The Internship in Sitio So Jos Agronegcios - Assignment Example

Executive Summary The internship was conducted in Sitio S�o Jos� Agroneg�cios, a coffee and sugarvcae factoiry in Brazil. This is a family owned factory that is run by the family. During my internship, I was supervised by Newton Junqueira Franco. Since I am studying safety management, my activities at the factory mainly focused on safety issues. My main objective was to understand how safety principles apply in a real working environment and to put my theoretical knowledge into practice. In analyzing the safety issues, I used the OSHA standards as the guiding principle. Throughout the internship, I engaged in various activities. The main activities included: Understanding the operations of the factory, identifying possible sources of risks and hazards, and examining how hazards are communicated and handled within the factory. In addition, based on the findings, I proposed several measures that can be used to address the safety issues identified in the factory. By undertaking this internship, I was able to accomplish several learning outcomes. First, this helped me understand how safety standards are applied in a real working environment. Secondly, I gained the necessary experience in working with different people from varying backgrounds. The internship gave me the work experience needed to succeed in the job market. The main challenge was that I found it difficult to communicate with some of the workers at the factory, mainly because most of them were too busy to give me audience. Introduction The organization and the Supervisor The internship was undertaken in the above named factory at the start of June 2014. This is mainly a coffee factory that also deals with the growth and processing of sugarcane. In addition, the factory also engages in the production of feedlot beef. As a result, it is a fairly busy factory in which different activities are performed. As a student in safety management, this factory provided me with the opportunity to study issues related to safety. This factory is purely owned and run by the family. My supervisor was Newton Junqueira Franco who introduced me to the company and briefed me about the activities. He is an experienced individual who has worked at the company for a long time. Scope and Objectives Being a safety management student, my activities at the factory during the internship period focused on the safety issues around the company. Throughout the internship, attention was given to the safety issues that relate to the various activities carried out at the factory. The nature of this company and the activities carried out gave me the perfect opportunity to enhance my knowledge on this subject. At the beginning of the internship, I came up with several objectives I wanted to achieve. To understand the working conditions of a factory To understand how to effectively and safely work in a real professional environment To practically put to use the knowledge acquired in class To enhance my communication and social skills To gain field work experience in collecting and documenting data and information To gain experience in working in a different country with people from a different background OSHA safety standards The internship was carried out with the aim of evaluating how the OSHA safety guidelines are adhered to at the factory. These standards provided the benchmark for evaluating the activities undertaken at the factory. The following list of OSHA standards were used as a reference point during the internship period. 1910 subpart G: occupational health and environmental control. This part deals with aspects such as noise exposure, ventilation and radiation 1910 Subpart H: Hazardous materials. Focus was given on the existence and disposal of hazardous materials in the factory. In addition, attention was given on how the factory responds to emergencies resulting from such materials 1910 Subpart I: personal Protective Equipment. This section focuses on the use of proper proactive gear. Some of the protection includes eye protection, respiratory protection and head protection. 1910 Subpart O: Machinery and Machine guarding. Since this work environment deals with many machines, this section of OSHA guidelines was used to evaluate how the factory guards its machines to protect the workers from harm. In addition to the above main guidelines, other areas of focus included fire projection, medical first aid and sanitation. Although it was difficult to follow each guideline in great detail, most of the elements in these guidelines were examined. Internship Activities My internship activities mainly focused on the safety issues surrounding the operations and activities in the factory. Although it was impossible to exhaustively cover all the sectors of the factory, most of the key areas were covered. 1) Understanding and evaluating the operations and activities within the factory- the nature and location of machines, lighting etc This activity mainly focused on aspects such as the nature and location of machines in the factory, the general lighting in the factory, and the safety of buildings used among other aspects. During the first and second days, I was taken round the factory by the supervisor. I was able to observe how the factory operates, the machines used, the overall cleanliness within the factory and the activities employees engage in. I observed that the factory was generally dirty and the lighting was poor. The machines are operated too close to the workers, thereby endangering their lives. This is against OSHA regulation number 1910.212 which gives the operation standards for all machines. During the visit, I also managed to speak to the workers for 10 minutes and gave my observations regarding safety at the factory. 