Workplace Safety: Health and Safety - Assignment Example

FV2102 2016/17 Assignment Student Number: Institution: Question 1: Explain with reference to relevant case law the statutory responsibility placed on Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd and the Contractor Flow Systems Ltd with respect to ‘Item 1’ of the HSE Letter (Document 2) The tradition of regulation of occupational safety and health in the UK dates back to the 19th century during the labor movements experienced in the era of industrial revolution. Its main aims are to improve health and safety for workers in different occupations, providing a framework for regulation, ensure law compliance, and reducing the likelihood of high-impact or catastrophic incidents at the workplace. Under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is charged with the responsibility to draw and impose health and safety legislations and regulations in industrial workplaces, while the local authorities enforce health and safety regulations in commercial workplaces. Section 2 of the HASAWA requires employers to bear a general responsibility of ensuring that the health, safety and welfare of employees is reasonably practicable and within the code of practice. They are also charged with the duty to protect non-employees from any risks that may arise in the course of their work activities. HSE regulations are made based on risk assessments and reasonable tractability (Rosper, 2014). In the six pack regulations of 1992, under the Workplace Regulation 1992, Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd is required to maintain the treatment plant equipment and other faulty devices and systems such as the drift eliminator and the pump to ensure that employees work in a safe environment. The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations require of an employer to provide adequate arrangements for effective organization, planning, monitoring, control and up to date review of preventive measures. Such protective measures have to be recorded in the health and safety policy statement of the company and brought to the attention of all the workers. The employer is also responsible for carrying out sufficient risk assessments to identify any hazards and assess the probability of the risks found causing harm, and evaluate appropriate methods to control the risks (John R. Ridley, 1999). Flow Systems Ltd and Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd need to adopt all the regulations set by the HSE. The responsibility of providing a safe and healthy working environment lies with the employers of these companies. They are required to comply with the HSE required standards for chemical manufacturing and supply companies. The two companies have a common law duty to reflect a moral obligation in ensuring that the workplace is under reasonable safety. This is the authority of the statute law, in addition to introduction of other duties and setting government bodies mandated with the responsibility of enforcing the regulations set in the law. Breaching of these regulations is a crime. Improving safety performance requires a participation of workers and closer involvement between the stakeholders of the company and HSE. This will provide a clear information and advice to resolve issues in a more accessible way. This is in accordance to the 2004 HSC strategy for health and safety in the workplace (Health and safety commission, 2002). Question 2: Critically analyse the data provided in ‘Document 3’ and with reference to other information provided and researched, draw conclusions to the current risk of exposure to legonnela bacteria. The goal of HSE is to ensure that all the regulation codes regarding to a healthy and safe working environment are followed. The gidelines provided by HSE help in risk control gainst potentially harmful substances in a working environment (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2013). First, from 21/4/2011 to 26/5/2011, the water temperatures recorded for the returing water are between 20 and 22oC. This is beyond the required operation temperature range of 15-20oC. Temperatures above 20oC favour the proliferation of legionella bacteria. Such environment also provides a rich ground for multiplication of organisms such as fungi, algae, and other bacteria and organic matter that provide food nutirnts to the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. In addition, the growth of these organisms results in the formation of a bio-film coating on the surface of the water system structures. High temperatures are also known to accelerate the process of rust and scale formation on metals. The function of biocides in water is to control microbial activity by hindering their growth and spread. As from 5/5/2011, the chemical was unavailable. As a result of this, green algea started to proliferate on the reservoir as indicated on 19/5/2011 in document 3. Regular issuing the correct dose of biocides to the water plant is one effective way that can be used to control the growth and development of legionella. The function of water softeners is to clean and disinfect the resin and brine tank. They are administered according to the directions provided by the specific manufacturer. The damage of the drift eliminator and breakdown of the pump caused the unusual operations of the system. The design of the system allows for an effective control of the drift to ensure that aerosol is not released into the atmosphere and compromise plant safety. There is need to urgently fit the drift eliminators to fix the problem. Regular maintanance of the drift eliminators will also ensure that breakdown frequency is minimized for normal operations. Regular and scheduled inspection will also ensure that they are kept clean, free from corrosion, scales, bio-fouling and other deposits. According to the records kept within the provided period, samples for laboratory testing and analysis were last taken on 24/2/11. This should not be the case. Water chemical, quality and usage are parameters that have to be assessed atleast once every month to ensure that the water treatment regime is effective and consistent. These includes assessment for microbial invasion, and other internal conditions such as water temperature, alkalinity, hardness, colour, dissolved substances etc. If these parameters are monitored at regular intervals, then it will be easy to identify any changes that may occur in the tratment plant, and hence, take timely and appropriate measures. To conclude on the current risk of exposure to leggonnela bacteria, the following points are noted: i. The drift eliminator and the pump are dameged. This causes disruption to the normal operation of the plant and have to be fixed immediately. ii. Testing of water samples is not regular as it should be (once in every month). This poses danger on human health because the invasion of legonnela bacteria is not timely detected. This encourages the the growth and development of the bacteria and other microorganisms to levels that can cause legionellosis or any other microbial infection related to the microorganisms. iii. There are some factors that create a risk of legionellosis currently existing in the treatment plant. For example, temperatures above 20oC provide a suitable environment for the growth and development of legonnela bacteria. Such conditions have to be eliminated to ensure a safer working environment. iv. There is a delayed application of biocide, a chemical that is useful in killing of micro-organisms. This ecourages the growth of bcteria and other water microorganisms. Question 3: Draft a reply to the HSE Inspectors letter (including an outline plan of actions the company intends to take) that is likely to convince the Inspector that no further enforcement is necessary. Attention: HSE Inspector From: I. Plant, Site Manager, Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd Cooling System. 27th June, 2011. Re: Inspections of Premises Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd This is in reference to your letter dated 28/05/2011 concerning the inspection you did at water treatment plant that serves Acme Hydrocarbons Ltd. Your inspection report points that there are changes in the normal operating conditions of the water treatment system that require urgent corrective measures. The temperatures of the returning water has increased above the required range of 15 to 18oC. This condition has favored growth and development activity of microorganisms, particularly bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The bacteria is known to cause legionnaires’ disease, a very serious form of pneumonia. Therefore, a plant operator exposed to this bacteria is potentially exposed to infection risk. The risk of spread of the infection is increased by the damaged drift eliminator which releases more aerosol into the atmosphere. In concern of these problems, I intend to take reasonably practicable measures to control the situation and reduce or eliminate the risk of bacterial infection. The following are actions I intend to take: i. Inform Flow Systems Ltd. about the condition of the cooling system and make a follow-up for quick action. Their main area of concern will be to take the necessary corrective measures to regulate the temperatures in the plant to their recommended range. This will reduce the proliferation of bacterium Legionella pneumophila. ii. Purchasing a new drift eliminator to replace the damaged one to address the problem of release of aerosol into the atmosphere. iii. Take water samples for testing and analysis. A routine monthly water test will thereof be taken and adhered to as recommended by COSHH. This will ensure that microbial activity is regularly monitored and maintained within the required standards. If need arises, we shall hire the services of an experienced microbiologist. iv. Supply biocide immediately. v. Repairing or replacing the tripped pump. vi. Carry out lab tests on people who operate the plant are likely to come into contact with the bacteria. If any of them tests positive, a necessary treatment action will be taken. vii. Last but not least, we intent to enforce the regulations set by COSHH in the operation of the water treatment plant to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained within the required standards to provide a safe working environment for all. As the person in charge of the treatment site, I will ensure that the above actions are implemented to control any problems that may arise. I also intend to initiate an awareness programme between our employees and health and safety experts to increase their understanding and knowledge of a healthy and safe working environment. References Read More

