Regulatory Compliance Consulting

If you are the individual or part of a committee that is dedicated to employee safety, you’ll find that one thing that you have to consider is taking a look at what safety signs that you need to keep a round. It seems that humans are, in general, forgetful creatures, and that having the right signs around can help you stay on top of the situation and that it can also help you figure out what you need to do in order to keep everyone safe and mindful of safe behaviour.

The first thing to keep in mind is that safety signs are by and large warnings of an environmental nature. Think about the type of business that you work in. What are you going to expect when it comes to hazards? The hazards that you might expect at a library are different from the ones that you might expect if you work in a company that deals with chemicals, for instance. When you are looking at the signs that you need, you’ll find that you might need to think about industry specific signs that will address the special needs of your company.

Remember also that signs are something of a last resort. Whenever possible, you should take steps to make sure that the risk itself doesn’t exist, but remember that this is not always possible. Though some hazards can be changed by working with controls or by changing working practices, you’ll find that there are some risks are inherent in the environment but still should be addressed. When you are looking to decide what should get a sign, think of some of the following.

First remember that you should address things that people might do in an area, like running or smoking. Is that activity going to impair their safety in some way if done in that area? If it is, put up a sign Youll also want to warn people of the presence of dangerous substances, and if you work in an industrial area, youll also find that you should look into warning them about moving industrial vehicles. Remember that some signs should serve as reminders are they wearing their protective gear?

Also, keep in mind that you will need to think about signs that tell people about important locations, like fire exits or first aid kits. Remember that the signs that you choose should be high contrast with the rest of the area, and that you should keep in mind that in the event of an emergency, they should be as eye catching as possible.

Remember that when you are looking to ensure the safety of your employees that there are plenty of things that you can do, and that by making sure that there are plenty of safety signs around that this can be an important first step.

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What is occupational asbestos risk? Does the Silent Killer stalk your work place? The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) requires asbestos risk to be identified and assessed. Employers have the explicit duty to protect employees from asbestos risk and to manage the safety of their premises.

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The ladder is used for all manner of tasks and functions in a wide variety of industries and businesses. However ladder usage is some times carried out in a dangerous way posing a risk to workers and those in the immediate vicinity. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 have put in place certain legislation in order to improve the safety of those working on ladders whilst also ensuring that suitable training is undertaken before a ladder is used. Thankfully a large number of companies now conduct training courses in line with the regulations as well as the recommendations of the Ladder Association.

These training courses set out to give workers knowledge of how to use ladders safely and the legal policies relating to their usage. It helps workers to understand their own responsibilities and obligations while acknowledging the risks posed by ladder usage. Training should give workers an idea of the correct way to use ladders whilst enabling them to spot any defects with equipment and to store that equipment safely and securely.

Hopefully the following information will give an insight into these training courses and more specifically how they encourage the safe use of ladders. In general ladders are regarded to be high risk pieces of equipment in the workplace. In most cases, if carrying out lengthy jobs, a scaffolding platform or a piece of powered access machinery would be better suited to the purpose.

Most training courses will give trainees the essential information that should be included in a checklist before use. This is labelled as hazard identification and risk assessment and should always be performed before climbing a ladder. Firstly, it is always advisable to place barricades and warning signs around the equipment to ensure that all those in the surrounding area know somebody is working at height. Additionally, the angle of a ladder should be around 1:4, any more or less than this and the outfit can be dangerous. The equipment should always be placed upon a firm footing and in most cases should be secured both at the top and the bottom to ensure it does not slip. In terms of potential hazards, care should be taken to notice any electrical wiring or possible debris before erecting the outfit.

In terms of working on the ladder, adequate training will give workers essential knowledge. Knowing not to have more than one person working on the equipment at any one time is essential as multiple persons can make the outfit unsafe. As well as this, whenever ascending or descending the outfit workers should keep three points of contact with the rungs at all times, this means two hands and a foot or vice versa. The body should always be kept central to the equipment; leaning out is dangerous and can make the outfit unstable. When working on ladders near doorways, it is crucial to lock the door so no-one opens the door and knocks the ladder over. The last point is that heavy lifting should not be conducted from ladders; this will put strain on the body and usually break the three points of contact rule.

