Preparing for Retirement?
It is forecasted that many professionals and others will soon be facing the decision to retire (baby-boomers, etc.). For a change, I’m leaving the technical topics to advise you of a good resource in this direction.
I recently bought, “The Mayo Clinic Plan for Healthy Aging – How to find happiness and vitality as you age”. This is only one of the high-quality health books published by the Mayo Clinic.
Edward Creagan, MD, opens the Preface with the following comment, “This book is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make. Why? Because it can help ensure that your later years are some of your best years”.
We all have a vision of our proposed retirement. “Freedom 55”, for example, shows an idyllic lifetime of continuous vacations. I doubt few of us will be so well planned or lucky (lottery?). With the recent financial turmoil in the world, the first concern will likely address your savings and investments, and the subsequent timing of such a big event.
I am only part way through the Mayo Clinic book, but I am impressed at its common sense and clear approach to the subject. Let’s look at some of its content.
Part 1 opens with, “Taking Charge of your Future”. In this part, Chapter 1 begins with, “It’s all about attitude”. Are you getting old? This depends on many concerns, and there are mentions of historic people who made important strides in their later years. What do you see yourself doing, what are your goals? In its “Simple recipe for a good life”, the following are given: Someone to love, Something to do, and Something to look forward to. The last item may be the most challenging.
In Chapter 2, “Planning Ahead”, the importance of early planning is emphasized. Questions to be asked, include: What am I going to do? Am I healthy? Am I financially stable? Where am I going to live? Help is given on the decision to retire.
Chapter 3 deals with, “Having a Purpose in Life”, and starts by asking, “What’s Important to You”. While determining your purpose in life, focus on the meaningful activities that support what you are trying to get out of life and how they help you feel connected to why you’re here. Encouragement is given to the exploring of new horizons, where things like further education (in a new field), new hobbies, travel, volunteering, etc. can open new doors. While maintaining one’s own identity, discussion centres on separating your own interests from those of your family.
Part 2 deals with, “Your Action Plan for a Healthy Life” and opens with Chapter 4, “Slow the Flow”. As we advance in our years, many parts of our body gradually go through the change cycle. We need to slow the flow of aging. This chapter gives a detailed look at the physiological and other changes we will meet in the later years.
Chapter 5 urges you to, “Respond to your Risks” in relation to your lifestyle. Your habits and activitiy levels are controllable by you (even if you seek medical help). Some exercises to help you relax are given. Good constructive advice is given for addressing risks brought on by yourself, and those that you may have inherited.
“Think Positive and Stay Connected”, is the message of Chapter 6. It begins by discussing life’s changes and transitions. There are suggestions on how to tackle transitional stress. Optimists apparently live longer and better. Social companionship and spiritual ties are covered in some detail. The companionship of pets can be easy to arrange.
Chapter 7 is about, “Challenging your Brain” and how to help memory and mental agility. The chapter includes strategies for staying mentally sharp, and how medications may affect your memory. There is even a section of how to improve your memory. Normal, good health habits play an important role with what’s going through your head.
Chapter 8’s “Challenge your Body” asks the question “Too old? Think again”. Exercising and physical activity are promoted as essential parts of your lifestyle if you wish to feel younger than your years, and give your immune system a boost. All kinds of exercises are described for you to find path to follow. If you are like me, you could use a buddy to help keep you on track.
“Eat as if your Life Depended on it” is the topic of Chapter 9. Good eating programs are discussedfor you to get the balanced nutrition you need.There are several tables to guide you, describing what to eat and their quantities.
There is Chapter 10 to help you “Use Supplements Wisely”. With all those supplements available at many stores, it’s easy to think there is help in the bottle, because they say so. This chapter uses 33 pages to guide you through vitamins, minerals, and other combinations, while explaining their benefits and side effects.
In conclusion, Chapter 11 concerns being proactive with your healthcare, Chapters 12, 13, and 14 discuss health insurance issues, future planning issues, and independence issues.
It’s rarely I recommend a book, but this book is so obviously in with the times, “for healthy aging”.
Past Newsletters
2010
April/June: Confined Spaces – Outside the Box
February/March: Quality and Lean – Try Keeping It Simple
January: Chemicals and Noise – A Hazardous Combination
2009
December: The "Certified Quality Improvement Associate" (CQIA)
November: Why SHEQ Management?
