Manual Handling Policy
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide an environment where every employee of the company is safe from the risks associated with the manual handling of material and equipment according to the stipulations provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Mawowo is committed to the duty of care to its employees by reasonably reducing to the most practicable level all manual handling risks. Furthermore, this policy ensures compliance with the relevant regulations on safety.
Procedures
Requirements for proper labeling of tools and equipment. Labeling will ensure employers are aware of the risks and hazards posed by the handling and use of the particular equipment. Labeling will follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the tools and equipment. Precautionary statements, signs, signals and crucial statements appear in bold and easily noticeable areas.
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Proper dressing. Movement, operation, and use of any equipment will adhere to the safety dressing requirements of the company. Hazardous areas will be well indicated with the correct dressing required for employees in these areas. For instance, manual handling of chemicals will follow the correct protective dress code.
Materials safety. All chemicals that pose physical or health risks to employees handling them will be properly identified. Permissible periods of exposure to these chemicals will be published. Other materials that can cause physical harm in the form of injuries through falls or slips when handling should be identified. Emergencies should be reported immediately with proper procedures for first aid put in place.
Training and provision of information . All departments within the company will provide employees with awareness training before the commencement of work. Training will include provisions of information about their safety in handling tools, equipment, and chemicals. Training will equip employees with the knowledge to identify a hazardous work environment and procedures to undertake to prevent harm (OSHA, 2015).
Repetitive Motion and Dangerous Environments Policy
Purpose
This policy aims to identify preventive and protective measures for employees and at Mawowo reduce the risks associated with repeated movement as well as performing tasks in perilous environments. It focuses on the employees who are at risk of the hazards associated with the aforementioned situations and the best practices to protect them from harm.
Procedures
Excessive use of force for tasks. Cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) occur under conditions of repeated movement which wears the muscles and nerve tissue (Hamilton, 2018). For tasks that demand repetitive motion with a considerable amount of force, tools and equipment must be held with a fixture and appropriate equipment used for lifting.
Awkward postures at work . Continuous review of all the tasks performed by company employees will aid in identifying postures that are unsuitable. Redesign of workstation and provision of proper equipment will follow to prevent future harm.
Hiring of technical staff . Certain environments within the company present the challenge of potential harm for untrained personnel. These include handling of hazardous chemicals and working in areas where there are risks of falls. The company will hire only staff with the expertise to work in these areas. Additionally, the staff will undergo periodic training on safety in handling of these chemicals as well as movement.
Periodic medical check-ups. Mawowo will sponsor stuff medical check-ups for exposure to chemicals and vapor that might be harmful to their health. Furthermore, tests for pregnancy will ensure that expectant mothers do not handle chemicals that have the potential to cause harm to the unborn baby.
Work environment assessment. The safety committee is tasked with the role of periodic assessment of the safety levels of all areas within the company. The assessment will be done by committee members and an independent expert and provide recommendations on techniques to improve the work environment.
Noise, Biological Hazards and Hand Tools Policy
Purpose
This policy reduces the risks for development of health complications or contacting blood pathogens for Mawowo employees. It aims to effectively reduce the chances for adverse health effects caused by pathogens or environments that unfriendly to employees.
Procedures
Noise. Operations in the canning and bottling sections are likely to expose workers to sound decibels that might cause future health problems. The company will employ both personal protection equipment and design measures to protect workers. Earmuffs should be worn at all times in environments that deemed to have high levels of noise. Designing these sections to prevent noise from reaching employees in other work areas is also propriety.
Control of biological hazards . Proper ventilation within the factory will ensure proper circulation to ease the exit of fumes from the chemicals and the beverages in the factory. The company will advocate for maintenance of personal hygiene hence prevent the spread of diseases within the work environment. Importantly, personal protection equipment suitable for every work area will be provided.
Maintenance of equipment . Sections where sharp tools such as knives and pricking tools are in use, the tools should be maintained such that there are reduced chances that slips and accidents will result in cuts. Whenever the tools are not in use, they should be stored in specific areas where they are unlikely to cause harm. Maintenance will prevent the use of undue force which results in accidents.
Tool and protective equipment selection. Design of tools will follow the right procedure such that every task is completed with the right kind of tool. To prevent cuts that can lead to the transfer of diseases from one person to another, the company will provide protective equipment to every worker. Sharing of such equipment in these areas is forbidden due to the risk of transfer of diseases.
References
Hamilton, A. (2018). Cumulative trauma disorder . Retrieved on 19 December 2018, from https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/cumulative-trauma-disorder
OSHA. (2015). Training Requirements in OSHA Standards . Retrieved on 19 December 2018, from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2254.pdf
