Health and Safety and Engineering Design
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Health and Safety and Engineering Design Marc A. Rosen, P.Eng. David A.G. Meston, P.Eng. Professor and Dean Minerva Canada Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science http://www.minervacanada.org , and University of Ontario Institute of Technology Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Business 2000 Simcoe Street North, Ryerson University Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada 350 Victoria Street Email: [email protected] Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada Tel: 905/721-8668, Fax: 905/721-3370 Email: [email protected] Tel: 416/979-5000 ext. 7083 Abstract Health and safety issues are important in engineering, management and other fields, and particularly in engineering design. Engineering-oriented health and safety relevant to design is discussed and appropriate case studies are provided which help convey the importance of these issues concisely. The article is directed and structured for engineering, but also discusses ties outside engineering. The case studies presented here are fictitious, although they contain ideas based on actual incidents. Although the case studies are oriented towards engineering, they also incorporate management and business issues, since health and safety must be dealt with in an integrated and interdisciplinary manner. 1. Introduction applies to both the health and safety of the public as well as occupational workers. Health and safety issues are important in Numerous resources on health and safety exist in engineering, management and other fields. Most areas such as engineering design, management, and professional engineering associations point out that methods for the assessment and mitigation of risks and health and safety are issues of utmost importance in consequences. The resources available include general engineering practice. For example, Professional books and related resources [1-14], specialized Engineers Ontario (http://www.peo.on.ca) states in its materials produced by safety or safety-related agencies Code of Ethics, “A practitioner shall … regard the [15-26], company-based health and safety materials practitioner's duty to public welfare as paramount.” posted on company web sites [27-29], and specialized The need for appropriate education and training in resources located throughout company and agency engineering health and safety is also widely web sites [30-34]. In the last group, for example, recognized, and engineering programs usually must NIOSH posts several safety and health awareness for appropriately address health and safety to maintain preventive engineering modules: agricultural safety accreditation. For instance, the Canadian Engineering and health for engineers, an applied approach to Accreditation Board (http://www.ccpe.ca) includes in epidemiology and toxicology for engineers, an its curriculum-content criteria, “Appropriate exposure introduction to electrical safety for engineers, to … public and worker safety and health application of hazard evaluation techniques to the considerations … must be an integral component of design of potentially hazardous industrial chemical the engineering curriculum.” processes, construction safety and health for civil Health and safety are especially critical engineers, fire protection, incorporation of considerations in engineering design. This is true occupational safety and health into unit operations whether the design is for a product or process, and laboratory courses, occupational diseases, system safety and risk management [30]. 220 This article discusses engineering-oriented health 2.2. Types of Workplace Hazards and safety and provides appropriate case studies which help convey the importance of these issues concisely. The range of potential workplace hazards is large The article is directed and structured for engineering, and includes the following types: but also discusses ties outside engineering (e.g., with other technical programs such as applied sciences • mechanical and technology, management, business and other areas • fall-related that interface with engineering). • lifting-related This article is based heavily on a health and safety • pressure module developed earlier by one of the authors for • sound, noise and vibration Minerva Canada [35]. • heat, cold and temperature • fire 2. Basic Management Principles in • explosion Occupational Health and Safety • electrical • chemical It is critical that health and safety is considered as • biological a priority in engineering design, as well as in other • toxic, carcinogenic and otherwise harmful areas. Some of the principal considerations are substances covered in the following subsections and are drawn from a health and safety module developed earlier by • radiation one of the authors [35]. • automation • ergonomic 2.1. Occupational Health and Safety • human and psychosocial factors (e.g., stress) Some hazards do not clearly fall into one of the Occupational health and safety is concerned with above types (e.g., the hazards associated with work in the identification, evaluation and control of hazards a confined space), while other hazards may fall into associated with the workplace. Companies and more than one type. organizations often have occupational health and safety programs, the objectives of which are to reduce: 2.3 Stakeholders • occupational injuries, which include any harm from a workplace accident (e.g., fracture, cut, The number of stakeholders affected by burn), and occupational health and safety is large and includes, • occupational illnesses, which include abnormal among others, the following: conditions caused by exposure to factors associated with the workplace. • employers • employees Occupational health and safety are often grouped • government and other regulatory authorities together, but they are not the same even though they • compensation and insurance providers are closely related. It is important to understand both. • the public One way we can differentiate health and safety is as follows: In an organization, occupational health and safety involves everyone, from the chief executive officer to • Safety usually is concerned with situations that the worker. Employees and employers often are jointly cause injury and deals with hazards that lead to responsible for occupational health and safety and severe and sudden outcomes. employers are accountable for non-compliance. • Health usually is concerned with situations that cause illness or disease and deals with adverse 2.4. Importance of Occupational Health reactions to exposure over prolonged periods to and Safety hazards that are usually less severe, but still dangerous. Some of the main reasons for being concerned about occupational health and safety include the Of course, some situations can simultaneously lead following: to safety and health concerns. 221 • Economics. The economic costs, both direct and go part way towards addressing occupational health indirect, of workplace accidents, injuries and and safety and, in the worst cases, may not even be illnesses are significant. Costs can be associated able to initiate required measures. with the time lost from work, human pain and suffering, and the subsequent loss of moral and 2.6. Knowledge Needed to Address decline in worker efficiency and productivity. Occupational Health and Safety • Legality. Occupational Health and Safety Acts provide workers with the right to a safe work In order to address occupational health and safety environment. In protecting workers, employers appropriately, a wide range of knowledge and skills must exercise due diligence, i.e., take reasonable are needed, including the following: precautions appropriate for the circumstances. The legal penalties that are possible for violations • A technical understanding of, and ability to of health and safety legislation are significant and assess, recognize and prevent, all types of can include civil lawsuits and criminal workplace hazards and risk factors. prosecutions. • Knowledge of relevant acts, standards, • Morality. It is generally accepted that employers regulations, codes, laws and liability. These have a moral responsibility to provide a safe include occupational health and safety legislation, working environment for their employees. and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) legislation. The field of occupational health and safety has • Knowledge of workers compensation schemes been increasing in importance due to the consequences and programs. of occupational injuries and illnesses, and public • Medical knowledge, including physiotherapy, expectations have increased for better occupational psychology and health care. health and safety. • An ability to deal with and motivate people, communicate clearly, and develop and manage 2.5. Role of Senior Management in plans. Occupational Health and Safety 2.7. Workplace Qualities Needed for Senior management within a company plays a very Successful Health and Safety Outcomes important role in occupational health and safety. In particular, senior management is responsible for There exist certain workplace qualities that are required for successfully addressing occupational • taking a leadership role in establishing health and safety. The Ontario Workplace Safety and occupational health and safety as a company Insurance Board workplace lists the following priority and commitment, qualities as essential for successful health and safety • promoting a positive health and safety culture outcomes: throughout the company, • ensuring support for occupational health and • A positive health and safety culture, including safety