Researchers: Danièle Champoux (IRSST), Jean-Pierre Brun (U. Laval)

Since each small company adopts its own unique approach to occupational health and safety (OHS) management, the IRSST is collaborating with the joint sector-based associations of the garment and metal products manufacturing sectors to develop self-diagnosis grids to support them in this regard. These documents list the main safety risks, target their most important factors, and propose prevention methods, following an approach based on the systematic management of OHS. Given the complexity and diversity of the activities associated with metal products manufacturing, producing a single grid for the entire industry was unrealistic. With the help of experts in the field, the researcher produces a total of 14 grids for as many separate activities. For the garment sector, a single grid has been developed, structured according to the stages of production. Companies could use these prevention tools for several purposes, including auditing, correcting dangerous situations, and training. The methods of implementing these grids as well as their impact is then evaluated.