U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board: Safety Digest - The Importance of Worker Participation
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation
Board (CSB) has found that worker participation is an
essential element to improve process safety and prevent
chemical
incidents. Existing federal regulations require worker
participation in matters of process safety, and industry
standards similarly call for worker participation. Yet, CSB
incident investigations
have identified missed opportunities for
workers to effectively participate in process safety activities
at facilities where they work, typically in proximity to the most
serious hazards.
A lack of effective worker participation can lead
to an increase in the risk of injury to workers and, in the event of a
serious safety incident, can adversely impact the company and
members of the public who live near these industrial facilities.