Health, Safety and Environmental Management - Assignment Example

Name Title Tutor Date Health, Safety and Environmental Management Question 1 The Generalised Steps of a Risk Assessment Process Appropriate to the Business The business is involved with the manufacture and distribution of a typical household product. Due to the type of activities that it will be undertaking in the manufacturing process, there will be need for large amounts of chemicals on the site for use. This requires an outline of the steps of a risk assessment process that suits the business. These steps include identification, evaluation, prevention, mitigation and recovery. The business should keep or put up measures that identify how its manufacturing activity and the chemicals it will use on sight shall effect the environment. The identifying range should be all inclusive, meaning from the start of the business to its finish. They should identify and consider how to act on likely situations that may arise in case of a system failure, security violation, chemical misuse and the daily custom of operation not been followed. It should then evaluate the effects and risks that the hazards may cause on the health of persons and the environment and put in place procedures to provide solutions. These solutions should provide measures to prevent the effects of hazards while also providing a means to mitigate the effects if they occur. The measures should provide a means to control the soaring of hazards and provide means for recovery (Perezgonzalez 46). Steps to Assure COSHH Compliance It is important to evaluate the risks. This calls for the company to look at the chemicals it is using and check what dangers they pose to the environment and health of people by pointing them out and taking into thought the risks they pose. His should be done by the company. After identifying the risks, action should be taken to prevent them or bring down their effects to an accepted point. The company should put measures to avert contact with the chemicals that are a hazard or efficiently control contact with them. It should also make sure that measures that control the risks are sustained and utilized. It should check the contact to hazardous chemicals that its workers are subjected to so as to control or prevent the contact. Appropriate health checks should be done on workers to ensure that they have not made contact with the chemicals. Finally the company should chart measures to deal with a tragedy or a mishap in its daily processes (Perry 36). Question 2 Environmental Impact Assessment for the Proposed Project The aim of the assessment is to ensure that the environment within, around and even beyond the company is protected from potential negative environmental effects. The company will produce what is called industrial products where chemicals shall be used in the production. The site of the company is on a land that is near a river. This means that chemicals may flow into the river through run-off water if measures have been put to ensure no chemicals are dumped in the river. These chemicals may affect or kill the organisms in the river or may also be consumed by humans and animals downstream. The construction of the company requires moving soil to pave way for the foundation of the buildings which may cause land degradation. In the manufacturing of its products the machinery used will produce noise which may disrupt people who live around the company. This machinery will also produce combustion waste such as smoke that consists of gases like carbon monoxide that are harmful to the atmosphere. If people inhale this smoke, their respiratory systems may be affected hence degrading their health. The components of the environment that may be affected as a result of the project include water, air, soil, people and the land outlook. The most momentous effect on the environment shall be as a result of the chemicals on site. These chemicals may seep into the soil affecting the soil pH, fertility and organisms. The contact of people with these chemicals may also have adverse health effects on them if not checked. Thus, the company should develop measures to mitigate these momentous effects and educate the people around the site on measures they need to take also (Lawrence 2). Question 3 Meaning of So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable Reasonably practicable is the heart of this phrase. It means that the risks are placed against the elements of the measures put in place to prevent them and weighed on how they relate between them. The term so far as is reasonably practicable means that if it is reasonable to undertake actions that manage the risks, then should be taken to the level where their implementation is seen as not in proportion to the weight of risks meaning that they are reduced considering the efforts taken to manage them. In weighting there is scaling which means it is balancing the risks and the control measures where effort and timing are essentials. Thus if the risks are more in weight than the control measures used to minimize them, then it is reasonably practical to take the actions to minimize the risks as they are heavier than the essentials of the control measures (Walker 29). As Low As Reasonable Practicable The phrase is utilized mainly by people who have specialized in risks. It means that the risks and effort or