Computer systems for occupational safety and health management

481 Pages·2020·9.092 MB·English

by  Ross, Charles W

Computer Systems
for Occupational
Safety and
Health Management
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
A Series of Reference Books and Textbooks
on Occupational Hazards* Safety* Health*
Fire Protection • Security • and Industrial Hygiene
Series Editor
ALAN L. KLING
Loss Prevention Consultant
Jamesburg, New Jersey
1. Occupational Safety, Health, and Fire Index David E. Miller
2. Crime Prevention Through Physical Security Walter M. Strobl
3. Fire Loss Control Robert G. Planer
4. MORT Safety Assurance Systems William G. Johnson
5. Management of Hotel and Motel Security Harvey Burstein
6. The Loss Rate Concept in Safety Engineering R.L Browning
7. Clinical Medicine for the Occupational Physician edited by Michael H.
Alderman and Marshall J. Han ley
8. Development and Control of Dust Explosions John Nagy and Harry C.
Verakis
9. Reducing the Carcinogenic Risks in Industry edited by Paul F. Deisler, Jr.
10. Computer Systems for Occupational Safety and Health Management
Charles W. Ross
11. Practical Laser Safety D.C. Winburn
12. Inhalation Toxicology: Research Methods, Applications, and Evaluation
edited by Harry Salem
13. Investigating Accidents with STEP Kingsley Hendrick and Ludwig Benner Jr.
f
14. Occupational Hearing Loss Robert Thayer Sataloff and Joseph Sataloff
15. Practical Electrical Safety D.C. Winburn
16. Fire: Fundamentals and Control Walter M. Haessler
17. Biohazards Management Handbook Daniel F. Liberman and Judith Gordon
18. Practical Laser Safety, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
D.C. Winburn
19. Systematic Safety Training Kingsley Hendrick
20. Cancer Risk Assessment: A Quantitative Approach Samuel C. Morris
21. Man and Risks: Technological and Human Risk Prevention Annick Carnino,
Jean-Lou is Nicolet, and Jean-Claude Wanner
22. Fire Loss Control: A Management Guide, Second Edition, Revised and
Expanded Peter M. Bochnak
23. Computer Systems for Occupational Safety and Health Management,
Second Edition, Revised and Expanded Charles W. Ross
Additional Volumes in Preparation
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
http://taylorandfrancis.com
Computer Systems
for Occupational
Safety and
Health Management
Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
Charles W. Ross
Handy & Harman
New York, New York
Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York • Basel • Hong Kong
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ross, Charles W.
Computer systems for occupational safety and health management /
Charles W. Ross. - 2nd ed., rev. and expanded.
p. cm. - (Occupational safety and health; 23)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8247-8479-0
1. Industrial safety-Data processing. I. Title. II. Series:
Occupational safety and health (Marcel Dekker, Inc.); 23.
T55.R64 1991
363.1'l'02854-dc20 91-15778
CIP
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright © 1991 by MARCEL DEKKER, INC. All Rights Reserved
Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming,
and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without per-
mission in writing from the publisher.
MARCEL DEKKER, INC.
270 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Current printing (last digit):
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Preface to the Second Edition
The first edition of this book discussed computerized safety data sys-
tems that run on large mainframe computers. The second edition describes
how safety and other professionals may use safety database software on a
personal computer to manage their safety and health programs. As an
extended example, I have used a safety data software program that operates
on a basic personal computer with a hard disk. The software examples and
techniques described are currently being used by safety professionals and
thus are field-tested. I have tried to present the material in a way that will
benefit the experienced computer user. I have also tried to provide enough
basic information for those not as familiar with computer database designs
so that they may with facility use a safety software system on a personal
computer.
Since 1978, when I designed my first computerized safety data system,
a number of systems have been designed both for mainframe application
and for personal computers. This new software, available now from many
vendors, has added to the ability of the safety professional to do his or her
job better and more efficiently. As time goes on, this resource will continue
to grow and to provide better choices for safety professionals.
The book has therefore been extensively revised to emphasize the tech-
niques and features necessary to develop a computerized safety data system
for a personal computer. Because of the increase in material, I have added
another chapter to this edition and one more appendix. Within the discus-
sion on database design I have included ideas and features to look for when
iii
iv Preface to the Second Edition
deciding to purchase a database system from an outside vendor. Along
with designing the database, the reader must also train management and
supervision to effectively investigate the events they are reporting; other-
wise the database will fill with garbage. To satisfy this need, there is a
complete field-tested investigation training system described in the book
and provided in Appendix C.
Convincing management that the use of a computerized safety data
system is worth the spending of money and time is the other part of the
equation. I have revised several chapters to include more examples and
tables that emphasize the techniques of convincing management that a
safety data system must be computerized to be effective.
For the practicing safety professional or other professionals involved
with safety administration, this book serves four objectives. First, it pro-
vides ideas and suggestions on designing and developing a computerized
safety data system for his or her company. Second, it provides a set of
techniques to evaluate an accident investigation and the accident reporting
system used in a company or a facility. Third, the book contains a complete
training program for general accident investigation. Fourth, skills in listen-
ing to and in influencing both co-workers and management are discussed in
detail as they apply to gaining acceptance for the computerization project.
Through the years we have all been influenced and affected by many of
our colleagues and friends. They have contributed to a body of knowledge
that formed many of my ideas about investigation techniques and concepts
of computerized safety data systems. For me, this group is legion. There
are some, however, whom I would like to acknowledge specifically for their
contributions. Again, my regards to Dr. John V. Grimaldi, who provided
my initial grounding in solid safety management principles. Thanks to Dan
Petersen for his safety management concepts and his guidance. He is the
person who convinced me that I could write this book. My sincere apprecia-
tion goes to Paul F. Long for his concepts in programming and in mathe-
matics. The many who directly or indirectly contributed their concepts,
ideas, and techniques to my work on this manuscript are Vincent E. Boyen,
Raymond P. Boylston, Jr., James A. Broderick, Jr., Charles R. Dancer,
Donald J. Eckenfelder, Paul Eisen, Daniel F. Garde, David L. Hanson,
Richard W. Ireton, C. W. Jordan, Walter N. Knorr, Harry A. Partlow,
Alan R. Sklar, Jack S. Snyder, Wain W. Stowe, Frederick Vitale, and
Charles E. Zaledonis.
Finally, my love and my thanks to my wife, Betty, for her support and
her patience while I revised this manuscript.
Charles W. Ross
Preface to the First Edition
This book is written for safety professionals and other professionals
who have the responsibilty for managing safety programs. It is written for
the professional who wants to computerize relevant safety data but who
may not be familiar with computer database systems.
In managing a safety program, the professional collects a variety of
reports. He or she must be able to analyze these reports and give manage-
ment a concise summary of what action is recommended to be taken to
minimize or eliminate the risks. In many situations the professional does
not have the time to collect the data from hundreds of case files, analyze
the data, and report the results. For example, suppose a professional is
asked to review last year's 550 accident cases to find the four most prevalent
causes, the five accidents, by type, that occurred most frequently during
last year, the three supervisors in whose departments most of the injuries
occurred, and the total number of recommendations still outstanding
among all of the cases. It is an overwhelming task to find and report that
information. It can be done by manually searching the files and sorting
through the cases. It would probably take a professional about 6 to 8
complete days of work to provide such a report. This is assuming there are
no interruptions, meetings, phone calls, or other disruptions. The question
then becomes, is there time enough to do this kind of research? The answer
is probably not. It is frustrating to know that good information is available
but that there is simply no time to retrieve it manually.