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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN

SAMAN GRINDING MILLS

A Project Report

Prepared By

E.M.K.S Edirisooriya

CC/16/KA/05/13

Course: Certificate Course in Human Resource Management

August 2016

INSTITUTE OF PERSONELL MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKA (INC.)

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Content

Reading Material Page no.

List of illustrations................................................................................................ 3

Acknowledgment................................................................................................. 4

Executive Summery............................................................................................. 5

1. Literature Review.............................................................................................. 6

1.1 Cautions of accidents ............................................................................... 6

1.2 Key elements of Safety & Health management........................................... 7

2. Business Profile.................................................................................................. 10

2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 10

2.2 Vision............................................................................................................ 12

2.3 Mission.......................................................................................................... 12

2.4 Objectives...................................................................................................... 12

2.5 Product line of the organization..................................................................... 14

3. Observation........................................................................................................ 16

3.1 Causes for Accidents.................................................................................... 16

4. Suggestions & Recommendations..................................................................... 18

4.1 Suggestions.................................................................................................. 18

4.2 How to develop an effective occupational health management policy....... 20

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Conclusion............................................................................................................. 22

List of Preferences................................................................................................. 23

List of illustrations

Figure 1.1 Causation of Accidents....................................................................... 6

Figure 2.1 Organization Logo............................................................................... 11

Figure 2.5 Product line of the organization.......................................................... 13

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Acknowledgment

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provided me the possibility

to complete this report. A special gratitude I give to our HRM lecture panel who conduct this

course for their contribution in stimulating suggestions and encouragement.

Furthermore, I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation to Mr. Saman

Yatawara, the owner of the “Saman Grinding Mills”. Special thanks goes to the employees of

the Saman grinding mills who helped me by providing necessary information in friendly

manner.

And also my special wishes and thanks shall always be for those who responded to me and

extended their co-operation in preparing and collecting data by which this project report has

been smoothly conducted.

And also I would like to thank to all my classmates for supporting me in my project work for

their help, support and valuable knowledge

Thank you.

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Executive Summery

A work accident, workplace accident, occupational accident, or accident at work is a

“discrete occurrence in the course of work, which leads to physical or mental harm”.

According to findings about health and safety by the International Labor Organization (ILO),

more than 2.3 million deaths per year die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related

diseases. That is roughly 6,300 people daily. 317 million accidents occur on the job annually;

many of these resulting in extended absences from work. The human cost of this unwanted

trial is huge and the economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is

estimated at 4% of global Gross Domestic Product each year.

Employers and employees need to set goals around health and safety and then work together

as a team to achieve them. Health and safety in the workplace should be at the front of

everyone’s minds. To have a safe workplace, everyone within a company must be involved.

Employees can be encouraged to review their work areas to ensure no hazards are present.

Hazards that they cannot remove or repair should be reported to management. By this report I

have presented some health & safety issues in the selected workplace, “Saman grinding

mills”. I have collected data by using the observational method & here, in this report I have

presented some suggestions &recommendations to overcome those hazards.

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1.Literature Review

Human resources professionals are assuming health, safety, and security responsibilities

within organizations. Such responsibilities include the identification of hazardous conditions

and practices, exposure control and mitigation strategies, legal compliance, development of a

safety culture, and measurement of health, safety and security program effectiveness.

Occupational health and safety is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the

safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of all

occupational health and safety programs is to foster a safe work environment. As a secondary

effect, it may also protect co-workers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers,

nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace

environment. It may involve interactions among many subject areas, including occupational

medicine, occupational (or industrial) hygiene, public health, and safety engineering,

chemistry, and health physics.

1.1 Causation of Accidents

Figure 1.1

Accidents

Unsafe Acts

Inproper training

Unsafe procedures

Stress

Unsafe work Enviorment

Unsafe machine

Unsafe Pysical enviorment

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1.2 Key elements of Safety & Health management.

The key elements of a successful safety and health management system are as follows. The

manner and extent to which the individual elements will be applied will depend on factors

such as size of the organization, its management structure, the nature of its activities, and the

risks involved.

1. Policy & commitment

Effective safety and health policies should set a clear direction for the organization to follow.

They will contribute to all aspects of business performance as part of a demonstrable

commitment to continuous improvement. Responsibilities to people and the working

environment will be met in a way that fulfils the spirit and letter of the law. Cost-effective

approaches to preserving and developing human and physical resources will reduce financial

losses and liabilities. In a wider context, stakeholders’ expectations, whether they are

shareholders, employees or their representatives, customers or society at large, can be met.

2. Planning

The organization should formulate a plan to fulfill its safety and health policy as set out in the

Safety Statement. An effective management structure and arrangements should be put in

place for delivering the policy. Safety and health objectives and targets should be set for all

managers and employees.