2) Identifying the sources of risks and hazards in the factory. This involved examining all possible causes of risks and hazards that may endanger the lives of workers and visitors in the factory. A number of areas were found to pose major threats to the safety of workers and visitors. In particular, I observed that the floor was not well cleaned up and had oil, and this could easily cause injuries. The poor lighting and the manner in which machines are operated was also identified as a major threat to safety. Tractors and other heavy machinery are also parked dangerously. Not only is this risky to the people around but also may cause damage to property. Most of the workers did not have their helmets and safety glasses on, and the supervisor confessed that it was hard convincing workers to have their helmets on. This is against OSHA regulation number 1910.120 App B which focuses on protective clothing at the workplace. The company also lacks a fire protection. 3) Identifying the mechanisms put in place to control hazards and risks at the workplace. Specifically, identify the strategies put in place to prevent or minimize harm from hazards in the workplace. Based on the analysis, there were no clear strategies put in place to address safety challenges. 4) Examining how the factory management communicates hazards and risks to its employees, and the reporting mechanisms used. This involved examining the mechanisms used to provide employees with up to date and timely information on hazards and risks. From the interviews I conducted and my personal observations, it was clear that the company lacks a clear framework for making such communications. There was no safety guidelines located at strategic places within the factory. This meant that most of the workers did not understand how to identify and respond to major sources of risk in the factory. 5) Observing and understanding how sugarcane is collected and transported from the fields to the factory The main aim of engaging in this activity was to examine how sugarcane is harvested and taken to the factory and identify the major safety concerns related to these processes. The harvesters used to collect the sugarcane operate on sloppy areas, and this makes it easy for them to roll over. This poses a threat not only to the driver but also to other workers. Furthermore, the drivers of the trucks and harvesters do not wear safety glasses. The people involved in the cutting of sugarcane use huge knives, and these can easily cause injuries. Workers are always bending as they carry out their activities, and this exposes them to back injuries. In addition, the workers lack protective clothing, and as a result, most of them have injuries on their bodies. 6) Propose safety measures that can be used to address the safety issues identified above Based on the findings of the safety measures and standards at the factory, my last activity involved proposing some of the strategies that can be adopted to address the safety concerns. Below are the key recommendations: Provide all workers with necessary training on the safe use and handling of various machinery and equipment. This should also involve understanding the best postures when working Ensure that all workers are given protective clothing. These may include, but not limited to, safety glasses, apron and protective shoes Undertake a redesigning of the work environment so that specific activities are restricted to certain areas. For instance, the harvesters should not be allowed to work in areas that are too steep Write a safety policy for the company, clearly stating the responsibilities of all members of staff. This policy should be made available to all staff members. The Learning Outcomes After completing my internship at the factory, the following outcomes were realized: Understanding of the working conditions in a real work environment setting. This helped me understand the importance of keeping such an environment safe. This internship enhanced my understanding and application of the OSHA guidelines and standards. Furthermore, I was able to put the knowledge acquired in class relating t safety management into practice. This has helped me understand the concepts covered in class better The internship helped me learn how to operate in a real working environment outside the classroom. This has enhanced my communication as well as my reporting skills. This has helped me gain the experience required to work in a professional environment Challenges Although the entire internship period was relatively smooth, there were some challenges experienced. First, since this is a busy working environment, it was difficult to get the full cooperation of the workers. I found it difficult to interview some of the workers in relation to matters safety at the workplace. Secondly, due to the large size of the factory and the plantations, it was difficult for me to cover all the sections. Thirdly, since the internship was carried out in Brazil, it was difficult to blend into the group, especially at the start of the internship. This is because of the difference is culture and practices. Read More