Unit I: Introduction

EHS Metrices
Topics
Need for EHS in Workplace

Regulations, Acts and Codes of Practice

Role of Safety representatives

Ergonomics
Need for EHS
Generate conditions
that ensure no (or
minimum) risk of injury
or threat to our well-
being and to the
environment.
 What can happen???

Near-Miss
Minor Injury

Death
Major Injury
Need for EHS: Accidents/Injuries
Need for EHS: Some stats
 > 2 million occupational fatalities per year
 > 270 millions fatal/non-fatal occupational
accidents
 42 million in Africa, 22.6 million in Latin
America, etc.
 India: 10.4 fatalities and 8700 accidents per
1,00,000 workers

 Cost ~ 4% of GNP
Need for EHS
1)Human Health
– Accidents
– Injuries
2)Economic Losses:
1)Payouts to injured/deceased workers/non-
workers
2)Loss of productivity
3)Environmental Damage
4)Loss of reputation
 Need for EHS: Cost of Failure

Health and safety law is Criminal Law

Failure to manage health and safety can result in:

•prosecution,
fines and imprisonment
•compensation claims
•loss of output or service
•replacement costs
•loss of reputation
Need for EHS: Environmental
Damage

Cost of Environmental Damage ~ Bilions of $ per accident

Cost of Environmental Damage
Oil Spill: Deepwater Horizon spill (2010)
– BP's direct liability: $18 billion (>3x yearly
profit)

 Radioactive spill at Hanford, WA

 ~ $ 60 Billion (as per 2005 value)

Wrong labeling of radioactive waste containers

~$3 million to NY University system
Need for EHS
Leveraging EHS Management to drive
business values

Need for EHS: Regulatory
requirements
 ISO 14001 (Environment Management)
 ISO45001 (Health and Safety Management)
 Various Environmental Acts/laws/guidelines
 Bid Requirements
 National Laws
 Labor Code
Challenges to EHS
National Laws & Codes
 Environmental Laws
 Waste Disposal Standards
 Protection of Water bodies and Land
 Air Pollution Standards
 Noise Pollution Standards
 Protection of Wildlife, species
 Labor Codes
 Worker Safety Norms (PPEs...)
 Workplace Norms
(Int'l) Environmental Laws/Resolutions
• Stockholm Conference, 1972
• Promoted international action against dumping of
waste at sea and trade in endangered species.
• Defense and improvement of environment is an
imperative goal.
• Emphasized role of state/nation in env. Protection
and International/national institutions' role in
env. quality enhancement.
• Led to establishment of UNEP
(Int'l) Environmental Laws/Resolutions
• Earth Summit, Rio, 1992
• Resolutions included
• Comprehensive program for susainable
development
• Prevention of Climate Change
• Game-changer in terms of international
cooperation and stand.
• Resulted in UNFCCC.
(Int'l) Environmental Laws
• UN Commission on Sustainable
Development
• Agenda: integrating environment and
development in decision making, Env
Mgmt, sustainable development,....
• Components for review: health, human
settlement, waster, waste, toxic chemicals,
ocean, atmosphere,.....
(Int'l) Environmental Laws/Resolutions
• UNFCCC
• United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
• Aim: Minimize human interference with climate,
i.e. climate change
• Led to Kyoto protocol (1997), Paris Agreement
(2015): binding emission cuts for member
countries.
• Changes the way of thinking and
development activities.
Indian Environmental Laws
• Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• Environmental Protection Act (EPA), 1986
• Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules,
1989
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• ..................
Basic Environmental Requirements
• Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
approval before commencing work
• Compares the pre-development and post-
development scenarios and documents
measures needed to minimise environmental
damage during and post-development work.
• NGT (National Green Tribunal) requirements
• Local body requirements
• STP/ETP & Rain water harvesting mandatory in
NCR.
Labour Codes
• Minimum requirements:
• Clean drinking water
• Hygienic washrooms
• Basic medical facilities
• Minimum salary levels
• Minimum compensation levels
• Adequate and effective PPEs
• Safe working conditions
• Specific Working hours,......
Status & Relationship of Acts
• All the applicable Acts, Regulations & Codes
of Practice need to be employed.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change is the nodal environmental agency.
• Other agencies include, CPCB and SPCBs.
•
• Other ministries and agencies may also be
involved on case-by-case basis.
Status and Relationship of Acts
• NGT is nodal agency for expedient disposal of
matters related to environmental challenges.
•
•
• Implementation of Acts and Regulations is
poor, esp. in smaller cities/towns.
•
• Many Codes are merely guidelines.
• Multiple agencies create conflict.
Role of Trade Union Representatives

