Root Cause Analysis

Many companies repeatedly experience the same type of incidents. Investigations indicate what seem to be the right solutions, yet the same type of incident occurs again and again! What are needed are investigation methods that, used in the right combination, will always leads to the right solutions, regardless of industry or setting.

Investigating Incidents
Incident investigation, whether for safety, quality, or production, can be simple or complex depending upon the severity of the event. In principle, investigators would be trained to [a] discover the facts, [b] collect evidence, [3] ascertain the root cause(s), and [4] make recommendations in a written report. However, many investigators often seize on the first set of ‘symptoms’ as the Root Cause, rather than the Root Cause(s) themselves. This is why the same type(s) of incidents are often repeated.

Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analyses helps you get to the 'bottom' of events to prevent recurrence. A Root Cause is the most basic cause (s) identified as contributing to an incident, and that is within peoples control to fix. A number of tried and tested methods are available to help identify these most’ basic’ causes. These include ‘Influence & Causal Factor’ Charting, the ‘5 Why’s’, ‘Fishbone’ or ‘Ishikawa’ Cause & Effect Diagrams and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Each of these methods is in widespread use throughout industry with their pedigrees going back to the early 1970’s. BSMS trains investigators how to use each of these methods in various combinations to ensure all the angles have been covered.

Continues reading...

The Conference and Exhibition on Occupational, Safety and Health (COSH)

The Conference and Exhibition on Occupational, Safety and Health (COSH) is an annual event organised by NIOSH in its aim to discuss current issues and challenges in occupational safety and health. We organise this professional and high quality conference across many disciplines with the participation of prominent quest speakers and delegates from throughout the region as well as Europe, U.S.A and Japan.

Since its inception in 1998, the conference had served as the premiere platform for OSH professionals in Malaysia to share and update their OSH knowledge and skills to meet the dynamic changes in the Malaysian working environment.

COSH brings together regulators, practitioners, expert, researchers and suppliers towards a common aspiration which is to achieve a safer and healthier workplace for all.


Link : http://www.niosh.com.my/cosh2011

Basic Steps to Preventing Falls from Height

Pesticides tied to lower IQ in children

Children exposed in the womb to substantial levels of neurotoxic pesticides have somewhat lower IQs by the time they enter school than do kids with virtually no exposure. A trio of studies screened women for compounds in blood or urine that mark exposure to organophosphate pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion.

These bug killers, which can cross the human placenta, work by inhibiting brain-signaling compounds. Although the pesticides’ residential use was phased out in 2000, spraying on farm fields remains legal.

The three new studies began in the late 1990s and followed children through age 7. Pesticide exposures stem from farm work in more than 300 low-income Mexican-American families in California, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and their colleagues report. In two comparably sized New York City populations, exposures likely trace to bug spraying of homes or eating treated produce.

Among the California families, the average IQ for the 20 percent of children with the highest prenatal organophosphate exposure was 7 points lower compared with the least-exposed group.

A Columbia University study followed low-income black and Hispanic families. Here, each additional 4.6 picrograms of chlorpyrifos per gram of blood in a woman during pregnancy correlated with a drop of 1.4 percent in her youngster’s IQ and 2.8 percent in a measure of the child’s working memory.

Article continues:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/73206/title/Pesticides_tied_to_lower_IQ_in_children

Gulf of Mexico Still Imperiled by Oil, Says Top Scientist

Large amounts of oil from last year’s Deepwater Horizon rig explosion remain stuck on the ocean basin floor, according to a new report.

Samantha Joye, a top marine scientist from the University of Georgia, presented the early results of her study at a science conference in Washington Sunday.

Independently conducting submarine dives near the oil spill site in December, Joye assessed the destruction of living organisms on the sea floor. She remains unconvinced of the BP spill compensation czar’s claims that things will be back to normal by 2012.

“There’s some sort of a bottleneck we have yet to identify for why this stuff doesn’t seem to be degrading,” Joye told the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Washington, as quoted by The Associated Press. Her findings are at odds with other studies that claim bacteria consumed the majority of the oil.

“Magic microbes consumed maybe 10 percent of the total discharge, the rest of it we don’t know,” Joye said.

Joye and her colleagues took 250 ocean floor cores across 2,600 miles. Her team had studied some of the locations prior to the Apr. 20 spill and said there was a noticeable change in the composition, AP reports.

Joye showed slides of marine organisms suffocated by oil, including dead crabs, brittle stars, and tube worms.

The study contradicts the claims of Kenneth Feinberg, the BP oil spill compensation czar. Feinberg said earlier this month that his research shows that the Gulf of Mexico would be almost completely back to normal by 2012.

