H stands for Health and wellness in relation to the working conditions in the workplace.  What are the requirements of the new machine directive? How do I carry out additional risk inventory and evaluations on existing machines? What are the compulsory actions required when working with hazardous materials? We ensure that these and other SHEQ questions are comprehensibly and clearly dealt with.

Health and Safety Legislation

With the implementation of the updated H&S Act in 2007 the Authorities are introducing a new approach to managing Health and safety aspects. The responsibility for health and safety is no longer only by the employer but the employee also has specified responsibilities. Also there are more possibilities for a “combined effort “approach within a certain branch, these requirements will be documented in the “branch H&S catalogue”. The goal of this new approach is to reduce the H&S risks and generally improve working conditions.

Occupational Hygiene

Occupational hygiene is the applied science which focuses on those factors at work which could contribute to ill-health of workers and their descendants. The science is based on identifying mainly physical, chemical and biological factors, on assessing the risks associated with them and on taking steps to reduce those risks. In three words: recognition, evaluation and control".

Different aspects within the working conditions deserve specific attention for example: physical stress, biological agents, chemical materials, asbestos etc. The correct implementation of the recognized occupational hygiene risk reduction strategy can provide additional protection to employees. This strategy is based on a multistep approach namely: the implementation of risk reduction measures at the source, collective and individual measures and when all else fails the application of personal protective equipment.

Removal at source measures: The removal of hazards at the source of origin for example the exchange of dangerous materials with a safer alternative.

Collective measures: The implementation of general measures to reduce the total risks for example the installation of a central air extraction system for removal of dangerous vapors.

Individual measures: The introduction of personal measures for example task rotation in order to reduce the risk for physical stress or other ergonomic problems.

Personal protection equipment:  PPE for example safety shoes, helmets, hearing protection etc. should only be used as a last resort and where possible as a temporary measure or as an additional safeguard.

What can SHE-Quest Advice do for you?

We can help to define a suitable H&S policy. We can carry out Risk Inventory and Evaluations for all H&S topics and prepare an action plan, including time frame and estimated costs. We give training over implications of new and revised legislation for example the new machine directive, Atex, labeling of dangerous materials but also the correct way to use PPE.

If you have doubts or questions over your H&S policy and procedures, please contact us. We are most willing to visit you on location to discuss how we can help you find the required solution.