FAKULTI PENDIDIKAN DAN BAHASA

SEMESTER SEPTEMBER OUMH 2203 ENGLISH FOR WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION

TITLE

REPORT

NO. MATRIKULASI NO. KAD PENGENALAN : NO. TELEFON E-MEL

700501-11-5154002 700501-11-5154 013-7444060 wan_sawiyah@yahoo.com

: :

PUSAT PEMBELAJARAN :INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN GURU MALAYSIA KAMPUS TEMENGGONG IBRAHIM JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM

To

En Sabaruddin bin Hamid Managing Director, Company Hokuden (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd

From

Wan Sawiyah bt Wan Yusoff, Occupational Health Manager

Date

19th September 2012

Subject .

Worker Safety Standards

1.0

INTRODUCTION

Hokuden Company (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. is a manufacturer of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) used in equipment such as Visual, Telecommunications, Audio and others. The numbers of employees are more than 700 people in eight major departments. They play an important role in the overall operations of the company. One of the most important sections in the Department of Production at Hokuden (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd is Through Hole PT Line Section which is conducting the process of silver printing on a PC using the Through Hole technology.

On 18 September 2012, I paid a visit to the Through Hole PT Line section at 8.30 am. The main objectives of the visit are: 1. 2. To ensure that all employees comply with company regulations those have been set. Take care and ensure the safety and health of workers that comply with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). 3. Forming a healthy workplace and safe with workers psychological needs. As a result of the workplace observation and feedback from employees, there are some hazards (any form of energy, materials or conditions which have the potential to cause injury, illness or loss of life to people, damage to property or the environment) are identified. It can contribute the potential risk to the workers who may be overlooked or not recognized by them. Hazards need to be controlled to avoid the accident so that the workers can work safely and healthily. Safety in the workplace is the prevention of the accidents, injuries or illnesses among workers or other people who were at the workplace. Apart from preserving the life and health of workers who are the most important asset of an organization or company, accident prevention will reduce the cost of treatment, compensation, lost of productivity, work absenteeism, damage to property, the future of health care, disability and other more.

To avoid the occurrence of bad incidents occur, immediate action must be taken to avoid the accident that may caused death. The early actions that can be taken are: a. Form the Occupational Safety and Health committees as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. b. Form the Emergency Response Team that will take immediate actions during the emergency. c. Occupational Safety and Health Policy. This is to highlight the company's commitment and the welfare of the workers. It can improve employees moral in carrying their duties.

2.0

PROBLEMS FACED

Production Department is one of the most places that caused high risk to the safety and health of the workers. This is due to the hazards found in the workplace which exist in many forms.

Hazard can cause effects in two stages that are: a. Long-term effects such as exposure to noise, lead, chemical vapours, dust and ergonomics. b. Short-term effects of mechanical accidents like hand caught in machinery, electric shock, slipped, hit a forklift and struck by heavy object.

The hazards exist not only can cause accidents and the impact on local workers. However, it can also adversely affect the others who are not directly involved with the activities carried out, but to be close to the work area.

In my study, the workers are directly exposed to safety and health issues based on the following aspects:

2.1

High level of noise.

An activity in Section Through Hole PT Line is Circuit print Printed Board (PCB) using Through Hole technology. The work was being done by the three groups; the two groups took a 12-hour shift per day for each shift. There are many machines that cause high noise levels up to record a reading of 79.8dB (A) in this section. Unfortunately, the workers in this part are not supplied with personal protective devices such as gloves, respirator and goggle. As a result, they are exposed to the noise for 12 hours a day.

Workers exposed to noise will feel musty and will experience depression. Noise can also interfere with a person's communication process. Message cannot be conveyed clearly. For example, a person who is having communication nears the machine in operation, the possibility that the message conveyed clearly unacceptable. Noise is also disruption to the liabilities of human disorders, including mood, sleep disturbance and harassment on the job. Each individual had great character and a different level of acceptance of noise that occurs around them. Noise also gives impact on the level of individual competence to do their job. The work requires the creativity speed and conversations easily distracted by noise. Workers need a high concentration completed their work. However, the occurrence of disturbance may cause many mistakes in their working process.

In addition, prolonged exposure to loud noise of over 85 dB in 8 hours a day, it will damage the hearing system and cause hearing to be of poor quality and are also likely to be deaf soon.

