Checklist For Supply Chain Health And Safety Management
Supply chain health and safety management is an essential aspect of any organization’s operations, as it plays a critical role in ensuring the well-being of workers and protecting the environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of robust health and safety measures, as supply chain disruptions can have far-reaching consequences on businesses and communities. To ensure that supply chain operations are safe and healthy, it is crucial to have a checklist that can help identify potential risks and hazards and provide guidance on how to mitigate them. This article will discuss the critical components of a comprehensive supply chain health and safety checklist and provide tips on implementing them effectively.
Checklist For Supply Chain Health And Safety Management
This checklist is taken from the HSE leaflet INDG268 Working Together: Guidance on Health and Safety for Contractors and Suppliers 2002. It reminds me of the topics that might need to be discussed with people with whom individual contractors may be working.
It is not intended to be exhaustive, and not all questions will apply at any one time, but it should help people get started.
Responsibilities
- What are the hazards of the job?
- Who is to assess particular risks?
- Who will coordinate action?
- Who will monitor progress?
The job
- Where is it to be done?
- Who with?
- Who is in charge?
- How is the job to be done?
- What other work will be going on at the same time?
- How long will it take?
- What time of day or night?
- Do you need any permit to do the work?
hazards and risk assessments
Site and location
Consider the means of getting into and out of the site and the particular place of work – are they safe? – and
- Will any risks arise from environmental conditions?
- Will you be remote from facilities and assistance?
- What about physical/structural conditions?
- What arrangements are there for security?
Substances
- What supplier information is available?
- Is there likely to be any microbiological risk?
- What are the storage arrangements?
- What are the physical conditions at the point of use?
- Check ventilation, temperature, electrical installations, etc.
- Will you encounter substances not supplied but produced in work, such as fumes from hot work during the dismantling plant?
- Check how much, how often, for how long, the method of work, etc.
- What are the control measures? For example, consider preventing exposure, providing engineering controls, and using personal protection (in that order of choice).
- Is any monitoring required?
- Is health surveillance necessary, for example, for work with sensitizers? (Refer to the health and safety data sheet.)
Plant and equipment
- What are the supplier/hirer/manufacturer’s instructions?
- Are any certificates of examination and tests needed?
- What arrangements have been made for inspection and maintenance?
- What arrangements are there for shared use?
- Are the electrics safe to use?
- Check the condition of power sockets, plugs, leads, and equipment. (Don’t use damaged items until they have been repaired.)
- What assessments have been made of noise levels?
People
- Are information, instruction, and training given as appropriate?
- What are the supervision arrangements?
- Are members of the public/inexperienced people involved?
- Have any disabilities/medical conditions been considered?
Emergencies
- What arrangements are there for warning systems in case of fire and other emergencies?
- What arrangements have been made for fire/ emergency drills?
- What provision has been made for first-aid and fire-fighting equipment?
- Do you know where your nearest fire exits are?
- What are the accident reporting arrangements?
- Are the necessary arrangements made for the availability of rescue equipment and rescuers?
Welfare
Who will provide:
- Shelter
- Food and drinks
- Washing facilities
- Toilets (male and female)
- Clothes changing/drying facilities?
Other pressing requirements may make it essential to re-think health and safety as the work progresses.
