SECTION A: HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 2015 60 MARKS
1. For organisations in the transportation and logistics sector, discuss why the management of workplace fatigue is a critical health and safety issue. Explain how transport and logistics organisations could implement the Plan-Do-Check-Act risk management framework to manage workplace fatigue effectively. [40 marks| Word limit: 1200 words]
Fatigue is a significant factor in worker performance. And also it is a risky condition in the working environment. The level to which an employee is inclined to fatigue is also related to workload who does. For instance, work that requires consistent consideration will improve the danger of fatigue. And also the performance of the fatigued workers may be less effective and less efficient than others. Safety and productivity in the working environment are closely connected with health of the workers. So that fatigue can reduce health and safety at work.
The organizations in the transport and logistics sector is directly involved with moving goods and services from one point to another destination in the country. So that the possibility for the occurrence of life losses and dangerous accidents are very high.
There are many components at both; in the work environment and out of working environment which can impact fatigue levels of the workers in the transportation and logistics sector. According to the Association of Industrial Psychiatry of India, causes of fatigue can be categorized under three major aspects. They are Physical Reasons, Mental Reasons and Environmental Reasons (Causes of Fatigue-Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 2015).
More importantly, the shift work and over time work create physical fatigue issues. This basically means working after the normal fixed day time and working in extended working hours. Large number of consecutive shifts, amplified hours and night shifts create tiredness and it might have a negative influence on the performance of the employees. Which may create low sleep and lack of rest among the workers as well. Similarly, irregular shift work creates both mental and physical fatigue issues in the transportation and logistics sector. Employees who work according to the irregular shifts face more prominent work-family strife, and once in a while encounter more noteworthy work fatigue (Golden, 2015).
Build up a framework to control the risks of shift work involving; employees, safety representatives, unions and senior managers is an essential thing. Where the each employees should have an individual responsibility to contribute. Identify the harmed worked group by the shift work and identifying the particular risk which the staff members are exposed is vital when preparing the framework. Important factors for example keep away the permanent night shifts, figuring out the workers who cannot adapt to the night shifts, entering suitable rest intervals between shifts and preparing slowly rotating shifts at least 2 week period, should be taken in to consideration while prepare the framework. And then it should be analyzed based on the employee feed backs at least two weeks of time for the improvements (Managing shiftwork-Health Guidance, 2009).
Another essential point is lack of sleep and interruptions of sleep patterns. Physical body reply to the loss of sleep or low rest creates various weaknesses in the human body and several safety related consequences. As the solutions, allocating a fixed waking up time with a dark, calm room, continuing physical exercises, refraining from nicotine and alcohol before the bed time are suggested (Steven E Lerman, Evamaria Eskin, David J Flower, Eugenia C George,Benjamin Gerson, Natalie Hartenbaum, Steven R Hursh, Martin Moore-Ede, 2012). This sleep related problems can be monitored by keeping a sleeping diary to record sleeping times and the waking up time. Then the approximate sleeping time can be easily calculated. Then the stress level is possible to analyze through the continuous communication with the workers. If the sleeping issues are still remains, then the counselling or sleeping therapy programs should be introduced.
Lack of fitness is another physical fatigue. This can be occurred due to the various illnesses, nutritional disorders, obesity, and chronic diseases. Conducting health promotion programs among the employees to educate about the good health, would improve the knowledge on the grounds of healthy life. And also conducting health clinics in the work place may improve the fitness of the employee. By maintaining a health card which includes the medical history of the employees, the organization is able to monitor about the staff member’s diseases and health related factors. Those cards show whether the worker is strong enough to do the particular task. And then it is very easy to figure out the health related issues and go for the improvements.
Some workers do tasks that are highly repetitive. Which frequently requires both mental and physical powers. So the repetitive work contributes to both mental and physical tiredness (Tomei G, 2006). So that the separating the routine, share the duties among the others as indicated by the shift schedules, apportion breaks between the tasks can be suggested for decreasing this repetitive issues. A Job card is much helpful for mitigating this issue. Through which, it is much easier to track the priorities of the work and job applications. And also the necessary updates can be implemented. For example providing proper training opportunities for employee to do several tasks on behalf of repeating the same task.
