If you’ve been in the manufacturing industry you should be well versed with a Pre-Start Health and Safety review and why it’s so important to conduct one. But there are many employees and employers out there that are confused about the requirements of a PSR equipment even though it’s been around for so long.
Pre-Start Up Safety Review – What is it?
As stated by the Ministry of Labour, a Pre Start Health and Safety or PSR is an assessment of any new or modified industrial machinery and apparatus, protective element, process, or structure, to ensure compliance with applicable standards stated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The assessment involves an inspection conducted by a professional engineer followed up with a report, indicating any measures, if any, needed to be taken to ensure compliance as per required standards. The employer is responsible for ensuring that a detailed report is prepared and recommendations followed through to prevent any workplace accidents and safeguard the life of all those in the factory.
When do you conduct a Pre-Start Up Safety Review?
The regulation states specific circumstances that requires a Pre-Start Health and Safety review. They are as follows:
- When a room, building or a designated area of the factory is being used to store or dispense flammable liquids
- When protective elements such as light curtains and screens, scanning systems, radio frequency systems and capacitance safeguarding systems, safety mat systems, two-hand control systems, two-hand tripping systems and single or multiple beam systems. This also includes barrier guards that use interlocking mechanical or electrical safeguarding devices.
- When structure or racking systems are used to store any materials
- When potentially explosive processes are involved such as processing of flammable liquids
- When a factory produces aluminium or steal or is a foundry
- When a dust collector is being used and could be potentially explosive
- When a lifting device, traveling crane or automobile hoist is installed or modified in the factory setting
- When a process uses or produces a harmful chemical that may result in the overexposure of a worker to limits prescribed by Ontario regulations
Why should you conduct a Pre Start Health and Safety review?
An employer is responsible for its employees and should therefore practice due diligence. Due diligence is a management strategy that is meant to protect workers and prevent accidents, as well as reduce financial and legal risk in the short and long-term. It involves the establishment and maintenance of a fully functional corporate system that addresses health and safety of all in the workplace. Let’s not forget the multiple benefits such as costs savings, employee motivation, and protection of corporate reputation that comes with conducting a PHSR.
If you’re looking for more information, call them today or schedule an assessment with one of their experts who can help you take the right steps towards a safer workplace.
