This document discusses occupational safety, health, and the environment in Pakistan. It begins with an introduction stating that safety is an unexplored frontier in Pakistan and only receives lip service in most companies. It then discusses the importance of safety as the fourth requirement for living beings.
The document outlines objectives for health, safety, and environmental programs. Health objectives include reducing occupational diseases, maintaining acceptable noise levels, and minimizing respiratory illnesses. Safety objectives and programs aim to qualify employees in first aid and emergency response. Environmental objectives seek to properly treat waste and limit pollution.
Interview segments provide perspectives from managers on their safety standards, waste disposal procedures, and needs for improved medical facilities. Overall, the document evaluates current safety practices and outlines
3. • Safety is so far an unexplored frontier in
Pakistan. True, the word “Safety” does
produce familiar resonance in our ears,
yet we seldom fathom the implications in
its totalityAt best barring few progressive
industrial houses in our country, only lip
service is considered enough.
• Safety, as a matter of fact after air, water
& food, is the fourth requirement of all
living beings. As such, safety should be
considered as multifaceted commodity
and not abstract thought.
4. • This realisation had prompted the west
in developing the gospel of Safety as an
applied science .Most universities in
western world, some as far as1935,
introduced comprehensive curriculum
for degree courses. But in our country
other than Pakistan Air Force, there is
no organised academic activity on the
subject.
• The subject is being attended by the
segment of industry involved in exports,
purely under compliance compulsions
imposed by the international buyers
5. PANELISTS IN THE SEQUENCE OF
DELIEVERY OF PRESENTATION
• KHALID FAROOQ - Introduction of
Subject/Panelists
• ASMAT ZAHRA - Introduction of Subject
Organization & Strategic
Policy
• AYESHA WAQAR - Occupational Safety,
Health & Environmental
Objectives
& Health Programs
• HUSSNAIN KAZMI - Environmental Objectives
& Environmental Programs
• FAROOQ MALIK - Safety Objectives, Safety
Programs, Analysis &
Recommendations
6. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
It refers to the mechanism put in place by an
organization to protect people from risk of
injuries / deaths in their working environment.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
It refers to the degree of physical, mental and
social well being of workers in all occupations.
8. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Killing of more than 14,000 workers in USA
alone , caused emotional & economic impacts,
which forced US Congress to pass Occupational
Safety & Health Act of 1970.This act was
designed to offer, as far as possible, every
working man & woman a safe & healthy work
environment.
• To include as many employers & employees as
possible all except federal & state government
employees, self employed & domestic servants
were exempted.
9. CREATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
& HEALTH ADMINSTRATION
• The Occupational Safety & Health
Administration was created as primary
administrative agency for the Occupational
Safety & Health Act of 1970.
• The Act also created two other agencies-:
o National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health.
o Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.
10. LOCAL LAWS & REGULATIONS ON
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
• Chapter 3 of Factory Act 1934
• Hazardous Occupational Rules 1978..
• At every province level, the rule have been
enacted with in the mandate of Factories Act
1934.
• Other Acts & Ordinances covering
Occupational Safety & Health.
– Mines Act 1923
– Social Security Ordinance 1923
– Shop and Establishment Ordinance 1969
– Dock labor Act 1934
11. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS &
CERTIFICATIONS ON OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY & HEALTH
• US Occupational Safety Health Act 1970
(OSHA)
• British Safety Intrusions (BSI )
Occupational Health Safety Assessment
Series (OHSAS 18001 & 18002)
• Environment Health Safety (EHS 14001)
• Social Accountability (SA 8000)
• Quality Management Services (ISO 9001:
2000)
14. CAUSES OF INDUSTRIAL
ACCIDENTS.
• Poor worker training.
• Inability to do the job.
• Lack of understanding of job.
• Use of improper tools/ equipment.
• Poor quality of materials
15. CAUSES OF INDUSTRIAL
ACCIDENTS (Cont)
• Poor maintenance of equipment.
• Poor working conditions.
• Excessive/ tight Scheduling/ work
standards.
