Managing Hazardous Materials: Why Automated Operating Processes & Worker Training are Critical

The risk of exposure to hazardous materials is extremely high in industries such as biomedical, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals, oil & gas, and construction. Managing the safety risks associated with hazardous materials can be incredibly challenging but also extremely critical for improving workplace safety performance.

It begins with the process of evaluating all such hazardous materials being used and “proactively” planning necessary control measures to mitigate each risk. OSHA also emphasizes the need for worker education and training.

Safety leaders will have to collaborate with both executive management and functional teams across the company to build an organizational mindset that promotes a safety-first approach to all business processes and operations. When it comes to managing material hazards, this approach of “reactive + preventive + proactive” cannot be emphasized enough.

To ensure workplace safety from hazardous materials, the process should begin right at the stage of procurement and be followed through at every stage, including storage, labeling, usage, and disposal.

Also, a variety of regulations govern the use of hazardous materials across industries. Compliance will not only prevent businesses from getting on the wrong side of the law but also improve workplace safety, ensuring a proactive approach to the risks associated with hazardous materials.

Keeping track of such regulatory changes and ensuring compliance can be a challenge to businesses working with hazardous materials. Moreover, businesses with multiple factory locations will find managing the entire procurement to usage and disposal lifecycle of hazardous materials difficult as they have multiple regulatory requirements to comply with. Keeping track of these differences and ensuring local compliance can become a challenge for safety leaders.

An effective reactive, preventive, and proactive approach to workplace safety management requires a cloud-based next-gen solution that provides greater flexibility, visibility, and workflow integration.

Key takeaways from this whitepaper:

• Best practices for hazardous materials management
• Regulatory requirements for hazardous materials management
• Using a next-generation safety solution for handling material hazards
• And more