Research Topics: Safety And Productivity Issues

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES

Introduction             Intelligent devices, automated applications, and wireless solutions are creating an environment in which organizations and businesses can transact anywhere, and anytime. In the general sense, computer and communications technology such as the internet, mobile phones, and emails among other things enhance productivity rather than decrease it. Today, computer and communications technology handle many processes with unerring skill. You simply type, click, or utter what you want to be done, and a program takes care of it. A touch of a button can do many things. A single call could formalize a deal. A simple click on a keyboard could send a letter thousands of miles away. One could really say that the world has in a way become smaller and individuals can do more things at a shorter time. Indeed, for sheer convenience advancing technology has given many workers an advantage. Some companies who were once slow-paced and conservative industries undergo tremendous changes at the turn of the millennium, sparked largely by the rapid changes in its environment. This is largely attributed to the increasing use of technology. However, the debate as to whether technology aids or distracts worker productivity still abounds. Numerous studies have already been done on this subject. There is also the issue of employee safety with the advent of technology use in organizations and businesses. These issues will be the topic of this paper.   Context Just like many aspects of today’s corporate world, safety and well-being at work are everyone’s responsibility. And being safe is not limited to the basics, like lifting, avoiding slips, trips, and falls, especially now that technology has changed many ways in the workplace. Safety is about overall increased awareness; it’s about helping employees focus on the task at hand so that they are working at 100 percent maximum efficiency; it’s about providing a work culture that helps employees become relaxed, focused, comfortable and injury free. Only when workers are not distracted from pain, discomfort, and even technologies can true efficiency and productivity begin (Pater, 2001). Safety and productivity are indeed bound together. Some experts say technologies such as computers have made great strides in almost every nation and economy’s productivity by automating menial tasks, letting people communicate more easily with e-mail and putting mountains of information within a mouse click of the desktop personal computer (Fernandez, 1997). Technology is now focusing on pure productivity outcomes, helping organizations work smarter, so that ultimately everyone can all work less yet produce more  (Baker, 2003). However, there are still many questions that abound at present if technologies such as computers and other communication tools really do aid in worker productivity or just simply distract them.             Statistics show that computers play an essential role in boosting productivity. For instance, all industries that use computers most intensively experienced dramatic increases in labor productivity between 1973 and 1991. Even the computer industry had substantial productivity gains in the 1980s, accounting for one-third of total factor productivity for the entire economy. In contrast, productivity growth in sectors that have not invested heavily in computers has been sluggish (Stiroh, 1998). However, technology can also affect employee’s safety. Every firm uses technology, people and the work site to generate a product or service. These factors interact when a process is undertaken. The problem happens when technology suffers wear and tear, and the physical environment becomes unstable or untidy, and infrastructure corrodes. Each time a process is carried out, deviations may occur that have the potential to introduce additional hazards. Workers also experience degradation in the form of fatigue, variable vigilance/concentration or loss of physical capacity (Mol, 2002). If the firm’s processes were standardized, its technology, infrastructure and processes have low levels of residual risk and low tendencies toward degradation in the short term. If, however, its work force is inexperienced, there is potential for suboptimal interaction between workers and other system factors. This can lead to deviations from standardized tasks, inefficient operation of technology and poor housekeeping, posing safety risks to the workers.             On the organization level, technology is now an embedded part of virtually every business and increasing affordability, driven by standardization (Baker, 2003). The introduction of increased processing power of hardware, along with complementary software and telecommunications infrastructure, facilitated the enhanced ability to store, retrieve, analyze, and communicate data and information within organizations, between organizations and their partners and suppliers, and, finally, to the ultimate consumer (Diwan et al, 2002).             Computer systems do assist organizations and companies in many ways, and one major benefit is increased productivity. However, this is easier said than done. Everyone in the company has the responsibility of doing their share. Managers on their part must understand the system themselves to be able to adequately supervise their employees. They should not only educate the employees how to use the equipment but also show them how it affects the overall work process. Understanding of the whole process of automation brought about by technology is essential.             Although this is automation, there is still a need for standards to integrate technology, a need to decide who is responsible for governance of customer information that is part of enterprise data, and a need for “resiliency” in a company’s operations and systems (Trembly, 2003). Such integration will help drive productivity.             The challenge for business owners is to identify the technologies that will drive costs down, increase sales and productivity, and help them to stay ahead of the competition. The trick is to understand which ones are right for their time; which ones are ahead of their time ; and which over-hyped technologies may never have their time (Baker, 2003). Organizations and businesses cannot just utilize any technology, they have to select that which will be beneficial for them.             