• Lack of adherence to Safety rules
16. STRATEGIC OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
POLICY OF STYLE TEXTILES
To provide safe, healthy and
hazard free working environment
to the employees, enabling them to
perform to their optimum, in order
to achieve the organizational
desired business objectives.
17. Interviewee # 1
• Name : Sajid Rehman
• Designation : G.M Fabric Division
• Experience : 10 Years ,out of which 5 years in Style Textiles.
Question. Can you specify your job title & responsibilities ?
Answer. I am General Manager Fabric division & am responsible for complete
manufacturing of fabric, starting from knitting upto the development of
finished fabric.
Question. Your department is the one which requires high standards of
occupational safety and health, are you satisfied with the existing
standards.
Answer. My department is quite safe and human friendly which is evident from
the fact that no major accident has taken place in last five years.
However high noise level is one problem being faced by my
department, and we are taking maximum passive safety measures to
conserve the hearing of the employees in our department.
Question. How do you dispose off your dyeing waste?
Answer. We have a highly efficient state of the art effluent treatment plant and
are not adding to any pollution neither with in the premises nor to the
outside society.
Question. Are you satisfied with the existing first aid facilities and
emergency medical evacuation procedure?
Answer. The standard of first aid in the organization is fairly satisfactory,
however medical evacuation procedure require some improvement in
the form of addition of a ambulance and increase in number of
qualified male/female nurses.
18. Interviewee # 2
Name : Talal Mahmmmad
Designation : ESH & Compliance Officer
Experience : 2 Years
Question. What exactly is your job title ?
Answer. My job title is Environment, Safety, Health & Compliance Officer.
Question. Do you think that compliance & Occupational Safety & Health are
two different subjects.
Answer. No infact occupational safety & health & environment issues fall with in
the purview of compliance.
Question. Are you satisfied with the existing standards of occupational
safety, Health & environment in your organization?
Answer. Well we are pretty good follower of the occupational safety health &
environmental standards. That is why we qualify all the compliance
audits of different international brand. As regards satisfaction, we
invariably follow the practices under influence compliance. However
since the involvement of top management through safety awareness
committee in the subject the attitudes are changing however this is just
a beginning.
Question. What is this ESH Walk?
Answer. I have developed a checklist which helps me in checking availability /
serviceability of all the tangible and intangible things to improve the
Health Safety & Environment issues, same is being checked through
ESH walk on daily basis.
Question. What is your channel of reporting?
Answer. I am directly answerable to my GM HR & Admin and he in turns is
answerable to the Directors .
19. Undervalues of The Objectives
• Inactive
• Reactive
• Proactive
• Predictive
• Holistic
20. Objectives Developed in the light of
Strategic Occupational Safety &
Health Policy
• Health Objectives
• Safety Objectives
• Environmental Objectives
21. Health Objectives
• To reduce the chances of spreading of
occupational diseases/ illnesses amongst
the employees
• To maintain an acceptable noise level in
work place
• To minimize the spreading of respiratory
track related diseases amongst the
employees
22. Health Programs
• Screening of all employees for hepatitis ‘c’ and
administration of dose-1 & 2 in phases
(completion by April 2005 )
• Complete Medical check up of all the employees
including the testing of Blood Group &
maintenance of medical cards in HR division
(an annual practice)
• Hiring the services of a Medical consultant on
part basis till the completion of a dedicated
medical inspection room
23. Health Programs (Contd…)
• To conduct an in house training on the subject of
first aid & CPR to ensure qualification of min 2%
employees
• To get selected employees qualified as trainer of
trainers in the field of first aid & CPR, based on
their performance in the basic training
• Up grading existing emergency medical
evacuation procedure by adding an ambulance
& by enrolling 3 qualified male nurses &1 female
nurse (completion by march 2005)
24. Health programs (Contd…)
• Availability of serviceable first aid kits & valid
medicines round the clock at all the first aid
boxes
• Well spread shift wise availability of all the
qualified personnel on the subject of first aid &
CPR
• Regular training sessions on the subject of
occupational health for all the employees at
least once a quarter over & above the training
imparted at time of induction
• Rehabilitation Program for the employees
suspected for hepatitis “C”
25. Interviewee # 3
• Name : khalid Ali
• Designation : Supervisor Garment Division
• Experience : 15 Years
Question: Which specific department of Garment Division your are working in?
