Whistlekleen is a national dry cleaning and laundry organization with 50 shops.

PECB ISO-45001-Lead-Auditor Question Answer

Whistlekleen is a national dry cleaning and laundry organization with 50 shops. You are conducting an OHSMS surveillance audit of the head office and are sampling health and safety performance monitoring. You find that 80 per cent of incident originate from five shops in the same region. Most of these relate to staff and customer feeling unwell due to breathing in the pungent atmosphere. Some required to be hospitalized. The OHS Manager tells you that these are the oldest shops in the organization. The cleaning equipment emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and needs replacing but the organisation cannot afford it at the moment.

You raise the following nonconformity against clause 10.2 of ISO 45001.

‘’The organization failed to act after incidents in the five old shops involving the release of VOCs from laundry operations, which resulted in injury in some instances. The equipment used was not capable of consistently operating to the required level of safety’’

Select one of the options which would constitute the most effective corrective action for the nonconformity.

Display on emergency phone number in a prominent place to ensure that injured workers and shoppers

Evaluate and update the Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for employees working with strong chemicals such as face masks and gloves.

Reassess the OH&S risks associated with the laundry process in the five old shops.

Review the current safety procedures related to handling and use of chemicals In the laundry process to ensure their effectiveness.

Explanation:

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation along with All ISO 45001 Audit References

Clause 10.2 of ISO 45001 pertains to Nonconformity and Corrective Action. Organizations are required to evaluate incidents, investigate their causes, and implement effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Issue Identified:The incidents in the five old shops are related to VOC emissions from outdated equipment, leading to staff and customer health concerns. This indicates inadequate risk management and failure to act on known safety issues.

Analysis of Options:

A. Display an emergency phone number.This is a reactive approach and does not address the root cause of the issue, i.e., VOC emissions. It also does not align with ISO 45001’s emphasis on preventive measures.

B. Evaluate and update the PPE requirements.While PPE is important, relying solely on PPE without addressing the root cause (emission of VOCs) is insufficient. PPE is considered the last line of defense under the hierarchy of controls.

C. Reassess the OH&S risks associated with the laundry process in the five old shops.This option aligns with ISO 45001, Clause 8.1.2, and Clause 10.2, as it emphasizes reassessing risks and taking steps to mitigate them. A thorough risk assessment could lead to interim measures such as process improvements or administrative controls until the equipment is replaced.

D. Review the current safety procedures.While reviewing safety procedures is useful, it does not address the specific nonconformity related to the equipment’s inability to operate safely.

Best Action:Reassessing the risks in the five shops (Option C) ensures a comprehensive review of the hazards posed by outdated equipment, leading to appropriate preventive and corrective actions.

ISO References:

Clause 10.2: Requires identifying and addressing nonconformities to prevent recurrence.

Clause 8.1.2: Emphasizes the hierarchy of controls and risk assessment as a foundation for mitigating hazards.

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