Risk, noise can affect the understanding of communication between employees that lead to misunderstandings in compliance with the instructions given. As a result, accidents can happen anytime soon. In addition, they will also feel their ears buzzed even have left the work area. The biggest risk is that their noise may result in permanent hearing loss.

2.2

Exposure to chemicals Silver H276 (N-2057) and acetone

Chemicals are substances that can cause harm to the user and people around. It is poison, corrosive, flammable and explosive. If the material is splashed, spilled, inhalation or ingested, it can cause safety and health of workers and the environment affected.

In the preparation of Printed Circuit Board (PCB), chemicals Silver H276 (N205) is the main substance used for printing Through hole and acetone chemicals used for cleaning the mask. Each 400 sheet mask was processed will be cleaned using acetone chemicals. The use of these chemicals during the preparation process has resulted that the workers are directly exposed to the substance for 12 working hours set by the company.

The effects of exposure to chemicals and acetone Silver H276 can cause eye irritation, allergic or asthmatic symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaling the substance. Chronic effects of the substance is can cause cancer, miscarriages and damage the body's internal organs working. In addition, it can also cause irritation of the eyes and skin and can cause headaches.

2.3

Equipment and Machinery

Equipment and machinery is also one of the aspects that can cause an accident at the workplace. The use of equipment and automatically machines without provided the use of the procedure may result in workers bodily machine trapped because of improper machine operation and unsafe. Schedule of the long working hours of 12 hours a day, coupled with overtime can cause lethargy and fatigue to workers where workers do adjustments every time there is a change of model. A lapse that occurred could result in employee bodily caught in the machine.

The situation becomes worse with geographical location of the machines that are not organized and fit the floor space. It exposing the workers more to the risk of bodily injured.

The body that trapped between objects or machines can cause serious fractures. Addition, it can cause lost time injury (LTI) to employees in the accident. As a result, it can tarnish the reputation of the company if the employee makes a complaint because the company negligence the employee welfare.

2.4

Slippery floor

In the survey, I found that the factory floor surface unsafe for employees to perform work operations. This is due to the slippery floor surface can cause a risk to worker safety hazards.

In work operations for the production of Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the workers dealing with the PCB surface temperature reaches 150-200 degrees Celsius when it is released from hanger oven. Consequently, the workers had to move quickly to avoid burns fingers or palms. In this situation, a slippery floor surface can cause the safety and health of workers is not guaranteed.

It should be noted that the Products Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is heavy. It can cause injury to the employee when the employee fell due to a slippery floor surface.

Slippery floor can cause workers exposed to head injury, sprained ankle, broken arm or leg when slipping or falling. In addition, it can also cause death.

3.0

SECURITY MEASURES

Accidents can happen anytime. So, security measures and controls should be taken accordingly whether the hazard is low, medium or high to avoid it affecting the safety and health of the employees.

Here I suggest some of the safety and control actions that can be taken. It helps to avoid and overcome the contributing factors that can affect the safety and health of workers. Among the steps are:

3.1

Methods of noise hazard risk prevention

To ensure the safety and health, workers are required to use and comply with the Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) standard. Employers are expected to provide training to employees in the Hearing Conservation Programmed and ensure that employees comply with safe work procedures well.

To protect workers from noise, the employer must provide personal protective devices such as Ear muffs or ear Plugs.

Users must be informed and optimal application conditions and limitations. Users also must maintain equipment as prescribed by the equipment suppliers. This is to ensure that the equipment can work efficiently and effectively when used.

or

Ear Plugs Ear Muffs .

Cost needed to buy an ear muffs is RM19.00 and RM1.60 for a pair of ear Plugs. The company needs to spend as much as RM3800.00 for 200 ear muffs or RM380.00 for 200 pairs of ear plugs.

Employees must be trained to use and maintain the used of equipment properly. Staff and employees also need to know the limitations of this personal protective equipment. Employees are required to use personal protective devices when necessary only. Precautions should be taken to ensure proper functioning of the equipment. Otherwise, Personnel Protective Equipment can be dangerous to the workers health.

3.2

Prevention methods exposed to chemical hazards silver H276 (N-2057)

To overcome this problem, I suggest that the company take the following steps:

3.2.1 Reduction Method.

It has to separate the processes that use chemicals away from other workers in other parts. This segregation can save the health of workers.