Answer. I am working in Stitching Department.
Question. What all health related hazards are there in your department?
Answer. The biggest hazard related to health in my department is spread of
respiratory track related diseases.
Question. What measures are you taking to minimize the effect of these
diseases?
Answer. As you have seen that main cause of these diseases is the fluff flying in
the environment, nothing much could be done to eliminate this. As a
result we are left with the option of putting on the requisite mask to
prevent the inhalation by the workers
Question. Are your worker strictly following the use of masks?
Answer. To tell you the truth the practice is not being followed religiously, we
have to force them to use this.
Question. What could be the reason?
Answer. Since the effects of respiratory track diseases does not emerge
immediately rather they are long term therefore the workers do not take
the precautions religiously. There is a general belief that taking “Ghur”
towards the end of the day utilizes the effects of fluff in the respiratory
track therefore majority of the workers rely upon that as its suits their
convenience
26. Environmental Objectives
• To provide a pollution free work
environment to the employees
• To maintain a desired level of lighting,
temperature & humidity in work place
• To plan the disposal of hazardous waste
material through an effluent process with
its minimum effects to work place
environment
27. Environmental Programs
• Reduction of pollution in workplace through
awareness training, nonuse of un authorized
chemicals & required ventilation
• Introduction with characteristics of
relevant PPE, its correct use& maintaining its
serviceability
• Conduct of training by qualified instructors on
the subject of waste management &disposal of
hazardous material & its implementation
28. Interviewee # 4
• Name Fida Hussain
• Designation : Worker Knitting Department
• Experience 10 years
Question. What are the major environment related problems in your
department?
Answer. In my department there are two major problems one is flying of fluff
in the environment and 2nd is the high noise level of the machines.
Question. What are the recommended measures in your opinion to fight
these two above mentioned hazards?
Answer. Principally we should be using masks for protection from fluff and ear
plugs / muffs for restoration of our hearing.
Question. How religiously do you use these safety / protection devices?
Answer. In fact the religiously use is restricted to the compliance visits only,
as a routine the practice is not being followed.
Question. What is the reason for not observing this on routine basis?
Answer. One reason is that while putting on the mask you can not talk to
each other easily and same way with ear plugs on it is difficult to
listen to others.
Question. Do you know the effects of not using these devices?
Answer. Yes, I know that not putting on the mask can cause respiratory
diseases and not putting on the ear plugs can damage the hearing.
29. Interviewee # 5
• Name : Gulraiz Sharif
• Designation : Worker Dyeing Department
• Experience : 12 Years
Question. What are potential hazards which can lead to the accidents in
your department?
Answer. There are three major areas, i-e high temperature, high noise
and handling of hazardous chemical material which can cause
accidents.
Question. In case of any chemical material related injury, what should be
done first by your department?
Answer. In case of any such like accident we immediately take the effectee
for a shower under supervision a person who is qualified in first aid.
After this the effectee is evacuated to the nearest hospital.
Question. How do you protect yourself from the hazard of high noise?
Answer. We use the ear plugs and muffs while operating in high noise area.
Question. Have you ever been subjected to audiometry?
Answer. I have heard this word during lecture on noise conservation,
however to the best of my knowledge no one has ever been
subjected to this test.
Question. Do you think that the PPE provided to your department is
sufficient to protect you from the occupational hazards?
Answer. The first issue of the PPE is fairly alright, however its replenishment
process on regular basis needs improvement.
30. WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY?
It is a working attitude, which once
inculcated produces a culture of safety
consciousness, which in-turns not only
improves the quality but also adds to the
productivity.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CORPORATE SAFETY?
Not the manager corporate safety but the
chief executive himself.
31. Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting
Safety Attitudes
• Status Symbol
• Illiteracy
• Lack of General Awareness
• False Ego
• Social Taboos
• Casual Attitude
• Lack of Information Sharing
• Individual Convenience
32. Safety Objectives
• To provide a work environment with least
chances of accidents to prevent occupational
deaths/injuries
• To identify the potential safety hazards and
eliminate them before they grow to cause an
accident
• To introduce a holistic accident prevention plan
evolved through an in depth hazard assessment
process and its continual improvement
33. Dimensions of Occupational Safety
Occupational
Safety
Accident Health Risk
Combating Worker
Prevention Prevention
Accident Rehabilitation
35. Safety Programs
• Establishment of Safety Awareness
Committee & holding its regular meetings
• Attendance of training by selected
managers on the subject of “Noise control
& Hearing conservation” & “ Industrial
Waste management” from CIWE
• Conduct of in house training for the
employees working in high noise area &
dyeing department
36. Safety Programs (Contd ….)
• Establishment of fire fighting committee &
conduct of regular mock exercises
• Making of an accident prevention plan and its
execution through a holistic/ proactive strategy
• Introduction of a database for reporting/
recording of all safety oriented activities
• Restarting of an aggressive program on the
importance ,use & right placing of safety slogans
& neon signs
37. Safety Programs…. (Contd..)
• Conduct of training for all to develop
awareness on the characteristics,
importance & correct use of personal
protective equipment (PPE) & its strict use
by all
• Introduction of incentives / awards for
employees contributing towards safety
awareness & compliance
38. Cost of Safety
• Loss of reputation
• Medical Payments
• Insurance Premium
• Compensation Payments
• Overtime for Replacements
39. Cost of Safety……..Contd.
• Production Delays
• Product Damage
• Training of Replacements
• Building & Equipment damage
• Accident Investigation Costs
40. Cost Of Safety Vs Cost For Safety
Organization is spending at an average Rs 2.0 m /
year under the head of Cost for Safety in a holistic /
proactive manner and is saving numerous millions
against the Cost of Safety, which is a reactive
spending .Same is well substantiated by the fact
that no accident leading to fatal injuries or even
hospitalization involving surgeries has taken place in
last 3 years
There have been two fatatilities in year 2000, one of a
lift operator & one of contractor's masonry labor both
the accidents were thoroughly investigated &
chances of recurrence have been reduced through
necessary amendment in the SOPs
41. Recommendations
• Establishment of a corporate occupational
safety, health & environment database.
• At least 2% of the income be spent to provide
occupational safety ,health & environmental
protection to the employees.
• Meetings of safety awareness committee be held
on regular basis, ensuring maximum participative
attendance. Proceedings be recorded & decision
taken be implemented in letter & spirit.
42. Recommendations…(Contd..)
• Provide rights to information for the safe use of
machinery & chemicals (in appropriate language)
down to the lowest level.
• Conduct of environment safety & health walk by ESH
officer & supervisor on daily basis, with recording of
observation made & their resolution on priority.
• Creation of safety circles to solve the health, safety
and environmental oriented problems and recognizing
the work through requisite acknowledgement in cash
and kind.
• More stress towards Training & Education on
Occupational Safety, Health & Environmental issues
to all & its implementation through role models.
43. Recommendations… (Contd..)
• Monitory incentives be introduced for the employees
observing health & safety instructions, special
incentive for those influencing others.
• Issue of 100% personal protective equipment to all in
accordance with the job requirement & its regular
replenishment
• Vantage sites at entrances / exits & walls of shop
floors be served with slogans addressing
occupational safety, health & environmental issues
preferably in local language.
44. Recommendations…(Contd…)
Power generation unit be relocated at an
appropriate distance from the dormitory.
Maintenance of noise level in accordance with
the average human requirement. Conduct of
annual eudiometry for all employees operating
in high noise area.
Categorization of warning signs in accordance
with their severity and gravity and assigning
the requisite colors.
45. Recommendations ..(Contd.)
• A medical inspection room be established in the
factory premises without further delay, so that
emergency cases can attended to, before
evacuating them to the hospital.
• Special medical examination be organized twice
a year for the employees of garment division &
dyeing department and execution of necessary
job rotation on the medical recommendations.