Assignment

1) Your organization-a company that manufactures automobile brake pads-is about to introduce lean concepts into its operations in order to be more competitive with foreign manufacturers. The lean project manager does not understand why you, the safety manager, want to be a part of the process. Provide a convincing argument about what you can contribute if you are included.

2) Think about a time when you were required to accomplish a new or nonroutine task at work that had the potential to cause injury or illness. Discuss how a management of change process could be used to reduce the risks. Who would be involved in the process? How could the risks be reduced?

3) Your purchasing department does not want to buy adjustable height work stations for the shipping department, stating that they cost twice as much as nonadjustable ones and that they are not required in the OSHA standards. Provide a risk-based argument as to why the adjustable workstations would be the better choice.

4) From your own experience or through research, select a job that has a high risk of serious injury or fatality. Discuss how the 5S concept could be used to redesign the job and reduce the serious risks.