The Leading Manufacturers of Chemical Products in the Americas - Essay Example

? al Affiliation) HEALTH AND SAFETY Task A) Table of Contents Company Profile………………………………………………………………………………… 2 mentof Intent………………………………………………………………………………. 2 Organizational Structure………………………………………………………………………… 4 Arrangements on how to Implement the Policy………………………………………………… 6 Company Profile My company is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of chemical products in the Americas. We specialize in manufacturing and supplying all kinds of chemicals for retail and mass consumption, and have been doing so for the last 60 years. Our biggest clients are industries which use most of our products, but retail consumption also forms a significant component of our corporate strategy. We produce organic and industrial chemicals, ceramic products, petrochemicals, agrochemicals, polymers, elastomers, explosives (including ammonium nitrate and nitroglycerin), oleochemicals, fragrances, and flavors. We have a presence in 16 countries, with our biggest markets being the United States and Canada, although Latin America also contributes greatly to our overall growth and success. Because of our sheer size, we employ over 20,000 workers in the 16 countries in which we have a presence. These workers perform a wide range of duties ranging from casual labor to administrative work. Others are also employed in the supply and distribution segment, playing a crucial role in taking our products to our customers. Over the last two years we have embarked on an ambitious expansion program that has helped us to not only grow existing markets but also push into new markets and frontiers. The program has been a huge success considering that only the first phase has been implemented. We intend to roll out the second and final phase in the next month and finish its implementation in two years. Statement of Intent First, I already mentioned that our company manufactures chemicals for industrial and retail consumption. It is well known that chemicals, especially industrial chemicals, are not only very volatile and dangerous, but also highly sensitive. They can cause great damage if mishandled in any way or stored in a manner that makes them more hazardous than they already are. Workers are also predisposed to the dangers of these chemicals since they are the ones charged with handling them during manufacturing, packaging, storage, and distribution. Those workers who do not come into contact with these chemicals are also vulnerable indirectly because they spend some time around them. I must say that since we are primarily a manufacturing company, the working conditions of our employees are critical to the success of our business. More importantly, the health and safety conditions of our employees form the backbone of current and future success of the company. We have put in place measures that comply with the requirements of various government agencies like OSHA (occupational safety and health administration), NISH (national institute for occupational safety and health), and the chemical safety board. In addition to this, we regularly cooperate with the aforementioned agencies in order to ensure that we are constantly in compliance with the necessary regulations. This has enabled the company to consistently score highly in industry ratings that are published every year, and used to classify those companies that have best complied with health and safety requirements and made their plants and workplaces safe for all their employees. From a health and safety perspective, the company considers the following things important: a) Safe Working Conditions Our employees are our most valued assets, and therefore we know it would be foolish to let them work in poor and unsafe conditions. We are focused on making our employees feel as comfortable as possible (despite the potential dangers in their workplaces) so that they are motivated to perform their duties as expected. From manufacturing, packaging, storage, transportation, and distribution, we have secured our employees by throwing a virtual safety net around them that makes our plants one of the safest in the Americas. b) Training Health and safety measures are nothing if the people meant to be protected are no aware of the importance of occupational safety and health. The company has established excellent training and educational programs that are conducted regularly. These programs show employees why their safety is important not only to them but also to us. They also help keep employees on their toes when it comes to maintaining the right health and safety conditions in the workplace. New employees are literally taught and trained on how to stay safe when they are in or around the workplace. After undergoing induction and orientation training, they are required to attend (together with more experienced workers) monthly seminars and conferences that update them on the latest requirements and changes that they have to be aware of. They are also taken through drills that simulate real life situations. Their performances during such drills are then monitored and measured against set standards. All this training is meant to put our workers on alert at all times, and on standby in terms of reacting to dangerous situations (Piotet 2006, pg. 37). When it comes to health and safety (H&S) our slogan is: Always informed, always ready, and therefore always safe and protected. Organizational Structure This structure will show the people and the roles that will be involved in implementing the responsibilities that health and safety call for. They are the following: i) Chief Executive- plays a crucial role in developing and overseeing the implementation of