How to increase safety awareness through ‘near miss’ and ‘potential incident’ reporting

In a well-developed safety system, it is critical to reduce the accident occurrence rate before an accident actually happens. In order to minimize accident occurrance, we first have to pay attention to every step of the routine operation within the entire working procedure. When an incident has occurred, we then have to identify the root causes and apply immediate correction, and lastly, incorporate a proper filing system of these incidents.

In addition to job safety analysis, ‘near miss’ and ‘potential incident’ are the two other preventive measures that can help to increase safety awareness and to prevent accident. 'Near miss' is an incident that has happened but without injury or damage; 'potential incident' is a hazard that has been identified but no incident has happened. Properly investigate the root cause, process and result of the incident can help to increase the safety awareness of workers and can reduce the chance of future recurrence of similar type of accidents.



Building adjacent to the service
station has blocked the sight view
of the car drivers who will turn
into the station

'Near miss' incident

In a recent inspection during our petrol interceptor cleaning service in Tong Mei Road service station, we have identified a potential incident. Before performing the service, the working area has already been identified and confined. However, due to limited space available, the working area and pedestrian road are very close. Building adjacent to the service station has blocked the sight view of the car drivers who will turn into the station, although traffic cones have been placed.

Immediate action

Informed tanker driver to inwardly park the tanker closer to the manhole of the API, and moved the traffic cones outwardly to the edge of service station to enhance the working area and have better indication of a confined working area to show car drivers outside who were going to turn into the service station. In addition, we also reported the case to the station manager, consensus was collected that during future service delivery, the tanker should park as close and as inward as possible and the traffic cones should place out to the edge of the station and the pedestrian road.

 

Traffic cones were moved outwardly
to the pedestrian areato have better
indication for drivers outside who
were going to turn into the service
station

Increasing safety awareness
 

Immediate actions taken to correct errors caused by behavioural and/or external environment can prevent the occurance of hazards and accidents, enhance workers' safety awareness, and help minimize future accident recurrance. On top of that, these 'near miss' or 'potential incident' reports will be filed to refresh and enhance the safety awareness of any workers who might be involved in similar work tasks, so as to prevent similar mistakes and accidents from happening again.

 

如何提升安全意識 -「未遂事故」和「潛在事件」報告

在一個有系統的安全制度裡，在意外發生前便降低它發生的機會率是關鍵的一步。而當中如何去減低意外的發生，便要在日常的工序中留心，細心留意有機會會導致意外發生的源頭，即時及在日後的工序中加以改善，再將資料紀錄在案，便可將發生意外的機會減至最低。

 



而除了常見的工作安全分析報告以及工作危險分析報告，紀錄「未遂事故」和「潛在事件」便是另外一種可以同時提升安全意識及預防意外發生的有效程序。「未遂事故」即一件已經發生但沒有造成意外傷亡的事件；而「潛在事件」則是一個有機會引發意外的潛在危險。正確地探討和確認事故發生的原因﹑經過和後果，除了可提高施工人員的安全意識，亦可有效地減低在未來再次發生同類型意外的機會。

在油店旁邊的大廈剛巧擋住
將要轉入油站車輛的視線

「潛在事件」

在最近一次的塘尾道油站清洗隔油池服務檢查，我們便發現了一件「潛在事件」。雖然工人在展開工序已經劃定了工作區域，但由於位置不足及過窄，使工作範圍太過接近行人路，在油店旁邊的大廈亦剛巧擋住將要轉入油站車輛的視線。

即時行動

立即知會工作人員，將缸車向內駛及將雪糕筒向外拉出至行人路旁，擴大工作區域，讓將會左轉的車輛能清晰地看到劃分出來的工作區域，避免因視線受阻、開車太快等原因造成的交通事故或意外。另外，亦向站負責人交代情況及取得共識，在未來同樣情況下將會採取相同的應對措施。
 

將雪糕筒向外拉出至行人路旁，
讓將會左轉的車輛能清晰地看到
劃分出來的工作區域

提升安全意識

即時修正行為上或外在環境引起的錯誤，不止可預防危險及意外事故的發生，更可提高工作人員的安全意識，有助減低日後同類型事件發生的機率。我們亦會將這些「未遂事故」或「潛在事件」紀錄在案，進一步提升將來有機會涉及有關工序工作人員的安全意識，防止同類錯誤和事故再次發生。

"Cradle to Grave" - "Trip Ticket" chemical waste control scheme

In Hong Kong, the process of treating chemical waste has been regulated by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). That is to say, the entire cycle, from when it is generated, whom to collect, and where to dispose, has been monitored and regulated by the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste)(General) Regulation under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Laws of Hong Kong Chapter 354).

