Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene - Research Paper Example

Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene The health and safety of workers should be protected in any company. Occupational health and safety is paramount in ensuring that working conditions of employees are improved so as to prevent accidents that may occur. Most countries in the world have ensured that companies within their borders comply with the safety regulations and laws. However, in the Middle East, occupational health and safety has not been fully implemented. There is no stringent safety and environmental regulations that can bring safety measures in the factories. The ability of companies in the Middle East to implement safety regulations has often been affected by lack of skilled personnel and specialized staff in the companies (Burke, Cooper and Clarke, 224). Introduction Several countries have put in place labor laws to protect workers against sickness, disease and accidents that may arise due to negligence at the work place. Negligence can result from the inability of management to implement safety regulations that can ensure there is an adequate safety measure for the employees. Despite the fact that safety regulations are the same all over the world, there may be differences in the scope of regulations and the manner in which they are enforced in different countries (Burke, Cooper and Clarke, 225). Industrial hygiene programs ensure that companies engage in ethical practices that cannot harm the employees and the community in which the company is doing business. Waste disposal should be done properly to avoid health hazards that may affect employees as well as community members. The management of various companies should put in place serious management of their production processes to ensure that there is no pollution to the environment. Serious commitment is a situation whereby managers ensure that they comply with health and safety regulations (Burke, Cooper and Clarke, 225). Industrial hygiene Industrial hygiene is aimed at controlling environmental factors or stresses that are present gin the work-lace and are capable of causing injury to workers. Health hazard in the work place can lead to sickness, impaired health, well being and discomfort. Environmental factors and stresses affect the life of employees and health. In addition, they increase the aging process of individuals. Industrial hygiene involves the introduction of strategies to control health hazards in companies by ensuring the workers are prevented from exposure to hazards as well as eliminating hazards (Friend & Kohn 23). Control measures that can eliminate or reduce hazard include the development of strategies aimed at substituting toxic wastes with environmentally friendly wastes. In addition, health hazards can be controlled through the changing of work processes to ensure that the production of wastes is minimized or eliminated. Further, installation of exhaust ventilation systems ensure that harmful gases are not emitted into the atmosphere (Friend & Kohn 23). Successful companies have been able to control environmental effects of their wastes. Effective industrial hygiene strategies require that the company anticipates and recognizes health hazards that may arise due to the company’s operations and processes. The company should be able to measure the magnitude of the hazard based on the past experiences and research, and put in place measures aimed at controlling the hazard (Friend & Kohn 23). Health hazards can be referred to as conditions that affect the health of employees. Employees may lose time from work due to the health hazards present at the work place or experience discomfort while performing their duties. The main aim of implementing safety and health programs in organizations is to ensure that there is prevention of illnesses, protect workers, pr and community from being affected by hazards. The control measures should be in line with the legal requirements. Health and safety programs can also control and reduce losses at the work place. Mangers must identify and evaluate the factors that contribute to health hazards in their companies responsible for accidents and their effects. After determining the causes, the managers can then develop safety and health programs. In these health and safety programs, workers, and supervisors can collaborate in ensuring that they provide a safe working environment (Martin & Walters 1). Qatar Petrochemical Company Ltd (QAPCO) QAPCO is major producer of ethylene and low density polythene (LDPE) in the Qatar. The raw materials required for the production of low density polythene and ethylene is supplied by the state owned Qatar petroleum. Large amounts of ethylene is used in the production of low density polythene is con summed at various grades. Low density polythene at Qatar Petroleum Company is transported to other countries under the brand name called LOTRENE. QAPCO is found in Mesaieed industrial city. There are several companies in the city the produce fertilizers, steel, petroleum products and natural gas liquids (QAPCO, par 1). Health hazards in most companies arise due to inhalation of chemical agents. At QAPCO, the major chemical that can be inhaled is sulphur. Other agents that can be inhaled include vapors, dusts, fumes and mists. In addition, contacts with the skin and other body organs leads to serious health risks to employees. The magnitude of health risk caused by a particular chemical is based on the duration of exposure. To effectively deal with chemical hazards in companies, safety professional must ensure that they under stand how the chemical is used fin the company, for instance, whet her the chemical is a by product, and the nature of the products and by products produced at the company (QAPCO, par 2). Sulphur produced at the company is a major health hazard if not well managed. Sulphur is highly flammable substance that has caused fire disasters to employees in the company. Sulphur dusts combine with the air to form flammable and highly explosive mixture which is dangerous to the health of employees. In addition, sulfur dusts are also dangerous if inhaled or swallowed. Sulphur dusts also lead to eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation (QAPCO, par 1). If inhaled, sulphur causes irritation to the respiratory tract of employees. Employees normally experience burning sensation in the nose and throat. This can be seen when employees start to develop symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and pulmonary edema. Further, employees develop olfactory fatigue. Consequently, sulphur, when get into contact with the skin, causes skin irritation and possible burns (QAPCO, par 1). Contacts with the eye lead to eye irritation, lacrimation tearing, unclear vision, and the inability not to differentiate colors. Sulphur may also cause chemical conjunctivitis and corneal damage to the eyes of employees if not well managed. There are cases whereby employees can swallow the sulphur dust particles at the company. Ingestion of sulphur solids causes gastrointestinal irritation. This leads to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Long exposure to sulphur leads skin sensitization and permanent damage to the eye. Long duration of inhalations affects the mucous membranes of employees. Sulphur dioxide is one of the gases that have been proved to be causing global warming. Sulphur dioxide can also mix with water vapor to form acid rain. Acid rain causes corrosion to plant leaves as well as metallic parts. Agricultural activities cannot be successful when there is a large amount of sulphur dioxide in the air since it causes acidified soils