the company’s health and safety policy. ii) Board director responsible for health and safety- directly responsible for the implementation of the company’s health and safety policy. iii) Health and safety supervisor/advisor- works closely with the board director responsible for health and safety in the implementation of the organization’s health and safety policy. iv) Employee Representative(s) - present and voice any concerns that employees have over health and safety. The organization structure is as follows: Arrangements on how to Implement the Policy These arrangements include setting out the rules, procedures and systems for health and safety. These include how risk assessments will be developed, enforced and reviewed, as well as how training needs will be identified and satisfied. The arrangements also include how employees will be consulted and performance evaluated. These arrangements will only be successfully implemented if we focus on the four C’s as follows: a) Control Risk assessment procedures should be followed, up to date, appropriate, and reviewed. This should also apply to suppliers of goods and services. The roles and responsibilities and job descriptions should contain reference to health and safety (Allport, Gilbert & Outterside 2003 pg. 19). The board member will be nominated as a health and safety champion and will be required to be very active in that role. Senior managers will be required to lead by example (e.g. always abiding by H&S rules, attending health and safety training, and inquiring about health and safety issues). Health and safety responsibilities will be assigned to managers, while health and safety specialists will support them. Managers will be required to accept the responsibility for regulating risks and amass the resources to do it. Employees will be required to understand and embrace their role in guaranteeing day-to-day health and safety. Everybody’s performances will be measured and monitored and they will be held accountable for their actions. Good performance will be rewarded, poor performance will be investigated, and improvements will be encouraged and supported (Stranks 2006, pg. 12). b) Cooperation Legal requirements for consulting and informing employees should be met. Employees and representatives should actively participate in the health and safety system by taking part in the development of policies, setting of standards, risk assessments, monitoring, investigation through an effective health and safety committee or similar forum. They should also meet regularly and take part in the determination of priorities. c) Communication The company will remain up to date with health and safety developments through external sources of information (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service 2000, pg. 28). Employees will be provided with relevant information concerning policies, investigation findings, outcomes of risk assessments, etc. Employees will be familiarized with procedures/policies and know their duties. Clear procedures will exist for reporting and recording accidents/near misses/ill health and employee concerns. d) Competent Workforce All employees will have adequate training and instruction on the hazards, risks, skills, and risk controls suitable for their jobs. All managers will be required to have health and safety training applicable to their roles (Alli 2008, pg. 45). Some members of staff will be required to have specific health and safety responsibilities as determined by the company’s policy (e.g. risk assessment and control), and have the skills required to perform them effectively. Refresher courses will be provided, especially for statutory appointees like first aiders. Health and safety needs arising from hiring, promotion, or changes to processes/plant/working practices will be identified and met. Induction training will be performed and training records kept. Employees in high hazard positions must be evaluated and certified to be competent. Task 1(B) RIDDOR There was an incident in which 5 storage tanks containing highly concentrated sulphuric acid started leaking and corroding surrounding materials. This was a potentially hazardous situation because it could have led to other related, and even worse, accidents. In order to prevent a re-occurrence, I would take the following steps: i) Immediately clear the area by evacuating all employees working in or around the area. This will prevent possible injuries and/or deaths resulting from contact with the acid. There is the possibility of one of the tanks bursting and spilling a large amount of sulphuric acid, and this would be disastrous. ii) Report the incident to the health and safety supervisor. This will pave the way for him/her to make an informed and expert choice on the appropriate actions to be taken at that moment. iii) Convince top management to replace those tanks (the likelihood is that they are worn-out). This will ensure that the chances of such an incident repeating itself are totally eliminated. References Alli, B. O. 2008, Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety (2nd Ed.), International Labor Office, Geneva. Allport, D. C., Gilbert, D. S., & Outterside, S. M. 2003, MDI and TDI a safety, health and the environment: a source book and practical guide, J. Wiley, New York. Piotet, F. 2006, Policies on health and safety in thirteen countries of the European Union, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin. Stranks, J. W. 2006, The manager's guide to health & safety at work (8th ed.), Kogan Page, London. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service 2000, Safety and health guidebook. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Washington, D.C. Read More