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Table of Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................3 Careers ...................................................................................................................................... 4-5 Norms.................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Regulations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Safety, Health and Welfare ..................................................................................................... 8-9

Handling Hazardous Materials ...............................................................................................10

Personal Protective Equipment ................................................................................................11 Dust/Fumes and Noise………………………………………………………….............................................12

Legal approach to safety, health and welfare……………………………………………………….…13 Introduction to computer/processing…………………………………………………………………….14

Impact of technology of careers…………………………………………………………………………..15

Summary…………………………………………………………………………………..…17

Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………..18-21

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Introduction

This report is based on Safety, Health and Welfare of workers at a hardware store. It is important that the workers at the hardware store are safe and are in proper health conditions to perform their day to day tasks. In spite of the Safety and Health of workers, proper welfare conditions must be provided for the workers. An interview and a questionnaire were used to collect data on the above topic, and the responses were presented in charts and photographs.

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Careers Based on the respondents answers there are many variations of careers at the hardware store. These include:

Truck driver Inventory clerk Receptionist Cashiers Sales representatives Porters Janitors

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The Pie chart below shows the most popular careers at the hardware store.

48.85%

28.57%

28.57%

Pie Chart Showing Most Populated Careers

Sales RepresentativesDriverPortor

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Norms

According to respondent’s answers the following Norms are followed by the company.

No work on Public Holidays and on Sundays. On arrival workers must sign their names in a log book. Workers must be punctual at all times.

Times allotted are as follows:

8:00am – 4:000pm – a day’s work 11:30am – 12:30pm – lunch break 4:00pm – end of day A regular working day would be 8 hours.

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Regulations

The workers at the hardware store are guided by specific regulations set by the company’s manager. There are also regulations set by the State regarding the safety of workers.

Regulations are as follows:

1. Safety procedures in and around the state must be followed. 2. Leaving work before work hours is prohibited. 3. Workers should promptly be on task at scheduled time. 4. Workers should always wear protective gear such as gloves when handling hefty objects.

These codes/regulations were expected to be followed by the members of the company. Any violation of these principles committed, the violator would be regarded as unprofessional and unethical.

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Safety Health and Welfare Moral Approach to Safety Health and Welfare

Good workers recognize and acknowledge a need for safety. While at the job they are familiar with the fact that accident can happen easily and that these accidents results in total or partial disabilities.

Based on the respondent’s answers most safety, health and welfare rules were not followed by the workers but others were taken seriously.

This part of my report will include the following:

1. Clothing- Most of the workers at the hardware store wore appropriate safety clothing. Most of the workers wore steel-toe shoes but on several occasions wore sneakers. Workers also wore safety gloves when necessary.

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2. Working Conditions- This refers to the tidiness and cleanliness and also orderliness of the hardware store. If the working environment is clean and neat, workers should show a positive attitude towards the job. Convenient working conditions includes: Proper ventilation Proper sanitation facilities

100% (percent) of workers said that there is proper ventilation and proper sanitation facilities at the store.

Building materials and supplies such as cement and lumber are stored in sheds free from moisture. Lumber is stacked on shelves while cement is stacked in bays. These materials are parked accordingly to allow aisles and walkways to be cleared to prevent accidents.

Photograph of cement stored in shed. Photograph of lumber parked on shelf.

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Handling Hazardous Materials

Based on the respondent’s answer workers do not use hazardous materials at the hardware store, but on several occasions they are exposed to saw dust particles when cutting treated timber. Dust mask are rarely used by the workers when sawing timber.

First Aid

A basic first aid kit allows workers to address medical issues before rushing to the emergency room. First aid kits are used to treat minor injuries, but vital items were not present in the kit. The items in the first aid kit should be adequate to treat a wound. The First aid kit should have at least these basic items:

Adhesive bandages Antibiotic ointment Antiseptic wipe packs Roller bandage

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Pair of scissors Non latex gloves Breathing barrier Absorbent compress dressing

Fire Protection

Workers do not have applicable understanding of fire hazards. Fire extinguishers are placed near areas where it possible to have a fire and could be clearly seen. Based on the respondent’s answers, fire drills are not practiced at the hardware store. There are also no signs posted on wall to direct workers to emergency escape routes to remind them exactly where to go in case of a fire.

