The Labor Hygiene Management System
Labor hygiene management system is set up to protect the safety, health and labor rights of the workers. The purpose of the labor hygiene management system is to guarantee that all workers are exposed to the minimum risk of work-related diseases or injuries, when they are engaged in activities on a daily basis.
Labor hygiene management system usually contains several core elements, such as labor health risk assessment and job related stress assessment, physical and chemical laboratory tests, monitoring of emission levels, safety management and safety training, workplace environmental surveys and health inspection, and workplace safety verification.
The system involves identifying, controlling and eliminating the potential for employees to be exposed to hazardous particles and substances and hazards in the workplace. Companies are required to conduct regular inspections of the work environment and identify and assess the risks. They must also develop and implement prevention and control programs on the basis of the outcomes of such assessments, and cooperate with occupational health institutions to take corrective action.
The health risk assessment will consider factors such as the type of work performed, availability of protective clothing, quality of air intakes, types of ventilation and air conditioning, temperature and humidity levels, amount of dust and dirt, and other psychosocial factors. The assessment should also include the evaluation of local labor laws, regulations and standards to identify legal requirements and any gaps between them. The labor health risk assessment is then used to prioritize areas to be targeted for preventive management.
Job related stress management assesses the impact of environmental and psychosocial factors on worker health and well-being. Employees are assessed in terms of their willingness and abilities to recognize and cope with stress as well as their levels of productivity and job satisfaction. To assess job-related stress, organizations must consider factors such as working hours, working conditions, workloads, work-to-home balance, and management styles.
Physical and chemical laboratory tests are done to assess different hazardous materials and agents in the workplace, such as industrial chemicals and metals, fertilizer and pesticide residues, asbestos, biological agents, and radon gas. The tests provide data on the levels of exposure of workers to dangerous agents and the risk posed by them.
Monitoring of emission levels involves the assessment of workplace air quality by measuring and monitoring the concentrations of airborne particulates, gases and vapors. The data collected through this process helps to identify any hazardous exposures, and to set up protective control measures to reduce their levels.
Safety management ensures that workers are protected from health and safety risks by setting up a suitable work environment, as well as by implementing proper safety procedures and protective equipment. Security officers should be trained to identify potential safety hazards, and implement safety policies for the workplace.
Safety training is also essential for companies to ensure that workers are aware of risks in the workplace and adhere to safety regulations. A safety training program should include instruction on safe work practices, the safe use of tools and equipment, basics of first aid, and the safer handling of hazardous substances.
The workplace environmental survey entails the examination of the physical condition of the workplace, such as building ventilation, air quality, light intensities, and the monitoring of temperature, humidity and noise levels. It also involves the evaluation of work practices and equipment to identify any sources of hazards or risks.
Health inspection involves the assessment of the workplace to determine the presence of health and safety hazards. Inspection checks may involve visual inspections, air quality testing, and intoxication laboratory testing.
Workplace safety verification assesses the strength of a company’s health and safety program, to ensure that it meets all regulatory requirements. They involve checks on the documents and records, and inspections of the working environment.
Labor hygiene management system is designed to provide a system that evaluates, identifies and eliminates health and safety risks for all employees. It involves evaluating employees’ health, detecting and eliminating any hazardous exposure, as well as providing training and preventive management measures to protect workers from work-related illnesses and injuries.
