Health and Safety Concerns in Banking Industry - Example

Name: Course: Date: Professor: HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN BANKING INDUSTRY. Working in a banking industry is one the most coveted working place. Thousands of people in the entire United Arab Emirates. Modern methods of banking have reduced number of people working in banks. Moreover, a significant number remains. Therefore they have to be protected by observing health and safety measures. They are valuable assets to the bank. Illnesses that result from workplaces-may it be banking, manufacturing or agricultural sector- affect corporate image and lead loss of working hours or business opportunities. A safe workplace enhance productivity and employees’ morale (Stellman, 1998). Health and safety has for a long time been associated with manufacturing industry. However, banks have embraced health and safety measures to protect their employees. Health and safety legislations have compelled the banking industry to adopt health and safety measures since they are applicable to all organizations and employees at a workplace. There are many physical and mechanical hazards that affect employees in a bank. These hazards are identified and addresses by the management in relation to the health and safety concerns (Chu et al., 2000). An important aspect of health and safety concern in the banking industry is the physiological and mental hazards that exist in banks. Banking sector employees are faced with high workload, tight working hours, strict guidelines and minimal social interaction while at work place. They work for six to seven days a week giving them little time to relax and interact with family members. Furthermore, their official holidays are thirty working days only. During such holidays, they spend most of the time solving personal challenges and duties that have been waiting (Quinlan and Bohle, 1991). Therefore, human resource managers have an obligation to address health and safety concerns in banks to assist employees not only remain safe but also are able to manage stress levels emanating from their duties. Human resource managers are faced with changing needs of the employees on matters concerning health and safety. Therefore, directors of an individual bank are responsible for providing policies that dictate how health and safety issues can be addressed amicably as per the guidelines of the Directorate of Occupation Health and Safety (Johnstone, 2004). RAK BANK EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY. The main objective of this study was to establish the Occupational Health and Safety activities that are adopted by Rak Bank. The study ought to determine how Rak Bank has adopted to Occupational Health and Safety guidelines that apply to all banks operating in United Arab Emirates. It also sought to identify occupation hazards perceived by Rak Bank employees (Kennet, 1997). A survey conducted on employee health and safety on Rak Bank in United Arabs Emirates revealed that the bank has not been left behind in implementing employee health and safety standards. Rak Bank is the trade name for National Bank of Raps Al-Kamiah. It is a public partnership stock company. It’s headquarter is located at Raps Al-Kamiah in United Arab Emirates. 52.75% of Rak Bank is owned by the government of Raps Al-Kamiah. It provides retail and corporate banking services and has a network of thirty three branches in United Arab Emirates. Most of its transactions are handled on commercial basis (Kennet, 1997). Rak Bank is listed at Abu Dhabi Securities and exchange and its shares are traded in public. The board of directors mainly come from members of Raps- Al Kamiah ruling family and businesspeople in Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. It provides a wide range of services including retail, small business and corporate banking. Rak Bank has thirty three branches situated in United Arab Emirates. It is one of the oldest financial institutions (founded 1976) in United Arab Emirates. Its services range are conducted through its network of branches as well as its telephone, online and mobile banking programs (Goudie et al., 2000). Rak Bank organization chart is described below in a summary form. An independent human resource department conducts staff recruitment, staff welfare and development. It conducts recruitment of staff in the organization. It performs job need analysis, vacancy identification, conducts interview, employee induction and indoctrination.Rak Bank has several employee ranks beginning from the directors in the top level up to the staff who attend to customers and those providing support services to the bank in the lowest level. It’s human resource organisation chart is as shown below (Castrogiovanni and Kidwell, 2010). The survey was conducted using a combination of interview, questionnaires and observations. The survey targeted Rak Bank human resource managers, department managers as well as branch managers. Core issues that were addressed included; organisation policy on health and safety, health and safety programs at the workplace, employee health and safety department, health and safety practices in the organisation, attitude towards health safety and its value in the banking industry. In addition to that, the study intended to evaluate respondents understanding of occupation health and safety and perception of the responsibility for health and safety in the organisation. Respondents were asked to provide suggestions that would improve employee health and safety in banking sector and in reference to Rak Bank. RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE Eighty percent of respondents were able to define the goal of occupation health and safety. They were able to relate occupation health and safety to their banking duties. For instance, they could list at least three occupational hazards from their workplace. Twenty percent of those respondents had difficulties defining occupation health and safety. They felt there were no major risks that can arise from their duties. Five