October: Nanomaterials
September: Blitz Targets Workplace Chemical Hazards
August: Process Safety Management
July: Emerging Chemical Risks Related to Occupational Safety and Health
June: Teaching Safety: the Personal Approach (free 29-slide PowerPoint presentation)
May: Alberta probes link of Workplaces to Cancer
Confined Spaces – Outside the Box
We customarily think of confined space entrance when we hear “Confined Spaces”. By “Outside the Box”, I’m referring to those operations on the material of the confined space, i.e. the container’s outer exposure. These confined spaces are often too small to be entered, e.g. a chemical drum, or a process piping system. Yet there is often too little regard for the contents of these containers. We may be told the container is empty, where movement of the container does not say otherwise. We all know, however, that gasoline vapour drives our car, not its liquid. My last employment involved the blending of solvents which were shipped mainly in drums. I’m reminded of the safety concerns in our MSDSs about working on the drums.
I have been preparing to write a precautionary newsletter about the subject when I came across the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, CSB, Safety Bulletin for February 2010. The bulletin is entitled: Seven Key Lessons to Prevent Worker Deaths During Hot Work In and Around Tanks.
In its Introduction, over sixty fatalities since 1990 were cited as being due to explosions and fires from hot work activities on tanks. Hot work includes the obvious activities of burning and welding, but also includes others with the potential to create a source of ignition such as cutting, brazing, grinding, and soldering. The bulletin summarizes eleven accidents, to highlight seven key lessons with a common link. OSHA Hot Work Standard 29 CFR 1910.252 is mentioned, with its link to the National Fire Protection Association. A disturbing comment cites the presence of a flammable material was completely unknown to the workers, and that the workers had no knowledge that an explosive amount of flammable vapour had accumulated.
The seven key lessons from recent hot work accidents are:
- Use Alternatives (to hot work)
- Analyze the Hazards (job hazard analysis)
- Monitor the Atmosphere (using a combustible gas detector)
- Test the Area (monitor any surrounding tanks and adjacent spaces for the presence of flammables)
- Use Written Permits (identifying the work to be done and the required precautions)
- Train Thoroughly (using well-understood instructions for the workforce)
- Supervise Contractors (sharing all hazard information)
The bulletin concludes, in part, with the following message:
-
“Although the hazards of hot work are well established, and both regulatory and good-practice guidance exists, frequent deaths and serious injuries continue to occur in hot work-related fires and explosions. The CSB has found that hot work is one of the most common causes of worker deaths among aacidents it investigates. Following the seven key lessons in this bulletin – along with other good safety practices – can prevent deaths and injuries from hot work”.
The CSB Safety Bulletin can be accessed at: www.csb.gov/assets/document/CSB_Hot_Work_Safety_Bulletin_EMBARGOED_until_10_a_m__3_4_10.pdf
A different exterior activity on a confined space vessel was reported in the April 14, 2008 edition of Safety Smart (Bongarde Holdings Inc.). The report opened with: “A worker was attempting to remove an end plug from a pipe containing 100% anhydrous hydrofluoric acid. He applied sufficient pressure with a wrench to break the pipe, which had been corroded by the acid”. The acid flowed onto the worker. The application of a safety shower was delayed, and the immersion time insufficient. As a chemist, I’ve had the upmost respect for this acid. It’s small molecule allows it to penetrate the body immediately. It’s unfortunate that maintenance workers are often missed from traing sessions, due to their non-involvement in the normal process.
One source of ignition not mentioned in the above bulletin was from static electricity. A further CSB report on Barton Solvents Explosion, dated June 26, 2008, reads: “The CSB found the most likely cause of the explosion – involving a nonconductive flammable liquid – was a static spark resulting from a loosely-linked level-measuring float within the tank The spark ignited the air-vapor mixture inside the tank as it was being filled”. Again, having been associated with solvents, our company was highly aware of this problem, having heard of other similar accident. Grounding and bonding is a necessity in these activities, as is the restriction of loose clothing with any metallic content.
As you can see, there can be many dangers outside the confined space ‘box’.
February/March 2010
Quality and Lean – Try Keeping It Simple
Pump Problem
In a past job, I needed to sample the wash-phosphate chemical used in spraying large areas on agricultural tractors. Besides cleaning the large parts for paint examination, the phosphate conversion gave a base for paint touch-ups.
The testing was frequent because the chemical weakened, despite the continual pumping in of new chemicals. When I started this job, I wondered about the bag of small plastic nozzles I had inherited. It turned out that I needed to change a plastic nozzle in the pumping system, to allow a greater flow of chemical. Eventually I reached the largest nozzle. Upon discussion with Maintenance, I found out the pump shaft loosened over time, allowing for the different chemical throughputs. My ‘job’ was to alert Maintenance at these times so they could tighten up the shaft. Sounds like a good working relationship?