Economists also agree that technology, and particularly information technology, is important in raising productivity growth an economy. The role of information technology in increasing the overall productivity of some nation’s economy is now being widely recognized (Duggal, 2003). The effect of technology on a larger scale always would start at the bottom. This increase in productivity at the top level would not have become if not for the individuals who also use technologies and are themselves productive. On the individual level like the employee, to be aided or to be distracted by the internet is a choice which is of the worker’s own. If one has the willpower to do work in spite of the many things other than work that could be done on the internet, then the internet is a tool that can speed up a worker’s performance and increase his or her productivity. On the other hand, if the worker chooses to play an online game or chat over the internet instead of doing work, then the internet is a distraction to the worker and can decrease productivity. Greater levels of productivity will be achieved with seamless integration between the input/output device and the user’s chosen office application programmes. However, the benefits brought about by computers and communication tools are not without drawbacks and problems. Even if the employee is bent on doing work, if there are safety and privacy problems regarding the technology used, then more likely the employee cannot get the work done. As already mentioned at the start of the paper, one pressing problem is the safety of employees. To solve this problem, programs have to be designed. Human resource managers can devise recruitment and selection, training and reward systems that develop worker competencies and promote a safety culture, thereby reducing risks within the human resources system factor. Environmental specialists should be involved in monitoring the physical site for residual risks such as the stability of a toxic waste tailings dam and prevention of entropy caused by such business processes (Mol, 2002). This problem on safety and privacy could occur not only on physical locations, but also over the internet. One has already heard of instances where information over the internet is stolen or a computer which has shut down because of a virus. Destructive virus attacks either front within a network or from the Web are a serious problem that can lead to computer downtime and lost worker productivity, potentially costing a company thousands of dollars per episode (Feldman, 2004). This situation is an issue of safety of using the internet which could affect the overall productivity of a company.             One effective method of protecting a business virtual private network is to set up a multilayered system consisting of virus protection software on each computer that works locally and a perimeter system that protects the network (corporate or main office and remote offices) at the edges from all incoming attacks over the Internet or from an infected disk file that is uploaded on any networked computer (Feldman, 2004).             Sometimes, the use of software can also significantly help in increasing a company’s productivity. In business today most of the serious productivity gains are being realized through the deployment of new generation business software programs, many of which necessitate a change of mindset for business managers (Baker, 2003). Companies should therefore consider purchasing software in order to significantly enhance productivity rather than using freeware alternatives. Some software provides the ability to fax and/or email work orders to any or all designated recipients within a company. During a project, users can call, create and fax or print out punch lists for a single worker, the whole project or all workers on all jobs and then follow up any punch list item with a work order. Because all data in the application is stored in a central location within the program, all technicians or other employees with access to a network computer can view schedules, work orders or contact information at any time, thus making work easier and faster for everyone in the company.             Additional software are also available to ensure safety of information. These can prevent attacks of virus or stealing of information from the company’s network of computers. Some of the software use the Internet and deploys multifaceted protection from viruses, worms and break-ins by providing firewall, URL filtering, virus screening, spare filtering and other technologies. It protects against complex viruses, also called blended threats, which package several standalone viruses into an extremely elusive attack vehicle.             With all the buzz about technology and automation, one must always remember that people are still needed. Computers and other technologies are not enough to compensate for the people who do the jobs. There are many companies and organizations would use technology to automate a certain function or to eliminate a certain job. But the most productive and highly valued companies do more than just take the hardware out of the box. They use information technology and keep their people to reinvent their business processes from top to bottom. Leaders and managers who just sit back and assume that improvement will come from technology alone are setting themselves and their organizations up for failure.   Conclusion Computer and communications technology enhance productivity rather than decrease it, both on the individual and cumulatively in the organizational level. Technologies like computers and other communication devices have revolutionized the way of work, making employees better informed, more responsive, and plain more productive. However, technology also has safety issues which could be detrimental to the employee and even the entire organization. Technologies can pose safety hazards to employees. A file stolen from the organization’s computer database or a computer infected with a virus could significantly affect the organization’s productivity. This is, however, not without a solution. Managers could design programs that help employees avoid hazards brought about by the use of technology. Softwares are also available which could help prevent virus attacks and guard online privacy. It is essential to distinguish that these technology standards don’t produce volume. It is the people that produce volumes. The process is to supply people with information and technology. They will use it and produce more with the aid of technologies. Within an organization, computers and other technologies alone cannot drive an increase in productivity. People are still irreplaceable. References Baker, G. (2003). Technology’s Vintage Harvest: Will Go Down a Treat in 2004: It’s Payback Time for Business Technology Providers – 2003 Produced a Bumper Crop of Exciting New Products and Initiatives. New Zealand Management. Champy, J.A. (2003). Is Technology Delivering on its Productivity Promise? Financial Executive. Diwan, R., Kudyba, S. & Mcginn, D. (2002). Information Technology, Corporate Productivity and the New Economy. Quorum Books. Duggal, V.G. (2003). Information Technology and Productivity: The Case of the Financial Sector. Survey of Current Business. Feldman, P. (2004). Protect and Boost your Productivity. Contractor. Fernandez, B. (1997). Computer Use and Productivity are Not Always on the Upswing. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Hogan, M. (2003). Movin’ on Up: Is your Business Limping Along with Outdated Computers or a Network that Doesn’t Meet Your Needs Anymore? Here are Five Ways to Upgrade your Technology and Boost your Company’s Productivity. Entrepreneur. Mol, T. (2002). An Accident Theory that Ties Safety and Productivity Together. Occupational Hazards. Pater, R. (2001). Productivity, Job Satisfaction Soar for Employees with Innovative Martial-Arts-Based Safety Program. Manage. Perry, J.L. (2002). Are Computers Boosting Productivity? A Test of the Paradox in State Governments. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Stiroh, K.J. (1998). Computers can Accelerate Productivity Growth. Issues in Science and Technology. Trembly, A.C. (2003). Productivity is New Buzzword. National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management. Wood, C. (2004). Watching the Clock: New Employee Tracking Technologies can Improve Corporate Productivity, But if Deployed Incorrectly They can also Create an Atmosphere of Big Brother – Style Management. Prosales. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES

Introduction Intelligent devices, automated applications, and wireless solutions are creating an environment in which organi...

