Survey on occupational health and safety management systems application

Abstract

In Sri Lanka about 45 deaths and about 3500 serious injuries as a result of occupational accidents are reported annually from factories. However, it should be noted that there is severe under reporting of accidents from factories. The Colombo Accident Service alone has about 70 to 80 cases of occupational injuries daily of which about 6 need admission. Occupational accidents and disease are costly to the enterprise in additional to the suffering and personal loss caused to the victim and his family. Therfore, Occupational Health and Safety(OH&S) issues of about 35 various industries in Sri Lanka were taken for the analysis. For this purpose the British Standards BS 8800:1996- Guide to Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems and OHSAS18001:1999-Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems- Specification were used.

The investigation included discussion with Industrial personnels and OH&S Assessment Questionnaire was applied to the Industries. An underlying and more serious problem of low labour productivity, absenteeism due to illness, accidents, injuries etc. and any insurance/medical/compensation paid due to illness, injuries, accidents, deaths etc.are coupled with 16 core elements of OH&S of BS 8800 were applied in the study.Conclusions indicated an unsatisfactory level of OH&S applications are evident in Sri Lankan Industries.

Recommendations included in this project report is that the establishment, documentation, implementation and certification against the BS 8800 way of Managing Safety would provide a hazard free and reasonably comfortable work place, lead to enhance worker efficiency and therfore, the productivity. In the concept of Total Quality Management the man and his health also is vitally important. Therefore, good OH&S practice would enhance the quality of the product as well.