From a Lean perspective, I was monitoring the spray system probably about five times more than would have been necessary if the pump was replaced. Whilst the Quality was there, Lean wasn’t. My time, plus analytical chemical makeup, etc, was not being taken into consideration.
Periodicals
A journal about chemical polymers was circulated to me every month. Being the chemist, I felt obliged to give it some time. I never found anything useful to my job. One day, a senior manager decided to follow the distribution trail, to assess its value. It turned out that none of the four or five readers ever used its information. So here was a costly subscription of no value, draining working time from its readers. Here was a lesson in Lean without a Quality connection.
There probably will always be the argument of whether reading of periodicals at work is value for money, and should one take the material home to read. Another senior manager outlawed this practice for his department’s engineers. I never met this conflict. It turned out my reading led to at least a couple of significant changes in our use of chemicals, leading to a saving of time and money in operations and purchasing. One’s reading time, plus subscription costs, do need auditing as part of Quality and Lean’s potential benefits.
Flowcharts and Fishbones
Before any process can be effectively discussed, you need to read its ‘map’. I strongly believe in Flowcharts and ‘fishbone’ Cause and Effect Diagrams. A flowchart can be as simple or complicated as needed. Often more than one chart is needed initially, for safety, health, environment, and quality to save confusion. As elements are added and rejected, a fuller flowchart can be designed. The chart will show questionable operations that may be streamlined or even eliminated for a Lean process. There will be needs for evaluations to support safety, health, and quality.
Cause and Effect diagrams are very useful in analyzing distinct concerns, either through a process or within the process. Many diverse inputs, from brainstorming, etc., may contribute to target unusual causes. This approach is especially useful in isolating Quality concerns, with possible simplification of the chart’s operation.
5S System
As noted in my Services page, the 5S system allows you to have your working tools where you need them and when you need them, while being assured they are in good working condition. By also having clutter away from your workplace, the work operation proceeds smoothly and is highly reproducible, helping to keep the process Lean.
Other benefits include better management over safety, health, and environmental concerns, as these will be highly visual. As for Quality, proper equipment for the job, and a lack of frustration, typically leads to better work. Quality improvement opportunities are also easier to recognize.
Final Comment
I’ve attempted to introduce some everyday recognition to Quality and Lean improvements. I believe in starting new ventures as simply as possible; it’s always easy to add more-technical concerns later. Being an analyst, I am capable of working with you in these, and more-complex areas.
January 2010
Chemicals and Noise - A Hazardous Combination
The Health and Safety Report (Vol. 7, Issue 10), Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
Toxicology Principles for the Industrial Hygienist, American Industrial Hygiene Association.
We are familiar with the usual causes of hearing loss being excessive noise with human factors. What can be surprising is the affect of some chemical exposures and their potential risk to hearing. Certain chemical exposures may cause “ototoxic” effects, i.e. damage the hearing and balance functions of the ear. Making matters worse, exposure to some of these chemicals and noise at the same time can significantly increase the risk of developing ototoxic effects.
Ototoxins
From the H. & S. Report, “Ototoxins are chemicals which can damage hearing and can cause mild to severe hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or deafness. An ototoxin can be ingested, absorbed, or inhaled into the body. Once in the bloodstream, the ototoxin is circulated to the ear and absorbed by the auditory nerve, damaging the nerve and causing hearing loss.”
Chemical Exposure and Hearing
While ototoxic chemicals can cause hearing loss on their own, their effects can be even more severe when combined with noise exposure. Research suggests that organic solvents, the most commonly identified chemicals, may interact synergistically with noise.
Chemicals associated with hearing loss include: benzene, carbon disulphide, carbon monoxide, ethyl benzene, hydrogen cyanide, lead, arsenic, manganese, mercury, n-hexane, solvent mixtures, styrene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and xylene. Some commonly used drugs also cause ototoxicity.
The H. & S. Report includes the following industries where noise and chemical hazards can potentially combine: boat building, construction, firefighting, fueling vehicles and aircraft, furniture making, manufacturing of metal, leather and petroleum products, painting, printing, and weapons firing.
As it is difficult to isolate hearing loss to certain chemicals or chemical mixtures, from that caused by excessive noise, both areas are a safety concern, especially where they occur together. Hazard assessments are starting points for worker protection.
December 2009
The “Certified Quality Improvement Associate” (CQIA)
The Body of Knowledge for the CQIA, as illustrated in the Quality Improvement Handbook, contains the following topics:
Quality Basics
‘Quality’ is defined, along with its recognition in management systems.