3. Implementation & Operation

For effective implementation, the organization should develop the capabilities and support

mechanisms necessary to achieve its safety and health policy, objectives and targets. All staff

should be motivated and empowered to work safely and to protect their long-term health, not

simply to avoid accidents. There should be a planned and systematic approach to

implementing the safety and health policy through an effective safety and health management

system. The aim should be to minimize risks. Risk assessment methods should be used to

determine 8 “Workplace safety & health management” priorities and set objectives for

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eliminating hazards and reducing risks. Wherever possible, risks should be eliminated

through the selection and design of facilities, equipment and processes. If risks cannot be

eliminated, they should be minimized by the use of physical controls and safe systems of

work or, as a last resort, through the provision of personal protective equipment. Performance

standards should be established and used for measuring achievement. Specific actions to

promote a positive safety and health culture should be identified. There should be a shared

common understanding of the organization’s vision, values and beliefs. The visible and active

leadership of senior managers fosters a positive safety and health culture.

4. Measuring Performance

The organization should measure, monitor and evaluate its safety and health performance.

Performance can be measured against agreed standards to reveal when and where

improvement is needed. Active self-monitoring reveals how effectively the health and safety

management system is functioning. Self-monitoring looks at both hardware (premises, plant

and substances) and software (people, procedures and systems, including individual behavior

and performance). If controls fail, reactive monitoring should find out why they failed, by

investigating the accidents, ill-health or incidents that could have caused harm or loss. The

objectives of active and reactive monitoring are:

• To determine the immediate causes of substandard performance;

• To identify any underlying causes and implications for the design and operation of the

safety and health management system. Longer-term objectives should also be monitored.

5. Auditing &reviewing performance

The organization should review and improve its safety and health management system

continuously, so that it’s overall safety and health performance improves constantly. The

organization can learn from relevant experience and apply the lessons. There should be a

systematic review of performance based on data from monitoring and from independent

audits of the whole safety and health management system. There should be a strong

commitment to continuous improvement involving the development of policies, systems and

techniques of risk control. Performance should be assessed by:

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• Internal reference to key performance indicators;

• External comparison with the performance of business competitors and best practice in the

organization’s employment sector.

Workers in this industry are exposed to a wide range of hazards which include the

following:

Same level falls which are often caused by slippery conditions can result in sprains

and strains

Exposure to sharp instruments such as knives

Lifting, repetitive work and work posture injuries. Workers in this industry can be

exposed to heavy manual lifting and repetitive work, as well as poor work posture

which is often resulting from in adequate workspace and poor design of the process

flow

Exposure to noise

Exposure to biological hazards - exposure to biological and microbiological agents

may be associated with inhalation and ingestion of dust as well as working in high

levels of humidity. This dust may be from ingredients used during processing and the

high levels of humidity may cause skin irritations

Exposure to chemical hazards - exposure may be from chemical handling activities

which may include cleaning operations and disinfection of process areas.

Exposure to heat and cold. This industry can create changing temperature conditions

from activities such as heat treatment, chilling and freezing. Workers may be exposed

to heat during pasteurization and canning processes and exposed to cold conditions in

refrigerated areas

Work in confined spaces. Some examples in this industry are: storage tanks and bins,

pits and sumps, fuel tanks, grape presses and crushers, fermentation tanks and vessels.

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2. Business Profile.

2.1Introduction

Saman Grinding Mills

Saman Grinding Mills, Manufacturers & exporters of Value Added quality ground spices,

condiments, flour products, essential and oils. Established in 1981 in Kandy. What began in

the form of a small but thriving business as Saman Grinding Mills, almost three decades ago

in 1981.The story of Saman Foods, although simple to recite, is a story in which its founder

Mr. Padmasiri Yatawara, perpetually renders his utmost determination and dedication with a

vision of bringing it up to the highest quality levels in the area of edible products in Sri

Lankan market. Over the years, Saman Foods has continually transformed itself in order to

provide the quality goods that its customers depend on. Throughout, Saman Foods has

remained true to its vision to serve the best according to demand. The business will always be

known as a quality assured manufacturer of regular Sri Lankan food products, where every

employee takes pride in what they do and where the customer always comes first.

Mr.Padmasiri Yatawara passed away in 2007 & currently the business operates by his son,

Mr.Saman Yatawara. He has both theoretical & practical knowledge of business. He won the

gold award for the “Best Business Personality of the Year” in 2012 at the Annual award

ceremony of the Central Provinces’ Business Association.

