Improving Workplace Safety through OHS Reflective Paper Answer

Abstract

Anyone interested in a job managing workplace safety should complete an MSc in Occupational Health and Safety program. I have a thorough understanding of occupational health and safety concepts and procedures after completing this program, covering risk assessment and hazard identification, management of safety and health at work, ergonomics as industrial hygiene, and workplace security instruction and instruction. I have gained the interest in the field because I want to have a positive influence on the world; I am driven to seek a career in occupational health and safety. I may enhance the quality of life for employees and their families while also enhancing the general health and well-being of society by improving workplace safety and reducing illnesses and injuries. Due to my own personal experience with working injuries or illnesses, I have developed an interest in occupational health and safety. I wish to help stop such incidents from happening in the future because I may have personally witnessed the negative effects that occupational dangers can have on people and communities. In this reflective journal I have taken a scenario of my personal experience, and from that experience I have written the reflection on this paper. That incident has helped me to analyze the situation very well.

Description

I am a student who is pursuing MSc .occupational health and safety for my future career. In this section I will take up an incident that occurred with me in my workplace. The incident occurred when I was working as an assistant in an industry that manufactures oil and gas while I was working in the Middle East. One day my superior in charge asked m colleague to lift up heavy machinery with a forklift and place a machine on the other side of the furnace. I was to observe the situation as I would be given this responsibility next time. The employee who was given the duty of shifting the machine was experienced and had worked in the factory for 18 years. Along with that he had enough knowledge and training on how to operate the forklift which gave him the confidence to continue without the PPE. But disaster struck as he began to operate the machinery. When the employee was transporting the machinery, he accidentally bumped into the nearby shelves that were not secured in a proper way. As a result, the shelves collapsed and several of the heavy objects that were on the shelves fell on the forklift as well as on the employee. The operation was immediately stopped by my supervisor and we rushed to save the employee. The employee had suffered from several injuries and had seriously injured his left hand which was broken. He was immediately taken to the hospital and was admitted.

Feelings

From the above scenario I have learnt a lot of things that had encouraged me to take my studies on occupational health and safety to another level. From the MSc .occupational health and safety I have learned how to identify the workplace hazards as well as how to assess the risk of safety. I have gained knowledge on how to create and put into practice efficient occupational health and safety management systems (Safeopedia, 2020). Understanding the essential elements of a management system, such as policies, processes, training, monitoring, and evaluation, has been necessary for this. By reflecting on this incident I have learnt that checking the equipments and inspecting them before their operation is a must when it comes to operating heavy machinery in industrial scenario. I feel that this situation has increased my curiosity about OHS maintenance in the organizations. I have learned from the above scenario, it is obvious that occupational health and safety is an important component of any workplace where there is a risk of harm or injury to employees (Training, 2020). If sufficient safety measures are not in place, using heavy machinery in a production plant can pose serious risks to workers.

Therefore, it is crucial for companies to act proactively to safeguard the security and wellbeing of their workforce. I have also learned that in this situation, training is a crucial component of occupational health and safety. Workers must receive thorough instruction from their employers on how to handle heavy equipment safely and how to act in an emergency. Workers may not be aware of the risks connected to their jobs or may not know how to respond in an emergency without the right training (Britsafe, 2019). Serious harm or even death could result from this. According to my opinion which I have learned, in this situation, the deployment of safety barriers and guards is a crucial component of occupational health and safety.

Evaluation

There are several hazards already present in the industrial areas and checking and confirming the stability of the equipments can help in the reduction of the risks that are posed. If the shelving units had been properly secured and proper checking was done before putting on the employee in the forklift, the accident could have been avoided. Along with that if steps were taken to make sure that all of the machinery and storage units were in good working order, the incident might have been prevented (Correll, 2021). Secondly, I also feel that the presence of personal protective equipment could have changed the situation and could have protected the employee from sustaining several injuries. To reduce the danger of injury in this situation, the employee might have received personal protective equipment like a hard hat or safety vest. I think that it was the duty of the supervisor to enforce the laws of safety even though the employee was experienced.