Waste producer, waste collector and end-point disposal facility are all being regulated EPD. All chemical waste movements are monitored by EPD, and have to comply with the "Cradle to Grave" chemical waste control scheme.


"Cradle to Grave" chemical waste control scheme

A unique trip ticket system has been adopted to further reduce the chance of illegal dumping and inappropriate treatment. After generating and before disposing the chemical waste, the waste producer will have to apply and obtain a chemical waste producer license from EPD. The waste producer will then need to complete a set of three forms, also known as the ‘trip ticket’, before the chemical waste is being collected and removed from the premises. Under this system, one copy of the trip ticket has to be kept by the waste producer, the second copy of the trip ticket will be retained by the waste collector upon delivery of the waste to a reception point, and the original copy of the trip ticket will be retained by the reception point (disposal facility).

All chemical waste removal activity and/or movement should only be appointed to licensed collectors, which are approved and licensed by EPD. After waste collection, the waste collector must transfer the waste to the reception point 48 hours after collection.

Dunwell is the only ISO14001 certified chemical waste collector operating a licensed reception facility to provide a one-stop and ultimate solution to the waste producers. Our business scope includes collecting spent lubricant, spent non-halogenated solvent, spent wastewater contaminated by lubricant, spent solid waste such as rags, filters, bottles, paint cans, fluorescent lamp tubes, and spent batteries. By providing one-stop chemical waste disposal service, once appointed, Dunwell will be committed to the task of collection and disposal of the chemical waste for the waste producer. The entire business operation can fully comply with the requirement of EPD.

We rank the "trip-ticket" system amongst our highest priority. All movements of chemical waste, including cleanup, transport, and disposal activities have been put into record. We guarantee that all chemical waste will be properly treated in our chemical waste treatment and recycling centre, located in Yuen Long Industrial Estate. Useful and recyclable materials will be extracted and transferred to corresponding recycling centres. In order to increase transparency, inspection of "trip ticket" might also be arranged for particular clients upon request.

 

"Trip ticket" - a set of three forms: original copy, in white, to be retained by the reception point; waste collector's copy in yellow; and waste producer's copy in pink

「由始至終」的化學廢物「運載紀錄」

在香港，處理化學廢物的所有過程皆由環境保護署監管。而一件化學廢物的整個生命週期，亦即從產生、收集、以至運送至收集點，都是根據香港法例第三五四章廢物處置條例所公布的廢物處置(化學廢物)(一般)規例所監管。

而廢物產生者、廢物收集者和終點處置設施都必須經由環保署發牌，而全個運送過程亦由環保署監管，須符合「由始至終」的化學廢物管理方式。


 「由始至終」的化學廢物管理方式

為了進一步減少非法傾銷和不恰當的棄置化學廢物，環保署更特別採用一套特別的「運載紀錄」系統。在產生和處置化學廢物前，化學廢物產生者需向環保署登記，登記以後，廢物產生者需要填寫一組稱為「運載紀錄」、一式三分的表格，才可委託合資格的化學廢物收集者，將化學廢物移離該處。根據這一制度，一式三分的「運載紀錄」，第一分副本將由廢物產生者保管、第二分副本將由廢物收集者在廢物運送至接收點後保管，而原本的存根則將由廢物接收點（處置設施）保存。



所有有關清理、處置以及運送化學廢物的活動，只可委託由環保署批准的合資格的持牌化學廢物收集者。而在收集廢物後，收集者必須在48小時內將廢物轉移到廢物接收點（處置設施）。

正昌是唯一通過ISO14001認證、而又可同時為廢物生產者提供一個一站式和最終解決方案的化學廢物收集者及接收設施。我們的業務範圍包括收集廢潤滑油、廢非鹵化溶劑、含油廢水、布碎、油隔、吉罐、廢油漆罐、光管及電池等固態化學廢物。正昌提供一站式的化學廢物處置服務，除了收集，我們更領有環保署簽發的化學廢物處置設置牌照，整個業務操作完全符合環保署的要求。

為使客戶安心，我們對「運載紀錄」系統極為重視，所有化學廢物的清理、處置以及運送活動都紀錄在案，亦保證所有的化學廢物將得到妥善處理，在我們位於元朗工業邨的化學廢物處理及回收中心，有用和可回收物料將經提取、分類後將再運送至各物料的回收中心。為增加透明度，我們亦會因應個別客戶的要求，供他們查閱「運載紀錄」。

 一式三分的「運載紀錄」︰白色為原本存根，由廢物處置設施保存；黃色為廢物收集者存根；粉紅色則為廢物產生者存根。

Levy on beverage glass bottles? A step closer to an ideal waste management system

According to statistics, 2%, 153 tonnes, of the 9,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) is wasted beverage glass bottles. To reduce the burden to landfill, such regulations and levy to glass bottles should be carried out immediately.

