Work-Based Hazard Management - Example

Work based hazard management Report--(renwei) Name Professor Institution Course Date Acknowledgement I would also like to thank my lecturer Dr… for his support in terms of ideas to the success this research. My deep gratitude goes to my family members for their financial and moral support for the completion of my project Most importantly, I would like to thank God for His constant guidance, love and care that has taken me this far. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who made this research a success. Work based hazard management Report--(renwei) Executive Summary Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers is an Australian Engineering company located in Sydney (Neilly Davies 2013). This multidisciplinary consultancy company was established in 1977 and deals in a number of engineering works and services in whole of Australia. This group of engineers, architects, and surveyors specializes in building services, architectural design, hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, geo-technical engineering, environmental engineering, surveying services and structural engineering to the commercial, infrastructure and residential sectors (Neilly Davies 2013). This company deals in a range of risky business units which call for tough measures and better Work based hazard management. Some of the business units this company deals with are Structural design, civil design, swimming pool design, project management, bridge construction and management, building inspections and drafting services. Table of Contents Work based hazard management Report--(renwei) 3 Executive Summary 3 Table of Contents 4 1.0 Introduction 5 2.0 Problem statement 6 3.0 Research Objectives 7 3.1General objectives 7 3.2 Specific objectives 7 4.0 Hazard identification 7 4.1 Physical hazard 8 4.2 Psychological hazards 9 4.3 Chemical hazard 10 4.4 Hazard identification methods 10 4.5 Findings 11 5.0 Control of hazards 11 5.1 Monitoring 14 6.0 Legal implications 15 7.0 Conclusion 15 8.0 References 16 9.0 Appendix 18 1.0 Introduction Workplace health and safety are turning out to be more critical part of management in any organization. The Health and Safety Executive statistic report of 2007/2008 indicate that there are roughly 2.1 million individuals in the UK that were facing illness resulted from their past or current work (David 2006). The report also shows that only 299 000 of the non-fatal accidents were reported in 2007-08. Looking at this data closely reveals that injuries take place at a rate of 1000 per 100 000 employees representing 1.0%. Because of this situation, 34 million days of work were lost. 28 million days were lost due to work-based injuries and 6 million due to illnesses (David 2006). These figures show the seriousness of work-related safety issues. They could lead to productivity, monetary and medical losses. According Quinlan, Bohle & Lamm (2010), one of the sectors that are known for workplace injuries is the engineering sector due to the fact that most of their job are handled using different tools and equipment. Therefore, it is necessary for managers to be keen on the legal background whilst keeping in mind keep strategy development in order to keep in check workplace health and safety practices. This report researches on work based hazard management at Australian engineering company, Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers. The report will identify the tools used by this company, investigate the hazards and give the feedback on how the company deals with them. In this research the target population is the employees and management staff of this company and their relevant customers. The research will apply the survey method to acquire information from the employees on what things that threaten their health and safety at the workplace and how the management addresses them. However, because it is not achievable to get information from the whole top management of the company, a random sampling will be employed in this research to select the sample of the management after stratification. The Questionnaires were issued randomly to lower level employees and top management in workstation in the organization so as to gather the primary data. The report looks if the company is abiding to the legal responsibilities set by the government. Eventually, the data that is acquired was evaluated, analyzed and presented in a form of a pie chart to make it simple for interpretation. 2.0 Problem statement It is obvious that Work based hazard management is growingly becoming an area of interest to many researchers in the engineering industry due to workload, competition and long hours of work (Pector 2011). The problem statement of this research thus is the battered image and image of engineering firms suffered due to increased injuries, negligence of both employees and employers and poor hazard management. The rationale of this research therefore is to find out the main hazards and their management at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers. 3.0 Research Objectives 3.1General objectives To find out the main hazards and management at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers company. 