THE WINDSOR CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
Certified Industrial Hygienists and Safety Professionals
Projects
Our projects are unique because our customers have specific needs to evaluate their business. As experts in the field of occupational health and safety, it is our mission to find answers to difficult questions. For over 29 years, our staff of Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs) and Certified Safety Professionals (CSPs) have conducted mishap and near-miss investigations, provided litigation support and expert witness testimony in occupational and environment cases, and we have demonstrated the business value of implementing an occupational health and safety management system across all platforms. The result has shown a significant return on investment.
Acute Respiratory Illness On-board an International Container Ship
An isolated incident occurred while on-board the ship. An employee experienced shortness of breath and other allergic symptoms while performing his duties. The initial incident was treated at a local area hospital and the worker returned to duty. Over a year passed and the worker suffered a more significant reaction to the allergen. Doctors treated the worker and considered his symptoms related to other maladies. However, after looking at the work, evaluating historical perspectives of other seafarers and mariners worldwide, and conducting an exposure risk assessment; the results were illusive. Testing was performed for microbial growth based on the findings and observations made on-board the vessel. The significance of the case relied on symptoms of sensitization due to hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which were exacerbated upon re-exposure. Our principle investigator noted the location on-board the vessel where the exposure most likely occurred.
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System
Industry is embracing the new ISO 45001 standard, which became effective in 2018. This new occupational health and safety management system will replace BS OHSAS 18001 standard. This standard was the framework to develop policies, written programs, and standard operating procedures that would integrate across all business platforms in an effort to reduce occupational injuries and illness. It is the best possible strategy for improving working conditions, identifying hazards, reducing risk, limiting liability, and aligning controls using best practices. We developed a business case study to demonstrate the importance of this standard based on economic, political, and social initiatives. In a large ship breaking facility in Bangladesh, management soon understood the benefits of implement such strategy with a complete return on investment withing four years. While the initial capital expenditures were high, workers improved their productivity, safety climate and behavior improved, mishaps and near-miss incidents dropped that resulted in a sustainable overall improvement of the company reputation, brand and image.
Risk Evaluation of Pancreatic Cancer in Railroad Workers
Our customer asked to evaluate the risk of pancreatic cancer in passenger and freight railroad workers. The investigation identified numerous chemical substances based on an additive effect from exposure. These workers were exposed periodically over their career without any controls to reduce the risk of contracting a debilitating disease. These workers performed a variety of work tasks which exposed them to cancer-causing heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, crystalline silica and wood dust, and many other toxic chemicals. Workers were not provided with mechanical exhaust ventilation during welding and grinding. There was no written health and safety plan to demonstrate compliance with OSHA health regulations. Railroaders were not provided with personal protective equipment, clothing and respirators or instructions on the health hazards associated with their work. Yet, there was evidence to show harm from repeated occupational exposure in the literature.