Evaluation of the Health and Safety Practices of the United States Industry - Dissertation Example

?An Evaluation of the Health and Safety Practises of the United s Industry: A Qualitative Enquiry Table of Contents PAGE 0 Introduction 02 1Background of the Study 02 1.2 Statement of the Problem 03 1.3 Research Questions 04 1.4 Research Objectives 04 1.5 Significance of the Study 04 1.6 Scope and Limitations 05 2.0 Review of Related Literature 05 2.1. Health and Safety: A Head Start 06 2.2. The Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria 06 2.3. The Oil and Gas industry in the United States 07 2.4. Health and Safety Practices in Nigeria 08 2.5. Health and Safety Practices in the United States 09 3.0. Methodology 10 3.1. Research Approach 10 3.2 Research Design 11 3.3 Research Methodology 11 3.4 Instrument 12 3.5 Procedure 12 3.6 Sampling 12 3.7. Ethical Considerations 13 Gantt Chart 14 References 15 An Evaluation of the Health and Safety Practises of the United States Industry: A Qualitative Enquiry 1.0 Introduction 1.1. Background of the Study Employee health is an important aspect that is upheld and protected by law internationally. The significance of which is rooted on social justice and equity among employees and employers all over world. Though health practices differ from one industry to another, all essentially aim to preserve the well-being of employees across the globe. Ideally, employers should be able to provide a sound and conducive workplace for its employees. With these safety practices, employers not only show their corporate responsibility to their employees, but also benefit with the fact that their employees are produce more output, owing to their increased sense of well-being (Erickson 1996). In the oil and gas industry in particular, the level of danger where the employers are exposed are too high, which explains why health and safety policies are being imposed on its strictest sense. These practices are for the welfare of the employees in the said sector not just for the time being that they are employed in an oil firm but also on the long run. According to Asian and Pacific Regional Centre for Labour Administration (1991), over one million employees are working for the oil and gas industry. This implies that over one million individuals are exposed to dangerous chemicals that oil and gas emit. Benzene, Mercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon are few of the chemicals that a worker is constantly exposed to throughout his stay in the said industry. In order to minimize the risks, the oil and gas industry provides for a stringent health and safety policies to be imposed by the employers in order to curtail the harmful effects of this industry. Health and safety practices in the oil and gas industry vary from one country to another. This depends on the current economic and social aspects of a country (Niven & McLeod 2009). Differences in these practices imply difference on effects. In this study, a comparison shall be made on the health and safety practices of the United States and Nigeria, and the effects of their imposed policies on the health of employees in the oil and gas sector. The paper attempts to provide an in-depth analysis on the factors which contribute to the health and safety policies of these two countries. 1.2. Statement of the Problem As provided in the preceding section, the variations in the health and safety policies of Nigeria and the United States equate to different end results. In this regard, there are factors which contribute to the implementation of these policies in the said countries. The identification and comparison of the factors affecting the health and safety practices of the countries may help pinpoint the loose ends of those practices which answer the query on whether the differences in policies on health and safety in the oil and gas industry of the two countries is related to political and economic factors which exist within each of the two nations. 1.3. Research Questions In particular, the current t research aims to address the following research questions: 1. Are there differences in the health and safety practices in the oil and gas industry in the United States and Nigeria? 2. Which factors (i.e. political and economic) influence their implementation of health and safety practises? 3. Which areas may be improved to enhance the health and safety practises of the two countries? 1.4. Research Objectives Moreover, the paper intends to achieve the following research objectives: 1. To compare and contrast the health and safety practices of different oil firms within the United States and Nigeria; 2. To find out the various factors that affect the implementation of health and safety practices of the oil industry within the two countries; and 3. To recommend ways by which health and safety practices can be enhanced in such companies or organisations 1.5. Significance of the Study Health and safety is one of the paramount concerns in the oil and gas industry because of the risks involved in this business (Krishnan 1991). The practises and policies of the private firms engaged in this industry should be able to provide a safe and sound workplace to its employees as part of their responsibility to them (Asian and Pacific Regional and Centre for Labour Administration 1991). The aim of this study is to ascertain whether such practises are being adopted and implemented by oil companies in Nigeria as compared to those being practiced by the First World countries like the United States. The comparison may enable the identification of effective measures used by both countries with regard to the health and safety within the oil industry. 