Apple Inc. Health and Safety Measures - Research Paper Example

? Apple Inc. Health and Safety Measures Introduction Apple Inc., formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., is a multinational manufacturer well known for developing and selling consumer electronics, computer software, mobile devices and personal computers. It mainly deals with the hardware products, which are branded ‘Mac’ - a line of computers. The company was founded on April 1, 1976 as Apple Computer Inc and renamed in January 3, 1977 as Apple Inc after the introduction of iPhone thus making a shift into consumer electronics. It is recognized as the world’s second largest information technology company after Samsung in terms of revenue collection, the third largest mobile phone manufacturer after Samsung and Nokia, was named the world’s most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world for the years 2008 to 2012. Injuries Related To Apple Inc. And The Effects The company is not free of controversies as it has been criticized for its business practices, labor practices and its own environmental practices, some of them revealing horrific experiences. Particularly, where touch screens are produced, campaigners reveal horrific injuries that say they suffered due to being exposed to deplorable working conditions in factories which are said to have led to some of the staff committing suicide in the last two years. Protests have been seen in areas such as outside a flagship store in Hong Kong as pictures have allegedly shown injuries suffered under terrible conditions as well in Hezhou, China (Daily Mail Reporter, 2013). Recent complaints and campaign by SATCOM add on the many complaints that have been aired in relation to the ill-treatment of employees in the apple Smartphone producing companies in china. One of the assertion of SAMCOM is that the employees are forced to work for long hours; 11 hours a day, seven days a week and with just a 24hour break at the end of the month. The SAMCOM activists assert that the factories making Apple iPads and iPhones in China resulted to asking employees to sign pledges not to commit suicide, (Keize, 2013). This was attributed to 14 workers committing suicide 16months after employment on the basis of poor working conditions and inhumane treatment in the factories (Daily Mail Reporter, 2013) In addition, interviews with 170 workers and supervisors in several Foxconn factories in Shenzen and Zhengshou show that punishments are the primary management tools in the factories as SACOM (Students and Scholars against Corporate Misbehavior) says the workers had often been told to clean toilets, sweep lawns and confessions pinned on the notice boards or red out to colleagues, The Foxconn campus dormitories retain their pathetic living conditions with 20-39 workers sharing three bedroom flats; sleeping eight in a room in bunk beds. The workers are also not allowed to use electric items such as kettles or laptops and as well not allowed to sit when working as standing is ascertained as a means to keep them nimble enough to do their work effectively and for long, as reported by The Guardian, (2012). Other complaints in the media concerning the employee and Apple products users’ welfare include a recent story in the newspapers concerning an attempt by Apple to replace chargers in UK after iPhone injuries were reported on the use of the chargers. This followed after massive reports of people serious injured from faulty phone chargers; the chargers were said to have exploded on the users’ face as they connected them for charging. For example, the report from china asserts that a woman suffered eye injuries after her iPhone exploded on her face while talking on the phone. This is an indication that Apple has been providing faulty products to consumers and are thus in a hurry to fix the problem by replacing the faulty chargers (Apple Inc. 2013). Another related issue is the resend lawsuit by a woman on Apple on the assertion that her iPhone exploded on her face. This occurred while lying on her bed with the iPhone beside her, listening music from the phone when it exploded causing injury to her eye. What is AppleInc doing about these complaints from both workers and factory workers? Above issues regarding Workers, Production and Management format According to Manuele, (2003), the culture of an organization determines the probability of success of its hazards management endeavors as the practices put in place trickle-down from the directors or senior managers’ decisions to the operational departments of a company. It is forming a basis for the establishment of a theme that will be maintained throughout the systems and should also involve the interviewing of candidates with highly successful safety performance along with comments on how safety management programs are made to work successfully. This will bring a sense of safety awareness and discipline when handling the various company responsibilities and ensure a safety measurement in every working environment (Wilson, McCutcheon, Buchanan& University of Alberta, 2003). Apple designed a supplier code of conduct stipulating the working conditions the supplier chains are to adhere to, that includes workers being treated with respect and dignity and that the manufacturing processes are adhering to the necessary environmental friendly measures as well as ensure