Application of ISO/IEC Guide 51 to COVID-19 infection control for the occupational safety

Abstract

COVID-19 is around the world. We attempt to apply three-step method in ISO/IEC Guide 51: 2014 to COVID-19 infection control in the workplace. The results show that the COVID-19 infection control measures include the eradication of the virus, the destruction of infectivity, the detoxification and weakening and the elimination of opportunities for infection as “Inherently Safe Design Measures”, the avoidance of contact as “Safeguarding and Complementary Protective Measures” and the reduction of contact and the avoidance of seriousness as “Information for Use”. Among these specific measures, the New Normal, especially in the manufacturing industries, would be “telecommuting” and “unmanned workplaces”, which are part of the elimination of opportunities for infection, and “changes in flow lines” and “changes in airflow”, which are part of the avoidance of contact. Where “telecommuting” and “unmanned workplaces” are feasible, they should be implemented as much as possible, and where they are not, attempts should be made to minimize human-to-human contact by “changes in flow lines”. In addition, in the area of “changes in airflow”, there are high expectations for future research on how to establish a ventilation design for COVID-19, in which but also the source would be workers themselves, not only combustible gases and toxic gases.

Exploring Safety of Machineries and Training: An Overview of Current Literature Applied to Manufacturing Environments

“…Many laws, rules, standards, and procedures are in place to ensure that machines are safe for people performing different jobs, such as operation and maintenance [15]. The safety of machinery is essential in Industry 4.0; considering the collaborative robot, which is designed to work in direct contact with humans, functional safety is essential [13].…”

“…Using the 3-step Method and Protective Measures-Step 1: Inherently Safe Design Measures, Step 2: Safeguarding and Complementary Protective Measures, and Step 3: Information for Use-a safe machine is created based on a risk assessment by reducing or eliminating risks. The authors of [15] applied this approach to COVID-19 infection control. They applied the risk assessment process established in the standard to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in factories.…”

“…They applied the risk assessment process established in the standard to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in factories. The use of this methodology emphasises not only the actions and the personnel who implement them but also the assessment of their efficacy, financial impact, and applicability [15].…”