• Collective Bargaining on behalf of workers &

employers
• Ensuring minimum wages, compensation,
expedient resolution of conflicts/incidents,
safe & hygienic work conditions, etc.
•
Responsibilities of EHS Officer/Manager
• Development & implementation of Health & Safety programs.
• Ensures environmental & safety compliance
• Worker safety and well-being
• Ensures use of appropriate safeguards
• Assessment of overall workflow/process and identification of
operations that may cause EHS issues and remediation
thereof.
• Safety & Training Programs and information dissemination
• Conduct routine safety meetings
• Ensures posting of Safety information throughout workplace.
• Well-verse with applicable Acts, Regulations and Codes.
Responsibilities of EHS Officer/Manager

• In case of a workplace accident/injury

• Investigation of the incident
• Reporting the matter to higher management &
authorities
• Retraining of affected staff
• Suggests measures for preventing similar
future incidents.
Ergonomics in Workplace
• Ergon: Work
• Nomoi: Natural Laws
•
• Ergonomics: (Natural) Laws of Work
Ergonomics
• Ergonomics is an applied science concerned
with the design of workplaces, tools, and
tasks that match the physiological,
anatomical, and psychological
characteristics and capabilities of the
worker.
•
• “The Goal of ergonomics is to ‘fit the job to
the person,’ rather than making the person
fit the job.”
Need of Ergonomics
• Employee Turnover
• Absenteeism
• Insurance & Medical Costs
• Accidents/injury
• Loss of Productivity
•
Benefits of Ergonomics
• safer jobs with fewer injuries
• increased efficiency and productivity
• improved quality and fewer errors
• improved morale
• Lower Medical & Insurance costs
• Better Reputation
• Safer Workplace
Goals of Ergonomics (ME)
Finding ways to make strenuous, often
repetitive work, less likely to cause muscle
and joint injuries -- and still get the job done.

Keeping young bodies from wearing out

prematurely, and mature bodies from giving
out early.
Musculoskelatal disorders (MSDs)

MSDs

Contact with Objects

Workplace Violence

All Other
Transportation Related

Falls

MSDs account for 1 in 3 lost-time injuries

MSDs cost twice as much!!!

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

MSDs of the Back

Upper Extremity
MSDs

Average Claim

Average Costs per Claim ($)

Cost-Benefit of Ergonomics

Cost Benefits

Every $1 spent saves $4

Work-related MSDs (WMSDs)
Types of Injuries
• Muscle pain
• Repetitive motion injury
• Joint pain
• Cumulative trauma disorder
• Swelling
• Numbness
• Restricted motion
• Repetitive stress injury
Types of Problems/Mismatches
• Physical Size
• Clearance, reach, equipment size, PPE
• Endurance
• Capacity for work
• Strength
• Force requirement, Male/female, manual material handling
•
• Environmental
• Noise, Lighting, Thermal, Chemical
• Cognitive
• Morale, psychosocial, shift work, machine pacing
Injuries in Making
Caution Zone
• Overhead heavy lifting
• More than 2 hours per day
• Hands above head
• Elbow above shoulders
• Back bent forward at >30°
• Neck bent > >30°
• Squatting
• Kneeling
• Vibrating equipment
• Heavy force application
•
Solutions
• Identify potential caution zones (including
process, equipment, manner of operation)
• Try to reduce at least one of Force,
Frequency and Duration
• Modify workplace, tools or task to better suit
the employees
• Regular training and monitoring programs
• Ergonomic tools, Ergonomic Posture, regular
exercises/stretching, frequent breaks
End of Unit-I