Osh Manual Safety

Introduction Part 1
Occupational Safety Engineering
And Health Management

Safety and the Field of Safety Engineering

Definition establishes foundation of any concept, field of studies and professions. One of the marks of a profession is the existence of a unique terminology, with well-defined meanings. But the basic word safety is often poorly defined and poorly understood because of lack of insight and, given the insight, lack of consistency (James Covan).

This introductory chapter is intended to provide explicit definition of safe or safety as a concept and principle. It caters the very simple definition up to the technical one as applied in professional practice. As well as the OSHS of the Philippines’ concept of safety is presented in this section. There might be other definition which not sighted in this part but the author believes that what presented here is accepted by most of all safety professionals and practitioner in the country and abroad. These definitions were source out from different widely used references on occupational safety and health management. These terms were also verified from the conceptual description of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on its published Encyclopedia on Occupational Safety and Health.

WHAT IS SAFETY?

Safety in a broad sense commonly referred as “freedom from hazards or accident.” This mean keeping one’s self away from dangers, injuries or damages. In a simple definition, it is the “opposite of danger.” Dictionaries defined safety as “the quality or state of not presenting risk.” Or the “condition from being safe: freedom from being threatened by danger or injury.” Danger states the degree of exposure to a hazard. While hazard is defined as the condition with potential of causing injury or damages. In the industry, safety is applied not only to human but as well to property and other vital resources.

“Risk and life are Inseparable”

In order to survive, man has acquired instinctive habits and reflexes to protect himself from more common hazards. As it is impossible to eliminate hazard since it is inevitable in man’s every activity, therefore safety is not absolute. The definition above is the general perception of safety. Yet in the engineering side, “safety is not absolute”. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) prefers to use for a safety definition is the more practical connotation of “relative safety”. Technically, SAFETY defines as a relative matter of freedom from risks and hazards in any environment – home, office, factory, mine, schools, construction site, supermart, malls or their environs. Some risks are more easily reduced or eliminate than others. Now, “how safe is safe?” as other usually ask. Safe is relative – nothing is 100% safe under all conditions (Gloss and Wardle; Emphases Added).

As example, there is always some case in which a relatively safe material, building structure or piece of equipment becomes hazardous. This happens due to different factors and conditions where this material or machine is subjected. These are verified by our topics in Strength of Materials and Materials Science. For example, eating food usually considered safe so as drinking water. But there can become hazardous if one takes too much, since these can cause stomach and kidney failure. We can never achieve “absolute safety”. What we can is to maintain certain level or relative safety condition, which is subjected to different situations. Therefore readiness is indispensable in the management of safety in any industry.

Safety in the Philippines Context

In the Philippines, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH) defines safe or safety as conditions or state on which compliance to the provisions of the said standard is being maintained. The OSHS is promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Bureau of Working Condition (BWC). Its interpretation on the level of safety condition is dependent on the implementation and adherence of the prescribed standard provided by the law-OSHS and Labor Code of the Philippines. Deviation from the said standards mean putting the workers or any individual and the resources into risk, hazard or danger which potentially causes accident or damage.

SAFETY ENGINEERING AND ITS GOALS

In its old original technical definition, safety engineering means improving or redesigning of machinery, equipment and processes so that hazards are not merely covered up but eliminated and at the same time efficiency and production are increased. For social and professional view, safety engineering is the discipline that attempts to reduce the risks by eliminating or controlling the hazards. It is the planning and executing for the safeguarding of workers from personal injuries and industrial property from damages arising out of accident.

Occupational Safety Engineering trains students and technical people for professional engineering services in field of safety at work. Training produces the competence to recognize and analyze danger factors in the production work, to develop accident-preventive measures, to calculate safety levels, and to direct accident prevention programs at work.

The main goal of safety engineering is to reduce accidents and control or eliminate hazards in the workplace. Ideally, if accidents could be entirely eliminated, there would be no need for fire or casualty insurance, workers compensation insurance claim would be a thing of a past, and safety engineers would be standing in the unemployment line (Gloss and Wardle). But this not the case of any industry today. A big amount in the annual budget of most companies goes to compensating employees who suffered from unwanted accident. The most recent reports from the BWC of DOLE shoes that millions of pesos are considered to be a national loses due to accident.

For the present, however it is more realistic to aim for annual reductions in the number of accidents and in the number of workers’’ compensation insurance claims. These can be measured and quantified through accident frequency rate and severity rate, which will be discussed in the handbook later.