Analysis

There are several hazards already present in the industrial areas and checking and confirming the stability of the equipments can help in the reduction of the risks that are posed. If the shelving units had been properly secured and proper checking was done before putting on the employee in the forklift, the accident could have been avoided. Along with that if steps were taken to make sure that all of the machinery and storage units were in good working order, the incident might have been prevented (Segbenya and Yeboah, 2022). Secondly, I also feel that the presence of personal protective equipment could have changed the situation and could have protected the employee from sustaining several injuries. To reduce the danger of injury in this situation, the employee might have received personal protective equipment like a hard hat or safety vest. I think that it was the duty of the supervisor to enforce the laws of safety even though the employee was experienced. I also feel that overconfidence was another issue in this scenario. The worker was trained in the correct techniques for using the equipment and had expertise operating forklifts (Azil and Jabar, 2022). This emphasizes how crucial it is to guarantee that workers have the necessary education and experience before giving them the responsibility of operating heavy equipment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I feel that occupational health and safety is an important consideration when it comes to industrial construction. I feel that this incident had helped me in understanding the importance of OHS in industrial sector.

Action plan

For this part of the reflection, I will taken up the action plan for improving my OHS skills by taking up further studies in OHS to improve y professional growth.

References

Azil, N. A. S., & Jabar, I. L. (2022, October 1). A Review on Issues Confronted By Safety Team In Managing Safety Practices At Malaysian Construction Industry. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1067(1), 012059. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1067/1/012059

Britsafe (2019) British Safety Council, Safety Training & Certification. Available at: https://www.britsafe.org/training-and-learning/find-the-right-course-for-you/informational-resources/what-is-occupational-health-and-safety-british-safety-council/ (Accessed: 10 May 2023).

Correll, R. (2021) What is Occupational Health and safety?, Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-occupational-health-and-safety-4159865 (Accessed: 10 May 2023).

Safeopedia (2020) What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)? - definition from Safeopedia, safeopedia.com. Available at: https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/439/occupational-health-and-safety-ohs (Accessed: 10 May 2023).

Segbenya, M., & Yeboah, E. (2022, January). Effect of Occupational Health and Safety on Employee Performance in the Ghanaian Construction Sector. Environmental Health Insights, 16, 117863022211372. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221137222

Training (2020) Introduction to occupational health and safety. Available at: https://training.itcilo.org/actrav_cdrom2/en/osh/intro/inmain.htm (Accessed: 10 May 2023).

Professional Conduct and Professional Practice (Week 2 and 3)

Abstract

In order to ensure the health and safety of employees in a variety of businesses, professional conduct and professional practice in occupational health and safety are essential. The importance of professional development in advancing professional behavior and practice in OHS is examined in this abstract. It emphasizes the effects of increased knowledge and competence, moral principles and conduct codes, networking and collaboration, specialization and certification, ongoing professional growth, and advocacy and leadership. Professional development in OHS gives professionals the skills and information they need to effectively manage workplace safety issues. They are better able to handle rules and industry norms thanks to ongoing education, training courses, and access to best practices and growing research. Guidelines for appropriate behavior, honesty, and moral judgment are provided by the ethical standards including codes of conduct that are unique to OHS professionals. In this study I have discussed the personal indecent of my life which is based on professional growth and learning. That scenario has helped me to done the detailed analysis of the professional growth and based on that situation in this study I have discussed the personal feelings and in that I have discussed that what I have learned and then I have also done the evaluation and the analysis.

Description

While I was working in the Middle East in oilrig construction, I was employed as an new occupational health and safety (OHS) professional. My role was to ensure that the employees and the organization complied with the safety regulations, conducting risk assessments, providing safety training to workers, and promoting a culture of safety within the organization. One day, I had received a report that there was a violation of safety protocols from one of the construction sites. According to the report, a number of workers have reportedly been seen evading safety measures and entering prohibited locations without the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). I understood the significance of the situation and viewed the CCTV camera for proof (Correll, 2023). After I had confirmed that there are violations, I took the following steps. I called for an emergency meeting with the workers who were involved in the incident. I explained them the importance of using PPE and the serious consequences that could have been faced by the employees. I had also documented that incident by including the time and the occurrence of the incident. I had also recognized the need for continuous improvements and evaluated the whole situation.