Hopefully this information has given workers the vital information on how to use ladders properly. Legally there are certain responsibilities of managers to ensure their workers only use ladders after suitable training. As a dangerous piece of equipment that can seriously injure, it is important to recognise the need for training and safety at all times.

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European Union has opted for the acceptance of REACH regulations on 1st June, 2007. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical. The regulation is adopted for streamlining and improving the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union. The regulations has put the Burden of Proof” on the industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to the health and the environment. REACH regulations covers not only industrial chemicals but also chemicals, which are used in our day-to-day life (e.g. paints, dyes used for clothing, etc.)

Objectives of implementing REACH regulations are:

* Improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals
* Enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry, a key sector for the economy of the EU
* Promote alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances
* Ensure the free circulation of substances on the internal market of the European Union.

All the exporters and importers of chemicals will identify and manage the risks and hazards associated with the chemicals that they manufacture and market. REACH requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals to produce data on all chemical substances that are produced or imported into the EU in volumes above one ton a year. Appropriate risk management measures must also be identified and users informed of them.

REACH regulations are imposed on manufacturers or importers of chemicals of more than 1 metric ton per annum per company. For companies who are manufacturing and exporting more than 1 metric ton of a chemical to Europe will need to register the chemical by submitting the dossier and proving that the chemical is safe to use. Potential registrants (i.e. manufacturers and importers of chemicals) must ‘pre-register’ these substances by December 1, 2008. Those that are not pre-registered by that date will have to undergo a full registration process in December, or be withdrawn from sale. Supply of substances to the European market, which have not been registered, would be considered as illegal.

REACH regulations are managed by European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which will operate from Helsinki, Finland.

Although, REACH regulations cover all chemicals, exemptions are provided for medicinal products. Hence, all active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their finished dosage forms are exempted from the cover of REACH regulations.

There are many companies in India, which manufacture and exports intermediates for APIs to clients in European countries. Indian companies consider intermediates for APIs as a huge market. As intermediates for APIs are not classified as medicinal products, hence are not exempted under REACH regulations. Intermediates for APIs need to be pre-registered before the deadline of 30th Nov, 2008 and then processed for its registration procedure.

Intermediates for the APIs can be classified again under 2 main categories under REACH:

* Non-isolated intermediates
* Isolated intermediates
* On-site (non transported) isolated intermediates
* Transported isolated intermediates

A non-isolated intermediate is an intermediate that during synthesis is not intentionally removed (except for sampling) from the equipment in which the synthesis takes place.

On-site isolated intermediate means an intermediate not meeting the criteria of a non-isolated intermediate and where the manufacture of the intermediate and the synthesis of another substance from that intermediate take place on the same site, operated by one or more legal entities.

A transported isolated intermediate is an intermediate not meeting the criteria of a non-isolated intermediate and transported between or supplied to other sites.

Under REACH regulations, non-isolated intermediates are exempted from review process as non-isolated intermediates remain in the reaction process and are not isolated.

Most of Indian pharmaceutical companies exporting intermediates for APIs would fall under the perview of the “Isolated intermediates” category for which the companies will need to undergo review procedure under REACH regulations.

Relief under Strictly controlled conditions:

For both on-site and transported isolated intermediates, there is possibility to provide a reduced set of information for their registration under the following conditions:

* For on-site isolated intermediates, the manufacturer confirms that the substance is only manufactured and used under strictly controlled conditions in that it is rigorously contained by technical means during its whole life cycle.
* For transported isolated intermediates, the manufacturer or importer confirms himself or states that he has received confirmation from the user that the synthesis of another substance from that intermediate takes place on other sites under strictly controlled conditions.