1.6. Scope and Limitations The study will focus primarily on the set of health and safety policies being exercised by Nigeria and the United States in its offshore and onshore oil and gas operations. With this, the study will give a factual comparison on the problems that both countries are experiencing in their quest to explore more on the business of oil and gas. The research may provide insight on the causes and the negative effects of the industry, from drilling to the production processes of the said industry. However, the study will be limited only the public and private firms engaged in the oil and gas industry operating within the jurisdiction of Nigeria and the United States of America and will not encompass other nations. 2.0 Review of Related Literature In this chapter, the research proposal will present published literature that will corroborate the findings of the study. The purpose of the review of literature is to broaden the researcher and the readers’ theoretical background on the topic at hand. 2.1. Health and Safety: A Head Start A company’s priced asset is their people as they deliver organisational bottomlines, including productivity and profitability. This is precisely why government and the private entities are providing parameters towards reducing the health and safety risks in the workplace (Krishnan 1991). Risks to safety and health threaten the flow of profits in a company. In the oil and gas industry, safety management demands more attention owing to the intrinsically hazardous nature of the work involved (Krishnan 1991). According to Chaturvedi (2006), health and safety in workplace directly affects the productivity of the workforce because less work related accidents equate to more profitable outcomes. Additionally, more people are willing to work in an industry which upholds and ensures safety. In the oil and gas industry, work is typically not situated in an office building; instead, it is usually done in different locations, with different degrees of danger. In this case, the firms operating other this industry should be able to provide the maximum care required to facilitate a sound and safe work place (Clarke and Cooper 2004). 2.2. The Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria Nigeria is naturally rich in oil resources and this has particularly attracted foreign investors to invest in oil exploration in the country. The flow of foreign investors has boosted Nigeria’s economy and it is now geared towards developing into a capital market (Anakwe 2002). The oil industry is one of the mainstay sectors in Nigeria and despite several environmental and social issues, it cannot be denied that the oil and gas industry accounts for over 60 percent of Nigeria’s revenues (Frynas 2000). In line with Frynas’ (2000) assertions, the evolution of Nigerian oil industry is through the push made by scholars on the importance of oil’s sustainable development in the country. Thus far, the oil industry has made a great impact on Nigeria’s political and economic policies. Today, Nigeria is among the leading suppliers of palm oil (Haller and Blochlinger 2007). According to Adewumi and Adenugba (2009), three million barrels per day may be produced by the Nigerian oil industry. Moreover, the downstream oil industry boosts the economy. Situated in Nigeria are four oil refineries, eight oil companies and 750 independents. Oil production in Nigeria covers a vast area of over 75,000 square kilometres and has 78 operational fields. These fields are mostly located in villages where 25 percent of the people in Nigeria live. In addition, there are 14 foreign oil companies that are engaged in the oil exploration in Nigeria (Haller and Blochlinger 2007). From the start, the oil and gas industry in the country has denominated by foreign companies which equated to an increase of capital outlay. 2.3. The Oil and Gas industry in the United States The United States of America’s oil and gas industry started in the mid 19th century in Pennnsylvania. The industry expanded in the 20th century when the demand for petroleum products started to shoot up, primarily because of World War 1 and 2 (Gallun 2001). Mtsiva (2003) notes that the United States of America is the number one consumer of petroleum products and the second largest producer of oil in the world. US oil exploration and production is currently dependent on non-major oil production companies. The United States of America shifted from net exporter to net importer of petroleum products during the Second World War (Meloe 1979). With this, the United States confined itself to oil refining. This industry boomed in 2004-2007 because of the rapid increase in the demand for gasoline in the world market (Andrews 2010). In 2000, the United States was able to supply 8 million barrels per day of oil which is mostly consumed by motorists. The oil and gas industry in the said country is in decline because of the increase of non-major players in the market. Though the country has a potential oil reserve of 197 billion barrels of oil, its geological location hinders the exploration (Mtsiva 2003). 