when it combines with water vapor (QAPCO, par 3). Apart from the health hazards brought about by the exposure of sulfur dust particles to employees at QAPCO, fire hazards are also frequent in the company thus causing serious health implication to the employees. Fire extinguishers should contain inert gases such as carbon dioxide. Respiratory hazards Sulphur dusts and sulphur dioxide gas are major respiratory hazards at QAPCO. The sulphur dioxide gas enters the lungs causing breathing problems to employees while performing their duties at the company. When the gas reaches the lungs, it is transported into the bloodstream and then to other parts of the circulatory system. The repercussion is that the gas causes serious health risks to all living cells once it is transported from the lungs to other parts of the body. Metabolism taking place in the living cells cannot be successful if there is the presence of harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide. In the process of metabolism, the living cells consume oxygen at produce carbon dioxide as a by-product. The presence of sulphur dioxide affects the acquisition of oxygen by the living cells, high acid levels can be formed in the living cells thus affecting the process of metabolism. Every living cell demands constant supply of oxygen. The presence of inhaled sulfur dioxide in the blood cells affects the performance of the brain and nervous system in human beings. These cells are very important for the normal operations of the body. If the cells are destroyed, they can never be regenerated or replaced. The implication is that the employees can develop permanent impairment of the brain (QAPCO 4). Solution to sulphur as a health hazard QAPCO has put in place a comprehensive plan to ensure that there are no health risks affecting employees. The management system of controlling the emission of sulphur dusts and sulphur dioxide is aimed at ensuring that safety, health and environmental risks are controlled according to their business plans of ensuring that every employee works in a conducive environment. The strategy put in place by QAPCO provides a framework of policies, procedures and time to time improvement processes that ensures the company is able to maximize the safety and welfare of its employees, property and the environment (QAPCO, par 4). QAPCO is one of the leading examples of companies that have embraced effective environmental protection guidelines. The company has taken full responsibility for the preservation and protection of the environment to be very important. Further, the company works with other stakeholders such as the government and other organizations including the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) to come up with innovative programs that can help in reducing environmental pollution and health hazards in various companies around Qatar. The company together with other stake holders such as the SCENR and the University of Qatar ensure that they solve issues concerning air pollution, waste recycling and environmental awareness projects that can solve the numerous health hazards in companies (QAPCO, par 4). To control the emission of the sulphur dusts and sulphur dioxide, QAPCO has ensured that they develop vapor recovery systems in all its production plants designed to reduce the production of green house gases to the atmosphere. In addition, QAPCO has also come up with acid gas injection in its major production plants. These acid gas injection plants will significantly decreases the emission of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Team work in solving health hazards There are several benefits that can arise to employees if they work as a team. Most hazards in companies can be prevented if employees work as a team. Working in teams ensures that employees are able to gain knowledge from each other thereby reducing the possibility of creating mistakes that can lead to serious health risks. Employees tend to learn faster if they work as a team. In the team, the experiences and knowledge of older members of the team can be used in making important decisions. New members of the team can learn from the experienced members of the team on how to avoid causing accidents at the work place. In addition, experienced and knowledgeable members of the team help other new members of the team to grasp new concepts easily and quickly. Several hazards have been prevented through consultations among members of a team by engaging in consultations before they carry out some activities in the company that can cause health risks (Maddux & Wingfield, 11). Further, teamwork ensures each employee have a sense of ownership. When employees feel that they are important in the operations of the company, they are less likely to get involves in committing serious mistakes. Employees may become negligent when they realize that their efforts are not being recognized. Participating in teamwork ensures that every employee contributes to the success of the company as well as learns from others. Employees will be committed to the team in ensure that they do not let the team down as well as contribute to the success of the company (Maddux & Wingfield, 11). Conclusion The health sand safety of employees should not be seen as a burden to any company. Companies should realize that employee safety and health has numerous benefits to the company in achieving its goals. The first benefit that can be realized involves reduced costs of medical care spent by the company in treating employees. Companies can use the resources they earn to other constructive projects. Safe working environment reduces the risk of employees getting involved in accidents and contracting other diseases that can reduce productivity. Huge resources can be used in the treatment of employees if their health and safety is not well managed. Health care insurance costs have become costly for companies that do not put in place measures to protect employees against hazards (Plog 55). Good health and safety of employees also lowers the possibility of being injured in accidents. The company is able to give safety precaution measures to the employees on the best form of behavior to undertake while performing duties and responsibilities. In addition, improved safety and health at the work place ensures that employees spend more time in the production process thus increasing the turnover rates of the company. Health hazards at the workplace prevent employees from attending to their duties on a regular basis. Companies should also realize that improved health and safety of workers increases productivity. Healthy employees feel motivated to work more for the company as opposed to unhealthy workers (Plog 55). Works cited Burke Ronald, Cooper Cary & Clarke Sharon. Occupational Health and Hafety. New York. Gower Publishing, 2011. Print. Friend Mark & Kohn James. Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health. New York. Government Institutes, 2010. Print. Maddux Robert & Wingfield Barb. Team Building: An Exercise in Leadership. New York. Cengage Learning, 2003. Print. Martin William & Walters James. Safety and Health Essential: OSHA Compliance for Businesses. New York, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011. Print. Plog Barbara. Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. New York, National Safety Council Press, 2002. Print. QAPCO. About QAPCO. Retrieved On 11th June, 2012: Http://Www.Qapco.Com.Qa/About-Qapco/ QAPCO. Corporate Social Responsibility. Retrieved On 11th June, 2012: Http://Www.Qapco.Com.Qa/Corporate-Social-Responsibility QAPCO. Material Safety Data Sheet. Retrieved On 11th June, 2012: Www.Qapco.Com.Qa/.../SULPHUR%20MSDS.Pdf  Read More