Risk Management: Waratah Engineering - Essay Example

It diversified in the 1980's to include the provision of a range of products and services to the underground coal mining industry, and in the 1990's added the repair and overhaul of underground mining machines to its product mix. The company is a mid-sized organization with a common structure for companies within its industry, i.e., it has the standard major departments typical to a manufacturing/ repair/service operation that include Operations, Sales, Human Resources, Production, Engineering and Administration.

The nature of its business is to: Waratah Engineering engages in the fabrication, repair and field service of large industrial machines. As its employees are working with heavy raw materials and parts, engaging in welding and other manufacturing processes, using heavy machinery, and making customer site visits for repairs, they are naturally exposed to a number of dangerous conditions. The company expressly states that it is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees and visitors, and provides for risk management through the use of an OH&S committee comprised of representatives from both management and employees.

The company has a personnel-driven risk management approach. . itted to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees and visitors, and provides for risk management through the use of an OH&S committee comprised of representatives from both management and employees.Identification of Hazards, Assessments and Risk Control The company has a personnel-driven risk management approach. New employees are provided with an Induction Manual which outlines the organization's specific policies regarding safe conduct, injury reporting, and major hazard response.

Managers are tasked with the burden of general safety as well as the specific duties of auditing safety procedures and compliance, conducting walkabout safety inspections, and addressing on-going policy concerns through the OH&S committee. Experienced personnel are considered part of the risk management team and are expected to observe operating conditions throughout the company's facilities and report any hazards. Selected key non-managerial employees are also members of the OH&S committee which is the central risk control mechanism.

Specific risk management is addressed through focusing on the hazards associated with non-chemical manufacturing. The current reporting system is divided into two distinct arenas. The first, relating to on-the-job injury, is straightforward. If an employee is injured or witnesses the injury of another employee, the matter is to be reported to the immediate supervisor. That supervisor is charged with the responsibility of assessing the nature of the injury and the appropriate response, i.e.

, does the situation require minor first aid or the need to call medical professionals. The supervisor then fills out a report to the departmental manager who confirms the safe welfare of the injured individual, verifies the situation report