Occupational Health And Safety Problems Research Articles

The Occupational Safety and Health Education for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI)

The large number of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) requires protection of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) which is the human right of every worker. However, in practice there are still many OSH problems among PMI in South Korea, including: work accidents, violence, problems related to work legality, and PMI's knowledge regarding OSH implementation and norms is still very minimal, therefore the aim of this activity is to provide education through training and discussions related to aspects of OSH which include efforts to prevent work accidents and implementation of work norms. The method for implementing this activity includes: 1) preparation stage, 2) implementation stage and 3) evaluation stage. This activity has received an ethical certificate no. 315/KEPK/FK/KLE/2024 from the Health Research Ethics Commission, Faculty of Medicine, UNNES. The results of this activity can be seen that PMI is very enthusiastic about participating in this activity and states that this activity is very beneficial for them, especially in increasing their knowledge regarding the application of OSH aspects in the workplace which is not only useful for preventing work accidents but also improving their work productivity.

Understanding the Recognition of Occupational Safety and Health: A Critique of Corporate Culture

In the era of globalization, in the face of industrial competition, companies are attempting to instill a culture of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) as a symbol and image of their existence. However, it is unfortunate that the presence of OSH in the company does not always serve as a barometer of the company's normative compliance with OSH. In practice, the rules governing worker behavior still show varying degrees of permissiveness.
 The practice of OSH must be accompanied by moral values in order to achieve the desired condition. Therefore, there are two behavioral approaches in OSH communication practices in companies: (1) do the things right, which means following the rules. This does not necessarily resolve OSH problems, as ‘rules’ at the minimum only regulate employee behavior and (2) do the right things, which is moral in nature, which allows workers to act and behave according to their nature because what is outlined in the rules does not always reflect free will, so in the end each worker must find a way to do what’s best.
 The critical-interpretive approach with phenomenological method in research focuses on the meaning and awareness of OSH caused by communication distortion in the company on workers' behavior towards social reality as something complex, continuously evolving and full of meaning. In the development of Axel Honneth's conceptual dimensions of recognition theory (love, rights and solidarity) has a central role and solution in the distortion of corporate communication, especially in the implementation of OSH programs that emphasize the importance of recognizing worker relationships and developing self-confidence, self-respect and self-esteem, in the context of Good Corporate Governance (GCG) and Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC), recognition theory provides implications for the importance of recognizing workers’ contributions to the goals achieved in the company, thereby increasing workers' dignity and individual values in the company.
 Without social recognition, OSH will not be able to serve as operational barometer of a start-up company. It will only serve as a framing to protect the company, “as if” it already fulfills its legal obligations towards OSH.

“We can regulate ourselves”: Exploring the artisans’ trade associations’ contributions to occupational safety and health problem prevention

Occupational safety and health (OSH) problem prevention is a major concern in developing countries, especially for informal workers. However, little is known about the contribution of artisanal trade associations to OSH management. This qualitative study explores the contribution of informal workers’ trade associations to OSH problems prevention. Twenty two executive members of the informal automobile artisans’ trade associations from Osun State, Nigeria, were purposively selected and interviewed. The trade associations contribute to OSH problems prevention and management through monitoring, setting rules, and regulations that are binding on members. The identified areas of support from external bodies include the provision of modern equipment, mechanic village, prayers, and financial support. However, they are not willing to accept help for monitoring and regulations. The study concluded that in developing countries where there is an OSH management challenge for the informal workers, the trade associations could be used as intermediaries for regulating and disseminating OSH information to members.

Factors Related to Workplace Well-Being: Occupational Health and Safety of Older Workers in Hong Kong

As Hong Kong is undergoing rapid population ageing over the past few decades, and this trend is expected to persist due to low fertility rates and extended life expectancy. This trend has significant implications for Hong Kong’s labor market and workforce. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the experiences, needs, and definitions of older workers in Hong Kong. It helps to draw attention to issues of occupational safety and health (OSH) risks and help identifying and promoting strategies and interventions for effectively supporting the ageing workforce in the workplace. The major objective of this research is to identify the OSH problems and challenges perceived by the older workers, employers and other stakeholders. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are applied. A qualitative study with focus groups and individual in-depth interviews have been conducted with a representative sample of 70 stakeholders, including employees, employers, representative of labour unions, policymakers, NGO representatives and researchers in the related disciplines. We obtained their views on age-related changes within the older workforce and how such changes would affect their work ability, the OSH issues facing the older workers in different industries, and the facilitators and barriers associated with remaining in or joining the labour force. Feasible intervention strategies for effectively supporting the ageing workforce in the workplace are also being identified.