“I’ve been to the bottom. I’ve seen what it looks like with my own eyes. It’s not going to be fine by 2012,” Joye told The Associated Press. “You see what the bottom looks like, you have a different opinion.”


Capture from Ecoworld.com

Today Safety Video

Enjoy the video and get learning from there.

Interactive Safety Game Website

Tales of the road website is good safety learning website especially for kids but also suitable for adult..hehe .. please take your time to log to this website. Hopefully you can give to your children to get the knowledge from this website...

Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green®

April 22nd is Earth Day, it's only a few short days away! This year, Earth Day's theme is themed after A Billion Acts of Green: our people-powered campaign to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy before Rio +20.

For more information, please click here

Safety Video

Just for sharing, if not enough please comment;
Before perform any lifting activity, we should;

1. Estime the weight of load


2. Type of crane


3. Lifting capacity


4. Stability of crane


5. Barricade the area


6. Competency of driver and signalman


7. Inspection on crane condition, wire rope, lifting belt etc before perform the work


8. Develop the JSA and lifting plan

For the conclusion, all items above can put together in JSA or risk assessment. So, please perform JSA or risk assessment before start the works.

Today Safety Slogan

YOU Can Make the Difference In Creating a Safer Workplace 

FREE Respirator Software from NIOSH

MultiVapor is a computer tool for estimating breakthrough times and service lives of air-purifying respirator cartridges manufactured to remove toxic organic vapors from breathed air. It can also be used for larger filters and for carbon beds of any size prepared for laboratory studies. MultiVapor replaces the program, Breakthrough, which performs the same function for only one organic vapor at all humidities. A breakthrough time is the time following the first and continuous use of a cartridge after which the user of the cartridge could be exposed to a selected concentration of a harmful vapor. This is the consequence of the cartridge being used up. Service life is the breakthrough time with, possibly, a safety factor applied. MultiVapor is intended to help an industrial hygienist or other qualified person to set cartridge change-out schedules. It is not a substitute for regulatory requirements or professional judgments. Users must assume full responsibility for any application of the MultiVapor computer software. No warranties related to the software are expressed or implied by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or its contractors. This software is intended to provide estimates based on the latest scientific information. The accuracies of any such estimates will depend in part on the accuracy and validity of the data entered by the user. Click Here for the software from NIOSH.

Visible Safety Leadership Article

It is recognised that leadership is important in the creation of a culture that supports and promotes a strong health and safety performance of an organisation. The Manager and /or the team leader are vital in inspiring employees to a higher level of safety and productivity, which means that they must apply good leadership
attributes on a daily basis.

If leaders show were to go, those they lead will follow....

“Leadership and leader's attitudes the major (only) factor that distinguished between operations with good and poor performance”

Ergonomic Slide Presentation

Safety Article

Please find Five Core Elements of a Safety-Oriented Culture in the Safety Article. It good for you...

What Are the Differences Between Respirators?

This is a very common question considering several manufacturers describe identical products with different descriptions. Following is a comprehensive list of three different types of respirators. Included in the list is an overview of the advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and applications for each type.


Disposable Dust/Particulate Respirators
Description:The majority of disposable dust/particulate respirators are designed to protect the wearer’s lungs from particl e irritants as well as pneumoconiosis, fibrosis-producing dusts, and mists.

Advantages:Disposable dust/particulate respirators are lightweight, disposable, relatively comfortable, and economical.

Limitations:Offer minimal protection due to inferior sealing qualities. Wearers who have facial hair cannot use partic ulate respirators that come between the respirator and skin.

Applications:Welding, soldering and brazing, grinding, sanding, sweeping, bagging, stone quarrying, metal machining, fertilizer production, underground mining, polishing, buffing, glass etching, clay processing, and chemical processing.

Half Face Respirators
Description: Half face respirators consists of a rubber face seal that fits over the nose and under the chin. It is fitted with cartridges that purify the air as the user breathes. Different types of cartridges are available for different types of air contaminants.

Advantages: Half face respirators are relatively lightweight as well as offer good protection from many air contaminants. They offer good protection from many air contaminants and provide high mobility.

Limitations: Protection offered by these masks is not as good as that provided by a full-face respirator nor do they provide eye protection.

Applications: Agriculture, asbestos abatement, chemicals, construction, hazardous materials, mining, nuclear, oil and gas, paper and pulp, sanding and grinding, spray painting, and welding.


Full Face Respirators
Description: Full face respirators work on the same concept as half mask respirators described above. The face piece extends around the entire face covering the eyes, nose, chin, and mouth.

Advantages: Full face respirators provide a better seal and therefore, more protection than half mask respirators. They also protect the eyes and face from irritating vapors, mists, and splashed chemicals.

