Occupational safety & health management issues of small & medium scale industries in manufacturing sector

Abstract

Occupational Safety & Health Management Issues of Small & Medium scale I’sndustries in Manufacturing Sector Small and medium scale industries(SMI’s) play vital role in economic development of developing countries and also SMI’s are labour intensive capital saving and capable of helping to create a large number of new job opportunities in worldwide as well as in Sri Lanka. However most of SMI’s start with own capability of owners and latter sudden growth occurred. Small investors can perform small industries in an remote geographical locations. Tthe employees of SMI’s are lagging behind in providing OSH to workers. It may include manual material handling, lack of training, chemical handling and poor infrastructure facility etc. In the recent past, past traditional manufacturing process transformed and get in to use wide variety machines for the purpose of cutting, drilling, grinding and mixing etc., without considering OSH. Hence SMI’s need to enhance OSH in management skills, finance, technology, commitment and understanding of loses due to injury and illness. Hence comprehensive literary serve had been done to find existing knowledge and possible strategies to enhance OSH bi other industries as well as Sri Lanka. This studresearch was under taken to define appropriate frame work to implement OSH practices improving OSH in SMI’s.

The sample was selected considering different type of manufacturing industries to get better sample. Data collection of this research involves three phases such as pilot survey, main survey and expert interview. The pilot survey was conducted to validate the questionnaire developed based on literature findings for main survey. To collect data from SMI’s a structured questionnaire was used among hundred and twenty employees who belongs to managers and other categories from the manufacturing sector SMI’s. Relative important index (RII) was adopted to rank the critical affected OSH barriers (RII ≥ 4) for expert interview. For expert surveyinterviews mixed methods werewere used such as questionnaire surveyconducted to explore strategies??/ to overcome critical OSH barriers. Cand content analysis to collect data base on significant on questionnaire serve was used to establish strategies?? to address the current issue of SMI’s.

Based on the questionnaire servesurvey identified the level of OSH practices. Iit is identified that the use of management practices are poor in SMIs such asin availability and practice of safety policy, awareness & applicability of legal requirement. Similar poor situation was observed for use of safety system such as use of sign board, alarm system, machine guard, level of light & ventilation. Safety practices are also poor such as use of PPE, work permit, accident reporting & general register. Further it is identified barriers for OSH implementation and critically affected factors such as insufficient risk assessment & OSH audits, insufficient toolbox meeting, lack of safety training, lack of safety technology. Finally it has been identified strategies through experts to improve OSH practices and overcome management issues of SMI’s such as establish regional safety centers to provide technological support, training, conduct safety promotional activities including risk assessment and OSH audit, As a second strategy Strengthen OSH legal frame work (Factory ordinance) by legalizing OSH management system, training and monitoring mechanism. As a third strategy expanding OSH educational system by introducing OSH as a compulsory subject for schools and other educational institutions and compulsory for employers and employees. As a fourth strategy national policy to get owners and managers commitment for OSH by introducing financial supportive projects such as low interest loan, tax concession for OSH projects. Compliance certification for OSH when market the product.Small scale & medium scale industries (SMIs) generally play vital role in economics growth and equitable development in growing economies. (SMIs are capable of generating new job opportunities). Small investors can perform small industries at different levels and remote geographical locations. That may be unattractive to big industries or too costly for the big industries low overheads enables small industries to work at more competitive prices.

The structure of SMIs has a significant difference than in large scale industries. Therefore the implementation OSH in SMIs requires a different scale. In practical situations level of OSH required may not necessary to grow as similar in large industry due to lack of skills of owners and managers. Therefore SMIs need to consider OSH on their own terms. The analysis are indicated that poor financing, inadequate social infrastructures, lack of managerial skills and multiple taxation are major issues confronting SMIs

This study focus to identify the characteristic of SMIs and OSH implementation issues in SMIs. It is important to note that there are issues for good OSH practices. Those influence are studied and propose the recommendations to enhance the OSH in SMIs and also select the more appropriate definition to discuss OSH in SMIs.