Managing and influencing subfab safety in a rapidly growing and changing semiconductor industry
Richard Meredith
(Edwards Ltd)
The subfab continues to present significant hazards to the semiconductor workforce. This is especially so at times of rapid growth or change, when pressure is on to meet schedules and the availability or retention of skilled and experienced workforce is low. This paper will review a successful approach to creating a culture of safety in a subfab environment that is influenced by the actions of many separate suppliers, and where adoption of safety and ergonomic design changes to equipment are often governed by long equipment or fab life-cycles. We will explore the challenges of creating and maintaining a safety culture in a rapidly growing and changing industry. Then using case studies and real-world examples, we will show how information technology combined with subfab operational excellence and behavioral safety models can be used to influence, manage, deliver and maintain a safe subfab working environment.