READIT-2007 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

Industrial Safety Information:
A Knowledge Management (KM) approach
I.N. Nargund * and Joby Thomas *
Abstract
Information flow is an important factor in the minimisation of hazards to health and ensuring safe
working conditions. Industrial Safety information is needed by a wide spectrum of people in an industry.
They need information that is appropriate, relevant, up-to-date, usable, conveniently available and directly
applicable to their specific circumstances. In this situation, Knowledge Management will play an essential
role. Knowledge Management is an initiative undertaken to harness the knowledge and experience of its
people. Sharing the best practices and experiences are very important in Industrial Safety Management.
KM tools could give rise to Industrial Safety knowledge management systems that use knowledge to
improve safety performance. The present paper highlights the need, objectives and importance of KM
initiatives in industries and gives a brief account of how KM principles can be applied to Industrial Safety
Information Management.
Keywords: Knowledge Management; Information Services; Industrial Safety; Industrial Libraries
1. INTRODUCTION
Knowledge Management (KM) is more a concept than a technology. KM is more
about best practices and procedures rather than pure technology. Consequently, it
requires support from the employees of an organisation and effective use can happen only
when all of them are actively involved. KM is a practice that addresses the need for
information that is required for making effective decisions.
In an industrial perspective, Knowledge Management is an art of creating value
from intangible assets. It involves an integrated approach to the creation, capture,
retention, accessing, sharing and leveraging of an enterprise's information assets for
business gain. Knowledge Management is an initiative undertaken to harness the
knowledge and experience of its people. It encompasses a very massive task of
integrating the vast resources of an organisation. Knowledge management focuses on
information systems that can help people use more information more effectively.
Knowledge management (KM) has the goal of providing the right information to
the right person at the right time. KM practice should let an organisation provide relevant
information to each and every user. A proper flow of information is essential for the
growth of every organisation.
Information flow is an important factor in the minimisation of hazards to health
and environment. Industrial Safety information is needed by a wide spectrum of people in
an industry. Industries need information that is appropriate, relevant, up-to-date, usable,
conveniently available and directly applicable to specific circumstances. In this situation,
* RMP, BARC, Mysore. inn@rediffmail.com
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