2.4. Health and Safety Practices in Nigeria According to Omeje (2006), the Nigerian government passed a bill that permits the discharge of harmful chemicals in its waters in certain situations only. Moreover, the Petroleum Act of 1969 created the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as an oversight body to the different activities of the said industry, including the revocation of license of companies. For the problem of gas flaring activities, the government enshrined the Associated Gas Re-Injection Act no. 99 of 1979 in order to re inject the gas into the crust of the earth. Erimi and Deinduomo (2009) stated that the gas flaring activity in Nigeria causes several problems which include soil and water contamination due to oil spill. It is also blamed for several lung diseases such as asthma. Gupta (1991) asserts that a prohibition to work in a hazardous factory or plant, with emphasis on the oil companies by children below 18 years of age is one of the laws being enforced in different countries. This is particularly relevant for Nigeria. Ewing (2008) notes that the government of Nigeria opines that oil companies in the country are permanently destroying their environment and are exposing their people to health risks. These companies are not following the guidelines issued by the government concerning the health and safety of the people and to reduce the harmful effects to the environment. The workers in the said industry are complaining about their unsafe workplace. Pollution is one of the problems posed by the industry as it destroys the ecosystem. This may cause rigid climatic factors such as fluctuations in the temperature and precipitation. Another is the improper disposal of by-products into the water. It creates contamination to such bodies which leads to different kinds of illness. In Nigeria, the most visible impact by the industry to the environment is the change of vegetation and landscape. This is mainly because of the construction of pipes to transport oil from the drilling stations to its refineries (Haller, and Blochlinger 2007). Due to rapid economic growth that entails culturing oil industry, the effects on the villages in Nigeria are being neglected. These effects mainly point to harsh consequences to its environment (Frynas 2000). 2.5. Health and Safety Practices in the United States In the United States of America, the government through the American Petroleum Institute (2009) and US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, provide a set of guidelines that the companies should adhere. Employers are required to follow these guidelines, which include: (1) to have a written hazard communication plan which should be available to all employees; (2) to make an inventory of all chemicals that are considered hazardous; (3) to have a safety data sheet of all the chemicals in the work place which must be accessible on every shifts; (4) to label all dangerous chemicals and provide warning signs; and (5) to provide safety training to the employees. Moreover, the Health and Safety Administration in the US provides guidelines in order to deal with the impacts of harmful substances in oil and gas products (Taylor and Parish 2008). According to the International Labour Organisation (2002), the oil and gas industry requires special working conditions. Due to its special nature, occupational health and safety issues form a vital part of its corporate responsibility. In a research in the United States, 118 American companies engaged in the oil and gas market found that the industry continues to improve their health and safety practices. This is supported by the statistics provided from 1997 to 1998. It is stated that the number of work related accidents per 100 in 1998 is 1.32 compared to 1.95 incidents in 1997. 3.0 Methodology This section provides a clear view on how the research shall be conducted. This will focus on how the questions enumerated in the first chapter can be answered, and on what method the researcher shall use to gather the answers. In line with this, the paper shall adopt a qualitative research approach, which consists mainly of interviews from the people concerned and connected with the industry. The research design in this study shall be descriptive, and thematic analysis shall be used for data analysis. 3.1. Research Approach Qualitative research approach is used to gain insight from the concerned people or those that have connection with the topic. The approach is rooted on interpretivism, which places premium on the perspective of the individual and his experience. It generally is carried out through interviews and focus group discussions to investigate a given phenomenon. It gives the researcher first-hand information on the topic through directly asking the people involved. (Ereaut 2007). This approach is most appropriate process in order to know explore an issue in- depth. Moreover, a qualitative research approach may provide a picture on the practices on Nigeria and the United States in the oil and gas industry. It may effectively describe the problems that they are currently being faced by the said industry on the facet of health and safety. 