Safety management systems and best practices

Safety Management

Industrial hygiene is a comprehensive field encompassing the health and safety needs of workers, their families, and their communities. Industrial hygienists examine workplace environments for potential safety hazards and threats to personal and collective health and well being. For example, an industrial hygienist would take into account solvents or other chemicals used in preparation of finished goods, air quality in the workplace environment, and the quality and efficiency of workplace machinery. Industrial hygiene is a science, a field that performs empirical field studies to determine the nature of potential threats. Professional opinions are rooted in science and scientific data. Although industrial hygiene takes into account existing rules and regulations regarding workplace safety, the field also contributes enormously to the creation and implementation of new safety guidelines. Industrial hygienists may work with workers directly to train them in workplace safety and health management; or they may work with the community, with government officials, labor unions, or with industry organizations to consult, advise, teach, and train.

Industrial hygiene concerns itself with any and every potential health or safety hazard within workplaces. Hazards are generally industry-specific. For example, hospital and health-care workers must be especially aware of potential hazards from needle pricks, radiation, contagious and infectious diseases, and accidental exposure to toxic chemicals. Factory workers will be concerned with air quality, noise levels, as well as with machinery safety. Individuals who work at computer terminals or in offices need to be aware of ergonomics and the risk of repetitive stress-related syndromes. All employees have a right to be aware of the specific hazards that they face, from poor lighting and climate conditions to hazardous chemicals such as lead in the atmosphere or drinking water, and toxic waste. Emergency response procedures should be a primary concern in all workplaces, and industrial hygiene promotes education and awareness of such procedures. Training in industrial hygiene can include prevention awareness as well as tactics used to counteract preexisting or unavoidable hazards. Proper use of machinery, proper waste disposal, and proper interpersonal interactions in the workplace are all part of effective industrial hygiene practices. Being alert and aware of warning signs is also a part of workplace hygiene.

Industrial hygiene is also a field that serves the needs of the community, the families of workers, and all citizens affected by the safety and health issues of particular industries. For example, community water supplies, agriculture, noise, and air quality can be dramatically affected by the actions of local factories and businesses. Proper industrial hygiene practices can also help companies and organizations avoid costly lawsuits or fines for noncompliance with industry or governmental regulations.

Industrial hygiene can also pertain to workplace aesthetics: offensive odors, noises, and unsightly chemical discolorations or emissions can all affect quality of life for workers, their families, and their community. Both short-term and long-term health hazards will be examined and researched by industrial hygienists, who work with biologists, chemists, and environmental scientists to compile data and reports.

Industrial hygiene is related to the field of ergonomics; in fact, ergonomics is a subset of industrial hygiene. Ergonomic concerns are related specifically to musculo-skeletal issues such as strains, repetitive stress, and related injuries apply in part to engineering and product design. Core issues related to ergonomics include proper posture, both standing and seated, proper lifting and moving of heavy objects, and proper movement. Ergonomics, like other industrial hygiene issues, are industry-specific. Sedentary jobs such as office work have a host of different issues from issues facing workers who move around constantly. Much ergonomic research involves an understanding of proper posture, lifting, and movement techniques as well as fostering self-awareness. Self-awareness is a major key to promoting ergonomics in the workplace, because only through self-awareness can an individual realize that he or she is sitting, standing, moving, or working according to ergonomic principles. Ergonomics applies also to product design and engineering. For example, new machinery is being designed according to well-researched principles of ergonomics. Similarly, office equipment, from chairs to computer keyboards, are also being redesigned with worker safety in mind. Through using ergonomically-designed equipment, individuals can avoid problems related to repetitive strain and stress.

One of the major issues related to industrial safety management is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE reduces employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, fumes, and materials. Development of PPE occurs according to scientific research. Discovering which items or situations are hazardous is the first step toward the development of protective equipment. PPE can be designed for any body part, and applies especially to sensitive areas like the head, the face, eyes, ears, respiratory tract, torso, back, and extremities. Face protection includes facial shields such as those used in welding. Shields can be designed to meet the ergonomic requirements of any profession. Eye protection may include contact lenses or specialty goggles or safety glasses, some of which are manufactured to prevent injuries from lasers. Protective gear for the head includes hard hats and helmets, some of which have built-in voltage protection. For the feet, toe guards or steel-toed boots, metatarsal guards, shin guards, and specialized leggings to prevent heat or chemical injuries may be worn. Some shoes are designed to be electrically conductive. Hand injuries can be prevented through the use of a wide range of glove types available. Gloves can be temperature-resistant or chemical-resistant, and come in dozens of different materials. Protective equipment for the ears includes mainly ear plugs and muffs. Body and torso can be safeguarded against injury through the use of special fabrics that are designed to keep harmful chemicals out or to regulate body temperature. Special braces may be worn to protect the spine and torso. Workers exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes may also need to wear protective equipment for the respiratory system, such as special gas masks that filter air.