Introduction

Plant safety and industrial-accident prevention measures are aimed at mitigating accidents plants where hazardous substances are used, and in the event of an accident, minimizing the consequent health and environmental effects.

Increased incidents/accidents have made many organizations aware that safety cannot be an afterthought. They have thus started implementing Plant Safety Management in their policies.

3408

fatal accidents at work in the EU during 2019 seeing an increase of 76 deaths over previous year^#

672

fatalities due to exposure to harmful substances or environments in 2020 across US, highest since 2011^*

Workplace safety is important in any work environment. It becomes a critical factor in a process industry where there is a possibility of hazards for personnel and environment.Workplace safety affects the productivity of workplace. Any incident/accident hampers the production flow and also the morale of workforce, thereby affecting the quality of business output. Unsafe operations increases the risk of developing injury or illness.Safety implementation is governed by various regulatory bodies. International Labor Organization (ILO) standards on Occupational Health Safety are addressed to the governments.

OSHA specifically dictates that the employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers.

ISO has recently developed an international standards for occupational health and safety management which aims at improving worker safety and has potential to save three million lives each year.

Similarly, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are bodies governing safety at specific region. For a plant, potential risk can occur across the entire project lifecycle from engineering to construction to operations. Every conceivable risk has to be identified, investigated carefully and hazard potentials have to be reduced as much as reasonably possible. A holistic rather than fragmented approach towards safety becomes a necessity.

# - ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Accidents_at_work_statistics
* - ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2021/12/bls-2020-saw-fewer-fatal-workplace-injuries/

Plant safety management thus becomes one of the most critical facets of a successful operation. Facilities can stay productive and competitive with an all-encompassing strategy to reduce accidents and maintain worker safety.