The National Shipbuilding Research Program A Model For A Contractor Health And Safety Management Program

Newport News Shipbuilding was contracted by the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) to develop a model contractor health and safety program for shipyards. During this project several documents were prepared in a format which would facilitate safety and health management of contractor activities at shipyards. The elements of a good contractor health and safety management program include management support for the program, a procedure for selection and evaluation of contractors, orientation of contractor personnel to the shipyard, methods for monitoring contractor performance, and overall evaluation of the program. This report provides sample documents that incorporate these elements in a comprehensive program. Shipyards may use these materials as templates to assist them in developing and implementing their own contractor health and safety programs.

At the core of an organization sl business is the creed that it has an obligation to ensure (and its employees have a right to expect) that if its employees report to work with all of their body parts working, they will go home the same way at the end of their workday. That fact should be clearly and unambiguously understood by all members of the organization. Given that the causes of accidents fall into two basic categories - unsafe conditions and unsafe acts - it is generally held that management is responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace and safe and healthful working conditions and that employees are responsible for acting in a safe and healthful manner. Beyond those considerations, it is generally acknowledged that management has the responsibility to ensure that employees are aware that certain acts are unsafe and are aware of ways to avoid them. It fulfills that responsibility by providing formal and informal training, both on the job and in the classroom, it ensures fiat both first and second line supervisors are similarly aware and it holds those supervisors accountable for their own occupational safety and health performance and the safety and health performance of the employees under their supervision.

This Project was begun on 4 June 1998 and was completed on 29 Dec 2000 under NASSCO Purchase Order MU322700-D dated 6 April 1998. Administrative arrangements for processing Subtasks under this Project were developed based on the general requirements for performing projects under the NSRP. The members of the SP-5 Ad Hoc Committee approved these arrangements for Safety & Health and by the NSRP Program Manager at NASSCO. A total of 12 Subtasks Tasks were submitted by the Ad Hoc Committee from which 19 Subtasks were approved and completed on schedule and on or under budget. Final reports were submitted to the program manager.

The cyople%%ity of shipyard operanrons, in cornhination vith the diverse and nurnerous harardous materials used in manufacturing and repair, present unique environmental, health and safety challenges. One shipyard has taken a proactive approach to harard identification, assessment and control in order to effectively manage these risks. This included a major risk screening, consequence modeling of the scenario developed and the generation of practical risk control options. Such action facilitated the development 0 a conprenensive, multi-disciplinary emergency response plan as %ll as compliance vith regulations promulgated as the result of the Super fund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of lD0SS.

The processes and procedures used by these process improvement teams, (Steel Erection, Electrical, Paint and Blast) represent a base model for reducing workers compensation and occupational injuries. There is a wealth of research and information available to the industry from sources such as, OSHA, Council on Ergonomic and Management, and other governmental and private health organizations, to reduce injuries. Some of the information, research, and recommendations contained in these reports, were utilized during this project to help reduce or prevent further occurrence of injuries and workers compensation cost. What makes this research project different from conventional projects is this; the employees, who actually perform the work, are the individuals involved in the problem solving process. When an organization is committed to reducing injuries and providing a safe environment, buy-in at the lowest employee level can be attained. The success of a business enterprise in the 1990's requires empowering employees to take responsible and accountable actions to assure personal safety on the job. This may sound like the "antiquated" expressions, "the employees are at fault", or "it is human nature", or "they are resistant to change." Quite contrary, management has to put in place, the proper tools, proper training, instill a culture change by living example and most importantly, be a learning organization committed to change. Once the employees are equipped, job performance in a safe, responsible and accountable manner is possible.

Each year medical claims and lost time injuries as a result of on-the-job accidents cost American companies millions of dollars. Most companies have implemented numerous diversified safety training programs and policies in an attempt to reduce the number of accident related injuries. The focus of many of these programs has been global in nature, and their effectiveness is difficult to monitor and measure. Results of evaluations of conducted among health and safety training practitioners indicate that it is generally not possible to determine if health and safety training are effective (Vojtecky & Sclmitz, 1986.).