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HEALTH & SAFETY FACTORY FOCUS


REDUCING THE RISK of occupational exposure


instruments can be used in real time to detect harmful contaminants including airborne dusts, fumes and aerosols. Casella developed the first dust


With occupational safety becoming an increasing concern, Neal Hill of Casella discusses how technology can help reduce risk


A


ccording to a series of recent surveys occupational health is finally


becoming as much a cause for concern as workplace safety. The approach to it is changing all over the world with an increasing number of businesses shifting from a reactive attitude to a conscious management of operational issues and a whole raft of surveys have appeared to prove it. One of the most recent was an international survey conducted by DNV GL Business Assurance and research institute GFK Eurisko which consulted almost 4,000 professionals from businesses in different industries in Europe, the Americas and Asia on attitudes to health and safety management. Perhaps one of the most interesting findings was the suggestion that a more proactive approach is being adopted across the board. “Managing health and safety at work


has become an integrated part of today’s corporate strategy,” the survey said. “More than 90% of people surveyed agree and 76% state they even implement an ad hoc policy above and beyond what is required by law and regulations. The bigger the corporation the higher the application rate but surprisingly 70% of small firms adopt specific approaches too.” Alongside the more established precautions including regular maintenance of premises and the preparations for an emergency over a third of those canvassed claimed to be addressing issues such as the assessment


of all risks related to health and safety and preventive measures. In the modern workplace “an assessment of all risks related to health and safety” should certainly include those relating to dangers such as dust and noise.Health and safety practices are sometimes based on an oversimplified assessment of risk to comply with the most basic demands of legislation. However, more enlightened companies are following more proactive risk reduction strategies that go much further.


HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DUST The effects of exposure to potentially toxic dusts can be extremely harmful despite the long latency period of any developing condition. It may take many years before symptoms such as cancers of the lungs, throat and nose and respiratory conditions including emphysema and asthma present. To prevent the losses to both employee


health and business profitability that arise from lost working hours to claims for compensation raised as a result of serious illness, businesses can take advantage of modern instrumentation to monitor conditions and protect the business and workforce from the negative effects of exposure. Customer expectations are high given


the growing deployment of sensors in the home and the environment but modern instrumentation is providing increasingly sophisticated answers. For example, hand-held data logging


/ FACTORYEQUIPMENT


measurement equipment over 60 years ago and today in addition to certification for use in potentially hazardous atmospheres due to flammable gases or dusts the Casella Microdust Pro offers reliability that is essential in health and safety equipment. The rugged data logging device is used for spot checks and walk-through surveys that instantly provide data where excessive dust levels are occurring. Easy to use and built to withstand harsh environments, the multi-language instrument can be used in many applications including industrial process monitoring, boundary monitoring for construction and demolition and testing air filtration efficiency. Microdust Pro has the highest maximum measurement range of any hand-held real time dust monitor available today and can accommodate a range of accessories for gravimetric and size- selective sampling applications.


STRONG CORPORATE CULTURE The urge to focus on short term results remains the enemy of progress when it comes to occupational health issues but the tide is turning and as the survey shows efforts will move from operative aspects to organisational ones, marking a relevant step toward the development of a strong corporate culture of occupational health and safety. With more research and analysis and innovative technology to make the detection of dust and noise easier and more efficient we can defend the workforce against both short- and long- term threats to their well-being. “What is certain,” says DNV GL Business Assurance, “is that the focus on the topic will be kept high in the coming years... more than 90% of people surveyed expect to maintain or increase investments for occupational health and safety in the next three years.” As long as investment is there to back


up the healthier attitude that is prevailing across industry, the future for occupational health looks good.


Casella T: 01234 844100 www.casellasolutions.com Enter 317


FACTORY EQUIPMENT | MAY 2014 17


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