Safety Management Systems Audit Essay

SAMPLE EXCERPT . . .
Incident Investigation

Proper incident investigation is completely essential with any engineering firm, because realistically speaking, incidents are going to occur. Investigating them properly helps all professionals involved better understand how they occurred in the first place and how best to avoid them. "All incidents, whether a near miss or an actual injury-related event, should be investigated. Near miss reporting and investigation allow you to identify and control hazards before they cause a more serious incident. Accident/incident investigations are a tool for uncovering hazards that either were missed earlier or have managed to slip out of the controls planned for them" (osha.gov). Essentially, what the OSHA department of the government is saying that incident investigation are vital so that they can be avoided in the future and so they don't get bigger and more out of control. Incident investigation "is useful only when done with the aim of discovering every contributing factor to the accident/incident to 'foolproof' the condition and/or activity and prevent future occurrences. In other words, your objective is to identify root causes, not to primarily set blame" (osha.gov). One of the best parts about this engineering firm is that they treat all investigation of incidents as an education process, and not as a means of scapegoating others.

Audits

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for only $8.97. Conducting audits is yet another form of incident investigation except it looks into the whole day-to-day process of each individual department. This firm has always had audits completed by outside agencies and has always worked hard to keep organized documentation and strong record-keeping. In fact, this particular firm tries as hard as possible to view audits as a learning process and a way in which they can better themselves.

Corrective and Preventive Actions

Essay on Safety Management Systems Audit Management Assignment

Corrective and preventive actions are truly vital when it comes to uphold safety standards and ensuring proper practices. Both of these elements are part of a multi-step process that the firm is able to embody in word and deed. For example, the corrective process involves things like locating and documenting the main cause of the nonconformity while scanning the entire system to ensure no other nonconformity can occur (asq.org). Furthermore, this organization is able to "analyze the effect such a nonconformity may have had on a product or service produced before the nonconformity was discovered, and take action appropriate to the severity of the situation by either recalling the product, notifying the customer, downgrading or scrapping product" (asq.org). With all the tasks there is always a follow up process to ensure that this is effective. Preventive actions are also vital as they ensure that needless and avoidable mistakes or disasters simply do not occur. One of the ways that the firm in question is able to do this is via the employ process and system analysis. This allows them to "…determine how to build in safeguards and process changes to prevent nonconformance. For example, use a failure mode and effects analysis to identify risks and potential deficiencies and to set priorities for improvement" (asq.org).

Feedback to the Planning Process

Feedback to the planning process is absolutely one of the most vital aspects of planning, as it allows objectivity and response. As stated earlier, this has always been a firm where feedback from all team members has been welcome and asked for.

Management Review

Management Review continues to be one of the pillars of the organization, and something which is used as a strong and balanced form of improvement for the firm. It helps the firm to see areas which can be bettered and where safety is lacking.

References

Baker, D.A. (2010). Multi-company project management: Maximizing business results through.

Fort Lauderdale: J. Ross Publishing.

Osha.gov. (n.d.). Accident/incident investigation. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/safetyhealth/mod4_factsheets_accinvest.html

(1985). Preventing illness and injury in the workplace. Washington DC: Diane Publishing.

Shellman, J.M. (1998). Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. Washington DC:

International Labour Organization.

Ufl.edu. (1998). Emergency management guide for business and industry. Retrieved from http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/PDFS/CHAP02/D02-16.PDF

Unsw.edu.au. (n.d.). Occupational health & safety. Retrieved from http://www.eng.unsw.edu.au/info-about/our-faculty/faculty-policies/ohs

Westcott, R. (2005). Corrective vs. preventive action. Retrieved from http://asq.org/quality-progress/2005/03/problem-solving/corrective-vs.-preventive-action.html [END OF PREVIEW] . . . READ MORE