Nonstandard workers and differential occupational safety and health vulnerabilities.

Permanent jobs are in decline world-wide, and are being replaced with temporary, casual, part-time, and contract jobs. We investigated the characteristics and occupational safety and health (OSH) vulnerabilities of workers with nonstandard and standard employment. We used the Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2017 to compare working conditions and OSH vulnerabilities of workers with standard and nonstandard employment in five major job categories. Workers with nonstandard employment were older, less educated, had lower monthly incomes, were employed in smaller businesses, worked fewer hours per week, had shorter work durations, and were more likely to report exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards, and musculoskeletal and mental symptoms. Among nonstandard workers, the rates of occupational hazards and work-related health problems depended on the type of work performed. In particular, nonstandard male workers who were unskilled manual workers, older, had less education, and earned low wages had a greater risk of working in unstable occupations, greater exposures to occupational hazards, and more musculoskeletal pain (back pain: odds ratio [OR], 2.4; upper extremity pain: OR, 2.1; and lower extremity pain: OR, 1.7) than those performing other types of work. Male unskilled manual workers with nonstandard employment were most vulnerable to OSH problems. Our findings suggest the need for OSH programs that specifically target nonstandard workers especially those in manual unskilled occupations.

Comparison of occupational health problems of employees and self-employed individuals who work in different fields

We used a representative sample of the working population of Korea to compare the occupational health problems of employees and self-employed individuals who performed different types of work. The Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) of 2014 was used to compare the working conditions and occupational safety and health (OSH) issues of employees and self-employed individuals performing different types of work. Relative to paid employees, self-employed individuals were older, more likely to perceive their health as bad, and had less education, longer working hours, more exposure to workplace ergonomic hazards, more musculoskeletal problems, and poorer mental well-being. Relative to those performing “mental work” or “emotional work”, individuals performing “physical work” were more vulnerable to OSH problems. In conclusion, self-employed individuals in the sample were more vulnerable to OSH problems.

Determinants of Occupational Health and Safety Problems among Seaweed Workers in Takalar Regency

Seaweed industry is one of the most growing marine sector of industry in South Sulawesi. It is generally assumed that, seaweed workers are vulnerable to experience workplace injury and occupational disease. This study aims to explore determinants of occupational safety and health (OSH) problems among seaweed workers in Takalar District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.The research is a quantitative study using cross sectional study design. Questionnaires survey were distributed among 105 seaweed workers from four districts in Takalar Regency. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and Odds Ratio (OR) analysis.The results showed that the main OHS problems among seaweed workers were work injury, work fatigue, and low back pain. Work fatigue was associated with pulse > average, work period > 1 year and duration of sunlight exposure > average. Meanwhile, work injury was associated with being female, work period > 1 year and working > 8 hours. Moreover, type of work such as maintenance, processing and all type of work were associated with low back pain.This study recommends to local government and other stakeholders to conduct interventions based on the findings of this research. A further research is needed to provide a longitudinal database on OSH problems among this subgroup of workers that help decision makers to plan a better and effective intervention.

Self-employed individuals performing different types of work have different occupational safety and health problems.

We assessed the occupational safety and health (OSH) issues of self-employed individuals in Korea. The working conditions and OSH issues in three groups were analyzed using the Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2014. Among self-employed individuals, "Physical work" was more common among males, whereas "Emotional work" was more common among females. Self-employed individuals performing "Mental work" had more education, higher incomes, and the lowest exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace. In contrast, those performing "Physical work" were older, had less education, lower incomes, greater exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace, and more health problems. Individuals performing "Physical work" were most vulnerable to OSH problems. The self-employed are a heterogeneous group of individuals. We suggest development of specific strategies that focus on workers performing "Physical work" to improve the health and safety of self-employed workers in Korea.

Safety and Health Practices in the Food Industry and Ergonomic Interventions

Occupational safety and health (OSH) problems of the food industry have not been generally perceived as a serious issue in the same way as other industries such as healthcare, transportation, mining, and construction sectors. Statistics from various countries show that OSH issues from the food sector have one of the worst records in the manufacturing industries [1,2]. There are also evidences that some OSH aspects in the food industry are getting worse. Despite global economic declines in the recent years, the food and drink businesses have continued to expand in response to the growing worldwide demands for processed foods and drinks [1,2]. In this context of expansion and intensified competition, the food industry has experienced rationalization, restructuring, and a high level of mechanization, in both the industrialized and developing countries [1,2]. As a result, the overall worldwide employment levels in the sector have continued to expand, particularly in the highly capital-intensive drink industry has suffered. Moreover, mechanization has often had the effect of increasing the work volumes and the resulting stress levels of workers, as well as increasing the number of monotonous and repetitive tasks, with a consequent rise in the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Increased automation has also been accompanied by higher noise levels, which has led to more workers suffering from hearing impediments [3]. Other common OSH problems in the food industry arise out of handling sharp cutting tools, exposing dusts in the air, contacting with infected animals, and increasing use of hazardous chemicals [3].

