Management Tips:
Role of managers in preventing industrial accidents
Dr. K. Kuhathasan
CEO, CENLEAD
The statistics released by the Department of Labour reveals that on
an average over 50 fatal industrial accidents and about three thousand
non-fatal accidents take place annually. These are merely reported
figures. A good number of accidents are not reported at all.
The direct cost of a single fatal accident by way of compensation by
the organisation and the insurance company is averaged at about Rs.
300,000, while the indirect cost, such as lost output, damage to
machinery and buildings, etc. may be even higher.
The loss of life is certainly the most serious consequence of an
industrial accident. But it is not the only one. The effect upon the
family, the economic loss to society, loss of production, loss of a well
trained employee, the cost of training another employee in his place are
other social costs.
Human Error
All industrial accidents are, either directly or indirectly
attributed to human error. The mistake may be made by the architect who
designed a factory, the contractor who built it, a machine designer, an
engineer, a chemist, an electrician, a foreman or an operator.
Accidents may also take place either because of technological or
mechanical defects or unsafe industrial behaviour of the people.
A study on industrial accidents in Sri Lanka reveals that around 60
to 70 per cent of the accidents were due to technological and mechanical
defects such as unsuitable machinery to fit the physical make up of Sri
Lankan people, defective parts, unguarded machines, damaged electrical
cables, worn-out hoisting ropes etc, while 30-40 per cent are due to
unsafe behaviour of the people.
As the first step towards reducing industrial accidents,
standardisation of machinery within the industrial roof must be
encouraged by the managers. Sri Lanka has been importing machinery from
various countries, not specifically made for Sri Lankan people.
Industrial Fatigue
In a single factory, one can see machines imported from various
countries. Those who use these machines, under the same roof, side by
side, have to adjust to the varying rhythm of machines requirements and
are affected by industrial fatigue, which is one of the main causes of
industrial accidents.
A good number of accidents took place when the people worked with
unguarded machinery. Belts, gears and other movable parts of machines
are generally fitted with safety guards.
However, people often feel guards are a hindrance. Consequently, the
guards are often taken off and work went on with unprotected machines.
In view of this general behaviour of Sri Lankan people the management
may try to import in “In-built safety machines” where guards are made as
an intergral part of the machine.
Safe working habits
Safety consideration should be borne in mind at the time of the
actual planning when the factory is constructed. There should be a
safety engineer on the planning team.
Managers have a great role to play in training people to adopt “safe
working habits”.
Good working habits including taking proper care of machines and
tools good order and good housekeeping all over the industry will reduce
accidents.
There should be a safe place for everything in a factory and
everything should be in its place at all times.
Management must understand that the frequency of accidents is
influenced by the general industrial relations atmosphere as well. When
the employer-employee relations are bad, when people are dissatisfied
with working conditions, the incidence of accidents may be higher.
Respect for people’s feeling and dignity helps to give them peace of
mind and this is an important psychological safety factor.
Safety begins at the top
The slogan “Safety begins at the top” clearly underlines the
essential condition for successful safety work in an undertaking.
Foremen, safety engineers, supervisors and other management staff can
never achieve results if the management does not take the lead in
promoting high safety standards.
Satisfactory working conditions and healthy working environment keep
the people in physical and mental and stimulate active participation and
contribution.
Working environment
Better working environment also encompasses well organised work.
Badly organised monotonous jobs, jobs requiring lesser skills, degrading
jobs may give rise to harmful levels of fatigue and stress and end up
with an industrial accident.
The working environment in an industry should be structured in such a
way that it should reduce boredom and fatigue and increase satisfying
rhythm of work.
Jobs must be made more satisfying through the process of a well
established network of working environments in which people will take
pride in their institution and perform well for that organisation.
Such a working environment should not damage, degrade, or humiliate
the people. On the other hand, it should utilise many of the varied
skills and abilities they are gifted with and provide adequate
opportunities for them to acquire further upward mobility.
Protection of people from occupational accidents and diseases should
be considered as the most urgent aspect of improvement of working
conditions and environment.
Social and Economic cost
The social and economic costs of unsafe working environment are many.
If work places are not provided with a safe working environment, it
results not only in productive loss to the industry, but also economic
loss to the nation.
Workplaces should have sufficient and suitable ventilation supplying
fresh or purified air. Workplaces should be so laid out and work
stations so arranged that there should be no harmful effects on the
health of the people.
Provision of washing facilities and sanitary conveniences, sufficient
supply of wholesome drinking water, etc., should form part of the whole
concept of safer and healthy working environment.
People should have sufficient unobstructed working space to perform
their work without risk. Noise and vibration likely to have harmful
effects on people should be reduced as far as possible by appropriate
and practical measures.
Workplaces should also be protected against substances which are
obnoxious, unhealthy or toxic, which may be generated during the course
of work.
Efforts aimed at optimising the working environment to bring about
accident free organisation require more than a commitment to change.
They also require a clear understanding of what should be changed. |