Occupational Safety and Health Risk Assessment in Engineered Nanoparticles Manufacturing Processes

2017 ◽  
Vol 887 ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
George Bălan ◽  
Roland Iosif Moraru ◽  
Lorena Bălan

The engineered nanoparticles are more and more entering in Romanian working places, both in research laboratories and in manufacturing processes. Ever increasingly numerous evidence shows that this materials science revolution can generate significant health, safety and environmental hazards, in addition to the social, economic and ethical challenges involvedBased on the precautionary principle recommended be the European Union and a thorough literature review, this research is intended to introduce a framework for further development of an Occupational Health and Safety risk management foundation in this field of concern. Starting from a systematic approach in terms of occupational exposure, the paper emphasizes certain feasible means aimed at nanoparticle’s risk assessment, particularly in a qualitative manner. Recommendations are provided for the industry in order to meet the safety regulations, which in turn should be adapted to the findings of researches, considering that we are facing emerging risks whose nature is often unknown.

Evaluation ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 135638902098046
Author(s):  
Peter Dahler-Larsen ◽  
Anna Sundby ◽  
Adiilah Boodhoo

What can be said about effect of an intervention without a control group? The lack of evaluative evidence is a long-standing problem for regulatory policies against work-related health and safety risks. The European Union Occupational Safety and Health Framework has been in operation for three decades and covers more than 200 million workers, but the most recent evaluation was inconclusive about the benefits generated by this framework. A theory-based evaluation focusing on mechanisms in combination with a design capturing within-intervention variations offers a way forward. The idea is to measure the prevalence of most likely mechanisms and their correlation with outcomes. This approach is illustrated in a large- N evaluation of the use of workplace assessments in the public sector in Denmark. The strengths and weakness of the workplace assessment legislation are assessed. It is shown how findings based on the presented approach contribute to the public debate about workplace assessments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-74
Author(s):  
Andon Majhoshev ◽  
Kristijan Jovanov

Occupational safety and health is one of the most important international labor standards of ILO. This means that ILO member states should ensure encouraging and maintenance at the highest level of safe working conditions in order to avoid accidents and occupational diseases. Achieving this goal means that employers must make a continuous risk assessment at the workplace, and at the same time decide whether appropriate measures and activities are necessary in order to create the highest level of safety and health at work, i.e. to avoid side effects. In order to achieve this goal, a systematic approach is necessary in preventive action and connection of all entities that are bearers of certain obligations and activities at the national level, but also beyond the international institutions in this area. By application for membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union on 22 of March 2004, the process of harmonization of the domestic with the European labor legislation begins, and thus inevitably harmonization of the domestic legislation for safety and health at work with the European. Thereby, this process takes place pursuant to article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, according to which the protection of workers is of primary importance, i.e. health and safety at work is a constitutional-legal category and every individual has the right to work, free choice of employment and work protection. In the harmonization process the basic concept is the Framework Directive 389/391/EES for safety and health at work, according to which the national legislation on safety and health at work should be harmonized exactly according to the principles of this directive.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-57
Author(s):  
Desy Indarwati

Risk Assessment is systematic way of carrying out activities in laboratory, identifying the potential emergence of hazards and other worst possibility, and also the decisions to control and prevent the accidents. This research is a qualitative descriptive research with a case study method.  Data obtained through observation, interview, and study documents at Laboratory of Tarbiyah Faculty UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. The purpose of this study is to provide an understanding for laboratory users about the importance of implementing occupational safety and health in the laboratory. The result show that there were 14 potential hazards that arose which were divided into four variables, they are handling and storage of materials, design of workshop/laboratory, Facilities, and activities in laboratory. Risk assessment result of 14 potential hazards found that, 43% are low risk, 14% are moderate risk, 43% are high risk, and 0% are extreme risk. The effort to implementing occupational health and safety (K3) have not been fully carried out optimally. To control or push down the potential of hazards are (1) Arranging SOP for implementation of K3, (2) provide Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), (3) maximize utilization of personal protective equipment, (4) provide enough first aid and eyewash, (5) provide fire extinguishers (APAR).


2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 12021
Author(s):  
Nicoleta Paula NEAG

The European Union Strategic Framework on Occupational Health and Safety at Work 2014 – 2020 has pushed the Member States to review their national strategies. Thus, national strategies have customized, the European vision to the national culture and specifics, considering the European framework that acts as a common guide and reference. The 2018 Report on occupational safety and health strategies in Europe, do not include the Romanian strategy. Based on the national strategy last version (2018), the paper will present and debate a comparative analysis between the Romanian OHS strategy and the other Member State strategy. This research approach is meant to identify, and underline Romania’s efforts made in the field of OHS, but also the gaps and missing aspects of the related strategy in comparison with the other countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-391
Author(s):  
Domagoj Šantek ◽  
Sandra Debeljak ◽  
Rui Isidoro

The domain of occupational safety and health at work is put for regulation through directives by founding agreements. This means that the institutions of the European Union prescribe minimum standards of safety and health at work through directives and Member States need to accomplish goals that a particular directive pursues. At the same time, this means that each Member State can also set stricter standards than the ones prescribed through directives and for this reason some differences in regulations of individual Member States can be noticed. In this paper, authors focus on the role of occupational safety specialist and the manner in which the Republic of Croatia and the Portuguese Republic, in their legislation, prescribe obligations of the employer in terms of contracting the performance of occupational health and safety tasks with an occupational safety specialist or an external service. Authors furthermore examine required conditions which occupational safety specialist must meet to perform those tasks. Apart from outlining the Croatian and Portuguese legislation, authors also present and define fundamental similarities and differences in the regulations within this domain of security legislation.


