Boeing Company is a reputable corporation that deals with the design and manufacture of rockets, aircraft, space satellites and missiles. With thousands of workers working in different departments and dealing with sophisticated materials and devices, the company has a strong safety and health performance over the past decades. The Occupational Safety and Health Act has been essential in ensuring that there is a reduction in the number of accidents per year. Being an employee in the emergency department, there are numerous areas that the company has invested in, not only to prevent catastrophic events but also to deal with emergencies.
Through the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the company has established an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The EAP in the company addresses areas such as safety management of chemicals that are highly hazardous. The EAP has also led to the installation of fire extinguishing systems in strategic places accompanied with fire detection systems as per OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I. The company has also set up preferred procedures for reporting emergencies. There are also emergency escape procedures that have been implemented on floor plans and maps in the workplace. The company has procedures to ensure that all the employees are accounted for in case of an evacuation. The systems comply with OSHA regulations which states that every occupier of a workplace shall design evacuation procedures to be used during an emergency and have the procedures tested at regular intervals (Currie, 2016).
There are also names, titles, departments and mobile phone numbers situated on every floor for individuals within and outside the organisation to contact in case there is a need for additional information. There are also first aid kits installed at strategic places, and this complies with OSHA regulations which state that every occupier shall be required to provide where necessary, measures to deal with emergencies and accidents including adequate first aid arrangements (Currie, 2016). External emergency responders are also invited on a regular basis to learn about possible sources of hazards, protective features and systems, and action plans. There are drills carried out after a stipulated time to ensure that workers are ready in case of emergency. Workers also required as per the company policy to have protective gear while in the workshops. The OSHA has helped in improving the safety of employees at the company.
There are distinguishing features in comparing Boeing organisation program with NFPA 1500. While OSHA regulations are general, NFPA 1500 sets up the minimum requirements for a fire department and also stipulates the safety guidelines to be observed by those involved in fire suppression, rescue, special operations and any other related activities. The difference gives NFPA 1500 an upper hand over OSHA regulations. NFPA 1500 places an onus on the fire department to recruit a safety officer responsible for implementing the Safety and Health program. The areas of safety and health program that need improvement are Risk Management Plan and Medical Requirements.
In the Risk Management Plan, Boeing Company must make mandatory for a fire department to adopt a risk management plan. The plan is essential because it defines what ought to be done, determination of the risk level in different activities and deciding on how to minimise the risk through controls. Boeing Company should have operating procedures and training in the Risk Management Plan to ensure that risks are lowered. In the Medical Requirements, for Boeing to comply with NFPA 1500, the medical requirements should be considered before recruits are allowed to join the fire department. The standard will enable members to maintain a requisite level in fitness before safely performing any assigned duties (Stowell, Brakhage & Smith, 2011). Information such as fitness level, injuries and exposures should be filed or recorded in a database. In the process, an infection control program shall be required to be implemented in the fire department responsible for limiting or preventing members from being exposed to infections. The safety and health of workers at the Boeing Company can be improved by following the recommended NFPA 1500 provisions.
References
Currie, D. P. (2016). OSHA. Chicago: American Bar Foundation.
Stowell, F. M., Brakhage, C., & Smith, C. (2011). Fire department safety officer. Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University.