‘Quality Planning’ introduces both strategic and tactical planning.
The ‘Importance of Employees’ stresses the need for employee involvement and employee empowerment in their work areas.
‘Systems and Processes’ are defined and their interrelationship is recognized. Process analysis identifies the supplier-input—process-output-customer linkages.
‘Variation’ distinguishes between common and special cause variation.
‘Benefits of Quality’ identifies the affected stakeholders of the organization, namely: employees, company, customers, suppliers, and the community.
‘Quality Philosophies’ recognizes the inputs of Deming, Juran, Crosby, Feigenbaum, Ishikawa, Taguchi, and Shewart.
Teams
‘Understanding Teams’ briefly outlines how and why teams are formed.
‘Characteristics and Types’ of teams outlines: natural teams, improvement teams, cross-functional teams, project teams, self-directed teams, and virtual teams.
‘Value’ of teams is understood by knowing how a team’s work relates to the organization’s key strategies and the value of using different types of teams.
‘Roles and Responsibilities’ for the team Champion, Sponsor, Leader, Facilitator, Timekeeper, Scribe, and Members are detailed.
‘Team Size’, ‘Team Meetings’, and the role of the ‘Team Leader’ are discussed.
Once the team is formed, it must be aware of ‘Potential Perils and Pitfalls of Teams’ and ‘What Makes a Team Work’.
‘Team Formation and Group Dynamics’ includes the initiating of teams and selecting team members. The ‘Team Stages’ include forming, storming, norming, and performing. ‘Team Barriers’ are discussed.
‘Decision Making’ involves the decision making process, decision making styles, attributes of a good decision, and general considerations to be taken.
Continuous Improvement
Incremental Improvement’ goes into Kaizen and Kaizen Blitz.
‘Breakthrough Improvement’ stresses process reengineering. Generic steps involved in breakthrough improvements are given.
As waste is a key target for quality improvement, examples of ‘Visible Waste’ and ‘Invisible Waste’ are given.
‘Improvement Cycles’ looks at process improvement through the Plan, Do, Check (Study), Act sequence of events.
Fourteen detailed steps are given.
‘Problem-Solving Process’ looks at a seven-part ‘Problem-Solving Model’. There are ‘Additional Considerations in Dealing With People Performance Problems’.
‘Improvement Tools’ includes the following seven tools: Relations Diagram, Affinity Diagram, Systematic (tree) Diagram, Matrix Diagram, Matrix Data Analysis, Process Decision Program Chart, and Arrow Diagram.
Basic quality control tools are discussed, along with quality audits.
‘Continuous Quality Improvement’ looks at the use of control charts.
Other improvement tools include: ‘Cost of Quality’, ‘Design of Experiments’, ‘Five Whys’, ‘Flowchart’, ‘Force-Field
Analysis’, ‘Gantt Chart’, ‘Histogram’, ‘Matrix Analysis’, ‘Matrix Diagram’, ‘Multivoting’, ‘Nominal Group Technique’, ‘Pareto Chart’, ‘Process Decision Program Chart’, ‘Quality Function Deployment’, ‘Relations Diagram’, ‘Run Chart’, ‘Scatter Diagram’,
and ‘Tree Diagram’.
‘Customer-Supplier Relationships’ looks at Internal and External Customers and ‘Deploying the Voice of the Customer’.
‘Customer Feedback’ covers a variety of feedback routes. ‘Tracking, Measuring, and Reporting Customer Satisfaction’ includes the Kano Model.
‘Internal and External Suppliers’ follows that of customers. ‘Supplier Feedback’ again resembles that for customers.
Comment
Safety and Health professionals will see many similarities for S. and H. improvement. This is a further example for sharing between the Management Systems. I was certified as a Quality Improvement Associate through the American Society for Quality several years ago. Since then I more focused on safety, health and the environment. My recent decision to include quality systems again broadens the areas of risk management in an industrial or service operation. Of course, I now need to brush up on quality improvement to keep my certification justified. I’m enjoying doing this. I’m also looking at my next quality certification.
November 2009
Why SHEQ Management?
SHEQ represents the Management Systems of safety and health, environment, and quality. You will likely find the same initials in different orders, but with the same intent. As an Operations Manager or Manufacturing Manager, you want your workforce to be able to perform their required jobs while simultaneously being free of accidents to themselves and to the company’s process and product.
I have reviewed a couple of resources on SHEQ Management that I think will be of general interest.
Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Management, A Practitioner’s Guide (International Risk Control America) This text is the basis for a course of the same name given by Industrial Accident Prevention Association of Ontario.
The first sentence, under Introduction to S-H-E-Q Management, reads “Overwhelming evidence exists which indicates that preventing incidents is best achieved by implementing a management system designed to control losses”. It follows to assert “the time has come to take a system’s approach to preventing incidents”. Further on incidents, “The underlying or basic causes of incidents are failures of the systems of work, not unsafe behaviours, acts and conditions”. “Focussing on systems and work processes yields long-term improvements in incident prevention, whether incidents result in harm to people, property, processes or the environment”.
Talking of incidents and accidents as inadequately controlled events and not only unintended events, the definition follows, ”Effective S-H-E-Q programs anticipate incidents and accident scenarios and plan to mitigate their outcomes through such things as medical treatment facilities, emergency teams and brigades, spill contingency and control plans and other items”.
Under Consequences of Accidents, are mentioned the four elements of a working system: people, property, processes and the environment. The three phases of an accident sequence are given as: pre-contact, contact and post-contact (consequences of the incident).
Other sections of the book’s Chapter 1 include:
Using Economics to Sell a Systems Approach to S-H-E-Q Management.
Immediate Causes – Acts and Conditions.
Underlying Causes – Individual and Work Factors.
Inadequate Control.
A Proper System.
A Primer on Integrated Management Systems, Wayne Pardy, CRSP, Two-part newsletter on SafetyXChange.
In his definition, Wayne states “an integrated management system is the framework of policies, systems, processes and procedures that organizations use to fulfill all of the tasks required to achieve their pre-defined business objectives”. He further adds “The need for structure to manage risk and ensure consistency, efficiency and continuing capability is easy to understand”.
Wayne mentions six management systems covering Occupational Health and Safety, Environment, and Quality. He talks of the systems being managed separately, then continues with the merits of a QHSE (SHEQ) Department. In such a department, QA/QC, Health and Safety, Environment Management and even Security have processes in common and are managed together with the umbrella of the QHSE management system to serve organizational goals and objectives. A holistic approach is recommended, where all included systems complement each other.
In system integration, compatibility is deemed a ‘must have’. To quote ISO Guide 72: “defines compatibility as the suitability of similar standards for use together under specific conditions to fulfill relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions”. Wayne gives seven common characteristics of some of the well-known management system models.
The case for integration: The potential benefits that come from implementing management systems and consolidating common system requirements include ……. Wayne gives 14 examples.
Wayne’s final remark is “I know how what I do around here contributes to the success of the company, which in turn garners me and my staff a continued pay check”.
Alan’s comment
In my last fulltime job as a Risk Manager, the company was registered to the ISO 9001 Quality System only. With the plan to seek registration to the ISO 14001 Environment System, and my having recently passed the IAPA (SHEQ) course, I designated a tag for all company documents. Under the document designation I entered the letter S H E Q. If any of the four letters related the document’s content, this letter was ‘bolded’ for easy recognition. This was especially useful for any number of audits.
October 2009
Nanomaterials
There is no doubt of the expected future of nanomaterials. The number of new products per month, or even week, is mindboggling. I have enough reports of their safety and health concerns to fill a small book. I have picked a couple of articles for potential discussion.
Evaluating Health and Environmental Risks from Nanotechnology: when Nano may not be Nano, Science Daily (Sept. 14, 2009)
The article opens with the concern over safety and health, and the environment when using nanoparticles in manufacturing.
The main thrust of a report from the Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, at Duke University, examines the full definition of nanomaterials. A standing definition for nanomaterial is its size of 1-100 nm, and the fact that it has properties which significantly differ from its naturally occurring, or bulk, counterpart. The special properties include the high surface-area-to-volume ratio, and the higher percentage of atoms on their surface compared to bulk particles. As the focus has tended to be more on their size than their properties, the Duke-led team believes a definition that focuses on properties is critical, in relation to their threat to the environment and human health.
Mark Wiesner, a Duke professor of civil and environmental engineering, feels the very smallest particles (< 30 nm) should receive the most attention in relation to environmental and human health impacts. Dr. Wiesner is interested in those nanoparticles which have the greatest likelihood of having the unique properties with unique effects. A concern is whether or not a particular nanoparticle has toxic or hazardous properties that are truly different from identical particles in their bulk form.
State of Commercialization of Nano-enabled Consumer Products, David Rejeski, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (Aug. 18, 2009)
The opening addresses a concern over nano-based consumer products, and their relation to the C.P.S.C.