In the same way, unreasonable targets may create various mental fatigue among the employees. Large workloads in the transportation and logistics sector, pressure-filled deadlines, unachievable targets from bosses are major reasons for this. Improving time management, reducing workload, segmentation of tasks according to the time schedules, continuous communications with the peers and bosses may reduce these issues. Screening the transportation planning schedules and identifying the issues, will reduce the workload. Continuous monthly performance evaluation and auditing are the best method to monitor issues.
Co-worker relationship is an equally important thing in the working environment. Positive relationship among the co-workers build up great bonds with positive emotions while negative relationships contribute to the mental fatigue. Since the transportation and logistics companies have the wide variety of workers, connections among the workers is fundamental thing. Practicing regular cordiality , practicing friendly communication methods, respecting other people’s time, treating each co-workers the same way and completing the tasks involving others, are excellent practices which ensure the positive relationships among the co-workers (Matteson, 2013).The management team can supervise the relationships of the co-workers and highlight the weaknesses through group assignments. Holding team motivational programs per month will help to continuously improve the team work strengths.
Obstacles for decisional independence is another matter of the mental fatigue in an organization. This issue is created when the employees do not have the opportunity to make decisions or present new ideas. Establishing a separate file for a collection of new ideas in order to evaluate, is a good solution. The appreciation and rewarding the employees for the new, valuable ideas is highly valuable and it would contribute the continuous development of the organization.
Light, noise, humidity and temperature are the key environmental reasons for the workplace fatigue (Steven E Lerman, Evamaria Eskin, David J Flower, Eugenia C George,Benjamin Gerson, Natalie Hartenbaum, Steven R Hursh, Martin Moore-Ede, 2012).Light levels in the warehouses should be adequate for the execution of the required duties without threats. Higher noise and the higher temperature also creates an unhealthy environment inside the organization. Allocating a separate officer to control these factors would highly support to mitigate the environmental reasons for the fatigue.
In conclusion, fatigue is a serious problem in the transport and logistics organization. Above mentioned causes clearly emphasize the reasons for the fatigue and the effective solutions with the improvements for them.
2. Discuss how organisations ensure worker engagement and participation in an organisation’s health and safety initiatives. [20 marks| Word limit: 600 words]
As indicated by the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, Health and safety at work is gone for the advancement and upkeep of the most astounding level of physical, mental and social prosperity of workers in all occupations. (The link between productivity and health and safety at work , 2013).Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and related directions apply to employees and contractors. The Act and related controls require that workers and others are given the largest amount of security from the health and safety in the working environment. The organizations should concentrate on keeping on particular actions to ensure that the all the employees are engaged and participated in the organizational health and safety projects (MINISTRY OF BUSINESS INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT, 2016).
Selecting health and safety representatives, create an intranet site, training a solution focused work group, setting up a suggestion box, surveying workers and involving workers in documentation of the job safety analysis are the best practices for an organization to identify the employee engagements on health and safety initiatives. (Government, 2016)
Initially, the total employees are categorized into the groups by choosing one representative from each group. Then a health and safety committee is established including all the representatives. Hence the strategic level management team have the opportunity to work very closely with the each representatives. So that the employees in the particular group have the chance to communicate their issues with the management team while the management team have the opportunity to monitor, help and sort out health and safety related issues through the representatives.
Additionally, Setting up an intranet site within the organization specifically focusing the health and safety based information, would highly support the organization to investigate the health and safety plans. Through this site, each employee have the chance to update their records daily or weekly.
In the same way, training and developing a solution focused work group would support the organization to monitor and investigate its health and safety related problems. Then, whenever there is an issue, the workers are able to contact the particular group and ask for the solutions and instructions. This team has a responsibility to keep track records of the issues. These records would provide a clear picture about the employee involvement for the health and safety related issues.