3.2 Research Design In order to properly support the abovementioned research approach, descriptive research design shall be used. In this kind of research design, observation and description on the subject shall be made without influencing the latter in any way. There are no deliberate interventions from the researcher (Key 1997). 3.3 Research Methodology The research methodology shall primarily be through interviews. Voice records can be used to store the conversation between the researcher and the subjects. After the collection of data, each shall be sorted according to classified patterns. In this step, the information shall be organised according to the topic and in relation to the subject matter. The next step shall be the creation of sub categories. This will further arrange the data so that the researcher can be easily identify the coherence of the idea. Interviews are advantageous for the current topic since it allows the free-wheeling sharing of the ideas of the interviewee in contrast with the structured options presented by survey questionnaires (Thomas and Harden 2011). 3.4 Instrument The interview shall be composed of questions that are directly related to the objectives of the study. The interview guide shall be reviewed for content validity through the help of a colleague who has adequate research experience. Content validity ensures that the questions cover all aspects of the topic being investigated (Key 1997). 3.5 Procedure The researcher shall first gather secondary data to have enough theoretical knowledge on the topic. Primary data gathering shall begin by making questions for the interview guide and ensuring its content validity. The questions shall be arranged into categories in order to answer the questions enumerated also in the first chapter. The researcher shall also make a list of companies belonging to the oil and gas industry of the United States and Nigeria. Permission letters shall be sent to them, and once permission is given, a possible list of interviewees shall be solicited from each one. The interview schedules shall be coordinated. Once accomplished, the interviews shall be transcribed and analysed through thematic analysis. 3.6 Sampling Powell (1997) notes that a sample is a specific part of the population where such data shall be gathered. The sample will be used to represent the whole of the oil and gas industry of each country. The researcher shall use purposive sampling, wherein the information shall be collected from someone who is familiar with the topic being investigated. Inclusion criteria for interviewees include being affiliated with the oil and have industry; occupying a position related to health and safety practises; and granting explicit consent for research participation. 3.8 Ethical Considerations The researcher shall send a consent form to the prospective interviewees to ensure that they are voluntarily participating in the study. Moreover, their anonymity and the confidentiality of their responses shall be upheld at all costs. Names shall not be published, and shall be referred to through the use of codes. Finally, the integrity of the data shall also be protected by stringently safekeeping both soft and hard copies of the interview data. Gantt Chart A Gannt chart is an illustration of the project schedule. It briefly shows the time line in each task the researcher shall do in completing the research. The bars represent the start and end date of each task (Milosevic 2003). In this chart, the researcher describes on how and when different activities in regard with this research shall be done. This Gantt chart starts from the making of the research proposal and ends on the final submission of the paper. The timeline is counted per weeks. References Adewumi, F. and Adenugba, A. 2009, The State of Workers ?Rights in Nigeria: An Examination of the Banking, Oil and Gas and Telecommunication Sectors, Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating (EPPI-) Centre, Social Science Research Unit American Petroleum Institute. Safety Data Sheets: Petroleum Industry Practices. API Publishing Services. Andrews, A., 2010, U.S. Oil refining industry: Background in changing markets and fuel policies, DIANE Publishing. Anakwe, U. 2002, Human resource management practices in Nigeria: Challenges and insights, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 13, no. 7, pp. 1042-1059. 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Meloe, T. 1979, United States control of petroleum imports: A study of the Federal Government's role in the management of domestic oil supplies, Ayer Publishing. Niven, K. and McLeod, R. 2009, Offshore industry: Management of health hazards in the upstream petroleum industry, Oxford University Press. Omeje, K. 2006. High stakes and stakeholders: oil conflict and security in Nigeria. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Taylor, A. and Parish, J.R., 2008, Career opportunities in the energy industry, Infobase Publishing. Thomas, J. and Harden, A., 2011, Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews, Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating (EPPI) Centre, Social Science Research Unit. Read More