Assessment of
Occupational, Health and Safety Problems in the Automotive Industry and their
Remedial Measures
Rishi Kumar Singh1, Dr. Nihal Anwar Siddiqui2
1Student University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Uttarakhand
2Lecturer University
Of Petroleum &Energy Studies, Uttarakhand
*Corresponding Author: rishisingh.1088@gmail.com;
nihal@ddn.upes.ac.in
ABSTRACT:
Automobile industry
has been considered to be the most risky industry in Occupational Health and
Safety (OHS). As the growing global competition and cost production, increasing
number of Automobile Multinational Companies (MNCs) use Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) to keep their peace of growth. Due to vary modes of original production
and degree of localization, different ownership of assembly Joint Ventures
(JVs) may have very different effect on OHS. This study looks at the common
work system practices, and OHS. Using a worker, machine, workplace survey of
the factory, I found out that different work system practices have very
different effect on OHS. I also discover that the usual claim that “flexibility
of work” may be associated with OHS positively because of labor exploitation
does not stand. Instead, fixed term contract and without contract in hand is
associated positively with OHS. That may meant firms may use labor contract to
push workers to work harder and therefore more OHS. I also found out that work
system alone may not associate with OHS directly. Alternatively, I realized
that work pressures such as pressure from group and leaders, from wage, and
from company atmosphere may have positive relations with OHS.
KEY WORDS: OSH (Occupational Health & Safety), Automotive Industry, Hazards,
Power Press Shop, Safety Culture
INTRODUCTION:
Occupational safety
and health is an area concerned with protecting the safety,
health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment.
The goals of occupational safety and health programs include fostering a safe
and healthy work environment. OSH may also protect co-workers, family
members, employers, customers, and many others who might be affected by the
workplace environment. When you see the term referred to as occupational
health and safety it refers to occupational health and occupational and
non-occupational safety and includes safety for activities outside of work.
Occupational safety
and health can be important for moral, legal, and financial reasons. All
organizations have a duty of care to ensure that employees and any other person
who may be affected by the companies undertaking remain safe at all times. Moral
obligations would involve the protection of employee's lives and health. Legal
reasons for OSH practices relate to the preventative, punitive and compensatory
effects of laws that protect worker's safety and health. OSH can also reduce
employee injury and illness related costs, including medical care, sick leave
and disability benefit costs.
It is an organized
effort to identify and analyze the significance of hazardous situations
associated with a process or activity. Specifically, these are used to pinpoint
weaknesses in the design and operation of facilities that could lead to
accidental injuries, chemical releases, fires, or explosions. These practices
have provided organization with information to help them improve the safety and
manage the risk of their operations.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
The objective of this
project is to review the status of OH&S process of the facility. This will
include the following:
·
Review the safe work procedure of the Power
press shop.
·
OHS assessment of the power press shop.
·
Understanding the safety culture of the
facility.
·
Finding the wrong practices.
·
Recommendations and control measures for the
hazards or the wrong practices.
METHODOLOGY:
Step 1
Reporting health and safety problems
Workers are often in a
good position to report health and safety problems to their supervisors or
managers. They should be encouraged to discuss health and safety problems and
possible solutions with their supervisor before workplace injuries occur.
Step 2
Recording health and safety problems
The Health and Safety
Report Form has been provided as a means of recording health and safety
problems reported by workers. If a worker is unable to complete the report
form, the supervisor should offer to help the worker to complete Part A of the
report form.
Step 3
Investigating the problem
It is the supervisor’s
responsibility to take all health and safety problems brought to their notice
seriously. This involves properly investigating the problems and determining if
they are likely to cause injury or illness. The results of the investigation
should be recorded in.
Part B of the report form.
Even if the problem is
found not to be serious, the supervisor should still record his or her findings
in Part B of the Health and Safety Report Form to ensure there is a record that
the problem was properly investigated.
Step 4
Taking action
If the supervisor
finds that the health and safety problem could cause an injury they will need
to take preventative action. The action to be taken, the responsible person and
the completion date should be recorded in Part C of the Health and Safety
Report Form.
The appropriate
manager should verify that he/she approves of the action taken by signing the
completed report form. If a health and safety representative exists, they
should also sign the completed report form.
Step 5
Record keeping
The law requires
employers to keep records of any reported health and safety problems and the
action taken to prevent injuries.
CONCLUSION:
Opportunities to be
hurt while handling material in press-associated work areas abound. The most innocent-appearing hazard can result
in disabling injury, for example, the muscle strain or back injury, breathing
unacceptable amounts of cleaning solvents fumes, oil mist, welding fumes, crushed
toes, and damaged eyesight because the operator was not wearing safety shoes or
safety glasses.
If we take the time to
apply the necessary skills and investment, unsafe conditions can be eliminated
by appropriate guarding and/or redesign.
We have a happy, healthy, productive worker and minimal cost.
Safety Awareness is
achieved through belief. This belief
comes from total involvement. Safety
Awareness is everyone’s business. Top
management must provide the resources which can only take place if they
believe. The operator must be aware;
otherwise this person can become the victim of an unsafe act. Unsafe acts can be eliminated if everyone
from the top down and from the bottom up is aware of the material handling
hazards and acts accordingly.
REFERENCES:
[1] Technical Advisory for Safe Use of Power Presses and
Press Brakes; Published in June 2009 by the Workplace Safety and Health Council
in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower
[2] http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/archive/identifyhazards.pdf- OSH GOV SITE
[3] http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/background.aspx -- Society of
Indian Automobile Manufacturers
[4] http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf
[5] http://www.bis.org.in/ - Bureau of Indian Standards
[6] https://www.wshc.sg/ - Workplace Safety and Health Council
[7] http://www.safetydirectory.com/
[8] http://labour.nic.in/content/
[9] http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2005/hsl0558.pdf - HSE UK
Received on 29.04.2014 Accepted on 22.05.2014
©A&V Publications all right reserved
Research J. Engineering and Tech.
5(2): April- June 2014 page 54-55