OHSAS18001 for Dairy Industry
Our client, KRI KRI SA is one of the largest dairy industries in Greece, with a factory on the north, covering more than 10,000 m2. Their production includes milk, yoghurt, ice creams and other related products. Their industrial equipment includes machinery with moving parts, high pressures, liquid vessels, pipes, chemical cleaning agents, ammonia storage and circulation and a biological pool [active mud]. Our team successfully designed and implemented OHSAS18001 [successful inspected and audited in the same year] and helped in all requirements such as personnel training, emergency response team organizing, and all other aspects.
Organization’s infrastructure comprises transfer lines, trucks, storage rooms, refrigerators down to -18C, ammonia vessels for cooling, biological pools, hand held power tools, automated power tools and other sources of risk. During our work there we undertook the following actions:
- We inspected all ammonia and pressurized vessels and compared against guidelines and legislation. We prepared an inspection program and trained a team for this purpose. We identified operational tolerances and red lines to be avoided. We installed measuring mechanisms with short response times and combined them with the emergency response plan. We created a recording mechanism for all variables of measuring
- We inspected all transfer lines for mechanical, electric, and chemical risks. We suggested personal protective equipment for each working position. According to their statistics and our investigations, we identified critical control points in each sub operation and set measuring and controlling variables. We connected them to the recording system of crucial parameters of the facilities
- We identified risk of fire at different locations connected to chemicals, pressurized chemicals and electric infrastructure. Fire response procedures were updated, and fire response teams were set to attend customized courses on both Occupational Health and Safety regulations and good practices and on specific conditions in their working areas. Emergency response plans were also updated for these areas and employees.
- Creating a tubes’ inspection plan was one the hardest parts of our engagement. Dairy industries like other chemical industries have kilometers of working pipes that operate under different pressures and temperatures. Discussing process operation, control and maintenance for these parts was a very demanding task. Process simulation was also introduced to the extend that recognition of pitfalls and critical control points was needed. Work done in this field was not included in the OHSAS18001 but was adopted by the organization as a required procedure.
- All working positions for all shifts [24/7/365] were inspected and where required action was taken. Combination and termination of a few places was discussed
- All machinery with moving parts was secured, signed and the working personnel was trained for the risks included in their tasks.
- Training programs were established for all personnel and management members in the fields of fire safety, safe handling and storing of chemicals, emergency response and legislation.