Robust HSE strategy, the safety key to success

Though chemical industry provides raw materials for products and goods that we encounter every day, there are risks involved in manufacturing, using, transporting and disposal of chemicals. Hence, mitigating these risks and management of HSE are critical responsibilities of any chemical manufacturer.
 
Declaration of the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Work Place in February 2009 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (GoI), has been one of the important steps for building and maintaining a national preventative safety and health culture. Diane Kelly, Regional President, Dow Corning India, ASEAN, ANZ, said, “With the declaration of the Policy, companies have recognised the importance of embracing and institutionalising HSE standards.”
 
Chemical companies are realising the importance of demonstrating their commitment to HSE to their stakeholders – investor, community, employees, etc. The only solution to this is to build global management systems. Kelly opined, “An effective HSE strategy enables a self-reporting culture, with accountability and responsibility, leading to quantitative and qualitative benefits. In most cases, following these management systems has become mandatory and is one of the parameters for being eligible for ISO (International Standards Organization) certification. Today, many companies are increasingly demanding that their suppliers and vendors follow the same set of standards, even if it means paying a premium for their products or services. This is further driving adoption and compliance in this area."
 
Auditing safety
To remain compliant with health and safety management standards, companies need to monitor, analyse and audit every stage of the business right from procurement, production, storage, distribution to disposal. “HSE audits are systematic and, wherever possible, independently examine whether activities and related results conform to planned arrangements and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve the organisation's policy and objectives,” said Vinay Pathak, Lab Head - 3M R&D Centre, Gurgaon.
 
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No other safety related activity could produce a status evaluation of any industrial or commercial enterprise better than a comprehensive audit. Pathak added, “Performed professionally, audits provide management with answers based on facts, which in turn, generate appropriate solutions to problems. As safety professionals, it is our responsibility to ensure that we help managers ensure that their actions and activities within their mandate of control are based on facts.”
 
Personal protective equipment (PPE), which are suited to withstand specific hazards, also play key role in protecting the employee against health or safety risks at workplace. "Using PPE requires hazard awareness and training on the part of the user. Employees must be aware that the equipment does not eliminate the hazard. If the equipment fails, exposure will occur. To reduce the possibility of failure, equipment must be properly fitted and maintained in a clean and serviceable condition,” said Pathak.
 
Benefits unlimited
With an aim to achieve their sustainability goals, chemical companies are embedding HSE strategy culture across the supply chain – from manufacturing to procuring raw materials to supplying products to customers. By doing this, companies are not only bringing down mitigation risks, but are also increasing the productivity due to longer accident-free period.
 
Kelly said, “Chemical companies around the world strictly adhere to a set of standards regarding HSE. These norms may vary from company to company, depending upon the global guidelines they follow and the kind of chemicals they use and manufacture. The implementation of a well thought out, robust, and institutionalised HSE management system helps a company better manage and mitigate the risks (and costs) that they would otherwise need to bear in case of an incident. This also helps in increasing productivity and strengthening the value system within the organisation."
 
Leading from the top
Initiatives such as Responsible Care act as enablers for continuous improvement in SHE performance by facilitating open and transparent communication with stakeholders. For the continuity of HSE strategy involvement of top management is critical. “Companies could subscribe to global initiatives like Responsible Care to improve their HSE aspects on an ongoing basis. While the awareness on this front has increased in the recent past, however a lot yet remains to be done. This can be achieved only through commitment from top management,” said Dr Joerg Strassburger, Managing Director and Country Representative, LANXESS India.
 
A motivated work-force can ensure adherence to globally-accepted HSE standards. Kelly added, “Best practices like HSE management systems are driven from the top of the organisation. But effective implementation of these systems is largely dependent on the commitment of people across all levels of the organisation."

Objectives of safety auditing should be to inform the company: How well it is performing in health & safety Whether managers and others are meeting the standards which the company has set for itself Whether the company is complying with the health & safety laws which affect its business with the view that the company making any improvements identified as necessary from this information Source: 3M