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 organization 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 behavior 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 behavior of the people.
As the first step towards reducing industrial accidents, standardization 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 behavior 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 organized work. Badly organized 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 utilize 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 optimizing the working environment to bring about accident free organization require more than a commitment to change. They also require a clear understanding of what should be changed.
By Dr. K. Kuhathasan CEO, CENLEAD
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