percent among those who could not define Occupational Health and Safety explained that any danger or threat to their health could come from outside the organisation. Eighty three percent of respondents believed Occupational Health and Safety practices were useful for the bankers. They agreed that Occupational Health and Safety was beneficial to the company, employees and the supervisors. They listed advantages such as prevention of injuries out of carelessness, avoidance of waste of time and increased motivation to the employees. Twenty seven percent thought that occupation health and safety was not very useful in banking industry. Branch directors reported that there is a booklet released by RAK BANK and reviewed every year that guides management of health and safety while working. According to the policy, both the company and employees were responsible to ensure a safe work place. New employees were required to obtain a medical letter from a government hospital before they are recruited to provide baseline data that would guide compensation if need be. Ninety nine percent agreed they were issued with organisation policy guidelines with details of organisation programs and regulations. They were required to sign against those guidelines. One percent reported that they have never received such a document. To those who had received the policy guidelines they reported that it was quite informative. Seventy percent of respondents reported that they have attended at least two occupation and health meetings/seminars in the organisation. They were about fire outbreak and first aid management. Thirty percent have either attended none or just one training for the last one year. Ninety two percent experienced neck muscle ache at least once in a week depending on the workload. Ninety eight percent have ever experienced muscle fatigue and ache on the fingers especially after a long day typing over the computer. Sixty eight percent of those using spectacles were diagnosed with eye problems after admission into the bank. Two percent have ever had a physical injury while working in the bank. Majority of them fell due to a slippery floor or hit a wall while climbing upstairs. RAK BANK paid for their expenses in the hospital. The Department of Occupational Health and Safety in collaboration with the Human Resource Department were very keen to address their illness and provided follow up until recovery. According to Chairperson Department of Occupation Health and Safety, there are sign boards in all branches that warn employees if a danger is ahead. There are seminars after every six months to remind employees of occupational health concerns and management such as stroke. Outside every bank there is an assembly point in case an emergency occurred in the building. The procurement office reported that they advertise for supply of goods that are friendly to health of the employees. They reported that they invite the Department of Occupation Health and Safety to examine furniture and all materials supplied to ensure they are friendly to users and do not pose a health hazard to the organisation. According to Department of Occupational Health Chairperson, security officers were provided with seats to avoid prolonged standing that would be dangerous to their health. There are safety gadgets in the workplace. There are fire extinguishers located strategically in the building. Every security officer is trained on how to operate the extinguisher courtesy of Rak Bank. Emergency bell switch is found in every room. OBSERVATIONS MADE I observed cashiers stretching a lot while passing money or a document to the customers. There was a lot of noise coming out of printers and money counting machines that were irritating. A wandering cable was passing from one cashier’s office to the other. The carpet in either of the offices I entered to be not folded (was straight). Cashier computers were placed laterally. They kept turning their necks to use computer. Cashier’s chairs were fixed. DATA ANALYSIS Employees were conversant with Occupational Health and Safety. This was an indication that they have ever undergone training on Occupational Health and Safety. The first goal of hazard management is hazard identification. Majority of employees could identify potential hazards in their workplace. Hence, they were equipped to prevent or manage occurrence of hazard. Rak Bank had its own policy regarding Occupational Health and Safety. This is an important pillar in providing guidelines that convey procedures to be followed while addressing occupational health issues. Issuing such policies to all employees and departments eliminates ignorance, promotes participation at all levels and greatly promotes safety in a workplace. A policy sets direction of continuous improvement of safety program. There is a well-structured safety organization. The Occupation and safety department is able to oversee the overall safety issues in the organisation independently without interference from branch managers. It is only answerable to the board of directors. Staff training is evident in Rak Bank. It offers in-house safety rules to employees so as to equip them with necessary skills to avoid acquiring injury from the workplace. Rak Bank offers half-yearly staff training on safety thereby making them enlightened and confident to apply safety skills. Notices and warning boards are very useful in promoting workplace safety. One of their advantages is their proactive nature of preventing injury. They offer a warning before the injury happens. They act as reminders. In Rak Bank, safety warning is strategically positioned thereby providing a safer working place for the employees. Hazard analysis is a key component of Rak Bank. As explained by the Health and Safety Chairperson, all supplies to the bank are analysed to find out their potential hazard levels. This is done particularly when there is new furniture, or electronic gadgets. Depending on the outcome of analysis, products can be returned or safety measures adopted to prevent occurrence of a hazard. The