Safety compliances best practices in industries

 Safety Best Practices in Industries

In today fast paced and dynamic business environment, ensuring workplace safety has become more critical than ever. This is where safety compliance comes in, serving as a set of rules, regulations, and protocols that businesses must follow to protect their employees and customers from harm.

According to the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United. States Department of Labor) safety compliance is "the act of complying with established safety standards, regulations, and laws." It is essential for companies of all sizes and industries to adhere to these standards to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

Not only is safety compliance mandatory, but it also benefits organizations in multiple ways. Compliance can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, improve productivity, and enhance the company's reputation. On the other hand, non-compliance can result in costly fines, legal action, and damage to the brand's image.

We can mainly identify following industries safety and compliances best practices

-          Agriculture and plantations

-          Construction sector

-          Mechanical and electrical engineering sector

-          Chemical Industries

-          Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear sector

-          Health Services

-          Utility Services

-          Public Services

  Agriculture and plantation industry sector

- Followings are need to be concern in agriculture and plantation sector regarding safety and       compliance

- Hazardous chemicals and waste

- Toxic, infectious or allergenic biological agents and waste

- Irritant or toxic vapours

- Hazardous dustst

- Carcinogenic substances or agents

- Noise and vibration

- Extreme temperatures

- Solar ultraviolet radiations

- Transmissible animal diseases

- Contact with wild or poisonous animals

- Use of machinery and equipment, including personal protective equipment

- The manual handling or transport of loads 

-          Construction sector

            -          Lighting, ventilation, order and cleanliness of workplaces

-          Temperature, humidity and movement of air in the workplace

-          Design, construction, use, maintenance, testing and inspection of machinery and equipment liable to present hazards and, as appropriate, their approval and transfer

-          Prevention of harmful physical or mental stress due to conditions of work

-          Handling, stacking and storage of loads and materials, manually or mechanically

-          Use of electricity

-          Manufacture, packing, labelling, transport, storage and use of dangerous substances and agents, disposal of their wastes and residues, and, as appropriate, their replacement by other substances or agents which are not dangerous or which are less dangerous

-          Prevention and control of  occupational hazards due to noise and vibration

-          Control of the atmosphere and other ambient factors of workplaces

-          Prevention and control of hazards due to high and low barometric pressure

-        Engineering applications sector

      Health and safety compliance is of paramount importance in all engineering disciplines, including mechanical and electrical engineering. It involves adhering to regulations, standards, and best practices to ensure the well-being of workers, the public, the environment. In the context of mechanical and electrical engineering, here are some key considerations for health and safety compliance.

     Risk Management:

      Identify and assess potential hazards associated with mechanical and electrical systems. This could include risks related to electricity, moving parts, high pressure, noise, vibration, and more. Evaluate the severity of these risks and implement measures to mitigate or eliminate them.

      Design For Safety:

      Incorporate safety principles into the design phase of mechanical and electrical systems. This might involve designing guards, barriers, emergency shutdown systems, and fail-safe mechanisms to prevent accidents and minimize their consequences.

       Compliance Regulations:

       Adhere to relevant local, national, and international regulations and standards. Depending on your location, there might be specific regulations governing workplace safety, electrical systems, machinery operation, and more. Examples could include OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in the United States or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations in the United Kingdom.

      Equipment Maintenance:

      Regularly inspect and maintain mechanical and electrical equipment to ensure proper functioning and to prevent potential malfunctions that could lead to accidents.

      Personal Protective Equipment:

       Provide appropriate personal protective equipment to workers. Depending on the tasks and risks involved, this might include items such as safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, and flame-resistant clothing.

      Training and Education: 

      Ensure that workers are adequately trained to operate and maintain the machinery and electrical systems safely. This includes understanding emergency procedures, proper handling of equipment, and recognizing potential hazards.

     Emergency Procedures:

      Establish clear procedures for dealing with emergencies such as electrical failures, fires, leaks, and other incidents. Conduct regular drills to ensure that workers are familiar with these procedures.

      Electrical Safety:

      In electrical engineering, pay special attention to grounding, electrical isolation, and proper wiring techniques. Implement measures to prevent electrical shocks, short circuits, and electrical fires. 