Adding to the above-mentioned brief overview of REACH regulations, all the steps of registration under REACH regulations are expensive as all the products (other than exempted products) need to be registered individually.

In conclusion, impact of REACH regulations in India’s Pharmaceutical sector would

* potentially disrupt the supply of intermediates for APIs
* push up drug prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kuldeep_D_Karnik

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When you are in a situation where you need to think about making sure that everyone in your building can leave safely in the event of an emergency, you’ll find that there are several things that you need to keep in mind. No matter how large your company is, you must make sure that you have a good plan in order to ensure the safety of your employees, and you’ll find that the more you think about it, the better you will be able to ensure the safety of the people involved, so make sure that you don’t neglect this basic and important duty.

When you are considering the fire safety of your building, you’ll find that you need to start early. Take the time to come up with a fire-risk assessment by thinking about all of the possible risks and dangers. Look at the equipment and look at the condition it is in. Think about what employees may be most at risk should the worst happen and work from there to reduce the risk as much as you can. You will also find that you can reduce the risks greatly by taking the time to think about things like waste management, storage and disposal, so think about how your work place handles those topics.

Make sure that you take the basic steps to ensure that you have all of equipment that you need to take care of your fire safety. This means making sure that you have enough fire extinguishers and fire alarms to cover the areas in question and that they all be functional. One real problem that many places face is that the equipment that they get needs to be regularly tested. For instance, all of the extinguishers need to be checked for pressure and good function, while fire alarms should be tested once a month to ensure that they will continue to sound.

When you are thinking about fires, always think in a worst case scenario and take the time to think about making sure that you and your employees know where you need to go when it comes to evacuation. You can make sure that this knowledge is wide spread by conducting drills on a regular basis and by making sure that it is in all of your employee handbooks and safety manuals. Make sure that all fire exits and the routes to them are clearly marked and make sure that the routes themselves are kept clear of anything that might impede quick traversal through them.

Take some time to make sure that you and your employees are up to date on what constitutes good fire practices and ensure that everyone is educated and aware of what the risks are!

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Fires are one of the most destructive forces on the planet. They can easily destroy everything youve worked for and can even claim the lives of those in your small business, even your own life. Plus, there are recently enacted guidelines in England and northern Ireland that now require the responsible person to take actions in order to ensure the safety of the property. Below are some steps to help you make your small business safer from the risk of fire.

Identifying Fire Risks

Before you can make your business safe, you must identify what could be putting it at risk of a fire. That means you need to take note of anything that might start a fire, burn in a fire, or intensify a fire. While that may seem like a tall order, it is just the first important step in making changes to improve the safety of your building.

Once youve determined what these risks are youll need to begin making changes. For example, if you notice that something which could possibly ignite a fire, such as a portable heater, is located near combustible materials, such as storage boxes, you could move the ignition source into another room or replace it with something that is less likely to start a fire.

Adding Fire Safety Necessities

Two of the greatest tools you can have in your small business to improve fire safety are the fire extinguisher and the smoke alarm. The fire extinguisher can help you stop the spread of a fire before it can cause too much damage or before it can become life or property-threatening. Remember you should have one extinguisher for every 200 square meters of floor space to provide the maximum safety possible.

The smoke alarm can be useful because it will alert you to the danger usually before the first flames appear. Even if the fire has already started, the smoke alarm can alert you to take immediate action, such as grabbing the extinguisher and/or calling the fire department. It can also expedite the evacuation of the premises and can save lives. Be sure to check the batteries periodically to ensure it is working properly.

Taking Precautions

There are some other things you can do to ensure that your small business is safe from fire. For example, you need to minimize clutter whenever possible. Clutter can help contribute to fires by making it harder for people to reach them with the proper equipment and in adding to their intensity. The clutter can also make it more difficult to escape safely from your building.

In addition, you should create a fire plan so that everyone in the building knows what actions to take in the event of a fire and what to do if they see the signs of a fire. Because fires can create panic, using drills to practice these plans is going to be essential to their success.

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