Feelings

I feel that I have learned many things from the above situation and also the professional conduct and professional practice in OHS has helped me to learn the new things, this has helped me to gain the knowledge about taking the responsibility. As an OHS practitioner, I frequently experience a strong sense of obligation to protect worker safety. I'm aware of the potential repercussions of not abiding by professional standards, and this motivates them to put safety first in all facets of their work. I am aware of their moral duties to their clients' businesses and employees (Magalhães et al., 2022). I believe it is my responsibility to act morally and in the interests of everyone involved, making sure that safety procedures are followed that workplace dangers are kept to a minimum. This field has helped me in my continuous improvement. I have also learned the significance of addressing the issue professionally and promptly. At that situation this professional practice helped me to take the interviews of the workers and also gave me the idea to check the CCTV footage to know the actual incident.

Evaluation

I feel that from the above situation I have demonstrated professional conduct and professional practice in maintaining occupational health and safety in the organization. I think that I had remained objective in the situation. I feel that instead of enforcing the rules on the employees, a meeting with them had helped them in understanding the importance of following OHS protocols in such a high injury prone situation. I have gathered evidence before jumping to conclusion as this is very necessary before implicating someone (Tajuddin, 2022). I think that I also communicating effectively with the employees who had violated the safety protocols in the hope that the conversation would instill a sense of safety and security in them. Along with that I had documented the situation which I feel is important as this will help in the process of continuous development. I have prioritized education, documentation and safety practices in order to monitor the progress and identifying the areas of improvement. I feel that with the help of these methods I have been able to create a compliant work environment.

Analysis

As an OHS expert, I showed rapid action in response to the documented safety infractions. In order to handle possible hazards and avoid accidents or injuries, quick action is essential. Interviews, a review of the CCTV footage, and site visits helped me compile solid evidence for my thorough inquiry (Yanti, 2022). This thorough method makes sure that choices and actions are based on reliable information, resulting in interventions that are beneficial. I observed the importance of educating people and communicating clearly in order to address the safety issues. Professional conduct and ethics are required for the implementation of the OHS practices (Hardy, 2016). The regulation of the OHS measures and the ethical behavior are important in the management of the OHS protocols. I gave the workers involved the chance to learn about the dangers, drawbacks, and significance of safety procedures by holding a meeting with them. This raises awareness and gives employees the power to choose safer options in the future. The infractions, findings, and corrective measures were all documented in my thorough report. This documentation helps the company keep track of its commitment to safety and acts as a useful resource for incident references in the future (Collings-Hughes et al., 2021). This has also helped me in my professional growth as well. As a member of the OHS community, I have access to ongoing research, techniques that work, and developments in safety technology. Their knowledge and expertise can be increased through on-going education, training courses, and professional development opportunities. As a result, I was able to keep abreast of the most recent rules, business requirements, and risk assessment techniques, which improved their capacity to manage workplace safety issues. This has also helped me to understand the ethical standard of professional growth.

Conclusion

I can arrive at the conclusion that in the scenario, I was able to incorporate my training in OHS protocols that are maintained in the construction company. I feel that being exposed to such situation, I was able to incorporate my knowledge and understand the important of OHS in the workplace. My professional experience had also developed by undertaking the responsibility in this situation (Safetyaccess, 2016). I feel that this has helped in my professional growth and has helped me in encouraging in taking up a further degree in occupational health and safety. There are several aspects of OHS that are still unknown to me and I hopefully gain knowledge regarding those facts that will help in increasing my professional growth.

Action plan

Based on the scenario I have come up with an action plan. For improving my professional growth I will aim at becoming familiar with specific OHS regulations that are required in construction agencies and companies. I will undertake supervisory role in my organization so that I can identify hazards and understand the best practices that will help in maintaining OHS regulations in companies.

References

Collings-Hughes, D., Townsend, R. and Williams, B. (2021) “Professional Codes of Conduct: A Scoping Review.” Nursing Ethics, 29(1), pp. 19–34. DOI: 10.1177/09697330211008634.

Correll, R. (2023) What Is Occupational Health and Safety?. Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-occupational-health-and-safety-4159865 (Accessed: May 10, 2023).

Hardy, M. (2016) “Drafting an Effective Ethical Code of Conduct for Professional Societies: A Practical Guide.” Administrative Sciences, 6(4), p. 16. DOI: 10.3390/admsci6040016.

Magalhães, L.M.C.A. et al. (2022) “A Study on Occupational Health and Safety.” BMC Public Health, 22(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14584-w.

