All employers must ensure that all working conditions are safe. In addition, as Ferret and Hughes argue, they must conduct a thorough risk assessment in all operational settings. The evaluation should consider the risks that workers and people who visit the industries face. The visitors can be students on a tour, contractors, or the surrounding communities. Risks faced by pregnant mothers, the elderly, and young people should take precedence (p.365. The health and safety act carries all laws that govern workplace safety. The directions guide employers on measures to implement to guarantee workers’ security. In addition to advising employers, due to the extremity of some risks, the government has laws that specify binding actions that all employers must take to avert risks (Health and safety executive p.3-4).
The government gave a directive (89/391/EEC) to ensure all workers had enough protection. It emphasized the adaptation of correct preventive measures by all employers. The standards defined in the directive ensure that all workers have appropriate protection from accidents and diseases. Employers should safeguard this by offering their workers special training and equal participation opportunities (Framework- healthy and safety at work Para. 1). As a result, the directive has improved the safety conditions of many workers in industries.
Impacts of management regulations on industry
These laws forced many industries to be responsible for their workers’ well-being. As a result, there have been significant improvements in productivity, reduction in losses, and quality through risk assessment measures.
The mining industry has come up with measures to ensure their worker’s safety. This includes drilling escape tunnels in case of explosions and collapsing mines. In addition, many industries have improved their ventilation systems and fire control systems by installing fire dampers. This has dramatically promoted safety in the mining industry due to reduced accidents (Good practice guide p.10-34).
On the other hand, there are reduced risks and diseases associated with waste management in chemical industries. This is because; most chemical sectors have developed advanced technologies for treating wastes to avoid contamination. In addition, the number of deaths resulting from chemical contamination has reduced drastically. Many chemical manufacturing companies use advanced technologies, such as thermal treatment and anaerobic digestion, to treat their wastes. Due to the adaptation of the measures, there has been a reduction in cases of musculoskeletal and other skin infections (because workers receive the required protection). For example, research by the health and occupational reporting network (THOR) showed that cases of infections reduced from 12,410 reported in 2002 to 10,198 in 2003 (Chen, Turner, and Hussey p.2). Although the cost of putting up the machinery is high, the industry’s annual expenditure on workers’ treatments, court cases, and compensations has also been reduced.
Risk aversion techniques also have improved in the railway and the shipping industry. Many workers in this industry are exposed to carcinogenic and mutagens. In response to the new directive, the railway industries have come up with safer traveling cabins, which reduce the effect of vibrations. Many shipping companies have organized schedules for their workers to reduce their exposure time to dangerous gases. In addition, the industries have come up with systems that neutralize the toxicity of mutagens and other gases (walker p.2-5).
In conclusion, the management regulations have benefited both the industries and workers. However, although this is so, the government should strictly employ extra measures to ensure all companies follow the rules.
Works Cited
Chen, Y., Turner, S., and Hussey, L. A study of work-related musculoskeletal case reports to The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR) from 2002 to 2003.2005.
Framework: health and safety at work. Europa. 2007.
Good practise guide. Good Practice Guide on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products containing it Healthy and safety executive. (n.d). 2009. Web.
Healthy and safety regulation. 2003.
Hughes, P., and Ferrett. Introduction to health and safety at work: the handbook for the NEBOSH. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005.
Walker, T. Tolerability of risks, its use in nuclear regulation in the UK. (n.d). 2009. Web.