Combined Systems

During the past ten years we have introduced Combined Systems to all clients. Most of them are manufacturers and they are legally required to minimise environmental pollution incidents and Health and Safety accidents. Also as the corresponding International Standards are very similar, training and procedures can be combined and audited internally and externally at the same time. Risk assessments are also very similar.

Manufacturers need to maintain Quality to a competitive level to continue in business. So Quality,
Environmental, Safety and Health systems operate in all manufacturing operations. The QuEnSH solution is to recommend combined flow charted procedures. An example is shown on the left in Chart 14.2. Although some clients have not decided to apply for ISO (International Standards Organisation) certification for Environmental and/or Health and Safety standards they all need to:

• Improve procedures to comply with the law
• Record H&S accidents and Environmental incidents, required by law
  
• Compile Legal Registers and Aspect Registers
  
• Manage waste produced
  
• Control documents, and
  
• Audit these systems to prove that they work, to name just a few procedures.

The flow chart 14.2 on the left is a common procedure in manufacturing. A 200 litre drum of concentrated cutting oil is moved by a licensed fork truck driver, using a one tonne truck, from goods received to the diluter.

To explain; cutting oil is a refined oil product which when mixed with water between 5 and 15% oil to water dilution, results in a cooling and lubricating agent used typically in drilling deep holes in hard metals. The water evaporates to cool the cutting edges and prevents overheating which would change the nature of the metals involved. The lubricant extends the life of cutting edge. The quality of this oil is crucial to production efficiency.

The impact on the environment can be lethal to fresh water plant and animal life, as it removes dissolved oxygen in the streams and rivers. If concentrated oil is spilt and runs into drains and is discharged to any water table and thence to rivers, crops could die, river life dies until that oil is diluted to about 2%, so even the 5% diluted oil will still damage nature, hence the provision of the Bund which is required to hold 110% of the drum content if the drum is pierced. This bund conforms to Oil Storage Regulations.

The person involved must protect themselves from being injured. The Health and Safety risks are:

• Cutting oil will damage eyes. The cornea is the only part of the body not reached by the blood and relies on oxygen diffused in tears at every blink. (See the environmental impact above). So eye protection is required.
• The drum weighs one fifth of a tonne with relatively sharp edges. Heavy drums can roll and spin. So hard hat, gloves and protective boots are required.

The procedure reminds all concerned to remember these three vital points. The QuEnSH solution.

Aspects are pollutants, usually chemicals, which are safely contained but have potential to pollute if spilt, when they become Impacts. [Illustrated by -an oil tanker at sea is an Aspect which Impacts a rock, spills oil and pollutes the sea.]