Safetyaccess. (2016) The Importance Of Occupational Health And Safety | Safety & Access. Safety & Access. Available at: https://safetyaccess.co.uk/news/why-is-occupational-health-and-safety-important/ (Accessed: May 10, 2023).

Tajuddin, A. (2022) Importance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). Safety Notes. Available at: https://www.safetynotes.net/occupational-health-and-safety-ohs/.

Yanti, D. (2022) “Management Support, Competence, Organizational Culture and Professional Ethics on Internal Audit Effectiveness.” International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 05(04). DOI: 10.47191/ijmra/v5-i4-12.

Leadership Management and Teams (Week 4, 7 and 8)

Abstract

In heavy construction industries, democratic leadership is crucial for occupational health and safety. This type of leadership promotes teamwork, engagement, and employee involvement in safety-related decision-making processes. Democratic leadership in OHS improves worker participation in detecting hazards, analyzing risks, and creating efficient safety measures. It promotes a climate of shared accountability in which employees assume personal responsibility for their own safety and actively contribute to the workplace's overall safety. In this reflective journal I have shared a personal experience of my life and also have done the analysis on that, I have also shared the personal feeling and what things I have learned from the management and the leadership. I have also gathered the ideas about the different types of leadership styles. Effective decision-making and the performance of organizations depend on understanding management and leadership. To accomplish desired results, management entails allocating resources, establishing objectives, and planning operations. While leadership focuses on inspiring, motivating, and directing people and groups toward a common goal. The importance of comprehending management and leadership in businesses is explored in this abstract.

Description

Leadership is an important factor in large construction companies. While I was working in the Middle East I was in charge of overseeing the OHS protocols that were often overlooked by the employees. While I was taking the handover from the previous supervisor, I was warned that the OHS protocols were not adhered to by the employees that have resulted in countless small incidents and injuries. After joining, I decided to fix the broken OHS management system I understood that the leadership management was not good that had resulted in the falling apart of the safety measures (Subramaniam et al., 2023). I took the stance and had followed democratic leadership style. I am a big supporter of this type of leadership style as I think that the ideas of the employees and members are important to incorporate when it comes to maintaining safety measures. I had formed a safety committee which included members from different departments of the construction company. I had enforced regular meetings and made sure that all the democratic aspects of leaderships are implemented. Provision of safety training and education was another important feature that was taken up by me and I had installed drills which allowed the members to understand the need for safety measures.

Feelings

I feel that the democratic leadership is crucial in the heavy construction sectors for a number of reasons. Worker safety is of the utmost importance in these industries since they frequently include risky tasks and dangerous surroundings. Democratic leadership promotes worker participation and engagement in OHS-related decision-making processes. This kind of involvement empowers staff members, improves morale, and cultivates a sense of responsibility over safety results (Gumusburun Ayalp, 2019). Workers are more dedicated to following safety rules when they are engaged in identifying problems, implementing safety measures, and contributing ideas. According to my opinion I believe that democratic leadership promotes employee participation in OHS decision-making and engagement. Employee empowerment, morale, and a sense that they have control over safety results are all boosted by this engagement. Workers are more dedicated to following safety regulations when they actively participate in detecting problems, creating safety standards, and providing input. I have also learned that risks and hazards in the heavy construction sectors might differ substantially from project to project (Borzaga et al., 2019). Democratic leadership encourages open lines of communication so that employees may report hazards, near-misses, and occurrences without worrying about being punished. This encourages an anticipatory approach to risk assessment and makes it possible to implement quick mitigation methods.

Evaluation

I think that by identifying and evaluating potential dangers in the building environment had been my first step. This had entailed performing thorough site inspections, examining prior incident reports, and researching pertinent laws and professional standards. Falls from great heights, electrical risks, and exposure to dangerous substances, noise, and ergonomic concerns are some examples of common construction hazards which I had kept in mind while assessing the risks that are present in the construction site (Ta et al., 2022). I had also analyzed the dangers that come with the listed risks. This had entailed estimating the probability and seriousness of potential accidents or injuries. Consideration of the criteria including the frequency of exposure, the number of impacted workers, and the potential repercussions when ranking hazards according to risk was also taken up by me. This step aided me in deciding how to allocate resources and create control measures. I had also made sure that the compliance with the laws of OHS has been maintained (Zhao et al., 2022). I had familiarized myself and the workers with local and national state laws which had helped in a great deal in enforcing the OHS measures.