Knowledge of Safety Management

OBJECTIVES As a person with knowledge of safety management in construction, the author has always brought up to his superiors the viability of strategy formation regarding safety management and at times fails to understand the reasons or logic behind certain strategic implementations imposed on it. By delving into this project paper, the author intends to have better insights into how construction safety legislation policies are thought up, formulated and then imparted down into the key stakeholders. The author hopes to have an in-depth understanding as to how the construction safety management policies enables Hong Kong to compete effectively and profitably in this era of internationalization where competition is extremely intense. In order to reinforce the learning objectives, two key focal issues were focused upon, i.e. innovation and diversity. Innovation was discussed with regards to construction safety management within Hong Kong where it was renowned for its developmental capabilities to constantly innovate. Diversity came under strategic thinking and formation as the author considered the diverse culture, political climate, economic surroundings, social environment, technological settings, government policies and legal systems in order to have a better understanding of the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision in Hong Kong.   EXECUTIVE BRIEF     This essay utilized the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision in Hong Kong as the model legislative policy to review its present construction site safety management and how it dealt with critical situations. From the analysis, key trends in its construction site safety management were identified, how it worked and its effectiveness in dealing with critical situations was ascertained. The paper then moved on to assess its component construction site safety management strategies with regard to its suitability to critical situations, during which the internal capabilities of these safety management strategies in relation to the strategy being followed by most construction firms in Hong Kong was determined also. An overall analysis of the performance and effectiveness of the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision in Hong Kong was also conducted to assess and compare the capabilities of its construction site safety management strategies with those of others. Gaps in its construction site safety management capabilities were then identified. Finally, several choices of strategies to improve the construction site safety management of most Hong Kong construction firms as effective means in critical situations were recommended and evaluated in terms of appropriateness to the issues reviewed, feasibility in carrying out the options and acceptability within the key stakeholders and decision makers. Several key implementation issues related to managing strategic change were also addressed as well.   INTRODUCTION Construction site safety management can be defined as the efficient and effective implementation of the policies and tasks necessary to satisfy the safety of a construction firm’s employees and management. Construction safety management focuses on the careful management of the processes involved in the production and distribution of products and services within construction sites (Bern old et al. 1993). More often than not, small companies don’t really have the capabilities to implement construction site safety management. Instead, these companies engage in activities that various schools of management typically associate with construction safety management. These activities include the inspection of construction sites, construction materials assessment, production and distribution. However, construction site safety management deals with all operations done within construction firms and organizations. Activities such as the management of purchases, the control of inventories, logistics and evaluations are often related with construction site safety management. A great deal of emphasis lies on the efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Therefore, construction site safety management includes the analysis and management of internal processes (Blackmon et al. 1995). The Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision of Hong Kong will be the model legislative policy that will be used in this research based on its good background in construction safety management. Elements of the Code of Practice for Site Safety Supervision Safety Management Structure and Responsibilities of Relevant Personnel A. Construction Materials Safety Management Technically Competent Persons (Tops) in this group have responsibilities in communications, recordkeeping as well as construction safety operations scheduling. The construction materials safety management team is subdivided into key personnel. Cargo and freight agents. These people track cargo and freight shipments of construction materials. They may come from airlines, terminals or from shipping docks. They are in charge of keeping the records of missing and destroyed construction materials as well as the excess supplies. These people are able to sort the numerous cargos of construction materials based on their destinations. They also establish payment scheduling and arrange the pickup schedule and delivery of freight (Bornstein et al. 1992). Couriers and messengers. These people are assigned to deliver important business documents and packages to the construction sites and clients. They keep records of construction materials deliveries and get the recipient’s signature. These people travel by car or just by foot when making nearby deliveries. Production, planning, and expediting clerks. These people do the coordination of the flow of information, work as well as the safety of the construction materials. These are done usually on a production or work schedule basis. They also the gathering of critical information for reports on, for example, the progress of work and problems encountered in the construction sites. They are also scheduling the shipments of construction materials, costs estimation, and inventories of construction materials (Clough, 1986). Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks. These people are in charge of tracking all shipments of construction materials being transferred among construction sites, suppliers, and clients. Shipping clerks assemble and ship merchandise of construction materials. Receiving clerks do the verification and recording of information on incoming construction merchandises. Traffic clerks do the recording of the destination and costs of all incoming and outgoing construction materials shipments. Stock clerks and order fillers. These people are in charge of receiving and the storage of the construction materials, as well as the maintenance and ensuring the safety of these construction materials. The maintenance may include inspection of the construction supplies, or even the quality of the construction materials. They may perform all of the abovementioned tasks and even those commonly handled by shipping and receiving clerks (Filbert et al. 1995). Weathers, measurers, checkers, and samplers. These people have the responsibilities of checking and recording the weight and measurement of the construction materials as safety precautions. They usually use scales and other measuring devices such as calculators to compare the weights and measurements of the construction materials. They also make reports regarding the levels of inventories (Cohen et al. 1991). B. Purchasing and Buying of Safe and High Quality Construction Materials  Buyers and purchasing agents are tasked to evaluate construction material suppliers on the basis of price, quality and service support. They review catalogs as well as the construction industry and company publications in order to help them in their search for the right construction material suppliers. Fortunately for them, a majority of this information can be easily accessed in the Internet. They also do some researching about the reputation and background of the construction material suppliers and may also do some advertisements regarding the foreseen purchase actions in the hope of soliciting bids. At meetings and conferences, they perform the examination