sacrifice required are weighed against each other so as to reduce the risks. However the choice is taken on the side of safety and wellbeing as it is assumed that the person with the duty is obliged to ensure that measures to reduce the risks are undertaken. Thus this term is about undertaking the control measures as opposed to balancing them with the risks. It is good to note that this means that the control measures must be undertaken not unless the control measures cannot be undertaken as they entail efforts that are so much out of proportion with the risks (Walker 30) Question 4 Categories of Risks as Recognized by ALARP Negligible ALARP recognizes this level of risk and identifies it as risk that is accepted by many people in the society. That is the people have accepted the risk in their day to day lives. This means that they have assumed the risk and do not consider it as a threat nor do they put in place control measures to mitigate the risk. An example is the risk of lightning striking people. This is a risk but people in the society assume this risk as negligible. However it can have devastating consequences on the life of a person if it strikes (Burtonshaw-Gunn 78). Tolerable Risk This type of risk is one that is considered by people as a risk that can be accepted due to the benefits that come with it. That is if people accept the risk. In the mindset of people, they would not like to have the risk but it can be tolerated and accepted so that people can get the benefits. When the price of the elements of controlling the risk such as price of disruption it causes are weighed against the magnitude of the risk, people agree on a compromise that can be tolerated due to the benefits. This means that the benefits determine its acceptance (Burtonshaw-Gunn 78). Unacceptable risk This is a risk whose magnitude is so high that it cannot be accepted by the people nor tolerated. When the losses and benefits are considered, the losses are more than the benefits that this risk brings along. So, people would rather live without the risk than live with the risk tolerate its losses. These losses are brought about by the price of the elements of measures needed to control the risk (Burtonshaw-Gunn 78) Question 5 Duties Placed Upon CDM Coordinator and Client BY Construction Regulations These regulations are meant to enable people in construction projects to easily obey the wellbeing and safety regulations. They ensure that at all points of construction; wellbeing and safety organization is improved hence decreasing the mishaps that may result to injuries that lead to deterioration of health. The most important duty placed upon the client is that of ensuring that the project is carried out safely. They are also required to make sure that before the beginning of the project, interests’ arrangements are put up. They should also ensure that the project been put up obey workplace rules. It is also their duty to make sure that the study on risks due to construction can be done without risks to safety and wellbeing. The client should also make sure that enough time is given to his or her duties so as to be able to accomplish them. The client should also give the contractor enough time to enable the contractor to adequately plan and get ready before work begins (Joyce 7). The coordinator on the other hand has the duty of giving guidance to the client so as to enable him or her to obey their duties. It is also up to the coordinator to inform the HSE on the project. They also control the information about safety and wellbeing that gets to the client and contractor. It is also up to them to check information that is about the activities and measures before construction and guide the client on how to do what has not been done before construction begins. They also manage the work on the plans, designs and how the client prepares for the project taking into consideration safety and wellbeing. The coordinator also manages the formation of a file that is significant and can be easily used for safety and wellbeing measures during the construction time and after. They also avail the client with the main consultant who advises them on the construction in relation to safety and wellbeing matters. Finally, the coordinator should provide on time forms that are suitable to the designers and contractors. These forms have information about what has been done before the construction of the project begins (Joyce 7) Question 6 Impact of Management Regulations on Risk Assessment in Industries Thomas Telford Limited (518) states that the way risk assessment is done is hugely regulated by Management regulations. Regulation 3 of these regulations require the employer to broaden the assessment of risk to comprise an assessment that is appropriate and enough for the employees if hazardous substances are present at the place of work. This ensures that measures that protect the employees can be put in place to protect them. These regulations also necessitate the employer to bring down the risks to levels that are so far as is reasonably practicable. If the risks cannot be brought down or eradicated, then employers are necessitated to so far as is reasonably practicable affect procedures that manage the risks and deal with any negative effects according to the sixth regulation. This ensures that risk assessment is done to meet the levels of