Piia Tint

Hazard profile in manufacturing: Determination of risk levels towards enhancing the workplace safety

This study focuses on occupational hazards and the determination of risk levels derived from them. Indoor climate, noise, and dust are examined. An approach with numerical criteria is offered to assess these occupational hazards in manufacturing using a simple/flexible risk assessment method. Practical examples and the results of measurements of occupational hazards in five industries (mechanical, printing, wood, plastic and clothing industries) in Estonia are presented. Noise, as the most obvious health hazard, is analysed in depth, and the risk for noise‐induced hearing loss is estimated. The overall purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the importance of measurements of occupational hazards in industry and to act as a reminder of a number of issues of practical relevance to effective workplace risk assessment from which employees, employers, occupational hygienists and physicians as well as authorities can benefit today and in the future. Santrauka Analizuojami profesiniai pavojai, kuriems gresiant būtina nustatyti rizikos lygį. Tirtas darbo aplinkos mikroklimatas, apsvieta, triuksmas ir dulkėtumo lygis. Profesiniams pavojams gamyboje įvertinti siūlomas paprastas ir lankstus rizikos vertinimo metodas, pagrįstas skaitiniais kriterijais. Pateikiami penkių Estijos pramonės sakų (masinų apdirbimo, spaudos, medienos, plastmasės ir tekstilės) tyrimo siuo požiūriu rezultatai ir praktiniai pavyzdžiai. Kaip akivaizdžiausias pavojus sveikatai placiai analizuojamas triuksmas, įvertinama klausos praradimo rizika. Straipsnio tikslas – atkreipti dėmesį, kaip svarbu pramonėje nustatyti profesine riziką ir priminti apie kelis svarbius praktinius aspektus, kad darbo rizikos vertinimas būtų efektyvus ir padėtų darbuotojams, darbdaviams, darbo vietos higienos specialistams, gydytojams bei sprendimų priėmėjams. Резюме Проанализирована профессиональная опасность для здоровья людей, работающих на промышленных предприятиях, и определен уровень риска. Исследован микроклимат, освещение, уровень шума и пыльность на предприятиях. Для оценки профессионального риска для здоровья людей предложено применение простого (гибкого) метода, основанного на численных критериях. Исследованы пять отраслей промышленности Эстонии (машиностроительная, печатная, деревообрабатывающая, пластмассовая и текстильная), приведены результаты и практические примеры. Наиболее широко исследовано воздействие шума на здоровье людей, оценен риск потери слуха из-за шума. Целью статьи было обратить внимание на необходимость оценки профессионального риска на промышленных предприятиях, выявить несколько важных практических аспектов эффективной оценки риска и предложить их работникам, работодателям, специалистам по гигиене рабочих мест, врачам и специалистам, принимающим решения. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010 Ключевые слова: правовое регулирование профессиональной безопасности и здоровья, лабораторные условия, рабочая обстановка, профессиональный риск, оценка риска, уровни риска. Reiksminiai žodžiai: teisinis profesinio saugumo ir sveikatingumo reguliavimas, laboratorinės sąlygos, darbo aplinka, profesinė rizika, rizikos vertinimas, rizikos lygiai.

THE FORMATION OF A GOOD SAFETY CULTURE AT ENTERPRISE

The aim of the study is to show innovative possibilities for improvement of safety culture at enterprises through complex approach to occupational health and safety (OH&S). The knowledge of the leadership and workers in OH&S is not sufficient at present in Estonia, particularly in small and medium‐sized enterprises (the number is 60 000). The small (up to 50 workers) or medium‐sized enterprises (up to 150 workers) have no possibility to hire the working environment specialist who would deal only with OH&S problems. Usually obligations in the field of OH&S in small and medium‐sized enterprises are delegated to one employee in addition to other responsibilities related to personnel, security, fire protection and environmental problems. Therefore, the complex approach to management of OH&S issues is needed in order to create a good safety culture and to achieve positive results in company safety performance. The complex method consists of risk assessment and determination of safety level. The authors offer possible tools ‐ simple computer applications which are available for managers, interviews with employers, employees and occupational health specialists for development and dissemination of safety culture. The opinion of workers and occupational health specialists has been taken into consideration in the planning of improvements of working conditions by the employers. The economic issues of safety and health improvement measures are presented.

Innovations at Workplace: An Evidence-Based Model for Safety Management

Safety culture is a sub-unit of organisational culture, which affects members’ attitudes and behaviour in relation to organisation’s ongoing health and safety performance. Many companies want to enhance their safety culture or some aspect of safety behaviour trying to find the effective way forward. Safety culture in small and medium-scale (SMEs) enterprises has received very little attention in Estonia. Estimates suggest that these enterprises have serious problems aggravated by limited access to human, economic, technological resources as well as lack of relevant occupational health and safety (OH&S) knowledge. The current paper commences with a discussion on the Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture and different perspectives on a framework espoused by Cooper (1999). The concept of safety culture and knowledge management is also discussed. Authors present supplemented Cooper’s Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture with Knowledge Management System Dimensions. The exploratory study based on workplace visits and interviews with owner-managers of SMEs manufacturing enterprises gives an overview of the most characteristic oH&S representations and practices. An overview of the current Estonian OH&S system is also presented based on occupational health (OH) physicians’ questionnaire surveys conducted in 2002 and 2009. The study suggests that there is need for discussion and improvement of collaboration between employers and OH professionals in order to strengthen knowledge management and infrastructure as well as safety culture at the Estonian enterprises. Competence and expertise in work and health topics is the foundation for the added value of OH professionals to the health of working population.

