Recognizing the need for a clear and accessible hazard communication program, specifically as it applies to the products presented in our facilities, the Sharp Environmental Health and Safety team collaborated to develop a system to communicate these known health hazards to our associates.
Pharmaceutical products are designed to have a specific effect in the human body.
While this is precisely the intention in a patient with a known condition, these effects are not desirable in the employees who handle these pharmaceutical products as part of their everyday job.
The Sharp Solution
This employee-driven initiative resulted in what is called the Occupational Exposure Band (OEB) system. The OEB banding is a language-independent, color-coding scheme that simply and effectively communicates the relative severity of pharmaceutical products in the workplace. All pharmaceutical products handled by Sharp are subject to our Product Safety and Quality Risk Assessment (PSQRA) process and are each assigned to one of five color bands based on the hazard that they present, such as physical form, occupational exposure limits, hazard classification etc. The designated color-coded hazard level is clearly displayed, along with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, at the entry point into each production room to ensure our associates are aware of the hazard associated with what they will be handling in that particular room. Inside the room, a master OEB poster is on display as a further reference for hazard information.
The Positive Outcome
Many of Sharp’s customers will visit the packaging suite to observe their product being packaged. The OEB system also informs visitors of the necessary gowning/PPE requirement to safely visit a packaging suite. This OEB system – which was developed internally by the EHS team at Allentown and Conshohocken – demonstrates proactive management of safety and is an example of the very best of our values of ingenuity and energy. The simplicity and accessibility of the visual scheme means it can be shared and implemented at each Sharp location in the USA, UK and Europe.
The Patient Impact
This implementation of health and safety standards means that the production of packaging is made more efficient and the drugs can be distributed to patients as quickly as possible.