practicability. Regulation seven calls for employers to categorize or places that have hazardous material into sectors in regard to the probability and length of a hazardous atmosphere. This ensures that the risk assessment can pinpoint the areas and the risks associated with them. Regulation 8 necessitates employers to put up measures that deal with mishaps; this requires the assessment of risks to point out the likeliness of such mishaps. It is a requirement of regulation 9 that employers avail information on precautions employees need to undertake and guidance on what to do in case a hazardous substance is at the place of work. This helps implement the risk assessment measures. Under regulation 10, all conduits and containers that are utilized to conduct hazardous materials must be marked and if not, they should be labeled to make aware what contents they carry or contain. This is a means that reduces the risk of hazards that may have been indicated in the assessment. Question 7 Key Elements of a Health and Safety Management System The key elements of a health and safety management system include the legislation of health and safety. This legislation ensures that the management system can be followed with failure to follow it leading to prosecution. The authority that is in charge of health and safety measures is important. This authority ensures that these measures are followed and in place. The means, such means to inspect and to control observance of these health and safety measures are important as they ensure that the measures conform to the set guidelines are set. An organization that counsels on the issues that are involved with health and safety is very important as it counsels companies and contractors on how to apply the health and safety measures. A service that provides information about the health and safety measures is fundamental in spreading the knowledge about these measures. Without such a service it is hard to ensure that the measures are applied and the respective bodies affected by them are conversant with them. An institute that assembles data and evaluates the data on the harm and illnesses that may be caused by failure to follow health and safety measures put up. This data is important in helping deal with the fatalities and causes of these fatalities. The element of a budget that can provide for research on safety and health measures and how they can be improved is important. This budget also helps fund training of health and safety measures that equips workers with tips on how to ensure safety and health at their place of work (Hughes 158). Question 8 The Main Changes to the Philosophy of Fire Safety Regulation Introduced by the Regulatory Reform 2005 One of the main changes that the regulatory reform 2005 was the idea it brought about risk assessment. It changed the regulatory codes that were in the previous act of 1971. These codes had enabled the implementation of the acts. However, the regulatory reform modified these and put in place a risk assessment system. The regulatory reform 2005 requires that the employer should consider the employees safety and that of people around the building or company. This meant that the employer puts up ways of sensing and warning in case of a fire. Also, there should be a way to escape when there is fire in the premises. The employer should also put up emergency lights in the escape route to aid in visibility due to smoke. The ways to fight the fire in case it arises should be put up in necessary places that are easily accessible. It also requires that staffs are trained on means of fire safety. These rules are applied to all premises as opposed to the Act of 1971 that was only applicable to certain premises. It also nullified the certificates that were required to be issued by local authorities under the Act of 1971. The act of 1971 also gave powers to the secretary of state to include any premises that he or she considered appropriate to include. This was nullified under the regulatory reform 2005. The task of ensuring the Act of 1971 was followed was given to the fire service department. But under the regulatory reform 2005, the risk assessment measures should be legitimately followed by those who hold responsibility for the premises. The regulatory reform 2005 also required that risk assessment of fire on the premises should be done. It requires that the discovery of these assessments be recorded if the workers exceed a number of five. Works Cited Burtonshaw-Gunn Simon. (2009). Risk and financial management in construction. London: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Hughes, P. (2012). International Health and Safety at Work: for the NEBOSH International General Certificate. New York: Routledge. Joyce Raymond. (2001). The Construction (design and Management) Regulations, 1994: Explained. London: Thomas Telford. Lawrence David. (2003). Environmental Impact Assessment: Practical Solutions to Recurrent Problems. London: John Wiley & Sons. Perezgonzalez Jose. (2005). Construction Safety Management, a Systems Approach. Sydney: Lulu.com. Thomas Telford. (2007). Construction Law Handbook. Telford Limited. Thomas Telford. (2003). Risk Assessments Questions and Answers: A Practical Approach. London: Thomas Telford Limited. Walker Samantha. (2007). Health and Safety - Law and Practice. Sydney: Straightforward co Ltd. Read More