3.2 Specific objectives The research will be steered by the specific objectives that follow: To demonstrate the ability to apply contemporary methods and concepts in the identification of hazards To assess the risk in a particular work process To inquire into health and safety problem in some depth 4.0 Hazard identification According to Archern et al (2012), Hazard is defined as a thing or a condition that has a possibility to harm an individual. Currently, technological advancement and powerful pressures as a result of competition facilitate rapid change in the organization, work processes and working environment (Purse 2005, p.8). Legislation is needed but unsatisfactory on its own to deal with these changes or keep updated about new risks and hazards. Organizations must therefore be competent enough to handle occupational safety and health problems constantly and to develop effective reactions into dynamic management approaches. Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers is one organization that deals with engineering tools on a daily basis (Neilly Davies 2013). An investigation into this company shows that some of the engineering tools used here are Small floor cranes, spirit levels, plumb bobs, Hammers drills, chemicals, Surface grinder, hydraulics and Pneumatics among others. The question that many health and safety experts can ask is; what kinds of hazards are prone in this company? This company has a spacious workshop within the company which has wide flour and accommodates some heavy and sophisticated machines, tools and equipment (Neilly Davies 2013). Handling such tools needs spacious floor, enough ventilation, cleaning facilities, first aid kits, Storage and Stacking, protective gear, fire protection and code of conduct. Due to negligence and improper management of hazards some of the issues of health and safety that have been witnessed in this company includes fire break out, chemical suffocation due to poor ventilation, injuries from cutting machines and slippery floors owing to poor handling of chemicals. Most of these injuries have been caused due to inadequate drilling and information on matters to do with health and safety. Since, these the main injuries that have occurred at Neilly Davies Consulting, if not handled as it appears they remain hazard to the company. Other potential health risk includes ear and eye problems, loose and poorly maintained electrical wires. Some of the hazards that in this are facing due to work environment include is a physical hazard, psychological hazard and chemical hazard. 4.1 Physical hazard As mentioned before, Neilly Davies Consulting is a company which is mainly involved in engineering construction and service, meaning its employees handle engineering tools in most of their time (Neilly Davies 2013). Due to limited drilling and information on how to handle these, the workers face the risks of getting physical injuries. This study found out that a third of hazards in this company is mainly physical hazard that is; a cut on the body part, loss of hearing and eye problems. Welding also form part this company’s work, hence use combustible and flammable elements (Roughton 2002). As a result of these its employees who are not cautious enough have faced fires and burns on their bodies. Another physical hazard that has not been dealt with in this company is electrical shocks that are caused by loose electrical wires on the company workstation floors. Actually two of the employees at the time of the research were on medical leave with a cut on the finger and the other with hearing problems. 4.2 Psychological hazards Kaplan & Tetrick (2010) claim that today psychological hazard remains one of the problematic hazards in the organization. The National Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) describe stress as one of the major psychological hazard in an organization, affecting both physical and mental health of the employees (Johnstone & King 2008, p.285). Work-based stress is the natural response of employees to being placed under pressure at the place of work in a long a time (Montgomery & Kelloway 2002). This form of hazard reduces organization effectiveness and performance. On the other hand, it leads to high employee’s turn over. Psychological hazard is associated with employees’ stress and low performance and mainly resulted from poor management of health and safety issues at the workplace (Beehr & Glazer 2005). Changing times and competition also have Neilly Davies Consulting to work for long hours to deliver in time. As a result, this has increased level of stress on the employees and burnout which in turn have sometimes affected the company performance (Paton 2008, p.6). Stress in employees makes them become more and more irritable and distressed not capable to concentrate or relax while at work, having hard time to think reasonably and make decisions (Montgomery & Kelloway 2002). In extreme situations, employees might not be capable of handling stress and perform that is unpredicted which put their health in danger and that of their workmates. 4.3 Chemical hazard Pector (2011) argues that the term “chemical hazard” implies to a potential event resulting in the discharge of substances harmful to human health or the atmosphere. Such activities consist of fires, explosions, releases or leakages of toxic materials which can lead to injury, illnesses disability or loss of lives (Quinlan, Bohle & Lamm 2010). Even though Neilly Davies Consulting engineers main deals in civil engineering and design, they also work with chemicals and paints in their work. This exposes them to chemical hazard as well. The study reveals that the company produces a lot of smoke arising from burning chemicals. 