 

From instances of our neighboring countries, such as Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, all of them have introduced such charging scheme to regulate wasted glass bottles since the 1990s. In most of the cases, glass bottle manufacturers have to paid a certain amount of recycling fee, which will then contribute to wasted glass recycling industry

To tackle this, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department has launched a consultation at the beginning of this year. Further, the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs has also discussed on the matter and gathered different views of the respective feasibility, possibility and potential positive and negative impact to the recycling industry as well as the catering, food and beverage industry. In this preliminary stage, supports are found from most of the stakeholders groups. However, since the consultation is still in progress (to May 6, 2013), the details of implementation plan are still subject of great controversy.

 

Different stakeholders have different positions and views, which there are still a lot of rooms of discussion, such as the type of glass bottles to be charged, the number of recycling contractors to be hired, the actual price of levy, who should share the cost, and whether a landfill ban should be applied, etc. We need to determine a proper plan and the corresponding supporting facilities and equipments to support and assist in the implementation. On one hand, to maintain the balance of various stakeholders, on the other hand, to ensure an the recyclable glass bottles are treated or reused properly and sustainably

 

Though the public awareness of waste reduction is graduallyincreasing, education still ranks amongst highest in priority.

The consultation period will end in May 6, 2013, for specific details, please visit the EPD website: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/bottles_consult/en/promotion/

Please click here to download the response form and send back to: glass_prs@epd.gov.hk

飲品玻璃樽徵費？邁向更完善的廢物管理制度



根據統計，香港每天棄置的9000公噸都市固體廢物中，有2%，亦即153公噸為廢飲品玻璃樽。為減輕堆填區的負擔，立法規管廢玻璃樽實屬刻不容緩。

查看鄰近國家的案例，如日本、韓國、和台灣等，大多從90年代已經開始推行廢玻璃樽徵費計劃，玻璃樽製造商會向一個基金支付循環再造費，用以處理廢玻璃樽。

 

香港環保署已就是項議題在今年初展開咨詢，而立法會的環境事務委員會亦就此召開會議，搜集各有關團體界別對此的意見及商討是次計劃的可行、可能性，和對業界，如回收業及餐飲業帶來的正面及負面影響。初步來說，是次議題大致上獲得大部分持分團體的支持，但咨詢仍在進行中（至2013年5月6日），而且雖說計劃初部反應不俗，得到支持，但當中具體細節仍有很大的爭議性。

各持分者亦有不同立場及意見，如回收玻璃樽的種類、回收承辦商的數量、實際徵費價、是該由誰來分擔徵費、回收玻璃的用途、以及是否應實行堆填區禁令等，都有很大的討論空間。我們需要制定一個妥善的計劃以及相應的配套設備去支持及協助徵費計劃順利推行，一方面要去維持各持分者的平衡，另一方面亦要顧及可回收玻璃樽的去向，確保玻璃樽能有效地回用。

雖說現時市民大眾對於減少制造廢物的意識已經續漸増強，但是教育市民仍是一個十分有迫切性的任務。

 
 

咨詢期將在2013年5月6日結束，有關具體詳情，請瀏覽環保署網頁︰http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/bottles_consult/tc/promotion/

你亦可按此下載回應表格，電郵至環保署︰glass_prs@epd.gov.hk

Proper storage of chemical waste

Under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap.354) - Waste Disposal Regulations, Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department has defined chemical waste as any substance or thing being scrap material, effluent, or an unwanted substance or by-product arising from the application of or in the course of any process or trade activity, and which is or contains any substance or chemical specified in the prescribed schedule if such substance or chemical occurs in such form (http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/files/guide_e.pdf), quantity or concentration so as to cause pollution, constitute a danger to health or risk of pollution to the environment.

Chemical waste should be properly and temporarily stored by the waste producer before the waste is transferred by the waste collector to a licensed treatment provider. There are certain criteria should be applied to the containers for temporary chemical waste storage, including its material, condition, etc. Such containers should be placed in a suitable area located close to the waste generation source for temporary storage and the containers should be either drums or jerricans type. The size of the containers should be determined according to the quantity and frequency of chemical waste to be stored. Common types of materials to be used for the containers include plastics and steel.

The storage area should be enclosed on at least three sides by partition, wall or fence with a height of not less than two metres or the total height of containers in stack, whichever is less. Such enclosures should be built with concrete, brick of steel with fixed erection to the areas. In addition, appropriate labeling should also be applied for accurate indication to ensure proper and safe handling, storage and transport of the waste.

Source: Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department















For specific details regarding Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department's guideline of chemical waste storage, please visit: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html