of construction material products as a safety precaution, the evaluation of the productive and distributive capabilities of the construction material suppliers, and the discussion of business considerations that have the possibility of influencing the construction material purchasing decision. As soon as all valuable information about the construction material suppliers is gathered, the placement of construction material orders and contracts are started to be awarded to those construction material suppliers who are able to meet the needs of the purchasers. The typical contracts range for several years and may even have the stipulations of the range of construction material prices, which would allow the purchasers to reorder whenever necessary (Dualism et al. 1999). In the Code of Hong Kong, however, there is a clear distinction between the work of a buyer and that of a purchasing manager. Purchasing agents and buyers focus mainly on the daily purchasing tasks. They specialize in construction materials. Purchasing agents perform the tracking of the conditions of the construction materials for safety, trends in their prices, as well as the future of the markets. Purchasing managers, on the other hand, are in charge of the more complex and critical construction material purchases and handles a team of purchasing agents. C. Production Safety Planning Production safety planning is a necessary function indicated in the Code. In most construction companies this process is often very difficult because of the fast rate of change and the occurrences of unplanned events. Most companies also use several methodologies depending on what the situation demands and the price of the construction materials. Nevertheless, the objectives of the production safety planning do not change: efficiency, effectiveness and safety (Everett, 1999). Production safety planning is being implemented by the Code in order for its activities and resources to be coordinated over time. This enables the construction firm to achieve overall safety in all of its operations with minimal resource utilization. Production safety planning also enables the construction firm to monitor the progress of their safety plans at regular intervals and maintain their control over operations. Production safety planning according to the Code involves four elements: scheduling, labor safety planning, equipment safety planning, and cost planning. <ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Scheduling involves the specification of the beginning, the length or the duration, and end of the planned activities geared towards achieving overall safety within the construction site.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Labor safety planning involves allocating the necessary personnel and delegation of responsibilities and resources to ensure the overall safety of all construction workforces.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Equipment safety planning involves identifying the types and needs in terms of safety of the equipments being used in the construction site. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Cost planning involves determining the costs and the possibility of their occurrence in terms of achieving the overall safety within the construction site.</li> </ul> D. Construction Site Safety Analysis The occurrence of construction site safety analysis within the construction sites of Hong Kong reflects the growing difficulty in the management of most Hong Kong construction firms that require the safe use of valuable construction resources such as money, materials, equipments, and people. This is perhaps the reason why construction site safety analysis is being emphasized in the Code in order to determine the most effective ways to coordinate these resources through the application of analytical methods derived from fields of studies such as mathematics, science, and engineering in order to create the safest construction site possible. Through this process, safety concerns and problems within construction sites are solved in different ways and alternative solutions are then relayed to the construction firm’s management concerned. The management then selects the appropriate course of action in line with their goals. More often than not, construction site safety analysis is concerned with complicated issues such as top-level construction safety strategy, construction safety resource allocation, and designing of production facilities and systems for construction site safety (Gans, 1981). Construction site safety analysis actually may vary according to the structures and philosophy of the construction firm. But according to the Code, it centralizes construction site safety analysis in one department. Construction site safety analysis may also have the possibility of working closely with top level construction site managers in order to identify and solve a variety of safety problems. No matter what the type or structure of the construction company is, construction site safety analysis operates under similar sets of methodologies in order to carry out the analysis to support the construction company’s goal to improve the overall safety of its construction sites. The process is started by the description of the symptoms of a construction safety problem, followed by the formal definition of the problem. For example, a construction site safety analyst might be questioned regarding the most effective safety precaution for every needed part on a production line. Also, the analyst might be asked to determine the optimal number of emergency tools needed to be kept in inventory (Garza et al. 1998). E. Construction Site Engineering The Engineering Department of the construction site determines the best ways to utilize its basic factors of production in the safest ways possible. These resources include the construction site’s people, materials, information, and energy needed in the production. Engineering is the bridge that links the goals of management and safe operational performance. They are concerned with the increase in productivity through the proper management of people and choosing the appropriate methods of construction site organization while maintaining a high level of safety (Hammer, 1989). According to the Code, the construction site’s engineers perform the careful analysis of the construction site’s materials and their requirements as a safety precaution. In this process, they make use of various mathematical methods in its operations research to meet the requirements. They also develop systems of management control in order to aid in the planning of safety precautions and measures in cases of emergency situations. These systems are eventually subjected to improvements for the effective implementation of the safety plans of the construction site. The construction site’s engineers perform the tedious task of selecting which among the various construction site locations have the best combination of raw construction materials availability and safe environment. This time, engineers make use of computers for simulations and robots for controlling various activities and devices. They also are in charge of the development of systems and programs for safety. Critical Construction Site Safety Management Improvement Factors For Hong Kong construction sites to become effectively safe, the following construction site safety management improvement factors are critical: ·        Financial Stability Financial stability is crucial especially in the pursuit of construction site safety management and development activities. In the construction industry, it is important to remain updated with the latest construction site safety management developments to be able to stay competitive in the market. ·        Construction Materials Performance and Price The safety of the construction sites is dependent on well-funded construction safety management and development activities. The safety of the construction sites could also be linked to their cost-effectiveness. However, the construction firm has to be aware of the positioning in terms of process so as to maintain satisfactory profits margin and remain competitive in the market. ·        Safety Strategy and Implementation High construction site safety awareness among the clients has created the need