Nowadays, workplace safety is of major importance, regardless of business size or type of activity. Many countries around the world have put in place strict health and safety rules and regulations to protect their working populations.
The risks vary, the measures don’t
Risks are not the same in an office or on the floor of an industrial plant and a risk-free workplace doesn’t exist. Office workers may slip, trip and fall due to wet floors, frayed carpets or unsecured electric and phone cords. They may also suffer from ergonomic injuries and eye strain due to long hours spent sitting at the computer.
Numerous risks associated with a factory floor include repetitive movements when operating heavy machinery which may lead to severe injuries or disabilities over time, as equipment malfunctions. Workers may be exposed to harmful substances or environments such as toxic chemicals or high-decibel noises. They may trip, slip and fall depending on floor surfaces and may be injured from collapsing structures.
All managers responsible for health and safety, whatever the work environment, should:
- identify and monitor potential health and safety hazards
- offer ongoing training for employees to avoid/minimize any risks
- comply with up-to-date health and safety legislation
- carry out safety inspections
- apply safety policies and best practices
- run through emergency procedures and drills for the personnel
This is unfortunately not the case everywhere – sweatshops and child labour still exist in places where protective safety measures are minimal or non-existent. Organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) develop programmes – in particular through the UN Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) – to raise awareness and encourage countries and business owners to consider the introduction of such measures.
The Ex factor
In one industrial area, explosive (Ex) atmospheres, the risks are omnipresent and workers often operate in difficult conditions, for instance oil, gas and mining. In addition to oil refineries, rigs and processing plants, gas pipelines and distribution centres, or underground coal mines, Ex areas can be found in a great number of industry sectors:
- chemical processing plants
- printing industries, paper and textiles
- hospital operating theatres
- automotive refuelling stations or petrol stations
- aircraft refuelling and hangars
- surface coating industries
- sewerage treatment plants
- grain handling and storage
- woodworking areas
- sugar refineries
- food processing
- metal surface grinding, especially aluminium dusts and particles
Risk prevention
The United Nations, through UNECE, has endorsed IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, as the international certification system for the assessment of conformity in Ex areas, to help address risk prevention.
The UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) worked in close cooperation with IEC and IECEx to develop a model for legislation in the sector of equipment used in environments with an explosive atmosphere. The model was adopted by the WP.6 in November 2010.
It provides for adequate risk mitigation, without creating excessive costs or red tape for business. Any member state that has no regulatory framework in the explosive equipment sector can use the model as a blueprint for legislation. If countries already have such a framework, they could consider gradually converging towards this international model. Once the model has been adopted as national legislation, the sector will operate under a single common regulatory framework in all participating countries.
IECEx helps ensure highest level of safety
UNECE has drawn on IECEx experience to build its model. Since 1996, IECEx has been the only truly international conformity assessment system that provides testing and certification for all items of Ex equipment – electrical and non-electrical – and installation, maintenance and repair of equipment and systems.
Personnel competence critical to the Ex industry
In addition to the certification of electrical and non-electrical equipment, IECEx offers a certificate of personnel competence (CoPC) scheme certifying the skills and expertise of those working in Ex areas, so that anyone in an Ex location benefits from the highest level of safety.
The CoPC provides companies working in the Ex field with independent proof that a person has the required competence and capability (based on qualifications, experience and demonstrated ability) to implement the international Ex standards and to work on, or repair, equipment located in hazardous areas. This can be especially important for consultants and contracted staff.
The international IECEx certificate is personal, non-transferable and valid across international borders. As well as the certificate itself, IECEx-approved personnel are also furnished with a wallet-sized identification card with photo, providing instant proof of certification. It complements the IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme and IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme.