The Safety, Health and Environment Pillar in World Class Manufacturing

Building a Robust Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) Pillar: A Comprehensive Guide

In the realm of industry and workplace practices, safety, health, and environmental considerations should never be left to chance. They are not unplanned events that occur by accident. Rather, they should be seamlessly integrated into the daily routines of every employee, becoming an inherent part of our work culture. This is precisely where the Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) pillar comes into play, assuming the role of a steadfast guardian of well-being. Within various work environments, the SHE pillar ensures that the welfare of individuals and the environment is at the forefront of all operations.

The Pillar of Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE)

The SHE pillar represents a meticulously structured framework for assessing, mitigating, and eliminating safety, health, and environmental risks. Its impact resonates throughout various manufacturing practices, encompassing everything from transport and installation to commissioning, plant operations, personnel management, waste handling, and emergency response. It's an all-encompassing approach that ensures your manufacturing processes are not just efficient but also safe, environmentally responsible, and employee-friendly.

The SHE Pillar: A Guardian of Well-being

The SHE pillar is the safeguard against risks associated with products, surroundings, processes, personnel, and equipment within manufacturing settings. It is not a mere afterthought but rather a proactive, comprehensive, and systematic framework that assesses, mitigates, and eliminates SHE risks. Beyond risk management, the SHE pillar also embraces opportunities, ensuring a holistic approach to safety, health, and environmental concerns.

The scope of the SHE pillar is vast, encompassing various aspects of manufacturing, including transport, installation, commissioning, plant operations, equipment handling, safety clearances, and more. It even extends to areas such as waste handling, maintenance practices, and emergency response protocols.

The SHE Pillar: A Strategic Asset

Implementing the SHE pillar goes beyond compliance; it's a strategic asset that enhances your organization in multiple ways:

1. Enhanced Image: Demonstrating a commitment to safety, health, and the environment enhances your organization's image, fostering trust among customers, partners, and employees.

2. Boosted Staff Morale: A safety-oriented workplace promotes employee morale and engagement. Employees feel valued and secure, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

3. Reduced Turnover: A safer work environment reduces employee turnover rates, saving you the costs associated with hiring and training new personnel.

4. Increased Efficiency: Safe practices often translate into more efficient operations, leading to reduced downtime and increased output.

5. Cost Savings: An effective SHE pillar can reduce insurance premiums and decrease the likelihood of fines and litigation due to accidents or environmental violations.

The Synergy with WCM Foundation

The SHE pillar doesn't stand alone; it integrates seamlessly with the principles of World Class Manufacturing (WCM), enhancing its effectiveness. Here's how:

1. 6S Framework: The SHE pillar finds its roots intertwined with the WCM philosophy, particularly through the 6S framework: Safety, Sort, Shine, Set-in-place, Standardize, and Systemize. This daily practice forms a strong foundation for the SHE pillar. The "Safety" component, in particular, emphasizes pre-work safety briefs and checks, instilling a culture of safety awareness before any task is undertaken. The 6S framework also encourages continuous vigilance, involving personnel who may not typically engage in safety group activities, thereby expanding the collective safety intelligence.

2. Group Activities: Group activities within the SHE pillar play a pivotal role in fostering a safety-oriented workplace. They provide updates, conduct briefings, develop policies, and implement changes. These activities also facilitate scheduling of safety programs, on-site inspections, and cross-functional safety communication and learning, ensuring a high level of competence throughout the organization.

3. Visual Management: Visual management acts as another firm foundation for the SHE pillar. It engages the workforce through instinctive visual cues, drawing attention to safety opportunities and reinforcing best practices. Visual cues can be used to cordon off areas, highlight abnormal conditions, remind personnel of safety protocols, and even differentiate employees through color-coded uniforms.

Building the SHE Pillar: A Six-Step Process

Building a robust SHE pillar is a systematic process that involves six key steps:

Step 1: Assemble the SHE Pillar Group Members

The first step is to assemble a dedicated team responsible for demonstrating leadership and commitment to the SHE pillar. This group nurtures a SHE-conscious workforce, ensures employee involvement, and takes advantage of cross-functionality to boost capabilities. During this phase, clear responsibilities and accountabilities are defined.

Step 2: Align the SHE Pillar to Manufacturing Settings

This step involves establishing the scope and boundaries of SHE pillar activities. It includes identifying SHE opportunities and hazards, analyzing their probability and impact, and understanding the unique characteristics of the organization. Legal and self-imposed requirements are defined, and integration with other WCM elements is ensured.

Step 3: Develop the SHE Pillar Operational Frameworks

The operational framework is developed by articulating commitment through policies and guidelines. Mission, vision, strategy, and objectives are defined, and plans to address regulations are put in place. Systems for feedback, feed-forward of SHE information, and documentation are established. Hazard and emergency response plans are also developed.

Step 4: Apply the SHE Pillar

Initial implementation begins with foundational elements such as 6S and visual management. This is typically initiated in a pilot area and then propagated throughout the entire plant. Additional SHE activities are introduced to achieve pillar objectives.

Step 5: Standardize the SHE Pillar Activities

Standardization involves developing and benchmarking key performance indicators. Efforts are made to continuously improve these parameters through monitoring, measuring, analysis, and evaluation of activities.

Step 6: Sustain the SHE Pillar

During the sustaining phase, innovation in SHE processes and procedures takes place. Critical insights from the first five steps are reviewed to push the pillar further, aligning it with the evolving landscape of Safety, Health, and Environment applications.

The Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) pillar is a cornerstone of responsible manufacturing. Its careful construction and nurturing not only ensure the well-being of personnel and surroundings but also contribute to a more efficient, productive, and sustainable manufacturing environment. By following the six essential steps outlined in this guide, organizations can erect a robust SHE pillar that stands as a testament to their commitment to safety, health, and environmental excellence.