Another essential point is, providing employees an opportunity to ask questions, provide feed backs and offer suggestions. A Suggestion box is highly recommended for this. Then workers are able to present written suggestions anonymously. And also the work site meetings, team wise discussions or whole work force discussions may facilitate the organization to make sure the level of employee engagement towards the health and safety initiatives. Therefore the employees could be elucidated about the initiatives while having a chance to communicate with the authorities.
In addition, surveying workers is another best way to recognize the health and safety improvements and best practices inside the organization. Surveying can be done in selecting random samples and allow them to answer for a questionnaire. It can be a written or oral. And also the authorized officers could walk around the workplace for making informal chats with the employees. It may help to identify the understanding about the health and safety initiatives among the workforce.
Organizations generally prepare pre- start documents and job safety analysis to recognize the approaches to distinguish hazards, controls and safe methods for working before an assignment or occupation begins. Involving workers in preparing those documents would provide a chance to the company to measure their previous knowledge on that regard.
In conclusion, each individual in the work place has a moral duty regarding health and safety. Therefore the organization should guarantee that the each employee is involved with it. Above mentioned factors help the organizations to ensure the level of engagement and participation of the workforce with the health and safety practices that have been initiated for improvement of the organization.
SECTION B: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 40 MARKS
1. Examine the relevance of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) for the construction industry in New Zealand. Discuss the factors relating to noise management that a construction company would need to consider in order to comply with the RMA provisions in a mixed-use urban environment. [40 marks| Word limit: 1200 words]
The Resource Management Act (RMA) is a gigantic, and once in a while, flawed Act of Parliament of New Zealand, approved in 1991. The RMA advances the sensible association of standard and physical assets, for example, land, air and water. New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment portrays the RMA as New Zealand’s key foundation for trademark association. Which is the main statutory arranging administration to consolidate the rule of sustainability (Resource Management Act 1991, n.d.).Under s31 of RMA, authorities of the territory have the essential obligation regarding dealing with the impacts of noise mitigation (Plan Topics-Noise Management in Mixed Use Urban Environment, 2013).The key aspects discussed under this essay is the variables identifying with noise management that a development organization would need to consider keeping in mind the end goal to consent to the RMA arrangements in a mixed use urban environment.
Mixed use urban environment is an area, which incorporates both the business and private residential structures (Effects of noise in mixed-use environments, n.d.). A construction company needs to consider about many components under the noise management, when planning to do developments around such an area.
The introduction and the location of the buildings are the most important things that should be initially considered by the construction industries before their constructions in a mixed use urban environment. Commercial buildings that are very near to the residential areas creates huge noise problems. For example if it is a shopping complex or a highly crowded business premise, it might be a less tolerance matter for the residents who are living around, as these premises typically create high clamor. Therefore the purpose of the building for instance whether it is for commercial purpose or residential purpose, is very important to be identified at the beginning. In the event that it is a commercial purpose building, construction companies can give careful consideration to set up it in industrial zones however much as could reasonably be expected. Conversely, if it is a residential purpose building, it is more appropriate to locate close to the available residential area.
Similarly, the location of the land, where the building is going to be established should be analyzed at the beginning. The back ground analysis of the land provides a clear picture of the topography and available noise factors that are already being occurred in the surrounding. Topographic figures, for example earth mounds, rocks and hills are significant determinants for noise management in a mixed use urban area. Because they are good noise barriers. Hence it is more suitable to establish a commercial building beyond a hill or earth mound since they blocks the noise. Sometimes a building can also be constructed as a noise barrier as well. For an instance establishing a new building between a residential site and a factory may reduce the noise.
In the same way, the layouts of the buildings is also a key element. When the lay out of the building is designed, the rooms should be placed on the calm side of the building while the other key categories like kitchens, staircases, dining rooms and bathrooms are located in the noisiest side. And also the walls, windows, doors should be created using the noise control techniques inside the building. The classic steps, for instance application of wall masses and thicknesses, use of cavity partition, using acoustic insulation in the building, fixing sound absorbing materials, putting airspace with of the walls, implementing stud spacing and sealed cracks with edges and sound absorbing blankets in the airspace exemplify the super features of a good building layout (Construction Techniques in Acoustic Planning of a Building, 2017).
