Employee involvement equipment

Combining the practice of preventive maintenance and total quality control and total employee involvement results in an innovative system for equipment maintenance that optimizes effectiveness, eliminates breakdowns, and promotes autonomous operator maintenance through day-to-day activities. This concept known as Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) was conceived by Seiichi Nakajima and is well-documented in his book Introduction of TPM and is highly recommended reading for all involved in the maintenance area. 

Verify that employees involved for equipment operation, maintenance, calibration, and cleaning have received adequate training. 

Employees involved in maintaining the ongoing integrity of process equipment must be trained in an overview of the chemical process and its hazards. Employees must be also trained in the procedures applicable to the employees job tasks, such as the safe work practices discussed above. 

CFR1910.119(j)(3) 4.5.5 Training for process maintenance activities - The employer shall train each employee involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of process equipment in an overview of that process and its hazards and in the procedures applicable to the employee s job tasks to assure that the employee can perform the job tasks in a safe manner. 

Besides the above, machines have to be guarded, housekeeping kept intact, chemicals safely used and stored, personal protective equipment properly worn, and correct lighting and signage used. Employee involvement is also essential. 

Employer procedures must be developed by a qualified person and must satisfy a number of specified requirements, such as providing adequate support and stability for all parts of the equipment, and positioning employees involved to minimize exposure to any unintended movement or collapse. 

Position employees involved in the assembly/disassembly operation so that their exposure to unintended movement or collapse of part or all of the equipment is minimized. 

Under OSHA s program, the employer must also provide specified equipment to employees involved in confined space entry. The requirements under this specification and the required equipment are covered in the following section. 

Employees should be encouraged to help in the enforcement of work rules and work practices. Your intent is not to turn your employees into informers, but to encourage them to keep an eye out for the safety of themselves and fellow workers. Many employers have encouraged an atmosphere where a successful safety culture exists by getting employees involved. In this type of situation, employees speak up when they see safety issues— for example, a co-worker who needs to be reminded to put on personal protective equipment [2]. In many cases, employees will discuss safety infractions with their co-workers. The key is to develop a culture where personal protective equipment is not the only safety infraction that is discussed. There are many more hazards that should be identified. 

There are four elements to mechanical handling, each of which can present hazards. These are handling equipment, the load, the workplace and the employees involved. 

An authorized employee will perform the isolation of the work area and involved equipment and complete the lockout permit. 

After the hazard assessment has been conducted and the data has been collected, it should be organized in a logical outline that will estimate the potential for employee injury The organized data will help to decide the type of hazard(s) involved, the level of risk, and the seriousness of potential injury The appropriate levels of PPE are then selected based on the hazard determination and the availability of PPE. The user should be properly fitted for the specified PPE, and the employer should make sure that it is comfortable to wear. Hazard reassessments should be conducted as necessary based on the introduction of new or revised processes, equipment, and accident experience, to ensure the continued suitability of selection of the proper PPE. 

Negative employee moral may manifest itself in an aspect of direct damage to company equipment as retribution. These effects may be disguised as accidental events in order to avoid persecution by the individuals involved. Other incidents may be perpetrated by outright terrorist activities. Incidental effects may develop into catastrophic incidents unbeknown even to the saboteur. The design of facilities should account for periods when management and labor relations may not be optimum and opportunities for vandalization could easily avail themselves. Where terrorist activity is ongoing suitable preventive measures must be instituted (i.e., increased security measures, barricades, etc.). 

Special Purpose Industrial Occupancy—ordinary and low hazards in buildings designed for, and suitable only for, particular types of operations involving a low density of employee population with much of the area occupied by vessels, equipment, piping or machinery. 

Indirect witnesses may contribute as much information as eyewitnesses may. Off-shift personnel, previous shift personnel, or whoever last ran the process should be contacted. Recendy retired or transferred employees are a potential source of valuable information about the dynamics, equipment, and systems involved. They often have unique knowledge based on many years of experience with the particular systems and equipment involved in the incident. Examples of potential contributions include unique knowledge of ... 

Incident investigation involves varying levels of photographic expertise. For most minor incidents, the team or a company employee can adequately meet the photographic needs. Incidents that are more serious require an experienced individual, such as a forensic specialist, who systematically documents the scene, equipment involved, damage, evidence collection, and position data. For specialized photographic needs, the services of a professional commercial photographer or other specialists are necessary and are justified. Examples of such needs include ... 

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