The goal of safety engineering can be accomplished only with the support of top management through its leadership. A safe and healthful working environment, and with the cooperation of workers who have been well trained in safety is another important factor in achieving its goal (T. J. Anton). Productivity is the industry’s term in quantifying the contribution of safety profession in the overall performance of any enterprise. Preventing accident to happen or controlling its effect by minimizing damages to human and property means cost saving measures not just additional fixed cost in the manufacturing/service operation. Definitely, through cost-benefit analysis, it will show that safety increases productivity.

BASIC FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF A SAFETY ENGINEER

The Safety Engineer is a professional committed to making the working environment as safe as possible by focusing on any or all of the following jobs: Accident prevention; human factors; the interface between the workplace and the environments; design if layout and equipment; management and supervision of safety trainings; and being safety consultant to the foremen, supervisors, and management.

One of his principal function is to act as the employer’s principal assistant and consultant in the application of programs to remove that hazards in the workplace and correct unsafe work practices (Rule 1047 OSHS, Philippines). He identified as the “safety man” of the organization. Therefore the task assuring the conservation of valuable man power resource and the preventive loss or damages to lives and properties lies on his shoulder. He has to observe the prevention of every working man against diseases or death through safe and healthful working condition in the areas of his responsibility.

Since the function of safety engineer matters life and death as well as the protection of organization’s resources, therefore this only means that mediocrity in his part must have no room, His many and varied duties will keep him busy at all times. Provided here are the ten duties of a safety engineer. May be this list is incomplete as compare to others but sufficient enough to substantiate the foregoing statement.

1. He must plan the Safety Program.

Accident prevention is planned activity, requiring forethought (Bernal). Planning is the first and the fundamental function of management. All starts from it. The safety program which developed by the safety engineer together with his co-workers will serve as guidelines and plays an important role in the implementation of strategies in order to meet the goals and objectives of the organization. There must be a black-and-white basis for the safety engineer’s undertaking. The output of the collective planning is a Safety Program, which intended to be implemented within organization.

2. He must implement and supervise the Safety Program.

There is no other person in the organization that will implement the safety program other than the safety engineer himself. It is his next concern to execute his plan. Bernal states on his book that a program of accident prevention is never self-sufficient. It may be conceived with the insight of a master safety mind, but it will never become self-propelled. Like other work it must be carefully implemented and supervise. The level of satisfying the objectives if the program is also depending on the level of supervision a safety engineer provides.

3. He must coordinate the Safety Program.

Any program in the organization needs to be coordinated with other functions. Since all organization is a complex mixture of systems, coordination is a must. This will allow smooth implementation and minimizes conflict arising from miscommunication and overlapping of activities. The safety engineer must coordinate all his efforts and plans to all concerned managers that will be involved in the implementation of the safety program. Their support and active participation are essentials in the success of the program.

4. He must conduct plant inspections.

A prominent management philosophy says “all problems result from changes”. People, equipment, materials and the environment are constantly changing. As engineers, we already took enough lessons from our Materials Science and Strength of Materials subject about these factors of change. Some changes remove previous hazards others create new ones. This is why inspection is one of the major duties of a safety engineer. His inspection focuses on these changes and helps identify and solve the problems, there must be a systematic plant inspection program for a particular purpose under his safety program.

5. He must investigate accidents.

Information and facts are very vital in decision-making. Decisions like what to be done, who will be trained and how things to be done require data to support a preposition. A safety engineer must be prepared and skillful in the generating information and facts relating to an accident through direct investigation. This will enable him to explore ways and means to prevent and minimize a recurrence of the accident.

6. He must obtain accident records and statistics.

Every data and information is needed to be stored. It must be well kept for further evaluation or future utilization. These data relating to accidents and safety must be statistically treated to draw conclusions for decision-making. These can also serve as tool or instrument for evaluating the safety performance of a unit in the organization or as a whole. No program of management like quality, productivity or safety can be well manages without the help of proper data recording and statistical analysis.

7. He must advertise safety.

“Safety is everybody’s business”. No undertaking intended to maintain safety would be successful without the participation of everyone in the organization. Therefore all members must be knowledgeable of the safety drive initiated by the safety engineer. This necessitates promotion if the safety program. It will also start from massive company wide information drive up to the trainings and educational activities that increases the awareness of all concerns. Activities that will motivate and steer up the enthusiasm of employees will do help. Such as recognition, awards and incentives to deserving individuals or groups in the organization.

8. He must be informed on the accident experience of others.

There’s a saying “that history repeat itself”. Anyone who doesn’t learn its lesson is destined to be a victim of its repetition. Therefore it is a must for every safety engineer to be informed and aware of the experience of others and what happening around him. Other’s experiences related to accident and safety can be a good supplement in evaluating hazards and other possible causes of accidents within your area of responsibility. In the Philippines the “Ozone Disco Tragedy”, Cherry Hills Subdivision in Antipolo, and the Payatas Dumpsite Landslide are unwanted events that we have to consider in managing safety and health issues in the industry.