organisation is prepared for emergencies. There are fire extinguishers at strategic points. Security agents are trained to operate fire extinguishers and trained on fire emergency response. There are emergency bells in almost every closed room to cause alarm in case of an emergency. The open ground for emergency gathering is essential to provide space for people to run to safety and be counted. SUGGESTIONS. The organisation policy on Occupational Health and Safety should spell the roles of individual members of the organisation in regard to safety matters. The role of directors, branch managers and heads of departments should be spelt out. Supervisors and general staff safety responsibility should be stated in writing. In addition to that, the policy should explain the responsibility of the employer in comparison to that of the employee when addressing occupation health and safety matters (Mberia, 2013). The organisation should establish a safety committee that encompasses representatives of various departments. This will greatly increase vigilance and promotions of safety practices at departmental levels. Moreover, it will increase compliance with safety regulations as well as improve communication between managers and general staff. This committee will be entitled with the responsibility of reviewing safety concerns and sending proposals to the directors through Occupational Health and Safety department for approval (Mberia, 2013). The process of employee training should be employed so as to provide Occupational Health and Safety knowledge that is useful to both the organisation and the employee. It should begin by identifying training need analysis, formulate objectives, conduct training and provide channels for evaluation of the effectiveness of each training (Commission, 1995). Hazard inspection programme should be set up. Hazard inspection should be carried out on a regular basis to identify hazardous conditions and offer appropriate remedies to prevent occurrence of a hazard. It is through these periodic inspections that Rak Bank can be assured that their employees and assets are free from danger. It should be done by Occupational Health and Safety committee. This inspection should be carried out in the building and its vicinity (Plath et al., 2008). The Department of Occupational Health and Safety should evaluate the needs of Rak Bank in providing personal protective equipment. This is very useful especially to the general staff who are engaged with maintenance of the workplace duties. After assessment, they should order for supply of the gadgets required and offer training to the employees on the need to make use of those personal protective equipment. Rak Bank emergency preparedness is apt and is highly encouraged (Plath et al., 2008). To enhance continuous improvement of health and safety program, Rak Bank should continually audit its health and safety practices at every two years or if need arises. This kind of an audit will involve interviewing individuals, revisiting documentations and inspecting records to evaluate the kind of information captured. Moreover, it evaluates whether the program is not only meeting the objectives but also to evaluate whether it meets the expectation of the employer and employees (Plath et al., 2008). Good housekeeping practices are highly recommended. There should be no cables lying on the floor or hanging loose. This can cause accidents. Proper clothing and glooming is recommended. Long hair or loose clothing can trapped in moving parts thereby causing accidents. Ergonomically designed workstations for cashiers will be helpful in preventing fatigue and stress (Walters and Frick, 2000). In conclusion, effort made by Rak Bank is highly covetable. Other banks should emulate this type of organisation culture that is responsible for a safe working environment. To make Occupation Health and Safety policy more effective, the above recommendations should be put into consideration. QUESTIONNAIRE Participation in this survey is on voluntary basis. You are kindly requested to provide honest responses. Seek clarification if you do not understand a question. Your participation is highly appreciated. SECTION A (For all employees.) You are requested to provide honest answers. Participation in this survey is voluntary. 1. Are you an employee of Rak Bank? a). yes b). No 2. What is your age bracket? a) Less than twenty years b) between twenty to forty years C) above forty years. 3. How long have you worked for Rak Bank? a) Less than five years b) between five to fifteen years c) above fifteen years 4. What do you think Occupational Health and Safety is? 5. How does Occupational Health and Safety relate with the financial institutions like Rak Bank? 6. What are issues that you feel affect your health and safety at your workstation? 7. Were you introduced to Rat Bank occupational health policy upon recruitment as an employee? 8. Have you ever received any training on Occupational Health and Safety? a) Yes b) N 9. If yes, who had organized? 10. How many times have you attended occupation and health safety for the last one year? a) Once b) twice c) more than twice 11. Have you ever experienced an illness that you thought originated from your workplace? a) Yes b) no c) cannot remember any 12. If yes, what was it? 13. Have you ever acquired an injury or illness while you were working? a) Yes b) never c) cannot remember 14. If yes, what was happened? 15. How did Rak Bank respond to that injury or illness? 16. Do you wear spectacles? a) Yes b) No 17. When did you start putting on spectacles? a) Before joining Rak Bank b) After joining Rak Bank SECTION B (For heads of department and branch managers only) 18. Briefly describe the organizational chart for Rat Bank 19. Briefly describe Occupational Health and Safety program for Rat Bank REFERENCES Castrogiovanni, G.J., Kidwell, R.E., 2010.Human resource management practices affecting unit managers in franchise networks. Human Resource Manager Journal .vol.49, p.225-239. 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