, heat, oxygen depletion, smoke and toxic gases (Stefanidou et al., 2008). Inhalation of toxic smoke from fires is actually the most common cause of fire-related deaths (Stefanidou et al., 2008). McCall is directly exposed to the toxic dust and fume cloud which comes into direct contact with his skin and eyes and is inhaled directly into his lungs. No doubt, the dust and fumes contain an airborne blend of hazardous chemicals, such as petroleum hydrocarbons, the properties of which have the potential to cause respiratory illness or other serious conditions such as cancer, or eye, throat, or skin irritant or asphyxiant hazards.

Recommendation: 

Ideally, McCall should be nowhere near this explosion scene. The explosives should be detonated while he is isolated and safe from exposure to the airborne contaminants which surround him. Alternatively, he ought to wear adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, a face shield, and a full body suit to help reduce the level of exposure.

Spraying of cleaning chemicals – Irritant Hazard

McCall gains access to one of Pushkin’s “offices” which is located in an industrial-sized meat freezer. We see that the floors are being hosed down with what may be a chemical cleaning fluid. Some (not all) persons in this scene are wearing lab coats and boots and head coverings and everyone’s face is uncovered. Assuming that the fluid used to spray the floors contains a solvent that is a hazardous chemical, there is a high likelihood that improper handling of such chemicals and direct contact with employees may be harmful to their health. Such solvents may potentially cause respiratory, skin irritation or other illnesses. 

Recommendation: 

Solvents are usually used to clean organic waste. In the context of the meat freezer, the proper use of solvents may be necessary to ensure that the floors are sanitary. If there is no less toxic substitute for the use of solvents in the sanitization of the premises, then employers will need to introduce administrative controls to ensure that all employees are properly trained in the use, handling and storage of these hazardous chemicals. Employers must also ensure that employees are made aware and understand fully, (in their native languages (DeJesus-Rivas et at., 2016)), the hazards and how to mitigate the risks of such hazards. Managers should take into consideration the diversity of culture and literacy levels of the members of the workforce in creating health and safety training and notification programs and policies (DeJesus-Rivas et al., 2016). To help reduce exposure to the toxic chemicals, the employer ought to provide and employees with adequate mandatory PPE, such as face shields, goggles, body suits, barrier cream and facilities for employees to wash up after their work shifts.

Risk Assessment Table

What hazard	Who might be harmed and how?	Risk rating: likelihood and severity	Actions to reduce risk ALARP	Person responsible for action	Due date by	Signed off as done on date
Psychological hazard- work stress PTSD	Robert McCall	3*2=6	Go to a psychologist for therapy and see if a recommend  medication if needed	Robert		The psychologist
Psychological hazard- Sexual harassment	Alina	3*2=6	Go to therapy to deal with the abuse faced with her job	Alina		The therapist
Psychological hazard -Trauma	Jenny	2*2=4	Counseling	The company	The week the robbery took place	The therapist
Physical Hazard- fall Hazard	Robert McCall & other train passengers	2*2=4	Safety assessment for trains	Train manufacturers		Safety Officer
Physical Hazard- Electrocution	Russian Mobster	3*3=9	Electrical risk training	Robert		Safety officer
Ergonomic Hazard Posture 1	Ralphie	1*2=2	Sitting Posture Training, and PPE new chairs.	Ralphie		Trainer, Safety Officer
Ergonomic Hazard Posture 2	Ralphie	2*2=4	Lifting/Pulling Training	Robert/Ralphie		Robert
Ergonomic Hazard- Sleep Deprivation	Robert	1*1=1	Rest at night, use white noise sounds to soothe the night, PPE (sleep mask), Therapy for Sleep Deprivation	Robert		Robert, Therapist
Biological Hazard 1: Direct Human to Human Transmission	Robert	2*3=6	Use proper PPE. Education on how to avoid needle sticks and sharps injury	Robert	Immediately	Robert/ Safety Officer
Biological Hazard 2: Direct human to human transmission and droplet/airborne contamination	Robert and Slavi	2*2=4	Use a mask or face shield. Proper PPE	Robert and Slavi	Immediately	Robert and Slavi/ Safety officer
Biological Hazard 3:Indirect transmission through surface contact	Robert and Slavi	2*3=6	Education. Decontamination of surface	Robert/ Safety Officer	Immediately	Safety Officer
Chemical Hazard 1 – smoking	Frank Masters	3*2=6	Stop smoking	Frank Masters	2-4 months	Frank Masters
Chemical Hazard 2 – car exhaust inhalation	Frank Masters	3*3=9	Leave car ignition turned off. Proper ventilation.	Robert	Immediate	Robert
Chemical Hazard 3 – irritant	Restaurant Owner, Robert	1*1=1	Proper identification of hazardous chemicals, proper storage, handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals, multilingual labelling, health and safety training programs for diverse cultures and literacy levels.	Restaurant Owner, Robert	1 week	Restaurant Owner, Robert
Chemical Hazard 4 – airborne explosion fumes	Robert	3*3=9	Isolation, Remote Detonation, PPE, multilingual labelling, notifications and training.	Robert	Immediate	Robert
Chemical Hazard 5 – cleaning solution	Freezer Employees	2*1=2	Substitution with less toxic cleaning chemical, Multilingual health and safety training Programs for diverse cultures and literacy levels, proper identification of hazardous chemicals, proper storage, handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals, mandatory PPE, wash up facilities.	Safety Officer – Pushkin & Co.	2 weeks	Safety Officer – Pushkin & Co.