Another essential point is screening procedure. Which is additionally an imperative element which ought to be considered in the development field. As usually, enclosing the noise maker would support to mitigate the noise up to a great extent. Likewise construction companies can use this method in a mixed use urban environment for the noise reduction in their constructions. Timber walls, cement walls and trees may be nice acoustic screens for the constructions. Although they do not work as perfect noise enclosures, they would be much helpful as the noise barriers. Typically, fixed noise barriers should be included in the final design of the construction project. Especially a noisy place, for example a railway station or a super market is more appropriated to be covered by solid walls or trees.
More importantly, the operational activities of the work sites is the next most imperative component that ought to be considered by a construction organization for the noise relief reason in a mixed urban area. Construction sites have extraordinarily perilous noise levels. So that considering the distance to the closest neighbors is a must. Noise of the construction is emerged from an action at a construction site. Which incorporates with machineries, equipment, workers and vehicles.So that the working time of the construction firms is a vital factor. The noise which comes out from the work sites would harm the people who are residing near the project. People are generally remaining in their residencies in the evening time and on ends of the week. In this manner when the development works are in progress amid those time, would hurt the nearby residents. So that the construction companies should concentrate on the operation times of the day. According to the wellington city council Construction works can be possible amid the 7.30.a.m. to 6.00.p.m. on week days and on Saturday’s .If it is important to work in the morning, just the peaceful readiness works should be possible from 6.30.a.m. to 7.30.a.m. amid week days. Despite the fact that the additional works can be actualized until 8.00.p.m. keeping up a diminished commotion level is an unquestionable requirement. (Construction noise in residential areas, n.d.)
Moreover, mixing, pumping and pouring of concretes are also more noisy steps in a construction site. Nearby residencies and the business organizations may complain about these continuous harmful clamors. Locating these machines in an appropriate boundary is an essential thing. And furthermore the brief cabins, temporary huts, sand and wooden dumps additionally can be taken as sound walls however much as could reasonably be expected.
Additionally, preparing an initial noise management plan would be much help full for a construction company to deal with the noise mitigation techniques. The identifiable verification of the extent of potential clamor sources, expected levels of the noise, sorts of sounds, nature of the neighbors, standard working hours, preparing of the site specialists, modes of complains handling are the main elements that cover the noise management plan (Tips on writing a Construction Noise Management Plan)
To sum up, when a construction company is going to start a project in the mixed use urban area, there are some factors to be concerned in order to mitigate the noise. Above mentioned factors are the most important things to be considered by a construction company to manage the noise complying with the Resource Management Act1991 (RMA).
References
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- Construction noise in residential areas. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wellington City Counsil: http://wellington.govt.nz/services/environment-and-waste/noise-control/construction-noise-in-residential-areas
- Construction Techniques in Acoustic Planning of a Building. (2017). Retrieved from The Constructor- Civil Engineering Home: https://theconstructor.org/building/construction-techniques-in-acoustic-planning-of-a-building/14976/
- Effects of noise in mixed-use environments. (n.d.). Retrieved from RMA Quality Planning Resources: http://www.qualityplanning.org.nz/index.php/planning-tools/air/noise-management-in-mixed-use-urban-environments
- Golden, L. (2015, April 09). Irregular Work Scheduling and Its Consequences. Retrieved from Economic Policy Institute: http://www.epi.org/publication/irregular-work-scheduling-and-its-consequences/
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- MINISTRY OF BUSINESS INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT, N. Z. (2016). Health and safety at work. Retrieved from EMPLOYMENT NEW ZEALAND: https://www.employment.govt.nz/workplace-policies/health-and-safety-at-work
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- Resource Management Act 1991. (n.d.). Retrieved from WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_Management_Act_1991
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