      Ergonomics:

      Consider ergonomic factors when designing workspaces, control panels, and equipment interfaces. This can help prevent repetitive strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.

       Documentation:

       Maintain comprehensive records of risk assessments, safety procedures, training sessions, and incident reports. This documentation can be invaluable for audits, compliance checks, and continuous improvement.

      Continuous improvement:

       Regularly review and update your health and safety practices. Learn from near misses and incidents to improve processes and prevent future occurrences.

       Chemical Industries Sector

     Both the manufacturing and construction industries present a greater number of potential workplace hazards than any other industry, with chemical hazards one of the core threats in a manufacturing workplace. COSHH regulations exist in the workplace to protect employees against injury and to protect an employer against employee injury claims. Ensuring complete chemical safety compliance in a manufacturing environment is therefore ever so important.

      Assess Risks & Decide on Precautions:

      When it comes to chemical safety, prevention is always better than cure. It is important to assess and identify any chemical risks and decide on appropriate precautions. For example, if your company uses highly flammable chemicals, it might be wise to rule that only certain, knowledgeable, senior staff members handle such chemicals so as to minimize the risk of chemical fire. Another precaution would be to segregate the substances in a flammable storage unit. Chemical safety risks should be frequently assessed, on a yearly basis, if environments or situations change or if you feel that the previous assessment is no longer valid.

      Labelling of Chemicals:  

      Under the chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) regulations (CHIPS),  chemical suppliers are legally required to label hazardous substances. However, within a manufacturing facility, chemicals can often get switched from their original containers, hence it is important to ensure that all chemicals, whether in their original containers or not, are appropriately labelled, with any important data as per the MSDS (Medical Device Data System )

      Create an Accident and Emergency Plan:

A key element of compliance is to ensure that everyone in the workplace knows exactly how to deal with any chemical incidents. These can vary from chemicals spills to chemical burns to chemical fires and more. It is important that a plan is put in place to address every potential type of chemical accident that could occur within your manufacturing facility, including evacuation plans where necessary 

Keep consistent Records:

All manufacturing facilities which have chemicals on-site are liable to be subject to on-site inspections by a governing body appointed health and safety inspector. In order to demonstrate complete compliance to an inspector, it is vital that you keep accurate records of any chemical incidents, policy updates, training sessions conducted, prevention methods introduced and evidence of chemical stock control. Installing a health and safety software system is highly recommended to ensure efficient and effective management of all relevant chemical safety records.

Ensure Employees are Trained & Knowledgeable:

All employees, even temporary staff, should be trained and knowledgeable about ensuring chemical safety in the workplace. This training should be facilitated by a certified health and safety expert. The ability to read through a MSDS is not enough; employees need to fully understand the danger of chemical hazards and how to store chemicals correctly. Employees must completely understand and value their responsibilities regarding chemical safety.

Supply PPE Equipment Where Needed:

  Where an employee is required to use chemicals which can damage their health in any way,  inhaling toxic vapors or burning the skin, PPE (personal protective equipment) must be provided in order to ensure complete chemical safety compliance. Types of PPE include eye protection goggles, respirators, protective gloves, footwear and clothing. If chemical use could damage employee health, you must enforce a mandatory rule in your health and safety policy whereby the employee is required to wear PPE when handling certain chemicals.

      Conclusion:

      Health and safety compliance is an ongoing effort that requires a proactive approach. It's important to foster a safety culture within your organization and encourage everyone to prioritize safety in all aspects of their work.

      References:

     1. Dangers of a Negative Safety Culture. (2020, May 18). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?      v=I6lJ6VRwfhY

     2. Hu, X., Jimmieson, N. L., & White, K. M. (2022, February 23). Understanding compliance with safe    work practices: The role of ‘can‐do’ and ‘reason‐to’ factors. Journal of Occupational and     Organizational Psychology, 95(2), 405–430. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12382

    3. Occupational safety and health in sectors and industries (Occupational Safety and Health). (n.d.).   Occupational Safety and Health in Sectors and Industries (Occupational Safety and Health).   https://www.ilo.org/safework/industries-sectors/lang--en/index.htm