the safety of the workers (Apple Inc, 2013). The suppliers are obligated to operate under the prescribed laws /and legal requirements of the countries they are operating in and internationally the code reorganizes the standards set to advance social and environmental responsibility while keeping its workers safe. The adherence to these regulations both theoretically and practically in the first place should have eliminated the above complaints that were released giving the company a bad image to the public eye (Keahey, 2013). Financial Implications to Apple Inc. The financial burden of the injuries that happen at theworkplace is shared by individuals, families, employer and the community, (Finkelstein, Corso, & Miller,2006)e.g medical cost of injury are aid by individual private insurers and to a large extent the injured victim. The work loss costs imposes the greatest burden on victims and/ their families, burdening insurance companies and other programs as further the financial impact will have short-term losses often absorbed by employers and long-term work loss due to permanent injury associated with a disability is split into portions between the victim, private and public insurers. Employee and employer responsibility In the solution to the increased suicides in relation to the factory experience, hotline counseling was introduced to tend to the employee’s needs. However, the staff did not trust the system for the services offered were not substantial; an example being one factory worker rang the hotline after a conflict with supervisor and was advised to resign if he is unhappy. Another complaint was on unpaid overtime only to be directed to the same irritated supervisor. The efforts made to meet the complaints are not substantial in relation to the situation at the ground and complaints related to Apple products (Daily Mail Reporter, 2013). This arrogance is highly related to the incompetence of the supervising managers as well as the disregard for the employee welfare in the workplace. Occupational safety assessment technique to evaluate the occupational related injuries According to Keize (2013), one of the strategies used by Apple to react to the many complaints on its products includes undertaking investigations on the issues aired. For example, in the case of the woman’s iPhone exploding in China Apple to ascertain the actual problem behind the issue. Another attempt to curb the problem has been through intervening workers in the factories in China and other Asian countries, the effort has been a total failure as poor working conditions remain the norm for a majority of the employees in the factories. They continue to work for long hours, under poor working conditions and limited pay. Researchers in the factories ascertain intimidation, exhaustion and labor rights violations among the China iPhone workers despite Apple efforts to improve the working conditions (The Guardian, 2013). A better strategy would be the review of the existing safety strategies in relation to the already occurred incidences. The necessary policies need to be put in place to address complaints starting with an assessment of the working conditions being put under question. Making the workers comfortable at their working place will enable them be efficient and the manufacturing process will be assured of quality products. The products in the market need to be tested for fault before they end up in the hands of consumers. Finally, the necessary motivation measures need to be given to the employees such as overtime and better remunerations for them to feel as part of the company. References Apple Inc. (2013, August 14). Apple replacing chargers in UK after iPhone injuries. Retrieved on 28, November 2013 from http://mrthaibox123.com/apple-replacing-chargers-in-uk-after-iphone-injuries/#sthash.wArrQGwD.dpuf Daily Mail Reporter (2013, Nov 25). Campaigners reveal horrific injuries they say were suffered by staff forced to work under terrible conditions in factories where Apple touch screens are produced. Retrieved on 28, November 2013 on http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ news/ article- 2513283/Anti-Apple-campaigners-reveal-injuries-suffered-staff-supplier.html#ixzz2lwOC5OtI Finkelstein, E., Corso, P. S., & Miller, T. R. (2006).The incidence and economic burden of injuries in the United States. Oxford: Oxford University Press Keahey, M. (2013, Feb 25). Apple sued by a woman claiming iPod touch exploded. Retrieved on 28, November 2013 from http://setexasrecord.com/news/282013-apple-sued-by-woman-claiming-her-ipod-touch-exploded-burned-eye Keize, G. (2013, July 15). Apple probes iPhone 5-related death in China; Investigating a report of a woman killed when she answered her iPhone while it was charging. Retrieved on 28, November 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/15/world/asia/china-smartphone-electrocution/ Manuele, F. A. (2003). On the Practice of Safety, Third Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons The Guardian (2013, May 30). Apple's efforts fail to end gruelling conditions at Foxconn factories. Retrieved on 28, Nov 2013 fromwww.theguardian.com/technology/2012/may/30/foxconn-abuses-despite-apple-reforms Wilson, L., McCutcheon, D., Buchanan, M., & University of Alberta. (2003). Industrial safety and risk management. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press Read More