The many diverse products will likely be in any shopper’s basket, sometimes with the shopper’s knowledge (if care is taken to read the label) and sometimes with no mention. A key concern is the worldwide manufacturing of these products, and the inability to access product information at their destination. What about the variety of standards, if and where they exist.
Silver is currently the most commonly used nano-engineered material in consumer products, for its antimicrobial properties.
Children’s products include pacifiers, toothbrushes, baby-bottle brushes, and stuffed animals.
There is a definite concern as to where there are standards or guidelines for manufacturing nanomaterial consumer products. Imports over the last year or so have shown little control of some products with definite health risks, e.g. lead in painted toys.
The C.P.S.C. Strategic Plan (2010) contains a number of statements on how the C.P.S.C. hopes to address the challenge of nanotechnology. A report of “The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Nanotechnology” is attached to this article.
Alan’s Comment
We can see a lot of concern for the sciences of nanotechnology. The first need is to better understand the nanomaterials, not only individually but how they may react with other materials they are likely to meet in their active lifetime.
Their small size and reactivity are often meant to attack the human body, as in drugs. What about all those that should stay outside? The physiology of humans needs to be part of safety concerns, studying the main inlets of the body, i.e. inhalation, ingestion, and absorbtion. This is a definite area for the Industrial Hygienist.
September 2009
The following two articles are from the Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Health website, and emphasize basic safety with chemicals used in the workplace, through inspections during September. My comments are at the end of the newsletter.
Blitz Targets Workplace Chemical Hazards,
McGuinty Government Committed To Eliminating Workplace Injuries
Ontario is continuing its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by focusing on hazards involving chemicals used in all workplaces, especially at swimming pools and spas, dry cleaning operations, metal fabrication shops and health care facilities.
Throughout September, Ministry of Labour occupational health and safety inspectors will focus on hazards involving disinfecting chemicals (such as chlorine), dry cleaning solvents, metalworking fluids and detergents. The inspectors will check that workers have been trained to work with chemicals that could endanger their health if not handled properly. They will also check that chemicals are stored safely and properly labelled and that protective equipment such as respirators and eye-wash fountains are available to workers.
Inspectors will take enforcement action as appropriate for any contraventions found under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
This initiative is part of the province's Safe At Work Ontario blitz strategy (below) announced in July 2008. Keeping workers safe means increased productivity for Ontario's economy and less strain on the province's health care system.
SAFETY BLITZES TARGET WORKPLACE HAZARDS
NEWS
Inspectors are now “blitzing” Ontario’s workplaces to help eliminate specific hazards to health and safety.
Ministry of Labour inspectors are concentrating on workplaces with workers aged 24 and under as well as those employing workers of any age who are new to their jobs. As part of the on-going series of “blitzes,” inspectors will also be checking construction sites for electrical hazards.
The inspections and the special “blitzes” are an important aspect of the province’s new four year plan--Safe At Work Ontario, launched in June.
Safe At Work Ontario allows inspectors more flexibility to conduct pro-active checks of workplaces with a higher-than-average potential for injuries. Among the risk factors are injury rates and associated costs, a company’s workplace safety compliance history, and the presence of young workers.
Future health and safety inspections will focus on the following sectors:
- • In August, demolition sites
- • In September, inspectors will start to concentrate on industrial workplace hazards that can cause workers to fall
- • In November, inspectors will focus on electrical hazards in industrial workplaces
- • Early next year, inspectors will conduct special checks on industrial sector forklift operations and on construction site conditions that could cause workers to be struck by equipment.
This new plan provides a more effective means of preventing workplace injuries, which reduces the high monetary costs (in addition to the human costs) associated with workplace injuries, resulting in increased productivity to the Ontario economy.
QUOTES
“The McGuinty government and its workplace partners are committed to eliminating all workplace injuries,” said Labour Minister Brad Duguid. “The ‘blitz’ approach adds bite to our bark. Workers have a right to come home each day to their families, safe and sound.”
“As a key workplace health and safety partner,” said Maureen Shaw, President and CEO of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, “IAPA supports and applauds Ontario’s determination to improve protection for workers and create safe and healthy workplaces throughout the province.”
Alan’s Comment
I do recommend a detailed study of Workplace S. and H. Act and Regulation(s). Doing this will allow you to be a step ahead of any inspection, and you will also see how the additional information can be used to strengthen your company’s safety system. Remember my emphasis on good housekeeping. Good habits breed repect for workplace chemicals.