4.4 Hazard identification methods The data collection for this research was done through a survey that is by means of issuance of questionnaires (for questionnaire check appendix 1). At first, all of respondents were issued with the introductory letter of authorization from the university and Neilly Davies Consulting management granting permission for collection of data. Stratified sampling methods were used after population had been categorized into two strata, for instance top management staff and employees of the company. As such, a suitable sample of every of strata was picked to represent the entire population. A population of 21 employees and management and clients were selected randomly and issued with questionnaires for this research (check for pie on appendix 2). The survey method remains an effective way of obtaining information required to illustrate opinions, attributes and viewpoints of engineers on the main cause of injuries and management of hazard at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers. 4.5 Findings From the research and review of the accessible literature on the work based hazard management, at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers, the following emerged as the findings from this research. Employees who have worked in the organization for more than five years are well informed concerning the hazards management from the available information. The company does not perform health and safety drilling to its employees on a regular basis. Most of the people that are not well informed about the health safety issues at workplace are the new and junior employees. Every year, between 15 and 20 employees suffer from poor hazards management. The leading hazard at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers company is a physical hazard with at least 10 employees suffering from the same every year. This is followed by chemical hazard where at least three employees undergo this situation every year, and lastly the psychological hazards with one or two employees suffering this condition annually. The workstation does not get updated with new charts and information on a regular basis yet the technology and machines keeps on changing. The company takes a lot of time to change worn out machines, tools and equipment. 5.0 Control of hazards Control of hazard is not an easy task as people may think. No company would want its employers and employees to get hurt while at workplace. However, it is the method used and reluctance that mostly causes most health and safety problems at work place. The control measures involve a hierarchy of measures in order to complete and effective. These measures include three levels, which are elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (Bluff, Johnstone, 2005). According to Bluff & Johnstone (2005) eliminating the danger physically remains the most efficient control measure. For example, at Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers firm, employees were using some of the worn out machine and electrical wires which could cut or electrocute them. Some of the cranes are also very old and produces toxic smoke which causes a health risk to the employees (David 2006). The best thing the manager in charge of operations ought to do is to do away with these equipments and replace them with new ones. This can save the company from spending time on repair and also save the company the medical compensation given to the employees who undergo injury (Hammer & Price 2000). The research established that the company takes several years to replace an obsolete or worn out tools and equipments. Bluff & Johnstone (2005) claim that it is advisable for the manager to understand that with an advancement in technology, change is taking place so fast that he or she must remain updated with the change. It is this rapid change that takes competition a notch higher in the engineering field, hence to remain competitive, the manager must substitute old tools and equipment with new ones to remain effective (Hammer & Price 2000). Replacing old machines with new ones will reduce hazards in the workplace. For instance, the management ought to replace paints which are lead based with new acrylic paint which is more effective. The engineered controls are also considered a third most efficient way of hazards control, therefore must be used. In these cases, employees are isolated from the hazards rather than eliminating the hazards (Archer et al 2012). Relating it to the Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers firm, the management needs to build another workshop where they can relocate people when they are repairing the old workshops which have been in existence for several years. Even though this it will increase budgeting, it will help them reduce some cost in the future because they will not have to build another building (Archer et al 2012). Similarly, if the machine is worn out and they are not intending to use it, they must guard it to avoid control hazards. Administrative control is another safe method of working the company need to use. This will involve regular training, supervision, job rotation of employees (David 2006). While using administrative control mainly training the management needs to consider also tackling on personal protective clothing and equipment. In a nutshell, the person in charge of training must train both management and unionisable employees on how to use protect gears, and safety glasses among others (Archer et al 2012). All these control measures are practical and also will ensure the hazard is reduced as low as possible while proving effective in the long run as per the ALARP principle. . Figure 1: hierarchy of hazard control Source: (Archer et al 2012) Figure 2: The ALARP Principle Source: (Archer et al 2012) 5.1 Monitoring Routine organizational inspections must be done so as to ensure a safe working ambiance is sustained. This should not be a policy of the organization but must conform to the set Australian health and safety law. Hammer & Price (2000) posit that the intention of doing a routine inspection is to establish any logically occurring hazards in the organization and to reduce health and setting risks. Inspections are should be carried out in uniform starting with high risk to a place with low risks. Roughton (2002) contends that an individual or people carrying out the inspections have to be competent enough and understand the potential risks associated with area of inspection. 