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Personal Protective Equipment

Based on what the respondent’s said. Many workers ware safety equipment to protect their feet and hands. On some occasions the workers do not wear protective equipment where there is a possibility of falling objects. Workers ware dusk mask to when working around saw dust particles and most time when handling damage cement, but some workers ware handkerchief or rags over their mouth and noise during these processes.

The pie chart above shows the most popular safety gear worn.

70%

15%

15%

Most popular safety gear Worn

Steel toe shoesGlovesDust Mask

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Dust and Fumes According to the respondents there is no accumulation of dust and fumes in and around the hardware store. Because of proper ventilation the workers at the hardware store are not affected by any dust or fumes.

Noise The respondents said that noise is not a major problem at the hardware store. Noise does not bother the workers, preventing them from doing their work.

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Legal Approach Handling Safety Health and Welfare

100% of respondents say that the company does not have any legal polices which govern the welfare of the workers at the store whether formed by state or company. The company also does not have any form of insurance for workers who get injured while at work. No allowances would be given to the workers if they were involved in any serious accidents.

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Introduction to Computer/Processing

Computers were introduced into the company in the year 2006. The introduction of computer has a great influence on the development of the company. Some workers are able to do their job faster and more accurate with the computer. Computers have now made work easier for accountants and sales representatives. Though the introduction of computer has had a great influence on the development of the company 42% of the respondents say that technology does not have any effect on their career.

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Impact of Technology on Careers/Society

Companies today that use computer technology in their business have met increased competition. Technology has a positive impact on careers such as sales representatives. It has made the process of sales quicker. Also it has the made the process of making overseas calls easier via E-mail. It has also made accountants keep track of financial information e.g. quick books.

The pie chart above shows areas which are benefited since the introduction to computers.

CommunitcationMarketingsalesAccounting

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Summary

Major Findings

- The introduction of technology has developed the company. - Most workers were concerned about health but didn’t follow precautions during

operation. - Workers are in proper working conditions. - Not much is done about the safety and welfare of the workers.

Recommendations

- Workers should follow safety precautions and take them seriously during operations. - The manager should give allowances to workers if they got injured and insurance

coverage for the workers.

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Appendix This is a copy of the questionnaire used to collect the information.

Instructions: Use a tick to answer the closed ended questions (Yes/No) and use the lines provided to answer the open ended questions.

1. Do workers practice emergency drills at the Hardware store?

2. Are there fire extinguishers at the store?

3. Do the workers use safety equipment when handling certain materials such as cement?

4. Are any hazardous materials used at the store?

5. If yes, how are those material handled? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the maximum weight that a worker should carry on his/her own without

the use of a forklift? _______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ 7. What precautions are taken when transporting materials on trucks? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. How are materials such as lumber and cement stored?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Is there a provision and accommodation of medical facilities for workers?

10. Is there proper ventilation at the store?

11. Are there regular health checkups for workers?

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

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12. 12. Are workers provided with proper sanitation facilities?

13. How long would a regular working day be?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Is there Lunch breaks for workers at the Hardware Store?

13. 15. Does the company have legal policies which govern the welfare of workers at the

store whether formed by state or company?

16. List three (3) Norms/Codes which are followed by the company?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. Regulations that are set by the manager?

[ ] Workers must be punctual at all times. [ ] Loitering on the premises during the work hours is prohibited. [ ] Safety procedures in and around the store must be followed. [ ] Leaving work before work hours is prohibited.

Other

_____________________________________________________________________

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

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18. Are there any allowances given to workers if they were involved in any serious accidents?

19. Is there any form of insurance for workers who get injured while at work?

20. Has the introduction of technology have any effect on the careers at the store?

21. If Yes state two (2) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. List five(4) available careers at the store ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

23. Which career has more workers? _____________________________________________________________________

24. Are workers at the store computer literate?

25. In what year was Computers introduced?

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

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_______________________________________________________________________

26. Is the store secured after working hours?

.

Yes No

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