for aggressive lobbying of safety policies, and access to strong distribution channels is critical for the introduction of new safety precautions. Benefits of Efficient Construction Site Safety Management ·        Economies of Scale and Scope in manufacturing and construction site management and development. ·        Unique Quality Construction Sites owing to heavy emphasis on Construction Site Safety Management A construction company’s commitment to construction site safety management & development activities has always been one of the top strategies to remain competitive in the construction market (Hine et al. 1995)       ·        Differentiated Construction Site Safety Strategies Through the production and establishment of different safety strategies originating from the construction site safety management and development activities, the construction company is able to create its own firm-specific advantages. The continuous pursuit of construction site management and development processes enables the company to produce a steady stream of originally different construction site safety strategies which makes it difficult for competitors to find substitutes. Because of this differentiated approach, the construction company is able to strengthen their construction sites, which enables them in turn to maximize the returns on construction site safety management and development expenditures. SYNTHESIS Deriving from the analysis between the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision in Hong Kong, operations management and capabilities of the winery involved, many strategic options would become imperative. It is therefore essential to evaluate these strategic options as to whether they are appropriate to the issues addressed, whether they are feasible enough to be implemented and their acceptability to key stakeholders. There is definitely a need to reconcile both the inside-out and outside-in capabilities of the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision of Hong Kong. While the code’s construction site safety management involves focusing on its core competencies with construction site position following its resource base, the construction firms of Hong Kong that will follow this will be put into a disadvantageous position should they choose to neglect both the macro as well as the construction environment. Therefore, construction firms in Hong Kong have to be aware of the latest construction site safety management changes, as well as changes in political, economic, legal and even demographic trends in order to develop the outside-in capabilities, such as market sensing, customer linking, channel bonding and technology monitoring (1997). The advantages enjoyed by most Hong Kong construction firms may come in the form of increased revenues. Knowing what the market demands and the latest construction site safety trends could help these construction firms fully exploit their research and development capabilities to come out with construction site safety strategies and measures which are not only cost-effective but also high in quality. The strategic option can even be used as marketing tool where the focus is on staying close to the construction firm’s clients and listening to their feedbacks. On the flip side of the coin, there will be huge mobilization of resources involved, and the associated risks bestowed on the construction firms of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the mentioned strategic option seems the most practical in the wake of globalization, since there is a sudden shift towards a more integrated and independent construction industry in Hong Kong. The key stakeholders too should not have any objections so long as the construction firm’s core business and construction site safety strategies are not threatened. By virtue of most Hong Kong construction firms’ centralized control of their construction site safety strategies, it is being expected that major barriers should not exist in carrying out such an option except additional time may be required given the scope and span of the construction firm’s operations. Understanding the strategic importance of the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision of Hong Kong is something that all construction firms have to be familiar with. Construction firms in Hong Kong normally practice a centralized and globally scaled configuration of construction site safety operations and capabilities. This allows information dissemination to be retained.   RECOMMENDATIONS A tie-up or merger with various local construction firms in Hong Kong offers tremendous benefits in terms of access to their construction site safety management policies, infrastructure and even their resources. However, every independent construction firm must not lose sight of their core competencies while pursuing these tie-ups. Otherwise, the image of every construction firm in Hong Kong might be put in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the collaboration of construction firms in Hong Kong with their major competitors can be seen as a ridiculous move at first.  However, upon close examination, this move could pave the way for Hong Kong construction firms to improve even more their construction site safety management policies and strategies. The bottom line is both sides would be able significantly gain in such an alliance. Hong Kong construction firms’ strengths in construction site development combined with the construction site safety management capabilities of their competitors can transform them suddenly into an unbeatable force to reckon with. One possible setback, however, is the differences in the cultures of the construction firms involved. Another possible setback could be whether any of Hong Kong construction firm’s competitors has the need to form alliances. The third option also focuses on alliances, but this time with either one of the leading organizations specializing in construction site safety management. The benefits of these alliances should outweigh the costs in the long run. In terms of appropriateness, all three options are able to directly address the current issues mentioned. However, the question remains whether construction firms in Hong Kong could be able to implement any of these options, and whether these options can be acceptable to the key stakeholders. Any merger or alliances may also involve the sharing of expertise. Hong Kong construction firms have traditionally relied on the inside-out approach. It is important to note that any merger transactions would have many implications on the construction firm’s values and culture as well as the resources. The key stakeholders definitely would be concerned with such options and need to be convinced of the positive aspects. Somehow, Hong Kong construction firms will be able to overcome this barrier in managing strategic changes in the process of implementing any of the above mentioned strategic options. CONCLUSION The results of the analysis carried out on the Code of Practices for Site Safety Supervision in Hong Kong indicated very significant effects, even amidst the threats of unrest. Therefore, we could conclude that this Code could still be expected to improve faster than average. The review of the Code’s construction site safety management capabilities and resources revealed very little inconsistencies regarding the strategies of most Hong Kong construction firms. This is coherent with their traditional inside-out approach. However, the need to reconcile both the inside-out and outside-in approaches becomes imperative now for these construction firms. The analysis among the Hong Kong construction industry environment as well as the construction site safety management and capabilities of their construction firms revealed certain gaps, most of which are biased towards the environment. However, these gaps paved the way towards determining a number of recommended strategic options to secure the competitiveness of these construction firms. Also, the construction firms of Hong Kong have to find a balance between adherence to internal forces within the management and to the changing forces of the environment in order to implement such strategic construction site safety options. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Knowledge of Safety Management

