Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
E m p l o y e e h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y a r e o f c o n c e r n , b o t h t o t h e employer and
to the employee.
The benefits of employee health ands a f e t y p r o g r a m s i n t e r m s o f t i m e , m
o n e y , a n d p r o d u c t i v i t y c a n b e extremely substantial.Pakistan, at present, like many
developing countries of theworld, does not have comprehensive occupational health
and safety laws.The incidence of injuries and illnesses is probably very high in
Pakistanb e c a u s e t h o u s a n d s o f w o r k e r s a r e r o u t i n e l y e x p o s e d t o h a z a r d o u s
chemicals and many more work in hazardous industries. However, there isno reliable data
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The current regulations are, however, fragmented and thereis no single comprehensive piece
of legislation dealing with occupationalsafety and health. There is no formal legislative process for
setting up newstandards, codes of practice and occupational exposure limits. Whatever exists
on the book is frequently hampered with repeated martial laws. Thecurrent outdated Factories
Act, 1934, requires only a very basic level
of s a f e t y a n d h e a l t h m e a s u r e . T h e r e a r e n o g u i d e l i n e s f o r m i n i m u
m qualifications or employment of health and safety professionals in theindustry.
Components of Health and safety program
The contents of the Occupational health and safety programcould be included under the elements
discussed below.1 . O b j e c t i v e s a n d p o l i c i e s 2.Topmanagement support3 . O r g a n i z a t i o n . 4.Establishing responsibility for
safety5 . E n g i n e e r i n g 6 . J o b s a f e t y a n a l y s i s 7 . A n a l ys i s o f
a c c i d e n t s 8 . E d u c a t i o n a n d t r a i n i n g 9 . E n f o r c e m e n t 10.Healthful
work environment11.Adequate medical treatment12.Rehabilitation
1. Objectives and Policies
When top management decides that it wants to take steps toobtain a safe organization, it
must determine just how far it wants to goand what it wants to accomplish. Does
it want to have a company thatranks with the best in its industry in terms of low
injury frequency andseverity? Or does it simply want a safety effort that will reduce
workerscompensation costs to a tolerable level. Is it willing to invest
sufficientmoney to achieve a really no hazardous plant?
2. Top Management Support
Top management sets the safety objectives and policies
int h e f i r s t p l a c e ; a n d h o w t o p m a n a g e m e n t c h o o s e s t o s u p p o r t a n
d implement its own policies is crucial to the effectiveness of these
policies.T h e s i n g l e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t i n t h e s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e o f a n
yc o m p a n y w i d e p r o g r a m , w h e t h e r i t i s s a f e t y, t r a i n i n g , r e s e a r c h
o r maintenance, is the emphasis given to that program by top management.
3. Organization
T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a r r a n g e m e n t s t h a t a r e c r e a t e d a r e conditioned by the
size of the firm and the nature of its safety problems. Insmall firms, a full-time safety director is
justified; the assignment may begiven to the personnel director, to the plant superintendent,
or to
the heado f i n d u s t r i a l e n g i n e e r i n g . I n m e d i u m s i z e d f i r m s , a c o m p a n y u s u a
llyemplo ys a full time safety specialist. He is the part of the
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concern itself with the detailed mechanics of accident prevention,but it must acquire sufficient
awareness of safety fundamentals.
The safety director and his staff must undertake to
provideextensive education and training for first line supervisors.
At employeel e v e l t h e r e a r e t w o p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t i v e s : ( 1 ) t o d
e v e l o p s a f e t y consciousness and favorable attitudes toward safety and (2) to
achievesafe work performance from each employee in the job. To achieve thesegoals, a number
of things must be done.
9. Enforcement
Primary responsibility for enforcement of standard operatingprocedures and safety rules lies
with the first-line supervisor. When he
or s h e o b s e r v e s e m p l o y e e s w h o a r e n o t p e r f o r m i n g t h e i r j o b s i n t
h e approved manner he or she calls this to their attention and corrects them.With adequate
indoctrination and training there should seldom be need
for punitive measures for violation of safety regulations. However, wheni n d i v i d
u a l s d e l i b e r a t e l y r e f u s e t o c o o p e r a t e , t h e n t h e y n e e d t o b e discipline
d as they would for other rule violations.
10. Healthful Work Environment
The objective of environment control is the prevention
of o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s e a s e . T h e p o s s i b l e c a u s a t i v e a g e n t s i n t h e p l a
n t environment (dusts, fumes, toxic chemicals, noise, etc.) must first bei d e n t i f i
e d . T h e n c o r r e c t i v e a c t i o n m u s t b e t a k e n . T h e r e a r e m a n y correctiv
e methods that may be used. The best, from a worker
healths t a n d p o i n t , i s u s u a l l y t o e l i m i n a t e o r c o n t a i n t h e a g e n t a t i t s s o u r c
e . E q u i p m e n t a n d p r o c e s s e s c a n b e r e e n g i n e e r e d t o c u t d o w n n o i s e , eliminat
e leaks, or reduce vibration.
11. Adequate Medical Treatment
Every establishment should haveadequate facilities and tr
a i n e d p e r s o n n e l f o r rendering first aid to injured employees. The
smallcompany should have a clean, adequately equippedfirst-aid room. The larger
establishments have needfor the full-time services of an industrial nurse and a physician.
12. Rehabilitation
If an employee has suffered a serious temporary disablinginjury or a permanent disability, it
behooves the employer and the workerscompensation insurance company to exercise every effort
to rehabilitate that unfortunate individual. This includes helping him learn how to care
for daily needs of living, learn how to acquire useful job skills.
