Hazardous Materials Management and Risk Assessment Plan - Assignment Example

  Hazardous Materials Management and Risk Assessment Plan An effective Risk Management system can be developed to prevent any issue that can be converted into tragedy. There are various types of risk management system plan that can easily calculate the probability of an event and in how many ways that event might impact people. Plan can stop of any adverse situation and head issues off before arise of any problem. A risk assessment project needs to be planned properly in order to make it successful. Because it may be possible that at workplace or home any hazard may happen for that making plans is the best way to eliminate possibilities of occurring hazard at any place [Gan09]. Risk management is an essential requirement for all workplaces. Whereas, at my previous workplace, I think that there were some risk that could create an adverse situation if it does not be controlled. The factory, especially the chemical manufacturer factory, is the most sensitive place where even a simple human error can lead to hazard. My previous workplace was a chemical manufacturer factory, where I think first risks involves human error or mistakes by workers who are working out there. If they mistakenly forget any precaution before going to the factory than it is most probable that they might face any hazard or worse situation that can risk their lives as well [Haz00]. The other risk factor is cleaning up of hazardous materials, if the chemical hazardous material while cleaning up touch a human body it can be very dangerous. If the proper use of gloves, mask and shoes missed out then this work involves a huge risk of damaging human body. This hazardous chemical can also affect those who are even passing through these containers. Because this factory has multi-employer worksites so there are a number of workers who are working over there, and they pass by those containers. This chemical hazard involves chemical generators in the work places. If we look around the factory then it can be noticed that dusts, welding fumes and exhaust fumes are the main sources of chemical exposures. These chemical exposures involve huge risk for all employees especially for those who are not working in those chemical hazardous departments [How01]. The third risk factor for hazard can be onsite flammable material. The fumes of flammable materials can accidently hit anything and create a hazardous situation. The fire can cover all area of the factory that can be a big disaster for the factory and it can affect thousand lives of workers over there. The exit area and the emergency gate are very small for strength of workers. In the case of any emergency, haphazard by panic people can turn the situation into a worse situation [How01]. In order to control these hazards, firstly, senior management must be involved to determine risk and risk assessments must be performed. The investigation and site visits are very important to find out risks by the management. The risk management is a process that is very fluid, and the reason is risk can be various and can be change. Range of risks can be increased by the time. It is good to plan and then follow the planned steps while planning the points that should be considered are; impact, mitigation, contingency, reduction and exposure. There are many organizations that usually develop occupational safety and health administration (OSHA). In OSHA, organizations design hazard communication guidelines [How01]. In order to control the hazard once it occurs, it is important that they follow the risk management plans which are already planned. If the fire broke in the factory, first of all the fire extinguisher should be use. Secondly, the preferred method for reporting should be use, and it must include evacuation procedure as well. The planned emergency escape procedure can be helpful in these kinds of scenarios [Fer05]. If any chemical hazardous material affects any person at workplace, then there must be the rescue and medical first-aid should be provided. For this, there can be doctors or medical duty can be assigned to any worker to rescue. To ensure the proper rescue service is provided, it is necessary that proper training be given to the employee who is assigned for the rescue operation and to provide medical first-aid on a initial stage of any emergency and then according to the situation divert the affected person to provide the proper treatment they should be moved to the nearest hospital [How01]. The valuable tools can be use for efficient incident management. Moreover, the human error can be minimized if they are guided about individual roles and responsibilities. The training about usage of common emergency equipment can be useful to reduce even the chances of human error. It is important, to all workers to prepare themselves before any emergency happen. The personal protective equipments should be there for use to evacuate from an emergency. These personal protective equipments must be use for the hazards possibility. At factory the personal protective equipments include; special body protection for high temperature environment, there must be proper respirators, hard hats for safety of head, special shoes for foot protection. The proper chemical suits, hoods, boots and gloves should be used to protect our self from chemicals. For face and eye protection it is needed to use safety glasses, goggles and shield for the face. These equipments can play the best role to protect from potential hazards. The risks, protective equipments, risk management system and plans can help to conclude the fact that it is essential to make strategies before any hazard happen. The organization have developed special departments and taking it very seriously. The OSHA follows a proper plan and force workers to follow the rules and regulations, these rules now strictly designed to protect the workers from the potential hazard happening. References Gan09: , (Gantt & Schnepp, 2009), Haz00: , (Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance, 2000), How01: , (How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations, 2001), Fer05: , (Hester & Harrison, 1998), Read More