3.2.2 Installation of ventilation systems

The company must make the installation of ventilation such as installation of Local Exhaust Ventilation installed on the cause of the chemical vapor. Installation of this system is effective to prevent degradation safety and health of workers.

Figure: Example of ventilation from outside

3.2.3 Job rotation

Rotation works by reducing work time for employees exposed to the chemical. 12 working hours may be reduced to 8 hours.

3.2.4 Workplace housekeeping program

Enforcement and implementation of housekeeping in the workplace need to be emphasized. Housekeeping in the workplace includes cleaning or cleaning spills and residues of chemicals and waste disposal. 3.2.5 Memorial marker

Placing or pasting a reminder of the security measures in certain areas such as

Figure: Example of security labels

3.2.6 Monitoring chemical exposure

Monitoring should be conducted by a qualified person for workers and workplaces that handle chemicals. Disposal of chemical wastes done regularly. Workers should wear the uniforms and keep their home clothes in the locker to avoid being contaminated. If necessary, the employee should take a bath in the shower and change clothes at end of the work shift.

3.2.7 Mirror cover

Application of protective glasses are necessary when working primarily in the area of wool, dusty, particles, fumes, flood light can cause visual injury. However, the use of protective glasses is to avoid employee exposure to chemicals and acetone Silver H276 directly. Safety mirrors shaped like an ordinary mirror but protect eyes from flying particles that chemical. Lens can be shock resistant and stronger than usual. It can be obtained in the form of edge protectors, cup or concave lens for additional protection.

3.3

Method Engineering Control

Engineering control methods can prevent limb pinched workers when the machine is working. This method can be done in three ways:

3.3.1 Protection by barriers remains.

Modifications to the equipment or machinery are needed to reduce worker exposure to hazards such as installing barriers on the machine. The installation of a restriction is to prevent the workers from touching when doing the work adjustment. Appropriate equipment guards will protect workers from contact with moving machinery.

Diagrams: Barricades position on the machine

3.3.2 Protection with Device.

Protection using the device is a smart move because the presence detection device functioning to stop machinery or interfere with job rotation or operations if employees are in the area or zone. This means more effective protection for workers will realize that they are in the danger zone for their own safety. Accident resulting in bodily trapped in a machine can be avoided.

RIGHT

LEFT

Figure: Example of device installation faint presence

3.3.3 Protection with emergency shutdown switch.

Step three is to be dealt with how to install emergency switches. This switch is used in case of emergency and it will automatically stop the machine when pressed to act. This method may be risky but still able to rescue workers in the event of an accident that could result in bodily trapped workers.

Figure: Example of installation emergency switch

3.4

Slippery Floor Control

To overcome this problem, I recommend that the company carrying the hygiene practices. Factory floor conditions must be clean of oil spills, food residue and toxic substance that can cause safety and health of workers at risk. Hygiene supervision should be carried out regularly to ensure that staffs do not reluctance hygiene.

Employees should be required to use a standard of safe working procedures. Employers should ensure that employees comply with the procedures and regularly check together and it constantly updated.

4.0

CONCLUSION

Failure to ensure the safety and health of workers at workplace may cause loss to the company. The company could consider the proposals that I have mentioned above and implement it. The company will make money and benefits as follows:

4.1

Improve the quality and productivity of the company and the process working operation and production run smoothly.

4.2

Reduce work pressure faced by workers and boost the confidence of existing employees to perform their duties diligently.

4.3

In order to avoid legal action against the company as well as to reduce the loss to the company.

4.4

For new employees it gives them the confidence to excel.

With the adoption of the proposed security control I suggest above, I believe the company is not only able to reduce the rate of injuries and fatalities that happened previously, but also at the same time will reduce the number of employees who quit, the hidden costs involved in the accident, reduce the number of absences as also increase productivity and company names.

In a nutshell, the whole actions proposed carried out properly, diligently and smooth on all sides, I believe that the goal of zero accidents and improvement towards employee awareness about the occupational safety and health can be achieved. Although the scope taken is very small, however it is a reality that needs to be improved from one side to the other side. For worker safety and health, the company has to be careful in the management. It helps a lot and gives an advantage to the future of the employees and the company.

References:

http://wsuzana.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/garispanduan2006bm.pdf

http://www.scribd.com/doc/81812337/10/Pengurusan-Risiko-Hazard-Bunyi-Bising

http://khairuldin-khairul.blogspot.com/2011/08/akta-keselamatan-dan-kesihatan_09.html