The answer to CSR questions

28 May, 2009

In the same way that many companies are unaware of what Health and Safety management involves, CSR often poses questions as employers attempt to ascertain what role it has in their business and how it can affect employees.

CSR covers many practices including business ethics, environmental processes, diversity and equal opportunities and of course health and safety.

Under the CSR banner it is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, as well as any other person who may be affected by their business. One of the main ways to meet the H and S requirements is to undertake assessments to establish any risks present in the working environment. As part of this, employees have a right to know what risks are present and how the employer will help them tackle these risks.

For most WS customers, the issue posed to employees is the inhalation of harmful substances, which is a common problem found across a variety of sectors including engineering, and pharmaceuticals.

To rectify this problem, reduce health risks and ensure their business is CSR/H and S compliant, WS customers undergo an assessment before selecting the appropriate unit from the WS range. Products include small desk top fume cabinets and aerosol spray booths to full size down draught work benches tailored to suit the level of hazard present in the working environment.

An example of the WS?products in action involves an application at Honeywell Aerospace. As an internationally renowned name, Honeywell needs to ensure it adheres to Health and Safety regulations by protecting employees exposed to fumes within the Aerospace Electronic Systems service centre. In order to achieve this, it has been using WS units for over 10 years.

Honeywell currently uses 14 bench top TechFlo WS units to protect its staff from harmful fumes in the working environment. The WS products play a vital role in the overall on site H and S compliance, and each cabinet is used by approximately six technicians at any one time.

Honeywell representative Brian Duncombe commented: “These units are vital in protecting our staff from fumes. The units we use show extreme reliability, they are in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, what more could we ask for?”

As CSR and H and S gains more prominence in the media and within large companies, the effect will be a need for smaller firms right down to one man bands to follow suit and address risks however small through appropriate tools and procedures.

For more information about the relevant legislation concerning the protection of staff, clients and visitors from hazardous substance inhalation visit www.hse.gov.uk.