Limitations: Full face respirators are heavier than half masks and often less comfortable. Those who wear eyeglasses must assure that temple bars do not interfere with the face-to-face piece seal. Full-face respirators cannot be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres, or in atmospheres that have high concentrations of contaminants.

Applications: Full face respirators are used when a greater degree of respiratory protection is needed or where face and eye protection are preferred. Agriculture, asbestos abatement, chemicals, construction, hazardous materials, mining, nuclear, oil and gas, paper and pulp, sanding and grinding, spray painting, and welding.


Keep in mind that both the half mask and full-face respirators both perform the same basic functions. The only significant difference is the full-face respirator provides coverage for the wearer’s entire face whereas the half mask type does not. Be sure to wear your respirator in hazardous environments and be safe.

Manual Handling Picture and Video

I don't remmber when I get this picture but I think it useful to give explanation on manual handling.

Animation Safety Video

http://www.ziddu.com/download/14616206/napo06.wmv.html

Risk Assessment Guideline

Some guideline from Malaysia and Singapore for your reference in developing risk assessment procedure in workplace.

Safety Article - Safety Article - Action Checkpoints for Comfortable Computer Work

Environment Awareness Video

Normal Video Format
http://www.ziddu.com/download/14574089/GreeningthebluNV.wmv.html
HD Video Format
http://www.ziddu.com/download/14574041/Greeningtheblue.wmv.html

World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2011

The 2011 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the implementation of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) as a tool for continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents.

Occupational Safety and Health Management System: A tool for continual improvement
The essence of occupational safety and health (OSH) is the management of occupational risks. An OSHMS is a preventive method to implement safety and health measures which consists of four steps and incorporates the principle of continual improvement. Its principles are based on the PDCA Cycle: PLAN, DO, CHECK, ACT. Its purpose is to establish a comprehensive and structured mechanism for joint action of management and workers in the implementation of safety and health measures. A system’s approach allows for the assessment and improvement of performance in the implementation of preventive and control measures. OSHMS can be an effective tool for the management of hazards specific to a given industry, process or organization. Its application can be adapted to a range of situations, from the simple needs of a small scale enterprise to the multiple needs of hazardous and complex industries such as mining, chemical manufacturing or construction.

OSHMS cannot function properly without the existence of effective social dialogue, whether in the context of joint safety and health committees, or other mechanisms such as collective bargaining arrangements. Key elements for its successful application include ensuring management commitment and active participation of workers in its joint implementation.

During the last decade, occupational safety and health management systems have been widely implemented in both industrialized and developing countries. Their implementation has varied from incorporating legal requirements in national legislation, promoting national guidelines and introducing voluntary certification initiatives. The incorporation of an occupational safety and health management system in the application of preventive and protective measures at the workplace has proven to be essential for the improvement of working conditions and the working environment. As its principle of continual improvement allows for a periodic review of performance, it has been critical in the ultimate scope of preventing occupational accidents and diseases.

The OSH management systems’ approach has retained the attention of enterprises, governments and practitioners, both at national and international levels, for more than a decade. It is expected that more and more countries integrate OSHMS in national OSH programmes as a means to strategically promote the development of sustainable mechanisms for OSH improvements in the organizations.

ILO and OSHMS
The ILO 2001 Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems (ILO-OSH 2001) became a widely used model for developing national standards in this area. The ILO, with its tripartite structure and its standard-setting role, is the most appropriate body to develop international OSHMS guidelines. The ILO guidelines are fast becoming the most referenced and used model for the development of OSHMS programmes at the national and enterprise level. The ILO is active in providing technical assistance to countries interested in implementing their own OSHMS. Training courses on the subject are also offered by the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy.

This year, SafeWork would like to encourage you to organize activities in your region or country. Events can be organized by national authorities, trade unions, employers’ organizations and safety and health practitioners as well as individual enterprises. You are welcome to adapt the materials by putting them into local languages and context. As in previous years; the focus is on activities in ILO member states. The activities organized by you will contribute to the success of the celebration. We thank you in advance for your commitment to World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?

Number 1 Plastics

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, occasionally) new containers

PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

Number 2 Plastics HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing

HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

Number 3 Plastics

V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications.

PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

Number 4 Plastics

LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile

LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Number 5 Plastics

PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays

Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Number 6 Plastics

PS (polystyrene) Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.

Number 7 Plastics

Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.

Environmental Awareness Video

http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532303/ATUKOHATUK.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532307/TOXICWASTE.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532305/DIRTYRIVER.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532301/TISSUE.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532302/TEEOFF.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532304/CORNMAN.avi.html http://www.ziddu.com/download/14532306/RESPONSIBLEBROTHERS.avi.html

The Effectiveness Percentage For Hierarchy Of Risk Control

THE NO PHONE ZONE CAMPAIGN

Let make The NO PHONR ZONE Campaign Successfull even the date of campaign already past.