9. He must participate in community safety.

The Cannons of Ethics for Engineers mandated every engineering professional to ensure safety, health and welfare of the public. His talent and skills as the knowledgeable person relating to safety must not only be disposed for the benefit of his/her employers alone.

In the Philippines, number of cases and conflict arising between the public and the industry are being experience. Most often in the installation of developmental projects like power generation facilities and large scale industrial projects. This is because the community that will bring up by the industrial facilities. However, this conflict can be attributed to lack of communication between the industry professionals and the public community. In this regard, massive public information and community relation should be established by the safety man in order for the public to realize the company’s concern is not only profit. But also concerned with the welfare and safety of the community affected by their operations.

10. He must be knowledgeable of all Safety Laws, Codes, Standards, and Ordinances relating to his/her practice.

Laws and standards are one of the foundations of safety engineering practice. These safety and health standards are prescribed by legislations and implemented by government agencies and regulating units. It is a must for every safety engineer to know this body of legislations. Precise interpretation to its provisions is also necessary.

But his work and duties does not end in knowing these standards. He must carefully observe it and implement it to his area of responsibility.

Guidelines to Practice under the Fundamental Canon of Ethics for Engineers
(Promulgated by the International Engineering Associations Worldwide in All Field of Engineering Practice)

CANON 1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties. a. Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public which are dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated into structures, machines, products, processes and devices. b. Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted engineering standards. c. Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of sustainable development ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences. d. Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required. e. Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their communities, and the protection of the environment through the practice of sustainable development. f. Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adherence to the principles of sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life of the general public.

CANON 2. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

a. Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the technical field of engineering involved. b. Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of such project shall be performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees. c. Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any engineering plan or document dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue of education or experience or to any such plan or document not reviewed or prepared under their supervisory control.

CANON 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthfully manner.

a. Engineers should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of engineering and sustainable development, and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements regarding engineering. b. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony. c. Engineers, when serving as expert witnesses, shall express an engineering opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts, upon a background of technical competence, and upon honest conviction. d. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms or arguments on engineering matters which are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they indicate on whose behalf the statements are made. e. Engineers shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit, and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity, honor and dignity of the profession.

CANON 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

a. Engineers shall avoid all known or potential conflicts of interest with their employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business association, interests, or circumstances which could influence their judgment or the quality of their services. b. Engineers shall not accept compensation from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to and agreed to, by all interested parties. c. Engineers shall not solicit or accept gratitude, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employer in connection with work for which they are responsible. d. Engineers in public service members, advisors, or employees of a governmental body or department shall not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organization in private or public engineering practice. e. Engineers shall advise their employers or clients when, as a result of their studies, they believe a project will not be successful. f. Engineers shall not use confidential information coming to them in the course of their assignments as a means of making personal profit if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients, employers or the public. g. Engineers shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or interest without the knowledge of their employers.

CANON 5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

a. Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any political contribution, gratuity, or unlawful consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies. b. Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required. c. Engineers may request, propose or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis only under circumstances in which their professional judgments would not be compromised. d. Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or professional qualifications or experience. e. Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for designs, inventions, writing or other accomplishments. f. Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession. Examples of permissible advertising are as follows: * Professional cards in recognized, dignified publications, and listing in rosters or directories published by responsible organizations, provided that the cards or listings are consistent in size and content and are in a section of the publication regularly devoted to such professional cards. * Brochures which factually describe experience, facilities, personnel and capacity to render service, providing they are not misleading with respect to the engineer’s participation in projects described. * Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications, providing it is factual and is not misleading with respect to the engineer’s extent of participation in projects described. * A statement of the engineers’ names or the name of the firm and statement of the type of service posted on projects for which they render services. * Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press, which are factual and dignified. Such articles shall not imply anything more than direct participation on the project described. * Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial advertisements, such as may be published by contractors, material suppliers, etc. only by means of a modest, dignified notation acknowledging the engineers’ participation in the project described. Such permission shall not include public endorsement of propriety products. g. Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer or indiscriminately criticize another’s work. h. Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities if their employers to carry on outside prvate practice without the consent of their employers.

CANON 6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession.

a. Engineers shall not knowingly act in a manner which will be derogatory to the honor, integrity, or dignity of the engineering profession or knowingly engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or unethical nature.

CANON 7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

a. Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars. b. Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the earliest possible date. c. Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at professional and technical society meetings. d. Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships between employers and employees with respect to terms of employment including professional grade descriptions, salary ranges, and fringe benefits.