Quality Dimensions Assessment in Equalizer 1- The Drill

What are quality dimensions? 

The quality of a product starts firstly with a  strategic question. It guides the development of product design,  sets the criteria for the selection of suppliers and raw material and  determines the choice of features or options.

A major factor in the development of sustainable competitive advantage is the product quality.   

Garvin (1987) identified the following eight dimensions for the development of products; performance, features, reliability, conformance, durability, serviceability, aesthetics, and perceived quality. In the movie Equalizer the main item that demonstrated an impactful product  was the drill utilized by the main character in the most climactic scene. It was the product that stayed within the viewer’s mind at the end of the movie. Robert and the drill!

Performance

A product’s essential function is identified as how it performs. 

The drill some might say outperformed in this movie!

A product created to drill holes into various materials was used as a weapon causing fatal damage to the body. 

The drill in the movie used by Robert McCall to defeat his opponents highlighted a high-quality product that was effective. For the main character, he will associate this product as being in alignment with the user’s expectation. The drill performed in the way the user intended and did not fall short on delivering the needs of the user. In this case the former leads to product satisfaction and positive association with the brand. This may result in repeat purchasing, product loyalty and brand advocacy. 

Reliability

 The reliability of the drill was never a question in the movie. The scene when the drill was used by Robert to kill a man showed its reliability to get the job done in a time of need and how well it performed getting the job done without failure or problem showing how reliable it can be when it is time to use it, it showed up and showed out.

Perceived quality

If I had to pick a drill to use just from that movie I would pick that drill as it showed the quality of the drill and how it can perform as such this is how the consumer sees the product, where it be from references, advertising, or demonstration in-store, to see how the drill works and if it is up to standard and based on the movie, the drill stood out and showed up when it came to perceived quality, I would surely run and buy that brand of drill based on how it was portrayed.

Features 

Drills usually have features such as variable speed and we assume this one has a hammer drill, and it is apparently waterproof! The drill also has a battery, which allows it to be portable. Also, this drill appears to be quiet as it didn’t draw that much attention when in use. All these features helped to penetrate the surfaces that Robert needed to be penetrated.

Conformance 

This refers to the extent to which a product’s design and operational characteristics align with industry standards, or how a product’s specifications match up against other similar products in the industry. In order to assess the conformance level of the drill, it will be necessary to obtain information regarding the standard specifications for other drills. In light of the fact that McCall appeared to encounter no difficulty in operating the drill, it would appear that the drill operated in much the same way as other drills in the industry.

Durability 

According to Gavin’s 1989 article, Durability can be deemed as the lifespan of the product before deterioration. It is the amount of time an individual can use this product before deterioration and excessive depreciation occurs. The lifespan of a product is subject to the amount of use it receives. Typically, the guaranteed time frame for a product to work without defects will be the warranty period. During the warranty period if the product malfunctions, it is now the responsibility of the store or manufacturer from which the item was purchased to service and fix the problem.

The chosen product from the movie the drill durability will vary based on the brand’s quality, the type of drill and the amount of use. In order for this drill in the movie to pass the durability test, it will have to survive the warranty period for example 2 years, as reliability and durability are closely linked in order for the drill to be durable we must be able to rely on this drill to function without complications at least during the warranty period. As well as it withstands drilling through different materials for example concrete or wood or in this case a human’s flesh and bones without malfunctioning in the midst of the task. 

Serviceability 

Serviceability is the sixth dimension of quality which simply means the user has no trouble repairing a faulty product. It also entails the competence, speed or courtesy of the product. Users of the product are also concerned with the length of time the product is repaired, whether the repairs correct the problems and the timeliness of the appointments. A major preference or importance to consumers is the number of service calls to correct the problem as consumers associate rapid repairs with higher quality. It’s also important to note that after repairs consumers may remain unsatisfied, which is dependent on how the complaint is handled, which has a big impact on the company’s reputation.  

However, Robert already works at Home Mart which we assume deals with product repairs! In a scene where the young guy came into the store to rob Jenny’s cash register, Robert was already attending to a customer. You can hear him say “ Can you do a quick card refund for me? Gentleman’s in a hurry”. By this, we can tell that he’s concerned about customer service and the timeliness of his service. Seeing that he works there and probably repairs is one of his job duties we can safely say it will be repaired in a jiffy!   

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