Analysis

I have learned the importance of a leader and the influence of a leader. I have gained the ideas about the different leadership styles as well. I have learned that decisions are made by autocratic leaders without consulting their staff. They have total authority and influence over the decision-making process. This management style may be successful in circumstances that call for prompt and decisive action, but it may also restrict employee engagement and inventiveness. A hierarchical and less cooperative work environment may result from autocratic leadership. About the democratic leadership I have learned that they promote involvement, cooperation, and open communication (Medical, 2018). This management style promotes a healthy workplace culture and better engagement by giving employees a sense of empowerment and ownership. I have also gained the idea about the transformational leadership by Richard Branson. By establishing an inspiring vision and promoting personal development, transformational leaders motivate and inspire their team (Zhang et al., 2022). They support creative thinking, mental stimulation, and personal growth. I have gained the idea that Transactional leaders like Bill Gates prioritize establishing precise objectives, allocating rewards and penalties in accordance with performance, and maintaining adherence to predetermined standards (Borzaga et al., 2019). Laissez-faire leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, on the other hand, take a hands-off stance and give their team members the power to make decisions. They do not intervene or offer much guidance.

Conclusion

Thus, I can come to the conclusion that leadership and management are important factors for the enforcement of the OHS laws. I feel that effective leadership is important that will help in the incorporation of the safe behaviors and promotion of the safety attitude that is positive within the workplace.

Action plan

In future I will continue my study on this topic leadership and management. I will try to encourage employee involvement, teamwork, and ownership of safety outcomes in heavy construction sectors through democratic leadership in occupational health and safety. I will also try to raise the awareness among the people, Conduct training sessions and workshops to introduce the idea of democratic leadership in OHS and its advantages to leaders and staff (Councils, 2022). I will share case studies and success tales that demonstrate the beneficial effects of employee engagement and teamwork on safety outcomes. I will try to set up frequent safety forums or meetings so that staff members can speak openly about dangers, near-misses, and recommendations for improvement, and create avenues for confidential communication to promote open dialogue and guarantee that all opinions are heard. I will implement recognition programs to acknowledge individuals and teams that actively contribute to safety improvements.

References

Borzaga, C., Salvatori, G. and Bodini, R. (2019) “Social and Solidarity Economy and the Future of Work* This Paper Draws on a Work That Was Previously Published by the ILO and Is Available at: Http://Www.Ilo.Org/Wcmsp5/Groups/Public/—Ed_emp/—Emp_ent/—Coop/Documents/Publication/Wcms_573160.Pdf (Copyright © International Labour Organization 2017.).” Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 5(1), pp. 37–57. DOI: 10.1177/2393957518815300.

Councils, F. (2022) How Democratic Leadership Can Impact Your Company. How Democratic Leadership Can Impact Your Company. Available at: https://councils.forbes.com/blog/how-democratic-leadership-can-impact-your-company.

Gumusburun Ayalp, G. (2019) “Leadership Styles and Entrepreneurship Orientations in Turkish Construction Industry.” International Journal of Construction Management, 22(4), pp. 690–700. DOI: 10.1080/15623599.2019.1644760.

Medical. (2018) “Asian Medical Press Limited Crossmark Policy.” AMPL Crossmark Policy. DOI: 10.32948/ampl.crossmark.policy.

Subramaniam, C. et al. (2023) “The Influence of Safety Leadership on Nurses’ Safety Behavior: The Mediating Role of Safety Knowledge and Motivation.” Journal of Safety Research, 84, pp. 117–128. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.10.013.

Ta, M.T.D., Kim, T. and Gausdal, A.H. (2022) “Leadership Styles and Safety Performance in High-Risk Industries: A Systematic Review.” Safety and Reliability, 41(1), pp. 10–44. DOI: 10.1080/09617353.2022.2035627.

Zhang, S. et al. (2022) “How Does Leadership in Safety Management Affect Employees’ Safety Performance? A Case Study from Mining Enterprises in China.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), p. 6187. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106187.

Zhao, L. et al. (2022) “The Effect of Safety Leadership on Safety Participation of Employee: A Meta-Analysis.” Frontiers in Psychology, 13. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.827694.

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