There are 98 employees are working in Saman Grinding Mills. The factory is situated in

Kadugannwa area. They produce various range of products such as Chili Pieces, black Pepper

Seed, Condiments, Curry Powder, Flour Products, Ground Spices, Oleoresins, Packed Flour

Products, Vinegar, Coffee, Pepper Powder, Roasted Curry Powder, Turmeric Powder &

White Pepper Powder. Currently the “Saman Foods” has become a well-known brand among

customers.

This grinding mill has arranged its daily operations in a very cost effective manner. All work

relating to the mill is completed in the morning, while customers’ orders are collected right

through the morning. Customers’ orders are filled into machines only in the afternoon.

Operating with four large machines, generally chilly powder, roasted and unroasted curry

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powders are milled in one machine; of course separately and after the residue of the earlier

mixture are wiped clean off the machine. Varieties of flours are also milled in separate

machines, which naturally makes the term ‘grinding mill’ quite generic.

Grinding mills of the day have become efficient with newest machinery operating on

electricity and quicker in completing the process. Still some of them, like this grinding mill,

retain the old manually operated weighing scales that use large metal plates with different

weights engraved on them. How the weight is determined is quite unimaginable. But of

course one is made to believe that experience may have made the workers masters in their

trade.

Figure 2.1

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2.2 Mission

"We strive to constantly generate excellent quality products that meet our highly valued

customers' satisfaction through the commitment of our extremely motivated staff".

2.3 Vision

"To preserve our position as one of the leading Grinding Mill in the Sri Lanka by producing

high quality products for a healthier community.”

2.4 Objectives

Since our company's inception, our primary goal was and shall always be the satisfaction of

our customers who are treated as partners. The company faced several obstacles that were

promptly overcome thanks to its human resources' know-how, competency, loyalty, and

perseverance on constantly moving a step further towards a promising future.

In the aim of having this goal constantly guiding its operations, the organization:

Applies the provisions of the ISO 9001:2000 International Standard

Monitors and improves customer satisfaction

Provides a safe environment for employees

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Produces High Quality Flour & Spice that meets customers' requirements

Keeps its work areas clean under high standards

Implements the latest in production trends and improves them through modern technology.

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2.5 Product line of the organization

Ground Spices

Chilly Pieces, Chilly Powder, Curry Powder, Fish Curry Mix, Black Pepper Powder/ White

Pepper powder, Roasted Chilly Powder, Turmeric Powder

Whole Spices

Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Goraka, Mustard Seeds, Cummin Seeds

Flour Products

1. Gram Flour, Kurakkan Flour, String hopper Flour, Undu Flour, Red Rice Flour

Bottled Products

1. Vinegar

Food Products

Ground Spices

Whole Spices

Flour Products

Botteld Products

Traditional Products

Assorted Foods

Figure 2.5

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Traditional Products

1. Coffee

Assorted Foods

Sago, Chicken Soya meat, Curry Soya meat, Rice Noodles

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3. Observation

Safety and health principles are universal, but how much action is needed will depend on the

size of the organization, the hazards presented by its activities, the physical characteristics of

the organization, products or services, and the adequacy of its existing arrangements. To

identify the applicability of Occupational health and safety management concept I used

observation method. After visiting the factory premises in Kadugannawa, I have identified

same health & safety issues there.

As a food manufacturing business, Saman grinding mills operates a factory in Kadugannawa

area recently. There are 98 employees are working in that factory. To maintain the high

quality of their products Saman grinding mills using high quality machinery in production

process. But some of those machinery is open for safety issues. Not only the machinery, I

have identified some environmental factors that cause for employees’ health and safety.

3.1 Causes for Accidents.

1. Exposure to noise

Some operations such as the canning, bottling, and the use of conveyors because workers are

exposing to excessive noise levels.

2. Exposure to dust

In grinding process employees are exposing to dust. Dust cause for various health issues such

as Occupational asthma. The main cause for asthma is inhalation of dust from grain and flour.

3. Chemical hazards

In vinegar production process, workers are exposing to chemicals such as citric acid. When

employees expose to those chemicals for long term it causes for some health issues such as

skin irritation, disfiguring burns and eye injuries.

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4. Cuttings from sharp tools

As the initial step in turmeric preparation process workers, have to clean the raw turmeric by

using sharp knives. There some of workers expose to cuttings in their hands.

5. Work related Stress

Work patterns with work schedule and shift work, and job insecurity regarding future

employment are some reasons for the work related stress in this organization.

6. Accidents due to Machinery

Screw conveyors, rotary valves, roller mills, mixers (mostly during maintenance, cleaning,

refilling etc.)

7. Slips and trips

More prominent than usual, due to obstructions and uneven floors.

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4. Suggestions & recommendations.

4.1 Suggestions

After identifying the occupational health & safety hazards of the organization, here I suggest

some steps to prevent & reduce those hazards. They are,

1. Exposure to noise

Suggestions:

Engineering control measures should be used to reduce the noise levels, and

personal protection should be emphasized.

