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Book Review
Title: Industrial Safety and Risk Management, by Laird Wilson & Doug McCutcheon, 2004
Publisher: Edmonton : University of Alberta Press, 2003
ISBN: 0888643942
Price: $CAN49.95
Description: 171 p.
Industrial Safety and Risk Management provides a good contribution to health and safety theory and practical applications. It could be useful for practicing occupational health and safety professionals and valuable as a teaching tool for those new to the profession.
The authors start with a good overview of the historic components of the profession. The book provides a quick overview of pertinent legislation and provides the reader references to find more detail as required. The concept of due diligence is explored and provides the reader with a simple summary of what this concept means and how the health and safety professional can protect the company from risk.
The book transitions to health and safety techniques that have been developed through out the years. Expanding on 11 key elements that would guide a health and safety program at any company. Risk assessment, analysis and management are reviewed in depth in chapter 7 looking at a systematic process and referencing some additional resources for the reader.
The standardized and proven incident causation model is summarized. The authors do not seek to redefine the evidence-based practice that exist in the field but rather summarize the elements that have been proven to work through out the years. The human factor interface is briefly reviewed and recognizes the individual impact / response to incidents is a relevant factor.
The book spends some time reviewing the parameters and demands of the contractor relationship providing a viable process for managing these often complex relationships. Additionally, it reviews a couple of other pertinent areas including young worker awareness and the importance of instilling a safety mind set early.
The book then progresses to the use of a variety of high profile case studies to demonstrate the success of systems driven safety. It conveys interesting cases that show how the application of health and safety principles could reduce the risk in Industrial environments.
The book finishes by discussing implementation and expands slightly on the how-to's and reasons including mention of the importance of senior management commitment.
The authors have spent time exploring the intricacies of how health and safety can improve outcomes in the workplace and demonstrate knowledge of the subject area. This book has the potential of becoming a basic resource tool for the academic and personal library.
Review by
Liz R. Scott, PhD
Principal of Organizational Solutions a disability management consultant firm in Burlington, Ont. She has been practicing in the health and safety and disability management field for over 20 years.
Email: lscott@orgsoln.com
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