Question

 

PHC261

The 2.4 billion working people in the developing countries often have to endure employment conditions, which do not meet even basic occupational safety and health (OSH) standards. The lack of work safety, excessive workloads, and occupational physical, chemical and biological exposures result in occupational diseases, injuries and as many as 1.2 million fatalities each year. Furthermore, as little as 15% of workers in the developing countries have access to occupational health and safety services.” (Rantanen et al., 2004).

In your own words, to what extent do you agree with the information provided by the quote above? Support your argument by giving further details about developing and developed countries with examples of the services.

Answer 1

Occupational safety and health standards

                      The advent of newer technologies, political economic relationships, association of market giants, concept of branding, consumer targeted interventions, new business/corporate culture etc … has caused a drastic increase in the number of industries, enterprises and related institutions. In accordance with this growth span, there occurred a massive dilution in occupational or work place standards. The worker/employee population belonging to different culture/country were attracted to join these firms from across the world. The world witnessed a large-scale migration along with active manipulation of regulations/policies/norms on various attributes of occupational health and safety standards and precaution. This ‘creative negligence’ has costed the life of many workers, and permanent disability to those who survived death.

                      Occupational health means the highest degree of positive health demonstrated by workers engaged in all occupation whereas occupational safety means the enforcement/activation of different measures or following guidelines/strategies that reduce the chances that an occupational disease would ever occur. Occupational diseases are those, which result from the work place or results from day to day activities involved in a work. In order to offer the employee a healthier life a number of recommendations has already being made by different labour organizations. (i)Ensuring good environmental sanitation, (ii) provision of health insurance, potable water and food supply, (iii) good toileting facilities, (iv) protection from communicable diseases, (v) ensuring nutrition, (vi) good cleanliness practices, (vii) Provision of housing facilities, (ix) maintenance of health records and routine check-ups, (x) Provision of quality safety and protective equipment’s are some points to highlight.

                      On the other hand, information that Rantanen et al shared is vital and truth considering today's scenario. The most reported sorts of occupational hazard are a result of physical causes, chemical causes, biological causes, mechanical causes and from psycho-social interactions. There is a hundred percent agreement with the statistics presented in the question. The problem persists with almost same magnitude in both developing and developed countries. In the case of developing countries, as per WHO sources and other research studies the pitfalls are huge. There is a lacuna in the release of time bound regulations pertaining to hazardous goods production and shortage of safety standard equipment’s. Non-uniform insurance coverage and poor work policy regulations are reported problems among industries of developing countries. Social, political, cultural disparities within the framework act as a hurdle for policy and decision-making. Disorganized labour, poor representation in forums, lack of awareness/social privilege are identified as factors that favour occupational work compromises in developing countries.

                      In developed countries, the commitment to safety recommendations were found to be optimum by validating different research evidences. Many studies concluded that the work place centred approach in developed countries has provided them a industrial model concept that help to identify occupational hazards and diseases at the earliest. Also, it was found that the scientific findings were translated into policies and were implemented in a time bound manner. The major negative conclusions/criticism was made in the following areas. The financial crisis within the system and maintenance of the optimum production guideline has increased the work pressure resulting in the exhibition of poor workmanship. The adherence to guidelines as recommended were made to compromise in the case of migrant workers who constituted the lion share of working population. Alliance, dealings, transactions between the industries/corporates also affected the adherence to poilicy recommendations and paved way for its compromises at instances.

In a nut shell, to sum up the occupational and health standards of both developed as well as the developing countries are grossly affected by industrailization and globalization.