Risk Observatory—A Tool for Improving Safety and Health at the Workplace

The main problems in occupational health and safety (OHS) system in Estonia (a postcommunist new European Union Member State) are analyzed and the implementation of a simple, flexible risk assessment method is presented. The study aimed to assess the working environment, the employers’ possibilities and willingness to carry out risk assessment, ways to manage risks and the steps being taken towards progressive improvement in OHS. The role of the Estonian Labour Inspectorate in the risk observatory is that of the main key authority in data collection and information dissemination in OHS.

Risk Assessment in the Working Environment in Estonia.

The first step to chart hazards in the working environment in Estonia (labour force: 0.65 million) was taken by the National Board of Health Protection in the beginning of 1996. The existing chemical, physical, and biological agents in the working environment were investigated with the help of local health inspectors in all counties. An identification of hazards and workers at risk was carried out. The results of the analysis showed that 16% of Estonian industrial workers are exposed to different hazards: 20,000 persons are exposed to noise, 11,000 are working in the conditions of vibration, 10,000 are affected by unsatisfactory microclimate, 6,000 complain about long-lasting work in a compulsory posture, the overexertion of eyes is suffered by 5,500 persons, and physical overload by 3,500 workers. In the group of chemical hazards the greatest numbers of workers are exposed to organic dust (6,500) and welding aerosols (5,400), followed by petroleum products (2,700), and oil-shale dust (4,300). The measurements of working conditions showed that an average of 30.3% of the results are above the standards. Proposals for the improvement of the situation in occupational safety and health are presented.

Formal Safety versus Real Safety: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Safety Culture – Evidence from Estonia

Abstract This paper examines differences between formal safety and real safety in Estonian small and medium-sized enterprises. The results reveal key issues in safety culture assessment. Statistical analysis of safety culture questionnaires showed many organisations with an outstanding safety culture and positive safety attitudes. However, qualitative data indicated some important safety weaknesses and aspects that should be included in the process of evaluation of safety culture in organisations.

A Simple and Flexible Risk Assessment Method in the Work Environment

The existing risk assessment models in the work environment (on the basis of Standard No. BS 8800:1996; British Standards Institution, 1996) contain the need to determine the probability of the occurrence and the severity of consequences of the influence of hazardous factors on the worker. The determination of the probabilities of the influence of hazards (noise, vibration, chemicals, etc.) is complicated. The authors of this article have developed a simple risk assessment method that does not contain the probabilities. The method is based on a 2-step model that could be enlarged into a 6-step model. The implementation possibilities of the model are presented. The existing norms in the work environment in Estonia were analysed and the safety level of a wood-processing factory was determined.

Intermediate and low radiofrequency electromagnetic field transmission properties in case of common building materials

Controlling exposure to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may serve many causes: to protect sensitive electronic equipment from outside interference; to protect the environment from the high radiation generating equipment; to protect humans from excess radiation etc. Strong EMFs may be encountered in public domain but especially in occupational settings, where the process and technology of work requires the EMFs. Technical measures to manage risks may include using construction materials. In this study the intermediate and low radiofrequency transmission characteristics in case of building materials were investigated. The measurements are called for to determine the amplitude of the electric and magnetic field at the close proximity to the material. A set of common building materials was selected, widely used in modern constructions. The included materials can broadly be divided into three groups: load bearing materials, thermal insulation materials and cover materials. Altogether 17 building materials were tested, forming an overview of some most common materials in construction of houses. The testing was done at 2, 20 and 200 kHz frequencies. The measurement point was in close proximity (10mm) to the material under testing. The electromagnetic irradiator point was on the other side of the material, 150 mm from the measurement sensor. Somewhat frequency dependent variation in the amplification could be observed only in few cases: gypsum panel, aerated concrete, LECA, gypsum board and solid wood. The highest electric field amplification was measured for some materials, up to 5.6 dB increase: custom made gypsum panel, aerated concrete, LECA, gypsum board, high performance concrete plate, solid wood. The results show for the selected samples that semiconductive materials which cannot be grounded due to the high resistance, electric fields may be amplified several folds in close proximity to the material.

Voluntary Safety Management System in the Manufacturing Industry – To What Extent does OHSAS 18001 Certification Help?

Abstract Occupational risk prevention can be managed in several ways. Voluntary safety management standard OHSAS 18001 is a tool, which is considered to give contribution in effective risk management in the manufacturing industry. The current paper examines the benefits of OHSAS 18001 based on the statistical analysis. MISHA method is used for safety audit in 16 Estonian enterprises. The results demonstrate the objectives why companies implement or are willing to implement OHSAS 18001, bring out differences in safety activities for 3 types of companies and determine correlations among different safety activity areas. The information is valuable for enterprises that are willing to improve their safety activities via a voluntary safety management system.

Employee Performance, Working Time and Tiredness in Creative R&D Jobs: Employee Survey from Estonia

Optimal use of the intellectual resources of R&D employees is a significant success factor for achieving innovation and socio-economic development. Statutory and company level regulation of working time, including the durations and timing of a working day and a working week, remains a common feature in many countries, and these rules often apply, among others, to creative R&D employees. Our study seeks to investigate the relationships between the drivers and outcomes of creative R&D employees’ work performance with particular focus on working time arrangement and the related tiredness, workability, work satisfaction and creativity issues. Our survey covers a sample of 160 creative R&D employees in Estonia. This conference proceedings paper gives an overview of some aspects of the first phase of our survey, while the more detailed results will be published in separate papers. Our findings include that 79% of the surveyed employees would prefer to work under a different working schedule compared to the standard 5-day working week, and 81% would prefer to have a daily schedule with an irregular start and/or end time of the working day. Emotional tiredness, sleepiness, low salary and inefficient time use are seen as major obstacles to achieving creative work results.