OBJECTIVES As a person with knowledge of safety management in construction, the author has always brought up to his superiors the viabil...

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

OBJECTIVES As a person with knowledge of safety management in construction, the author has always brought up to his superiors the viabil...

Sample Dissertation Introduction on the Challenges and Accountabilities in carrying out Professional Obligations in the Medical Field

Introduction   In the medical field, there are several dilemmas that personnel such as doctors and nurses encounter in their daily tasks. These dilemmas challenge their moral and ethical fibre as well as their concerns of accountability in carrying out their professional obligations to their patients. This paper will look into the ethical dilemmas and issues of accountability that is associated with the role provided for by registered nurses. According to Dunscombe (2000), a Registered Nurse is trained to cooperate with medical practitioners such as surgeons and health care teams in order to carry out safe medical processes with the most favourable outcomes for their clients. However, in engaging in these kinds of activities, the RNs are required to have the prescribed knowledge, capability, and the common sense necessary for clinical practice. For clarity and coherence, the discussions in this paper will be divided into several sections that would individually discuss the specific topics under consideration. Moreover, at the end of the discussions, the author will provide a summation and eventually provide a conclusion regarding the discussions presented throughout the body of the paper.    Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Dissertation Introduction on the Challenges and Accountabilities in carrying out Professional Obligations in the Medical Field

Introduction In the medical field, there are several dilemmas that personnel such as doctors and nurses encounter in their daily task...

Cirrus SR20 Safety Program

Cirrus SR20 Safety Program             The SR20 is equipped with Cirrus Design’s Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System, a large parachute which can be deployed in an emergency to lower the entire aircraft to the ground safely.  Notwithstanding a number of fatal accidents before, the SR20 is certified by European Aviation Safety Agency, making it the first aircraft to achieve such certification.  What is so amazing about this aircraft is the newly-employed integral emergency parachute, CAPS (Cirrus Airframe Parachute System) which is common to most Cirrus planes.  This system is incredibly controlled by pilot in command that continues resisting gravity even after an airframe failure.  Additionally, CAPS provides a new option in all potentially life-threatening situations; save fire, in the event of an engine-out, mid-air collision, and even fuel starvation.  It offers an option in the bluest VMC to the worst IMC.              Main features of the SR20 safety system include an engine firewall that slopes under the fuselage enabling the belly to act like a toboggan and dissipates energy in a crash.  Furthermore, the four seats are crashworthy and are fitted with 4-point belts.  There’s a crush zone between the floor and the belly.  To reduce the chance or severity of impact during a crash, the instrument panel is set far forward and controllers are off to the sides.  The one of a kind safety feature is encased in a small canister hidden behind the rear baggage shelf.              A front-seat occupant can pull hard on a T-handle if in case the SR20 experiences terrible problems thus activating a 700-newton-second rocket motor that propels a 35-pound Kevlar parachute from its sheath in 1 ½ seconds.  This machine will, without a doubt, be certified by the FAA certification in addition to that of European Aviation Safety Agency certification.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Cirrus SR20 Safety Program

Cirrus SR20 Safety Program The SR20 is equipped with Cirrus Design’s Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System, a large parachute whic...

Rural food safety aweraness

Rural Food Safety Awareness and (1999) have asserted that, “food is critical contributor to physical well-being and major source of pleasure, worry and stress” as the consumers are faced with range of competitively priced food products of consistently high quality. Thus, every food item must be safe, pleasing, good tasting, and consistent with the product image. Variations within the same batch or between batches of product must be kept to a minimum since consumers interpret them as an indication of production faults. The instrumentation and food safety practices are of central importance, with particular emphasis on high sanitary and hygienic operating standards.  and (1993) have noted “food safety as the inverse of food risk, probability of not suffering some hazard from consuming specific food. Potential undesirable residues in foods span a broad range, from natural and environmental contaminants, veterinary drugs, growth promoters, packaging components, and many more. According to  (1999), “microbiological considerations are an even greater challenge to safety of food because potentially harmful micro organisms have the ability either to grow rapidly from very low numbers in food or to proliferate in the human body once ingested”. Food safety is high profile issue facing consumers, agricultural marketers, farmers and governments, lost productivity from food borne illnesses per year. There incidents involving range of products create adverse publicity and result in negative images of the food sector Rwanda consumers are exposed to stories in the media cataloguing food safety incidents from around the world. Food safety is one of the most important issues facing primary producers, marketers and government during 1990s and consumer concerns with regards to food safety of the food they eat has been increasing over the years. Food safety issues have become an increasingly important non-tariff barrier in international trade.   and  (1991) argue that invisible hazards and imperfect information cause substantial losses to all participants in the food chain. The latter believe that there is a need for improved physical, biological and economic data on food safety risks to be available to consumers, producers, processors and regulators. and  (1995) have advocated food industry policy of educating consumers as remedy for flawed perceptions about food safety. Thus, harmonization of international food safety standards is an important issue that is not likely to be completely resolved in future as there could add development of new technologies that make the measurement of chemical residue levels easier.  (2003), indicated that, “issue of food safety in Africa is one which interacts with and is frequently subjugate to issues of food security, especially in geographic areas where food shortages are caused by recurrent natural weather phenomena such as drought. In addition, many subsistence farming communities in Africa are reliant on the consumption of home grown crops, irrespective of the quality considerations normally applied in the developed world”. He further noted that, “some African governments have instituted food safety regulations to control mycotoxin, especially aflatoxin, contamination of the national food supply and research into natural occurrence of aflatoxins in a range of local foods is widely conducted” ( 2003). Ideally, food quality is of increasing importance in contemporary Rwanda as some of their food producers, retailers and government institutions are engaged in an attempt to reassure consumers that their food is of high quality and safe to consume. Yet, the concept of ‘quality’ is one which is contested, constructed and represented differently by diverse actors operating within a variety of regulatory and market arenas. There emerges that, despite new regulatory frameworks and consumer concerns, producers usually define quality in terms of product specification and attraction rather than through official certification schemes or association with region of origin. Rural food safety awareness as well as food quality works well as there are regulations known as well as constructed within the context of maintaining stable relationships between producers and buyers. Furthermore, marketing is based on low cost methods which demand high personal input of time and energy from the entrepreneur. Food safety awareness and quality should be understood as contested notion which is constructed by actors attempting to build stable and lasting networks between themselves and others within the market arena. Fresh food products have a high income elasticity of demand and few traditional trade barriers in high income markets. There can be challenges and issues in meeting food safety standards and kinds of issues that arise from those products, role of farm to table approaches and hazard analysis critical control points in ensuring safety as well as the role of Rwanda’s public sector upon facilitating food business trade as well as the potential role of food safety agreement in resolving disputes and determining equivalency of rural food standards between high and low income Rwanda residents. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Rural food safety aweraness