August 2009
Process Safety Management
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administation (OSHA 3132, 2000)
This publication is a good guide for chemical process safety management. The early publication date does not detract from its practical information.
The Problem
Unexpected releases of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals have been reported for many years. As there is a potential for an accidental release any time, there is a significant threat to employees. A comprehensive management program that integrates technologies, procedures, and management practices is necessary.
There is a list of fourteen minimum elements requiring employers’ action.
The Standard mandates written operating procedures; employee training; prestartup safety reviews; evaluation of mechanical integrity of critical equipment; and written procedures for managing change. Process safety management specifies a permit system for hot work; investigation of incidents involving releases or near misses of covered chemicals; emergency action plans; and compliance audits.
Process Safety Information
There are checklists for each of the following:
- • Information on the hazards of the highly hazardous chemicals in the process.
- • Information on the technology of the process.
- • Information on the equipment in the process.
The above information is key to identifying and understanding the hazards of a process and is necessary in developing the process hazard analysis and may be necessary for complying with areas such as management of change and incident investigations.
Process Hazard Analysis
The process hazard analysis is a thorough, orderly, systematic approach for identifying, evaluating, and controlling the hazards of processes involving highly hazardous chemicals. The selected process hazard analysis methodology must be appropriate to the complexity of the process. A list of seven methods is given, to determine and evaluate the hazards of the process being analyzed. A team approach is recommended, with specific inclusions. A system needs to be in place to address the teams findings and recommendations.
Operating Procedures
The written operating procedures must address at least the following elements:
- • Steps for each operating phase.
- • Operating limits.
- • Safety and health considerations.
Details are given for each element.
The operating procedures must be readily accessible to employees, reflect current operating practices, and certified annually for their possible revision and accuracy.
Training / Participation
Initial training must include an overview of the process and in its operating procedures. Emphasis is needed on the specific safety and health hazards of the process, emergency operations including shutdown, and other safe work practices that apply to the employee’s job tasks.
Refresher training must be provided at least every three years. Training feedback is necessary to verify the employee understood the training.
Participation of trained employees in the process safety management is valuable and crucial for its implementation.
Additional Topics
The following topics are also covered: Contractors; Pre-Startup Safety Review; Mechanical Integrity; Hot Work Permit; Management of Change; Incident Investigation; Emergency Planning and Response; Compliance Audits; and Trade Secrets.
July 2009
Emerging Chemical Risks Related to Occupational Safety and Health
(European Agency for Safety and Health at Work)
In the Foreword, Jukka Takala, Director of E.A.S.H.W., states that 44% of yearly worker deaths arise from exposure to dangerous substances. He adds that the number of work-related diseases is considerably higher than the number of accidents, with cancer among the main causes of these deaths in Europe. The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals) Regulation should encourage the industry to develop safer substances as well as generate information on the hazards of chemicals and the means of managing the risks related to their uses.
Expert Forecast for ‘Top’ Emerging Risks
Particles (nanoparticles and ultrafine particles, diesel exhaust, man-made mineral fibres)
Allergenic and sensitizing agents (epoxy resins, isocyanates, dermal exposure)
Sector-specific chemical risks (waste treatment, construction, crystalline silica-based products, wood dust, solvents, oils, resins and cement-based products containing chromium (VI), lead)
Chemical risks combined with organizational factors (micro-, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), outsourced activities)
For each of these risks, I will give just the highlights from the Executive Summary in order to make the newsletter manageable. I have occasionally added my own notes, following the quotations.
Particles
Nanoparticles and ultrafine particles: “Very little research has been performed on the health and safety effects of nanoparticles. Once in the body, nanoparticles can translocate to organs or tissues distant from the portal entry. There is considerable evidence that some nanoparticles are toxic to human health.” Note that the large surface area, and often abrasive nature of these particles, can cause severe physical problems in the body.
Diesel exhaust: “Diesel exhaust is the fourth most common carcinogen found in the workplace.” Watch out for those confined spaces.
Man-made mineral fibres: “The longer and thinner the fibres, the more dangerous they are, but standard air sampling methods do not allow precise measurement of their size.” If the fibre enters endwise, it would appear small.
Allergenic and Sensitizing Agents
Epoxy resins: “Epoxy resins have become one of the main causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis.”
Dermal exposure: “There are no ‘dermal OELs’ due to uncertainties in quantifying dermal exposure levels and a lack of toxicological data on health effects from dermal exposure.” It’s no surprise there are so many articles on dermal exposure.
