Posts

4 Impactful Ways to Improve the “Safety” Culture in the Workplace

Image
Especially in the manufacturing, processing, and materials handling industries, employees need to feel safe while on the job. By creating a healthy and safe work environment, you’ll probably notice a few positive changes. That includes improved morale, higher production, and fewer mistakes. To achieve this goal, incorporate a workplace health and safety program into your operations. Key Components of an Effective Health and Safety Program Hiring experienced  health and safety consultants  for your Ontario business is the best way to improve the work environment. However, you still need a program that’s comprised of specific components. Those include: Communication It doesn’t take much effort for a company to improve internal communication. Typically, this has a profound effect on every employee. You and your leadership team should maintain an “open-door policy.” That way, workers will feel confident that it’s okay to report health and safety concerns. A lack of communication could resu

How Machine Safeguarding Plays a Vital Role in Industrial Safety

Although risks are part of every industry, they’re most prevalent when it comes to industrial work environments. Any time a business relies on machinery to manufacture products, it’s important for the owner to take extra precautionary measures. Not only that, but implementing certain things such as   industrial machine guarding   is something mandated by law. Benefiting from Machine Guarding Assessments Unfortunately, some companies have no idea as to the type of machine guarding needed. So, they install an improper device that doesn’t benefit at all. This is where machine guarding assessments help. With an assessment, an expert from a qualified source visits a company to review the various machines used. Based on the findings, that individual makes recommendations regarding the type of industrial machine guarding required. The goal is to hire a reputable company to perform an assessment of machine guarding in Ontario for all existing equipment. However, if you add machinery or do modi

Preventative Measures for Common Causes of Fire Explosion

  If you have a business that deals with flammable or combustible liquid materials, it’s important to learn about and take preventative measures for the most common causes of fire explosion. Viable Options to Prevent a Fire Explosion According to the top  fire and explosion consultants , there are several ways to prevent an accident from occurring. Material Substitution Although not always possible, consider using a different type of material if you can. Preferably, choose something that’s not flammable or combustible. At a minimum, look for substitute materials with a lesser degree of risk. Safety consulting engineers explain that the goal is to select materials that are effective and safer to use. Eliminate Ignition Sources For a fire to start from a flammable or combustible liquid, it needs an ignition source that comes from a mixture of air and vapour. That can be from smoking, as well as sparks and arcs caused by cutting and welding. Even hot surfaces associated with electric lamp

Ensuring Workplace Safety With a PHSR Checklist

Image
Owning a business comes with tremendous responsibility. Whether a small family-owned operation or a large corporation with a board of directors, the goal is to create a safe, healthy, and productive work environment. However, that doesn’t occur by happenstance. For smart business owners, it starts with having a   pre-start up safety review   performed. What Is the PHSR Used in Ontario? PHSR is the acronym for a pre-start health and safety review. In 2000, the Canadian government mandated all businesses to have this type of review done when installing or modifying new or used processes or equipment in a new or existing workplace. Many companies violate the regulations without realizing it. As a result, some businesses aren’t compliant with current health and safety standards for their specific industry. That puts their entire operations at risk. However, not having a pre-start up safety review done as outlined can do even more damage. It also puts employees, contractors, and perhaps eve

What Ministry of Labour Looks for a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review?

Image
I n Ontario, Canada, the Ministry of Labour requires companies to have a specific workplace health and safety assessment performed. This covers any equipment and processes that pose a potential risk. Keep in mind that the   pre-start health and safety review   covers virtually any type of danger or hazard. What’s Included As Part of the Pre-Start Health and Safety? The pre-startup safety review helps organizations identify possible risks, so they can mitigate them. The following are some of the specific things this review focuses on. Flammable Liquids Canadian officials mandate this type of review whenever storing or dispensing flammable liquids in a room, area, or building. The goal is to determine the compliance of processes with the current health and safety regulations. If not compliant, the pre-start health and safety review outlines the required steps to achieve it. Safeguarding Devices This is another aspect of the pre-startup safety review. In this case, a qualified expert ensu

Can Machinery Have Multiple Safety Issues?

Image
Ensuring safety in your facility should be a top priority. Besides the well-being of your workers, safety is a good business move. Accidents can be costly and take away from your valuable production time. Machinery can have more than one safety issue, and a Pre-Start Health and Safety review can catch these issues before they cause problems. Problems with Machine Guarding One major mistake that facilities frequently make with machine guarding is that it is safe to use as soon as it arrives. Nevertheless, some modifications may be needed. Under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, all machines that need electrical safe guarding or electronic devices to signal a stop to the machine are required to have a  Pre Start Health and Safety  review prior to use. The following steps should be done: That machinery meets current and applicable standards ensuring the equipment is safe This means that the liability of the employer is transferred to the Engineer who carried out the Pre-star

Why Avoiding Conducting A PSR Assessment Is Not Recommended

Image
  Conducting a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review is not only recommended but it is also mandated by the Section 7 of the Ontario Regulation for Industrial Establishments. The main purpose of it is to ensure compliance to regulations and also ensure the safety of the employees in the workplace. The importance of workplace safety can’t be stressed enough and that’s why we are going to focus on why avoiding a   PSR in Ontario   is not ideal. One of the biggest reasons of conducting a PSR assessment is to avoid injuries and deaths in a workplace. The objective of a PSR, as rightly identified by S.A.F.E Engineering, is to uncover anything that could jeopardize human lives. By examining new or modified equipment and hazardous processes, you can ensure that they are safe for all before it goes into use. It is important to note that not all hazards can be recognized during day-to-day activities. One wrong step and that unidentifiable hazard can have a major damage to a worker. By conducting a