Question 2: Critically analyse the data provided in ‘Document 3’ and with reference to other information provided and researched, draw conclusions to the current risk of exposure to legonnela bacteria. The goal of HSE is to ensure that all the regulation codes regarding to a healthy and safe working environment are followed. The gidelines provided by HSE help in risk control gainst potentially harmful substances in a working environment (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2013). First, from 21/4/2011 to 26/5/2011, the water temperatures recorded for the returing water are between 20 and 22oC.

This is beyond the required operation temperature range of 15-20oC. Temperatures above 20oC favour the proliferation of legionella bacteria. Such environment also provides a rich ground for multiplication of organisms such as fungi, algae, and other bacteria and organic matter that provide food nutirnts to the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. In addition, the growth of these organisms results in the formation of a bio-film coating on the surface of the water system structures. High temperatures are also known to accelerate the process of rust and scale formation on metals.

The function of biocides in water is to control microbial activity by hindering their growth and spread. As from 5/5/2011, the chemical was unavailable. As a result of this, green algea started to proliferate on the reservoir as indicated on 19/5/2011 in document 3. Regular issuing the correct dose of biocides to the water plant is one effective way that can be used to control the growth and development of legionella. The function of water softeners is to clean and disinfect the resin and brine tank.

They are administered according to the directions provided by the specific manufacturer. The damage of the drift eliminator and breakdown of the pump caused the unusual operations of the system. The design of the system allows for an effective control of the drift to ensure that aerosol is not released into the atmosphere and compromise plant safety. There is need to urgently fit the drift eliminators to fix the problem. Regular maintanance of the drift eliminators will also ensure that breakdown frequency is minimized for normal operations.

Regular and scheduled inspection will also ensure that they are kept clean, free from corrosion, scales, bio-fouling and other deposits. According to the records kept within the provided period, samples for laboratory testing and analysis were last taken on 24/2/11. This should not be the case. Water chemical, quality and usage are parameters that have to be assessed atleast once every month to ensure that the water treatment regime is effective and consistent. These includes assessment for microbial invasion, and other internal conditions such as water temperature, alkalinity, hardness, colour, dissolved substances etc.

If these parameters are monitored at regular intervals, then it will be easy to identify any changes that may occur in the tratment plant, and hence, take timely and appropriate measures. To conclude on the current risk of exposure to leggonnela bacteria, the following points are noted: i. The drift eliminator and the pump are dameged. This causes disruption to the normal operation of the plant and have to be fixed immediately. ii. Testing of water samples is not regular as it should be (once in every month).

This poses danger on human health because the invasion of legonnela bacteria is not timely detected. This encourages the the growth and development of the bacteria and other microorganisms to levels that can cause legionellosis or any other microbial infection related to the microorganisms. iii. There are some factors that create a risk of legionellosis currently existing in the treatment plant. For example, temperatures above 20oC provide a suitable environment for the growth and development of legonnela bacteria.

Such conditions have to be eliminated to ensure a safer working environment. iv. There is a delayed application of biocide, a chemical that is useful in killing of micro-organisms.

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