THE NO PHONE ZONE campaign was originally introduced by Oprah Winfrey in early 2010 during her daytime talk show. Since then, globally, over 400,000 individuals worldwide, including celebrities have joined this campaign to promote and put a halt to texting and talking on the phone while driving.

Aims & Objectives

To spread awareness about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving.

To reduce the rate of accidents due to mobile phone usage while driving.

To eliminate the usage of mobile phones while driving.

To make safety a bigger priority among drivers.

Take Your Pledge

Every year, countless road accidents and deaths take place due to distracted driving. These accidents have left the loved ones of victims grieving for long. Mobile phone usage while driving is the No.1 reason for distracted driving. According to a Harvard University study, cell phones cause over 200 deaths and half a million injuries each year. Hence, the No Phone Zone campaign by Oprah Winfrey was aimed at educating people about the dangers of texting or talking on the phone while driving. Now, the campaign has been brought to Malaysia by HELP University College and The Department of Road Safety(JKJR). Misuse of cell phones is a growing, major issue and will only get worse. Cell phone drivers are not very courteous to their fellow drivers because their minds are in another world. Please do your part to ensure our roads become a safer place by taking the pledge to not use your mobile phone while driving.

Statistics Malaysia: Road Accidents Statistic 2000-2006 August 27, 2007 at 4:26 am (Malaysia, Social, Statistic) Below is the data from year 2000 to 2006:

a) Normalization by population:

From the graph, the number of road accidents per 1000 population increase steadily from 10.8 cases in year 2000 to 12.8 cases, an 18.5% increase. On the other hand, the road casualties per 1000 pop.decreases from 2.16 casualties (2000) to 1.33 casualties (2006). The same downward trend is also seen on road deaths per 100 000 pop.: year 2000 recorded 25.9 road deaths for every 100 000 population and seeing a small decrease to 23.6 deaths per 100 000 pop. in year 2006. Although the road deaths is seeing a decrement over the years, it is also remindful to compare it to OECD countries like here: apparently the road deaths in Malaysia decreasing slowly, but it is not good enough. The closest country which has the same traffic accident fatalities like Malaysia is Greece, by the number 14.6 persons per 100 000 pop.

b) Normalization by vehicle registered

An increment in overall population does not necessarily mean there will be more vehicle ownership. However for Malaysia case, vehicle ownership (per 1000 pop.) increase steadily from 492 (2000) to 593 (2006): there are more and more people owning the vehicle. From the graph above, we are seeing the number of road accidents per 1000 vehicles decrease over the years: 56.9 accidents to 39.8 accidents per 1000 vehicle. By superficial look, I am tempted to say that an increase in road vehicle does not necessarily increase the likelihood of more death caused by road accidents. Another side evidence also pointing into the same direction: the number of registered vehicle increase from 10.6 millions to 15.8 million (2000 to 2006, equivalent to 48.99%) while number of deaths shows small increment – 6035 to 6287 deaths in 206 (+4.18%).

Chemical Safety Training Module

Good link for chemical safety training module.... http://actrav.itcilo.org/actrav-english/telearn/osh/kemi/ctmmain.htm http://www.ilo.org/legacy/english/protection/safework/cis/products/safetytm/toc.htm

Today Safety Video

Panduan Untuk SOP

SOP/ SWP/ Safety Instruction/ Panduan Kerja Selamat banyak memeningkan kepala bagi proses owner dan juga safety personnel. Apa tak nya kalau SOP tu panjang mcm novel.

Di sini, saya memberi contoh SOP yang paling simple, padat dan juga mudah untuk difahami terutama pekerja bawahan. SOP yang terbaik adalah SOP yang diterima oleh pekerja bawahan.

Panduan SOP adalah seperti berikut;

• Proses kerja dibahagian kepada tiga (3) bahagian penting iaitu sebelum kerja dijalankan, semasa kerja dijalankan dan selepas kerja dijalankan. Ini tertujuan untuk memudahkan pemahaman.


• Ilustrasi atau gambar perlu diletakkan bagi memberi rangsangan kepada pekerja. Ini kerana gambar memberi penjelasan beribu makna dari sepotong ayat.


• Penggunaan ayat yang ringkas, tepat, padat dan mudah difahami.


• SOP yang bagus dibuat pada satu muka surat sahaja. Jikalau banyak muka surat, pekerja bawahan memang malas nak baca.


• Berikut adalah contoh SOP. Harap ia berguna.....dan ia dipersetujui oleh pegawai DOSH