KJ Results Barriers to improving worker safety in developing countries

1
KJ Results Barriers to improving worker safety
in developing countries

• October 28, 2004
• Deba Sen, William Herris, Rick Hilton,
• Ken Scheel, Mike Kelly, Sheila Nichols, Marilyn
  Schullo

KJ Results Barriers to improving worker
safety.ppt
2
Economic Maturity
2 10 pts
Political Environment
Pressure to Be competitive In the global
Economy (low Cost countries)
Regulatory Environment
Economic Environment
Stage of Economic development
Short term focus Governments and Management
put a strong emphasis on Keeping labor costs
Low vs. calculating The long term costs due To
lost productivity, Health care, etc.
associated With occupational Illness and injury
Regulatory influence Is non-existent in Most
emerging countries
The economic Condition in the country
Maturity of Industrialization In the country
not Mature enough Still in the heady Days of
growth
Expertise in Formulating Appropriate Standards
does Not exist
Lack of Government will
Even if regulations Are in place Meaningful
Enforcement is Step 2
3
Power Imbalance Between Worker Authority
1 13 pts
Workers Inability to Challenge Current
safety practices
Low human value
Isolation of Workers due to infrastructure
The attitude that Promotes a low Value of
human Life and health
Difficulty of reach To the most needy Far
flung work sites Not connected by internet
Workers fear Reprisals if they Request
safety Equipment or Question safety practices
Social responsibility And good corporate Citizensh
ip are not Common in some countries
Infrastructure to Communicate safety Is very small
Lack of legal Recourse for Unsafe practices
Availability of Cheap labor Trained too
4
Safety Awareness
3 3 pts
3 3 pts
Worker Awareness of the Value of Safety
Worker Education Levels
Hazard Awareness
Worker education Levels often limit Their ability
to comprehend some of the more complex Areas of
safety such as Respiratory protection
Grassroots level Awareness about Benefits of
safety
The perception of Risk hazard I.D. Is
frequently Very low
Education on proper Protection (wearing Something
vs. the Right thing)
In developing countries, Workers often very poor
under-educated so Lack awareness Leverage
to demand Safe environment
The lack of Understanding as To the need
for Worker safety
5
Safety is a Cost
Perceived low Value of safety
No money to Pay for products
Countries often Use outdated Equipment (paid
for) In combination with low Cost labor
safeguards are usually missing or inadequate
Training of workers Is seen as a cost Loss of
productivity
Safety items are Seen only as Expense items
Cost of products vs. wage level
Perceived lack of Value vs. price paid For
quality safety products
Employees do not View safety as a Priority that
will help Their business
6
Safety Resources
Safety Expertise Availability
Product Appropriateness
There are few Trained safety Professionals
Especially industrial hygienists
The lack of product services that can Be used
to provide A more safe work environment
There are few Professional Organizations
that Foster safety
Safety products lack Comfort or
productivity Factors that would drive
increased usage
Lack of technical product assistance vs. need
of the population
7
Impressions, Implications, and Conclusions

• First thing that has to happen is to have an
  economic environment that supports enlightened
  government and management. Can that be
  driven/anticipated/modeled?
• There is a vacuum between authority and worker
  can a private industry fill that vacuum?
• Private industry is crucial to the economic
  development/condition of a country. Can this be
  a condition of government?
• Is there an economic model that makes sense for
  all areas no matter which stage of government
  role of life?
• Can we accelerate awareness to offset economic
  and value of life limitations?
• 1 4 represent where we are on the continuum,
  2, 3 5 represent acceleration up
  the continuum.
• Roles/relationships between private industries at
  NGOs.
• 3M and benchmark companies lead by example and
  drive behavioral change through outsourcing and
  suppliers (transference of culture).
• Understanding societal context between where you
  are and where you going.