Author(s):  
Bruce P. Bernard

This chapter focuses on conducting worksite investigations, including walkthrough surveys, and provides occupational health and safety personnel, employees, and employers the opportunity to identify and assess current workplace conditions and employee health concerns and make recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate any identified workplace hazards. The methods described cover ways to implement corrective actions necessary for preventing future adverse incidents and to identify shortcomings in safety and health management programs. Various specific examples are provided. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Evaluation Program, which has experience with all types of workplace hazards, is described. Preparing for and conducting workplace investigations is described in detail.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Carlos Carvalhais ◽  
Micaela Querido ◽  
Cristiana C. Pereira ◽  
Joana Santos

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. METHODS: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. RESULTS: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kwan Woo Kim

BACKGROUND: Although using forklifts in industrial sites contributes to productivity, many workers have been injured or killed owing to industrial accidents caused by forklifts. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the characteristics of forklift accidents by employment type and work process, thereby identifying the factors contributing to industrial accidents and providing recommendations to prevent accidents. METHODS: Data on 1,061 industrial forklift accidents occurring in 2018 collected from the national injury insurance compensation database were analyzed. In addition to analyzing the accident characteristics, this study performed a risk assessment per forklift work process. RESULTS: Many accidents were associated with older workers, those employed for <  6 months, and workplaces with ≤49 workers. The risk was the highest for accidents involving caught-in objects in the loading/unloading step and collision accidents in the forward- and backward-driving steps. CONCLUSIONS: Measures are needed to prevent industrial forklift accidents. First, forklift and worker movement routes must be strictly separated or controlled by a work supervisor. It is necessary to secure a time margin for workers to avoid collapsing cargo by using an appropriate tool/jig during loading/unloading. Second, guidance, inspection, and support are needed to promote employers’ safety and health awareness in workplaces with <  50 workers. Lastly, intensive education and training concerning health and safety is required for workers with less than six months of experience.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-224
Author(s):  
Diana Putri ◽  
Asril Asril ◽  
Beny Yulianto

ABSTRAK Rumah Potong Hewan merupakan suatu bangunan yang memiliki desain dan konstruksi khusus digunakan sebagai tempat pemotongan hewan. Aktivitas kerja di RPH memiliki potensi bahaya yang dapat mengancam keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja. Berdasarkan observasi awal, RPH Kota Pekanbaru ini tidak memiliki laporan bulanan maupun tahunan mengenai data kecelakaan, dan juga belum pernah melakukan identifikasi, dan penilaian terhadap bahaya yang ada. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk menganalisis keselamatan kesehatan kerja (K3) terhadap risiko bahaya lingkungan fisik di tempat kerja dengan metode “HIRARC” (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control). Jenis penelitian ini adalah kualitatif analitik. Lokasi penenlitian dilakukan di rumah potong hewan Kota Pekanbaru, penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Juli-Agustus 2020. Informan dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 6 orang, sebagai informan utama yaitu Kepala UPTD, 2 orang informan pendukung yaitu koordinator lapangan dan dokter hewan, dan informan kunci yaitu pekerja, metode yang digunakan peneliti yaitu wawancara mendalam dan observasi langsung. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang dilakukan potensi bahaya tingkatan risiko “Ekstrim” seperti diseruduk sapi pada proses penggiringan sapi menuju killing box, tertimpa katrol dan sapi pada proses penggantungan dan pemindahan sapi menggunakan katrol. Rumah Potong Hewan belum pernah melakukan identifikasi bahaya, penilaian risiko akan tetapi untuk pengendalian risiko sudah dilakukan beberapa upaya di rumah potong hewan, seperti SOP, Shift kerja, dan juga APD. Rekomendasi yang diberikan yaitu diharapkan sebaiknya RPH memiliki fasilitas yang berhubungan dengan kesehatan pekerja. Perlu adanya upaya pengendalian risiko secara engineering control, contohnya, membuat kerangkeng sapi. administrative control, seperti, memberikan sosialisasi, maintenance, housekeeping dan inspeksi, terhadap alat, mesin dan pekerja. ABSTRACTSlaughterhouse is a building having the design and construction specifically used as animal slaughterhouse. Slaughterhouse’s work activities have potential of hazards which can cause harm to workers’ safety and health. Based on pre observation, the slaughterhouse in Pekanbaru does not have any monthly and annual report about the data of accident. This livestock production also has no doing identification and assessment of hazard. The purposes of this study are to analyze occupational health and safety toward risk of danger physical environment at work, this study uses Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control “HIRARC” method which using likelihood and severity level of each hazard as references to define a risk value. There are 6 informants the maininfromants is a UPTD head, 2 supporting informants are the field coordinator and venetarian, and the key informant is a worker, The methode that use in this study is interview And observation. The study shows that the most extreme are getting hit by a cow in cattle herding to killing box, falling of a cow hoist material from conveyor railing in shackling and hoisting process. Slaughterhouse has never done hazard identification and risk assessment. However, for risk control have done several attempts in slaughterhouse, such as Standard Operating Procedures, work shifts, and Personal Protective Equipment. Recommendation is given that the slaughterhouse should has facilities related to health of workers. It needs an effort to risk control through engineering control such as making cow cages, administrative control, such as giving socialization, maintenance, housekeeping and inspection of tools, machines and workersKeywords : Slaughterhouse, Hazard, Risk, Physical Environtmen, HIRARC.


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