Applying conceptual schema to the design of knowledge management for safety activities

At present, both small and medium size (SME) and large industries utilize machinery and modern production facilities to gain production advantages. Facilities, environment and safety management become a serious challenge. In developing countries, many workers have minimum education backgrounds and not all of them are safety conscious. Even workers with higher education sometimes have problems dealing with advanced complex equipments. High staff changing rate is also a major cause of the challenge. Knowledge management (KM) is a supplementary solution to the challenge. This paper presents a knowledge management system for safety activities and the application of the NIAM conceptual schema model to design the repository database of the system. The application of KM for safety helps both the management and qualified staff collects and organize explicit and tacit knowledge on the safety issues so that they and less experienced workers can utilize the knowledge to create better working environment. A web-based software tool has been developed to promote two way communications that finally leads to higher safety awareness, lower-risk environment and in-time accident management.