6.0 Legal implications Health and safety issues are not only a moral concern, but also an issue that is backed by law. The legal aspect of it makes it more important because it ensures the health and safety is enforced by the employer and the right of the employee is also respected (Ellis 2001). In business arena, there are laws that govern the business operations universally but there are some that only operate in a particular region. In Australia where the Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers Company operates in, “the OHSW Act of 1986 provides that every employer shall ensure that the employee is, whilst at work he or she is safe from risks and injury to health” (Archer et al 2012). It is also provided that the manager must assume the responsibility of duty of care and ensure that employees are protected from any injuries. Nevertheless, section 29 of health and safety Act of 2012 provides that an employee also has a role to take care of him or herself at the workplace (Archer et al 2012). 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion, it is better to note that it is the responsibility of both the employer and employee to ensure safety precaution at adhered to. However, the buck stops with the employer to provide the right tools of work and information to the employee at work. The mange is also better placed to set policies that promote human rights in terms of health and safety. Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers firm has actually tried to minimize the levels of injuries arising at their workplace but it cannot be claimed to be enough. As such the operations manager must ensure that worn out machines and various engineering tools are either eliminated, substituted and employees are regularly trained on matters of health and safety for their own benefit and for the effectiveness and success of the organization. 8.0 References Archer, R., Borthwick, K & Tepe, S 2012, WHS - A Management Guide, 3rd Edition, Cengage Learning Australia, Victoria Beehr, T & Glazer, S 2005, Organizational role stress, In J. Barling, E. K. Kelloway & M. R. Frone (Eds.), Handbook of work stress, Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage. Bluff, E & Johnstone, R 2005, The relationship between reasonably practical and risk management, Aust. Journal of Labour Law, Vol. 18, No. 3, p. 23-67. David, M 2006, Construction Safety Engineering Principles: Designing and Managing Safer Job Sites, McGraw-Hill Professional, London. Ellis, N 2001, Work and Health Management in Australia and New Zealand, Oxford Press, Victoria, Australia. Hammer, W & Price, D 2000, Occupational Safety Management and Engineering, 5th ed., Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Johnstone, R & King, M 2008, A responsive sanction to promote systematic compliance? Enforceable undertakings in occupational health and safety regulation, Australian Journal of Labour Law, Vol. 21, p. 280-315. Kaplan, S & Tetrick, LE 2010, Workplace safety and accidents: An industrial and organizational psychology perspective, In S. Zedeck (Ed.), APA handbook of industrial and organizational psychologym Washington, DC, American Psychological Association Montgomery, J & Kelloway, K 2002, Management of Occupational Health and Safety, 2nd ed., Nelson, Canada. Neilly Davies 2013, About Neilly Davies Consulting Engineers, accessed on Oct. 26th, 2013 http://www.neillydavies.com.au/consulting-engineers/about-consulting-engineers.php Paton, N 2008, Senior Managers Fail to Show Competence in Health and Safety, Occupational Health, Vol. 60, No. 3, p. 6-13. Pector, P 2011, Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Research and Practice, (6th Edition) NJ, US, Wiley Purse, K 2005, The evolution of workers compensation policy, Australia Health Sociology Review, Vol. 14, No. 1, p. 8-20. Quinlan, M., Bohle, P & Lamm, F 2010 Managing occupational health and safety: A Multidisciplinary approach, 3rd Ed, Palgrave Macmillan. Roughton, J 2002, Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach (1st ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. 9.0 Appendix Kindly answer the questions by ticking the most suitable answer. *General information* 1. Please specify your gender. (a) Male (b) Female 2. For how long have you been employed in your company? (a) less than one year (b) 1-2 years (c)2-3 years (d)3-4 years (e) over 5 years 3. What position of staff are you? (a) Clerk of works (b)Section Head (c)Officer (d) Manager (e) Any other (please specify)……………………….. 4. Is your company doing enough in terms of work-related health and safety?..................................... (a) No (b) Yes If no why…………………………………… 6. Kindly indicate various hazards that affect your work staring with the most intense (a) …………………………………… (b) …………………………………… (c) …………………………………… 7. Is there a correlation between hazard and negligence? (a) Yes (b) No 10. Do you think improving health and safety measures will help your company improve its performance? (a) Yes (b) No Thank you for taking time to answer this questionnaire for us. Appendix 1: Questionnaire Aappendix 2: Pie chart showing number of respondents Read More