Risk of occupational health hazard: Assessment using CDSwFR and minimization using EMOwJCS.

Abstract

In labor-intensive manufacturing units, workers in general subject themselves to extreme work conditions due to economic reasons and are exposed to high risk of occupational health hazard (RoOHH). We design and implement a methodology for assessment and minimization of RoOHH while maintaining workers' earnings. Proposed method, consisting of two phases, employs a job-combination strategy (JCS) wherein workers doing a high risk job (HRJ) also perform a low risk job (LRJ) having undergone sufficient training on it within their scheduled work day thereby reducing their exposure to HRJ. Phase 1, called `composite discomfort score with factor rating' (CDSwFR), assesses RoOHH for different job-combination schedules while phase 2, called evolutionary multiobjective optimization with JCS (EMOwJCS), finds out schedules which simultaneously optimizes CDS and earnings of HRJ workers doing a LRJ as well. Method is demonstrated with a case study in a brick manufacturing unit. Risk assessment method is verified using real life data. Results of minimization of RoOHH provide a huge flexibility to supervisors to choose a suitable schedule considering CDS and earnings of workers, while meeting production targets. A unifying method amalgamating CDSwFR and EMOwJCS in a unique way turns out to be a powerful scheme without losing its simplicity.