Health Services
A comprehensive company health program will include the followingfeatures:
1. Ventilation
Workplaces need to be adequatelyventilated. Fresh, clean air should be drawn froma source
outside the workplace,
uncontaminatedb y d i s c h a r g e s f r o m f l u e s , c h i m n e y s o r o t h e r process
outlets, and be circulated thorough the workrooms.Ventilation should also remove
anddilute warm, humid air and provide air movementwhich gives a sense of freshness
without causinga draught. If the workplace contains process or heating equipment or other
sources of dust, fumesor vapors, more fresh air will be needed to provideadequate
ventilation.Wi n d o w s o r o t h e r o p e n i n g s m a y p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t v e n t i l
a t i o n b u t , w h e r e necessary, mechanical ventilation systems shouldbe provided and regularly
maintained.
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Restriction of exposure by, for example, rearranging tasks tobuild in rest periods or other breaks from work.
Medical pre-selection of employees to ensure that they arefit to work in these environments;
D e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n o f e q u i p m e n t o r t o o l s , f o r example, worn
electrical insulation, cracked ladder,split drive belt.
I n a d e q u a t e o r i m p r o p e r p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e equi
pment.2 . U n s a f e a c t s This include as follows.
T a k i n g a n u n s a f e p o s i t i o n , s u c h a s u n d e r a suspended
load.
Reducing unsafe acts
1.Reducing unsafe conditions
Reducing unsafe conditions is always an employers first
lineo f d e f e n s e . S a f e t y e n g i n e e r s s h o u l d d e s i g n j o b s s o a s t o r e m o v e o r re
duce physical hazards. In addition, supervisors and managers play a role in reducing
unsafe conditions.Employers increasingly use computerized tools to designsafer
equipment. For example, Designsafe facilitates hazard analysis, riskassessment, and the identification of safety
control options.Sometimes the solution for eliminating an unsafe condition isobvious, and sometimes its
more subtle. For example, slips and falls atwork are often the result of debris or slippery
floor.Getting employees to wear personal protective equipmentcan be a famously
difficult chore. In addition to providing reliable barrier protection and durability, protective
clothing should fir properly; be easy tocare for, maintain, and repair; be flexible and lightweight;
provide comfortand reduce heat stress; have rugged construction; be relatively easy toput on
and take off; and be easy to clean, dispose of and recycle.
2.Reducing unsafe acts
U n s a f e a c t s c a n b e r e d u c e d t h r o u g h d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f measures.
(a)Reducing unsafe acts by emphasizing safety:
I t i s t h e s u p e r v i s o r s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s e t t h e t o n e s o subor
dinates want to work safely. This involves more than talking upsafety, ensuring that
workers wipe up spills, or enforcing safety rules. Itsalso necessary to show by both word and
deed that safety is crucial. For example, supervisors should:
L i s t e n w h e n e m p l o y e e s o f f e r s a f e t y s u g g e s t i o n s , concerns, or complaints
recognition awards for attending safety meetings, for identifying hazards, or for
demonstratingtheir safety at work.Positive
reinforcement programs:Positive reinforcement programs area l s o i m p r o v e d s a f e t y
at work. The safety program
includes positivereinforcement and training. The firm set and communicated a
reasonablegoal (in terms of observed incidents performed safely). A training phase isnext
where employees receive safety information.
e)Reducing unsafe acts through behavior-based safety
B e h a v i o r - b a s e d s a f e t y m e a n s i d e n t i f y i n g t h e w o r k e r behaviors that
contribute to accidents and then training workers to avoidthese behaviors.
(f)Reducing unsafe acts through employee participation
There are two solid reasons for participation of emplo yees in designing
t h e safety program. First, those actually
doing the j o b s a r e o f t e n m a n a g e m e n t s b e s t s o u r c e o f i d e a s a b o u t w h a t t h
e p o t e n t i a l p r o b l e m s a r e and how to solve them. Second, it is
generallye a s i e r t o g e t e m p l o y e e t o a c c e p t a n d enthusi
astically follow the safety program whentheyve had a hand in designing it.
(g)Reducing unsafe acts through audits and inspections
P r o g r a m s f o r r e d u c i n g u n s a f e a c t s a r e n o s u b s t i t u t e f o r eliminating hazards.
Routinely inspect all premises for possible
safety andh e a l t h p r o b l e m s . I n v e s t i g a t e a l l a c c i d e n t s a n d n e a r m i s s e s . H a v
e a system in place for letting employee notify managers about hazards.
Review of research articles
Research article # 1
As discussed by the Kieran The safety movement has beendriven in some countries by
the instances of major health care
failures.T h e s e f a i l u r e s a r e d e f i n e d a s b r e a k d o w n i n h e a l t h c a r e s e r v i c e s
or
provision that does substantial harm to people. Natures of major failuresare
Longstanding problems
Repeated incidencesThese failures are known and deliberately ignored. The harmcaused these can
be immense and may result in huge malpractice claimsby individuals. Some problems occur
again and again and can be broughtto light. First, an egregious event may force organization
to face up to theproblem and to act. Second, a staff member may raise his or her concernswithin and
outside the organization. Such while-blowers may expose
tov i c t i m i z a t i o n , d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n o r e v e n d i s m i s s a l . T h i r d p e r s i s t e n t c
omplaint or the group of complains sufficiently
motivate to make thesystem or the authorities take notice
of their concerns. Fourth, mediaattention often contributes to the discovery of major failures.
Research article # 2
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