Key Elements of Risk Assessment for Product and Workplace Safety According to Clarion Safety Systems
MILFORD, Pa. (PRWEB) April 30, 2019 -- In Compliance Magazine’s April issue features industry insight from Clarion Safety Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of safety labels, signs and tags, discussing the practical implications of risk assessment related to electrical equipment product safety.
In Compliance is a top resource for electrical engineering professionals, delivering the latest news, standards updates, technical explanations and guidance for engineers. Clarion Safety is a regular contributor to the publication, with articles informed by the company’s nearly three decades of experience serving its customers, as well as its deep involvement in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards committees related to safety labels and signs.
Risk assessment is a fundamental element of product safety and product safety labeling, according to Clarion Safety Systems. It involves considering the probability and severity of outcomes that can result from potentially hazardous situations – a key part of both machinery and workplace safety. It is a formal process for identifying hazards and evaluating and analyzing risks associated with those hazards; the next step is either eliminating the hazards or controlling those risks that can’t be eliminated to minimize the potential for injury.
Clarion Safety’s article features an in-depth interview with Doug Nix, managing director of Compliance inSight Consulting, on the practical implications of risk assessment. Included is an overview and definitions of the different types of machine-related assessments – and how they can be used to support product safety. These include hazard-based analysis, task-based risk assessments, job hazard analysis and task-hazard analysis.
Nix, who specializes in machinery risk assessment techniques, often sees common mistakes and pain points of manufacturers looking to assess risks related to their products. “The top mistake that I commonly see is poor task and hazard identification,” says Nix, who works with these engineers to help identify steps that may be needed to make improvements to their processes.
Nix also recommends that manufacturers keep in mind the importance of conducting regular risk assessments at key intervals of their product’s development process. Important times to conduct assessments are during the design process, after installation, after changes or modifications, or with new ownership of the machine.
As risk assessments are critical for the big picture of safety, as well as for developing effective safety labels and safety signs, Clarion Safety offers risk assessment services to its clients, including:
- Product risk assessments
Product-related risk assessments can help manufacturers improve product/equipment safety, reduce risk and comply with applicable legal requirements. From a legal perspective, “reasonably foreseeable” hazards must be defined as well as “reasonable” ways to mitigate risks associated with hazards that cannot be designed out. With risk assessment, potential hazards can be identified with solutions provided as early as possible in the product’s life cycle. They can be done during the concept stage of the product’s design, during the final stage of design, prototype production and testing, on a final manufactured product, and after placement in the market if an accident occurs or if an unforeseen safety concern arises. With many products, hazards remain even after the best safety engineering design solutions are in place; risk assessments can help determine which potential hazards deserve on-product labels as a means to further communicate safety and reduce risk.
- Workplace risk assessments
Workplace-related risk assessment, sometimes referred to as job hazard analysis, can help to identify hazards and risks, as well as proper control means using hierarchy of controls decision-making to reduce risks to acceptable levels. As organizations look to implement processes to continually improve workplace safety in line with safety management system objectives, the ability to accurately communicate residual risks to workers, subcontractors and guests becomes critically important. When hazards can’t be eliminated from an area or designed out of a process, facility safety sign systems are a means to communicate residual risk and reinforce procedures, safety training and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Safety sign systems are part of a risk communication/risk reduction strategy, and can complement and support other critical risk reduction controls, like training.
To learn more, read Clarion Safety’s In Compliance Magazine column and the Clarion Safety blog on risk assessments for safer workplaces. The company also has a video available on the risk assessment process and how warnings can be used to close the gap on acceptable risk.
Contact Clarion Safety to learn more about the company’s risk-related assessment services.
Clarion Safety also accepts media inquiries and speaking opportunities related to safety and risk. To submit a media inquiry, visit the “Newsroom” section of the company’s website and select the “For the Media” tab.
ABOUT CLARION SAFETY SYSTEMS
Clarion Safety Systems, LLC, is the leading designer and manufacturer of visual safety solutions that help customers in more than 180 industries worldwide to make their products and premises safer. Clarion offers a full range of standard and custom products including machinery safety labels, environmental and facility safety signs, pipe and valve identification markings, lockout/tagout products, and safety-grade photoluminescent egress path-marking escape systems. Founded in 1990, the company continues to play a leading role in the development and writing of international and national standards for safety signs, labels, and markings. Clarion is headquartered at 190 Old Milford Road in Milford, PA, 18337, and online at http://www.clarionsafety.com.
Erin Earley, Clarion Safety Systems, http://www.clarionsafety.com, +1 570-296-5686 Ext: 228, [email protected]
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