Improving maintenance procedures – good maintenance can reduce noise from

friction and moving parts.

Using sound absorbing materials to reduce reflection of sound within buildings.

Provide hearing protection to everyone exposed, and ensure it is used.

Provide information, instruction and training on how to use and take care of hearing

protection.

2. Exposure to dust

Suggestions:

Provide personal protective equipments such as masks & respirators to employees who

expose to dust.

3. Chemical hazards

Suggestions:

Train employees to handle the chemicals appropriately.

Provide safety gloves & masks to employees who expose to chemicals.

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4. Cuttings from sharp tools

Suggestions:

Provide workers with gloves that will protect them from knife cuts.

5. Work related Stress

Suggestions:

Provide ‘Day care” facility for the employees’ children.

Arrange some entertaining activities such as trips & new year festivals for employees.

Provide counseling programmers for needed employees

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6. Accidents due to Machinery

Suggestions:

Provide proper training for employees who expose to machinery.

Provide employees with safety clothes.

7. Slips and trips

Suggestions:

Maintain walkways and working surfaces to be clean and dry by preventing spillages

during operation.

Providing workers with anti-slip footwear.

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4.2 How to develop an effective occupational health management

policy?

There are a number of factors to consider when developing an effective occupational

health management policy.

1. Prevention

Employer should have a legal and moral obligation to do whatever is humanly possible to

safeguard the health of his/her workers. To do this, employer has to identify the possible

causes of the ill health. In most cases, the causes are obvious; the presence of heavy

machinery, dust and noise. It is important to determine not only who is exposed to these risks,

but also to what degree they are exposed and what the consequences could be. Measures must

then be put in place to mitigate every risk.

2. Monitoring sickness absence

Information obtained from tightly-managed attendance can be very useful in spotting possible

work-related health problems. If there are certain jobs or parts of the workplace where

absence is higher, this may be an indication of a problem. For example, high incidences of

back pain may be associated with certain types of work.

3. Listening to the workers

A lot of information can be gained from the employees themselves. Workers may be reluctant

to admit to health problems if they think it might damage their job prospects or if the

information is sensitive. However, to ensure an honest response there are a number of ways

of collecting their opinions confidentially.

I suggest that there should be one employee safety representative for employees. The

representative can take responsibility for gathering and communicating this information.

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4. Managing the risk

Where possible, removing the hazard is the best option. Relying on being protected by

protective clothing and equipment should normally be a last resort.

5. Responsibilities of employees

Workers must take responsibility over their own health and safety at work by following all

health and safety rules and precautions. They must report any unsafe circumstances or

accidents as soon as possible, to the safety representative. Anyone who acts in a reckless way

or damages any safety measures, especially if he does this on purpose, can be sued by the

employer.

6. Rehabilitation

Even if everything possible is being done to prevent healthy and safety risks at work, there

will be occasions where someone does become ill. The initial cause of their health problem

may not be work related, but the consequences still need to be managed.

It’s possible that someone might develop backache or a stress-related illness outside of work,

but if they work in a job that involves heavy lifting or that is very intensive, there is a real

chance that their condition will get worse and turn it into something more serious. This could

mean that the person can longer perform his duties. In this case employer can provide

counseling programmers for those employees to overcome those illnesses.

7. Assessing occupational health needs

An assessment of risk can identify the main activities and situations likely to be harmful to

health so employer can then decide how to meet these occupational health needs in his/her

organization. Often, the process of managing occupational health only requires good

communication between employer and workers.

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Conclusion

A healthy workplace is an environment where health risks are recognized and controlled if

they cannot be removed. In a healthy workplace, the work is designed to be compatible with

people’s health needs and limitations, and employees and employers recognize the

responsibility they bear for their own health and the health of their colleagues.

Accidents are costly to the individuals, families, their organizations and the nation as a

whole. Creating a healthy and safe workplace is therefore crucial. For this reason,

occupational health and safety is important to everyone. Employers and workers should help

each other to prevent accidents. Accident prevention starts with effective internal

responsibility system for occupational health and safety.

After observing the working environment of Saman Grinding mills, I have identified some

occupational health & safety issues that face by the employees. Some hazards can be totally

removed & some are can control to a certain level. In that process both parties (employee &

employer) should be responsible. I n this report I have presented some suggestions &

recommendations to overcome those identified issues.

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List of References

1. Journals

Journal of Health and Safety Research & Practice by Dr. Steve Cowley FSIA

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics by Central Institute for

Labor Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB)

2. Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_safety_and_health

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/en/osh/intro/inmain.htm

http://www.safeatwork.org.au/about-us/what-ohs

http://www.rospa.com/occupational-safety/advice/small-firms/pack/why-important/