Sector-Specific Chemical Risks
Waste treatment: “While the recycling of car components, plastics and electronic products is increasing, there are concerns about workers’ exposure to the hazardous materials that they contain.” You have probably seen the documentaries of electronic product recycling in the developing countries, with little or no safety protection.
Chemical Risks Combined with Organizational Factors
Micro-, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs): “Despite being feasible in many cases, the possibility of eliminating or substituting the hazardous substances is generally not given enough consideration. There is an excessive tendency in SMEs to rely on personal protective equipment.” Remember PPE is about the last resort in risk management.
Outsourced activities: “Subcontracted workers increasingly perform high-risk work across many industries.” If your company offloads its chemical risks through contractors, be sure to give them every support with safety concerns.
Alan’s Final Comment
Have you seen similar concerns to your own? As safety, health and environmental issues are usually non-competitive, I’ve always wondered why we don’t see what the rest of the world is doing with these similar concerns. Thank goodness the world is shrinking, at least from a communication standpoint.
June 2009
Teaching Safety: The Personal Approach
I presented this PowerPoint program at the 90th Canadian Chemistry Conference of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, in Winnipeg.
The areas I focus on include:
| Safety Acts & Regulations … duties of … | Workplace Safety Rule Book … where should it be used |
| Systems and Procedures …S.H.E.Q. management | Safety Achievement … dependent/interdependent/ independent |
| Empowerment … self-efficacy … | Individual Risk … driving a car |
| Driving … with family momentos on board | Controlling Health Hazards … Dr. William Haddon |
| Hazard Control Effectiveness … engineering … | The Making of an Accident … dominoes |
| Close Calls … need to record | Toolbox and Tailgate Sessions … down to the individual |
| Typical Working Group … family ties | Close and Personal … get involved |
| The Suggestion Box … can be very effective | 5 Pillars of the Visual Workplace …the 5S system |
| Working at Home … keep safety awareness | Ed Crankshaft … not a good example |
Email me for a free copy of this PowerPoint presentation.
May 2009
Alberta probes link of Workplaces to Cancer
"Alberta probes link of workplaces to cancer" by Renata D'Aliesio, of the Calgay Herald, was featured in one of my safety newsletters. It speaks of the teaming up of the Alberta Cancer Board with the Provincial Government to develop a new long-term strategy to track and prevent deadly occupational diseases.
Dr. Fred Ashbury, Vice-President responsible for population health, is quoted as linking a significant number of cancer deaths with exposures to harmful chemicals at work. Dr. Ashbury speaks of cancer preventions by knowing exactly what the cancers are and what exposures people are facing.
Dan Clarke, a Director with Alberta Employment and Immigration, is overseeing the Province's plan to create an occupational disease unit and develop, with the Alberta Cancer Board, a new strategy to track and prevent workers' exposure to dangerous chemicals. Clarke cites a lack of awareness among workers, employers and some doctors that certain illnesses are associated with a person's job.
Bob Barnetson, of Athabasca University is quoted as believing people keep getting sick and are dying because of their work, and there's no real mechanism to address it and stop it. He further talks of the invisibility of the injuries, because they take so long to show up.
On the website of the Alberta Cancer Board, I found a recent Cancer and the Workplace booklet, which opens with the statement that all cases of occupational cancer can be prevented. Occupational exposures account for an estimated 8% of cancer-related deaths.
Under "Cancer Clusters in the Workplace", there is mention of the appearance of clusters such as by chance or due to an underlying cause that warrants further investigation. A true cancer cluster is related to a common exposure shared by the affected workers.
Under "Workplace Exposures", the routes of entry of carcinogens into the body are identified as: Inhalation, Absorption, Ingestion, and Direct exposure to Radiation.
"Reducing Exposure to Carcinogens" is quoted:
"Eliminating hazardous materials or substituting them with less-hazardous materials, is the most effective way of reducing exposure to materials that are toxic or pose other hazards. Other methods of controlling worker exposure to chemicals include:
- engineering controls (isolation; enclosure; local exhaust ventilation, and process equipment modification)
- administrative controls (good housekeeping; work practices, and hygiene practices)
- personal protective equipment.
All of these methods reduce or eliminate the risk of injury or harm by interrupting the path of exposure between the hazardous materials and the worker. Employee education is an essential component of programs aimed at controlling worker exposure. Workers must be knowledgeable of control measures and the adverse effects associated with exposure at their workplace."
There are sections on "Safety Messages for Workers" and "Safety Messages for Employers". I found the message "Do not bring hazards home" to be unusual but very pertinent.
The booklet refers to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), stating its key components.