Rural Food Safety Awareness and (1999) have asserted that, “food is critical contributor to physical well-being and major source of ple...

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES   Introduction             Intelligent devices, automated applications, and wireless solutions are creating an environment in which organizations and businesses can transact anywhere, and anytime. In the general sense, computer and communications technology such as the internet, mobile phones, and emails among other things enhance productivity rather than decrease it. Today, computer and communications technology handle many processes with unerring skill. You simply type, click, or utter what you want to be done, and a program takes care of it. A touch of a button can do many things. A single call could formalize a deal. A simple click on a keyboard could send a letter thousands of miles away. One could really say that the world has in a way become smaller and individuals can do more things at a shorter time. Indeed, for sheer convenience advancing technology has given many workers an advantage. Some companies who were once slow-paced and conservative industries undergo tremendous changes at the turn of the millennium, sparked largely by the rapid changes in its environment. This is largely attributed to the increasing use of technology. However, the debate as to whether technology aids or distracts worker productivity still abounds. Numerous studies have already been done on this subject. There is also the issue of employee safety with the advent of technology use in organizations and businesses. These issues will be the topic of this paper.   Context Just like many aspects of today’s corporate world, safety and well-being at work are everyone’s responsibility. And being safe is not limited to the basics, like lifting, avoiding slips, trips, and falls, especially now that technology has changed many ways in the workplace. Safety is about overall increased awareness; it’s about helping employees focus on the task at hand so that they are working at 100 percent maximum efficiency; it’s about providing a work culture that helps employees become relaxed, focused, comfortable and injury free. Only when workers are not distracted from pain, discomfort, and even technologies can true efficiency and productivity begin (2001). Safety and productivity are indeed bound together. Some experts say technologies such as computers have made great strides in almost every nation and economy’s productivity by automating menial tasks, letting people communicate more easily with e-mail and putting mountains of information within a mouse click of the desktop personal computer (1997). Technology is now focusing on pure productivity outcomes, helping organizations work smarter, so that ultimately everyone can all work less yet produce more  (2003). However, there are still many questions that abound at present if technologies such as computers and other communication tools really do aid in worker productivity or just simply distract them.             Statistics show that computers play an essential role in boosting productivity. For instance, all industries that use computers most intensively experienced dramatic increases in labor productivity between 1973 and 1991. Even the computer industry had substantial productivity gains in the 1980s, accounting for one-third of total factor productivity for the entire economy. In contrast, productivity growth in sectors that have not invested heavily in computers has been sluggish (1998). However, technology can also affect employee’s safety. Every firm uses technology, people and the work site to generate a product or service. These factors interact when a process is undertaken. The problem happens when technology suffers wear and tear, and the physical environment becomes unstable or untidy, and infrastructure corrodes. Each time a process is carried out, deviations may occur that have the potential to introduce additional hazards. Workers also experience degradation in the form of fatigue, variable vigilance/concentration or loss of physical capacity ( 2002). If the firm’s processes were standardized, its technology, infrastructure and processes have low levels of residual risk and low tendencies toward degradation in the short term. If, however, its work force is inexperienced, there is potential for suboptimal interaction between workers and other system factors. This can lead to deviations from standardized tasks, inefficient operation of technology and poor housekeeping, posing safety risks to the workers.             On the organization level, technology is now an embedded part of virtually every business and increasing affordability, driven by standardization (2003). The introduction of increased processing power of hardware, along with complementary software and telecommunications infrastructure, facilitated the enhanced ability to store, retrieve, analyze, and communicate data and information within organizations, between organizations and their partners and suppliers, and, finally, to the ultimate consumer (2002).             Computer systems do assist organizations and companies in many ways, and one major benefit is increased productivity. However, this is easier said than done. Everyone in the company has the responsibility of doing their share. Managers on their part must understand the system themselves to be able to adequately supervise their employees. They should not only educate the employees how to use the equipment but also show them how it affects the overall work process. Understanding of the whole process of automation brought about by technology is essential.             Although this is automation, there is still a need for standards to integrate technology, a need to decide who is responsible for governance of customer information that is part of enterprise data, and a need for “resiliency” in a company’s operations and systems ( 2003). Such integration will help drive productivity.             The challenge for business owners is to identify the technologies that will drive costs down, increase sales and productivity, and help them to stay ahead of the competition. The trick is to understand which ones are right for their time; which ones are ahead of their time ; and which over-hyped technologies may never have their time (2003). Organizations and businesses cannot just utilize any technology, they have to select that which will be beneficial for them.             