Injured workers in China: Injustice, conflict and social unrest

AbstractCompared to other, developed countries, there has been a disproportionately high level of work‐related accidents and ill health in China over the past decade, resulting in increased conflict and unrest, thereby undermining social stability and social harmony. To investigate how key stakeholders address occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges, the authors interview 25 injured workers from five Chinese provinces about: safety practices at work; potential causes of injury; how the workers were treated – or mistreated – when they were injured; and the compensation process, and present recommendations for addressing OSH problems in China, in order to ensure social justice and social harmony.

Effects of health and safety problem recognition on small business facility investment

ObjectivesThis study involved a survey of the facility investment experiences, which was designed to recognize the importance of health and safety problems, and industrial accident prevention. Ultimately, we hope that small scale industries will create effective industrial accident prevention programs and facility investments.MethodsAn individual survey of businesses’ present physical conditions, recognition of the importance of the health and safety problems, and facility investment experiences for preventing industrial accidents was conducted. The survey involved 1,145 business operators or management workers in small business places with fewer than 50 workers in six industrial complexes.ResultsRegarding the importance of occupational health and safety problems (OHS), 54.1% said it was “very important”. Received technical and financial support, and industrial accidents that occurred during the past three years were recognized as highly important for OHS. In an investigation regarding facility investment experiences for industrial accident prevention, the largest factors were business size, greater numbers of industrial accidents, greater technical and financial support received, and greater recognition of the importance of the OHS. The related variables that decided facility investment for industry accident prevention in a logistic regression analysis were the experiences of business facilities where industrial accidents occurred during the past three years, received technical and financial support, and recognition of the OHS. Those considered very important were shown to be highly significant.ConclusionsRecognition of health and safety issues was higher when small businesses had experienced industrial accidents or received financial support. The investment in industrial accidents was greater when health and safety issues were recognized as important. Therefore, the goal of small business health and safety projects is to prioritize health and safety issues in terms of business management and recognition of importance. Therefore, currently various support projects are being conducted. However, there are issues regarding the limitations of the target businesses and inadequacies in maintenance and follow-up. Overall, it is necessary to provide various incentives for onsite participation that can lead to increased recognition of health and safety issues and practical investments, while perfecting maintenance and follow up measures by thoroughly revising existing operating systems.

Setting Priorities in Occupational Health Research in Vietnam.

To set priorities for occupational health research in Vietnam, the authors developed a questionnaire, using a consensus-conference approach. The questionnaire, which was composed of two parts (five main categories with subgroups), was distributed to 51 specialists in occupational safety and health (OSH) in Vietnam. The responses from 50 persons were analyzed. Among the main categories, the environmental impact of industrial activity was rated the most important, followed by ergonomics and engineering of OSH, incidence/prevalence of work-related diseases and identification of susceptible groups, social impact of industrial activity, and OSH problems of agricultural workers. Among the three problems in the subgroup "environmental impact of industrial activity," individual health effects was considered the most important. These results were evaluated to arrive at an understanding of the actual situation of OSH problems in Vietnam.

An analysis of the Vietnamese system of occupational safety and health and setting priorities with the analytical hierarchy process.

There were two objectives. The first was to describe the Vietnamese system of occupational safety and health (OSH) and its problems. The second was to evaluate priorities among future OSH policies by the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The Vietnamese OSH system was analysed in detail mainly based on various official documents. After the OSH problems in Vietnam were identified through discussions with Vietnamese OSH specialists they were given priorities in five different OSH policies, which were evaluated by the AHP. The OSH system in Vietnam is in theory well organised: the government has established fundamental laws and has organised the OSH administrative system from the central to the grassroots level. However, this system does not work sufficiently well to improve working conditions. According to discussions with Vietnamese OSH specialists, four factors associated with OSH problems in Vietnam were evaluated: shortage of materials and manpower, inadequate OSH information system, inappropriate OSH administrative system, and poor awareness of workers and employers about the OSH problems. Considering the relative importance of these four factors, the priorities within five policies were evaluated by the AHP technique. The results showed that the most important change needed was reorganisation of the OSH administrative system, followed by OSH education for workers and employers, training of personnel in OSH services, improvement of OSH research activity, and the establishment of an adequate OSH information system. It is expected that developed countries will help the Vietnamese government to implement these programmes.