Professional Documents
Culture Documents
To: Management
Sir, In view of the safety concerns of the company, (Gladwyn Investment Company
Limited) a detailed safety audit was carried out at the barge fabrication area. The
purpose is to identify, analyze and adopt control measures for hazards associated
with the job.
The safety audit is also meant to assess the present state of the company’s Health
Safety and Environment (HSE) – Management system in order to bring about
improvements.
During the audit exercise, we identified a number of hazards and unsafe working
conditions associated with the barge construction project, and are stated below.
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• Safety Boots
• Hand Gloves
• Splash Goggles
• Safety Glasses
• Safety Suits
• Safety Caps
• Safety Belts
4. Some of the very essential working equipments/tools are defective and in some
cases absent. This has left the workers with no option but to resort to unsafe
actions.
• Absence of comprehensive scaffolds and ladder for climbing heights.
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• There are no facilities for lifting heavy equipments; hence the workers resort to
manual carrying even without their PPES.
• Some of the welding cables are old, defective and potential sources of electrical
leakage/shock.
5. Complete absence of barricades and caution signs along the River blank which
happens to be very close to the barge construction work. In fact the River blank is
just a few meters away from the work site and is a major safety concern, especially
because most of the workers working around there are unable to swim.
Having identified some of the hazards and unsafe conditions associated with the
barge construction job, we also need to analyze the consequence in order to
understand and avert the impending contingencies that might arise.
When we place the frequency level of hazards and unsafe conditions around the work
area, against the ISO1400 risk assessment matrix, there is a very high probability of
an impending undesired occurrence (accident). The potential damage that might
result to life, assets, environment and reputation of the company is such that cannot
be over looked. The situation is one that calls for immediate response by
management to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to control the above risk
factors to “as law as reasonably practicable” (ALARP).
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HARZARDS ANALYSIS AND CONTROL
1. Pre task planning: - There should be a health safety and environment (HSE)
management system in place to ensure that every task to be performed is carefully
planned and all the hazards associated with it, clearly identified. This involves the
following processes.
• All the personnel to perform the task should be identified and their competence
assured.
• The various tools and equipments to be used for the job should also be identified
and tested. Any noticed short falls in performance rectified and made ready for
use.
• The hazards associated with the tasks are fully discussed with all concerned.
• All the personal protective equipment required should be identified, provided and
the understanding of the usage is explained.
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It is also very necessary to note that the life spam of the personal protective
equipments (PPEs) as well as the frequency with which they should be issued to
worker depends on the manufacturer’s catalogue.
3. Safety policy for subcontractors and other forms of workers working within the
company premises: Our establishment plays host to a good number of external
works, subcontractors and visitors, hence management should come up with a
clearly defined safety policy on the following related issues.
• When a job is subcontracted out by the company, who takes sole responsibility for
the safety execution of the job as well as the provision of personal protective
equipments (PPEs) for the job.
• There should be strict adherence to our company’s safety policy by other
companies/external workers who make use the company premises for their
dealings.
• To make a firm decision on the issue of “NO PPEs NO ENTRY” into work sites for
visitors and personnel.
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5. Reward for safety: As a way of motivating the workers on safety, a little token can
set aside to reward workers who adhere strictly to safety. It will go a long way to
show forth management’s commitment to safety issues. A situation where the most
safety compliant worker is identified monthly (Safety man of the month) and
rewarded will encourage other. This reward can be in terms of monetary value or
management’s recognition during our monthly general meetings.
6. Provision of safety signs, pictures and slogans: This is another project that will
involve some little expenditure but will serve as veritable tool in the course of our
safety awareness drive. Considering the literacy level of some of the workers, it will
be most effective to communicate safety to them by means of boldly printed safety
signs pictures and slogans around the company premises.
In the area of tools and equipments, I will recommend that there should be an
assessment of the effectiveness and safety status of all the company’s equipments
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so as to carry out checks and rectifications or total replacement as the case
maybe.
Yours faithfully