Economists also agree that technology, and particularly information technology, is important in raising productivity growth an economy. The role of information technology in increasing the overall productivity of some nation’s economy is now being widely recognized ( 2003). The effect of technology on a larger scale always would start at the bottom. This increase in productivity at the top level would not have become if not for the individuals who also use technologies and are themselves productive. On the individual level like the employee, to be aided or to be distracted by the internet is a choice which is of the worker’s own. If one has the willpower to do work in spite of the many things other than work that could be done on the internet, then the internet is a tool that can speed up a worker’s performance and increase his or her productivity. On the other hand, if the worker chooses to play an online game or chat over the internet instead of doing work, then the internet is a distraction to the worker and can decrease productivity. Greater levels of productivity will be achieved with seamless integration between the input/output device and the user’s chosen office application programmes. However, the benefits brought about by computers and communication tools are not without drawbacks and problems. Even if the employee is bent on doing work, if there are safety and privacy problems regarding the technology used, then more likely the employee cannot get the work done. As already mentioned at the start of the paper, one pressing problem is the safety of employees. To solve this problem, programs have to be designed. Human resource managers can devise recruitment and selection, training and reward systems that develop worker competencies and promote a safety culture, thereby reducing risks within the human resources system factor. Environmental specialists should be involved in monitoring the physical site for residual risks such as the stability of a toxic waste tailings dam and prevention of entropy caused by such business processes (2002). This problem on safety and privacy could occur not only on physical locations, but also over the internet. One has already heard of instances where information over the internet is stolen or a computer which has shut down because of a virus. Destructive virus attacks either front within a network or from the Web are a serious problem that can lead to computer downtime and lost worker productivity, potentially costing a company thousands of dollars per episode (2004). This situation is an issue of safety of using the internet which could affect the overall productivity of a company.             One effective method of protecting a business virtual private network is to set up a multilayered system consisting of virus protection software on each computer that works locally and a perimeter system that protects the network (corporate or main office and remote offices) at the edges from all incoming attacks over the Internet or from an infected disk file that is uploaded on any networked computer (2004).             Sometimes, the use of software can also significantly help in increasing a company’s productivity. In business today most of the serious productivity gains are being realized through the deployment of new generation business software programs, many of which necessitate a change of mindset for business managers ( 2003). Companies should therefore consider purchasing software in order to significantly enhance productivity rather than using freeware alternatives. Some software provides the ability to fax and/or email work orders to any or all designated recipients within a company. During a project, users can call, create and fax or print out punch lists for a single worker, the whole project or all workers on all jobs and then follow up any punch list item with a work order. Because all data in the application is stored in a central location within the program, all technicians or other employees with access to a network computer can view schedules, work orders or contact information at any time, thus making work easier and faster for everyone in the company.             Additional software are also available to ensure safety of information. These can prevent attacks of virus or stealing of information from the company’s network of computers. Some of the software use the Internet and deploys multifaceted protection from viruses, worms and break-ins by providing firewall, URL filtering, virus screening, spare filtering and other technologies. It protects against complex viruses, also called blended threats, which package several standalone viruses into an extremely elusive attack vehicle.             With all the buzz about technology and automation, one must always remember that people are still needed. Computers and other technologies are not enough to compensate for the people who do the jobs. There are many companies and organizations would use technology to automate a certain function or to eliminate a certain job. But the most productive and highly valued companies do more than just take the hardware out of the box. They use information technology and keep their people to reinvent their business processes from top to bottom. Leaders and managers who just sit back and assume that improvement will come from technology alone are setting themselves and their organizations up for failure.   Conclusion Computer and communications technology enhance productivity rather than decrease it, both on the individual and cumulatively in the organizational level. Technologies like computers and other communication devices have revolutionized the way of work, making employees better informed, more responsive, and plain more productive. However, technology also has safety issues which could be detrimental to the employee and even the entire organization. Technologies can pose safety hazards to employees. A file stolen from the organization’s computer database or a computer infected with a virus could significantly affect the organization’s productivity. This is, however, not without a solution. Managers could design programs that help employees avoid hazards brought about by the use of technology. Softwares are also available which could help prevent virus attacks and guard online privacy. It is essential to distinguish that these technology standards don’t produce volume. It is the people that produce volumes. The process is to supply people with information and technology. They will use it and produce more with the aid of technologies. Within an organization, computers and other technologies alone cannot drive an increase in productivity. People are still irreplaceable. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES

SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES Introduction Intelligent devices, automated applications, and wireless solutions are crea...