RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES professionals can assist in the implementation or improvement of safety, health and environment (SHE) programs and management systems. On-going support and involvement is to the degree that best fits your requirements, desires and budgets.
Some of the general services that are frequently requested include:

• Baseline Risk Assessments
• Management System Audits
• GAP Analyses
• Targeted Program Assessments
• Hazard Identification and Analysis
• Program Development and Implementation
• Management System Development
• Employee and Leadership Training
• Incident Investigations
• On-going partnerships to advise, assess and assist as needed

Consultants are available to assist with most safety, health and environment related issues on an “as needed” basis. Our consultants are ready to help you find the best solutions for your SHE issues.

• Assistance with long-range plans
• Executive presentations to introduce new program initiatives
• Management overviews of SHE/Risk management and control
• Behavior-based safety program facilitation and implementation
• SWIFT – Structured What-If Checklist Techniques
• FIRST – Fast Incident & Risk Suppression Techniques
• Reviews of audit results and assistance in planning for continuous improvement
• Hazard/risk assessment facilitation

The following are examples of typical consulting services provided by RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES. For more information or pricing details call RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES at 770-329-2538, or email RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES at coyame@mindspring.com.

Baseline Risk Assessments

Identification and evaluation of major risks within an organization. The process typically includes a facilitated workshop to identify the major business risks related to safety, health and environment issues, and then evaluate risks to create a RISK PROFILE of the company. Issue-Based Risk Assessments can also be conducted to provide practical information to prioritize and allocate resources in order to minimize risk exposures.

Management Systems Audits for Safety, Health and/or Environment

Measurement is a key to success. "What gets measured gets done."

Auditing management systems on a regular basis is an effective way to motivate management toward continued improvement.

Outside, third-party (RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES) audits are recommended to establish baselines, and for periodic follow up audits to assess all program elements of a company’s SHE management system.

Using an internationally recognized audit protocol (CAP™ - Common Audit Process) or a customized version, RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES auditors conduct a comprehensive assessment of a management system against the predetermined standards. The following elements or activity areas have been identified as being common to most successful management systems and are usually included in RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES audits:

• Planning and Leadership
• Training and Communications
• Job and Operation Analysis and Control
• Change Management
• Purchasing Systems
• Work Rules and Operating Permits
• Inspections
• Occupational Health & Hygiene
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Incident Investigation and Analysis
• Emergency Preparedness
• Measurement, Audits and Reviews
• Corrective and Preventive Action System

A typical RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES audit may include:

• Management overview and planning meeting
• Interviews with knowledgeable persons
• Review of records
• Physical conditions tour
• Employee interviews
• Verifications of findings
• Closing meeting to review a summary of findings
• Optional follow-up meetings to review audit report findings and advise or assist with the implementation of audit suggestions for improvement.

CAP™ - The Common Audit Process is one of the auditing tools typically used for conducting RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES audits. Customized company audits can also be developed and used for your organization.

CAP™ is available for companies that want to use a standardized auditing tool that meets the minimum requirements for OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and VPP.

For more information about auditing tools:

• CAP™ - The Common Audit Process
• Customized audits developed by RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES

RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES also recommends regular internal audits be conducted by properly trained internal auditors, and we can help qualify individuals to do the job. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES can provide training and audit experience for your team of internal auditors.

Gap Analysis
Following the same general format of a baseline, or periodic management system audit, the Gap analysis is typically completed for a specific element, activity, department or other identified area that may need special attention between regularly scheduled follow-up audits. These assessments help to focus on those critical areas, activities or groups that may need more immediate, short-term results to encourage progress and performance improvement.

Targeted Program Assessments (TPA)
In today’s highly competitive global market, there is often a need to get immediate, fast results to certain safety, health and/or environment problems. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES provides a focused and incremental problem-solving approach. The TPA is typically a 1-3 day on-site service which gives you a specific action plan that will produce results and solutions to your specific SHE problem.

1. You identify the problem.
2. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES completes an assessment focusing on the program activities and conditions that relate to that problem.
3. Within a week following the assessment, you receive a TPA report and a set of specific and practical recommended actions to immediately correct or improve your problem.

The assessment typically includes document reviews, interviews with key personnel and a "targeted site tour." The assessment can often be done with 1-2 days on-site.

Experience has shown that some of the common problems in safety, health and environment programs often relate to:

• Not identifying root causes of incidents
• Changes
• Inadequate Job Safety Analysis
• Inadequate training
• Contractor safety
• Communications
• Rules and work permits
• Inspections
• Emergency Preparedness

Hazard Identification and Analysis
Using internationally recognized tools and techniques, RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES professionals can provide the following:

• Physical Conditions Inspections to identify hazards
• Root Cause Analysis to identify underlying causes of incidents
• OSHA compliance inspections
• Behavior studies to identify at risk behavior
• System Assessment to identify the needs of the management system
• Perception Surveys to measure the culture and effectiveness of specific initiatives

Program Development and Implementation
A successful safety, health and environment program needs effective documentation and reference materials to support, guide, train and evaluate all levels of management and employees. Most companies already have some of these documents such as:

• Policy and Procedures manuals
• Standard forms for investigations, inspections and follow up activities
• Training materials
• Promotional materials and regular employee communications
• Auditing tools
• Investigation analysis tools
• Record tracking systems
• Major Loss Announcement forms/programs

All documentation should be updated, maintained and reviewed on a regular basis. Too often documents become outdated, redundant or impractical. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES can assist and advise as an outside resources to work with you on program/document development or improvement. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES can provide the level of assistance and support that best meets your timeframes, budgets and requirements.

RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES consultants can advise on methods of implementation that have been proven successful and assist in the implementation process when outside resources make sense. Some of the areas that RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES can assist in are:

• Action planning
• Accident/Incident reporting and tracking
• Physical Conditions inspections and analysis
• Order and housekeeping
• Critical task inventories
• Critical parts identification
• Property damage programs
• Trouble shooting
• Problem solving.

For more information and cost estimates call RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES at 770-329-2538, or email your questions to RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES at coyame@mindspring.com.

Incident Investigations Assistance
When companies face the investigation of a major or significant loss accident, or a potential major loss incident, it may be in the best interest of the company to use an experienced observer or investigator as an objective outside participant. RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES consultants are available to assist and can normally be on-site as needed with just a few days notice. The RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES consultant can participate in the investigation process by conducting the investigation as the lead investigator or by assisting with any part of the investigation as a member of the investigation team.

In addition, RAMIREZ ASSOCIATES also provides:

• Investigation Review Services
• Investigation Analysis Services
• RCat™ - Root Cause Analysis Techniques Workshops