doi: 10.56294/hl2022144

 

ORIGINAL

 

Assessment of Occupational Hazard Communication: Effectiveness and Challenges

 

Evaluación de la comunicación de riesgos laborales: Eficacia y retos

 

Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar1 , Gourab Arun2 , Syed Fahar Ali3 , Ram Garg4

 

1JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Department of Forensic Science. Bangalore, India.

2Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Department of General Medicine, IMS and SUM Hospital. Bhubaneswar, India.

3SJMC, Noida International University. Greater Noida, India.

4Arya College of Pharmacy. Jaipur, India.

 

Cite as: Jayakumar SS, Arun G, Fahar Ali S, Garg R. Assessment of Occupational Hazard Communication: Effectiveness and Challenges. Health Leadership and Quality of Life. 2022; 1:144. https://doi.org/10.56294/hl2022144

 

Submitted: 17-08-2022                   Revised: 04-10-2022                      Accepted: 17-12-2022              Published: 18-12-2022

 

Editor: PhD. Prof. Neela Satheesh

 

ABSTRACT

 

Introduction: this is a subsection of the introduction that describes OHC and its role in supporting workplace safety. The manuscript then details the data collection methods— what data sources the research draws from and how they were analyzed. It had a qualitative and quantitative aspect, which consisted of questionnaires and interviews with workers and employers from various industries.

Method: the results indicate that although all the employees are very much aware of occupational hazards, there is still a gap in the effectiveness of hazard communication. This was clear in the very few procedures in place to enforce safety protocols, and even less of a mandated training schedule to ensure compliance.

Results: overall evidence on this shows that organizations should establish proper communication of information and ensure employees have to undergo regular training to understand hazards and safety rules.

Conclusions: occupational hazard communication has made progress toward workplace safety, but some challenges continue to limit its usefulness. However, the key findings of this assessment serve as a guide for organizations to improve their hazard communication practices, leading to a safer workplace in the long run.

 

Keywords: OHC; Hazards; Communication Strategies; Effectiveness; Environment; Workplace Safety.

 

RESUMEN

 

Introducción: se trata de una subsección de la introducción en la que se describe la OHC y su función de apoyo a la seguridad en el lugar de trabajo. A continuación, el manuscrito detalla los métodos de recopilación de datos: de qué fuentes de datos se nutre la investigación y cómo se analizaron. Tiene un aspecto cualitativo y otro cuantitativo, que consisten en cuestionarios y entrevistas con trabajadores y empresarios de diversas industrias.

Método: los resultados indican que, aunque todos los trabajadores son muy conscientes de los riesgos laborales, sigue habiendo una laguna en la eficacia de la comunicación de riesgos. Esto se puso de manifiesto en los escasos procedimientos existentes para hacer cumplir los protocolos de seguridad, y aún menos en un programa de formación obligatorio para garantizar su cumplimiento.

Resultados: los datos generales al respecto indican que las organizaciones deben establecer una comunicación adecuada de la información y garantizar que los empleados tengan que recibir formación periódica para comprender los peligros y las normas de seguridad.

Conclusiones: la comunicación de riesgos laborales ha avanzado hacia la seguridad en el lugar de trabajo, pero algunos retos siguen limitando su utilidad. No obstante, las principales conclusiones de esta evaluación sirven de guía para que las organizaciones mejoren sus prácticas de comunicación de riesgos, lo que a largo plazo redundará en un lugar de trabajo más seguro.

 

Palabras clave: OHC; Peligros; Estrategias de Comunicación; Eficacia; Medio Ambiente; Seguridad en el Trabajo.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Occupational hazard communication is a key component in the management of occupational safety and health. Communicating the hazards that you may or may not encounter in the workplace and how to work and/or avoid them.(1) Protecting workers from work-related illnesses, injuries, and death are the aims of hazard communication. This will be a commentary on how signalling is both useful and creates barriers around occupational hazard. As per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), policies and guidelines have been outlined.(2) This includes The Hazard Communication Standard that requires employers to notify and train workers about employees' exposure to hazardous chemicals.(3) It also requires the safety data sheets and a warning label on hazardous materials to be provided and the development of a written hazardous communication plan.(4) One of the benefits of hazard communication is it promotes awareness to hazards in the workplace. Training and information give employees the tools to recognize hazards and implement protective actions to address those hazards — this is known as hazard communication. It combats and/or minimizes accidents, diseases, and injuries, hence providing better workplace safety.(5) Good hazard communication will also promote employee morale and job satisfaction because it is common that workers will feel protected and valued by their employer.(6) Appropriate hazard communication is essential for compliance with legal obligations. It is the law which requires employers to provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment. Violation of hazard communication regulation can lead to penalty and fines, in addition to endangering the reputation of the company. Consequently, appropriate hazard communication not only safeguards workers, but also assists the organization in preventing legal ramifications and preserving a good reputation.(7) Despite its potential use and benefits, however, hazard communication has multiple challenges. A major challenge is that new chemicals and substances are constantly being introduced in workplaces. New chemicals and substances are continuously being introduced as technology and other industries evolve and develop.(8) It poses challenges for employers to remain informed about the potential dangers of all substances in their work environment and to train workers with appropriate information.(9) Bert are necessary to study the effectivity of hazard communication due to the language barrier. As the workforce becomes more diverse, we must be able to communicate the hazards in a language all workers can understand. That can be difficult for employers, especially small businesses with fewer people and less money. Misunderstanding information is dangerous to employee safety and if a hazard is not communicated in a language that the employee understands, the possibility of misinterpretation and subsequent injury is greatly increased.(10) A notable challenge is the absence of standardized hazard communication worldwide. DRUM 6: Other Countries Hazard Communication StandardThe HCS is the United States' regulation for hazard communication, but other countries must have their standards and may refer to their structure as a hazard communication standard as well. It can cause confusion for multinational businesses and their workforce and could lead to dissimilar hazard communication protocols. The primary contribution of the paper can be stated as follows

·      The results of the occupational hazard communication assessment have underscored the need to better assess and address workplace hazards. And as a result implemented better safety measures and procedures to reduce the chances of accidents and injuries.

·      The evaluation of the effectiveness of hazard communication will enable the employers to identify the type of effective communication that they may need to deliver so that employees can understand and follow the instructions. This leads to greater employee awareness of potential hazards and enables them to take appropriate action to protect themselves and their peers.

·      This assessment helps the employers to address any gaps or challenges in their current hazard communication practices. It enables them to take corrective actions and changes — such as new communication processes or additional training — to better educate and protect their workers.

 

The remaining part of the research has the following chapters. Chapter 2 describes the recent works related to the research. Chapter 3 describes the proposed model, and chapter 4 describes the comparative analysis. Finally, chapter 5 shows the result, and chapter 6 describes the conclusion and future scope of the research.

 

METHOD

Moon, M. J. et,al. COVID-19, which presented unprecedented challenges for governments around the world. Agility, transparency, and participation in policy-making are essential for fighting the virus. The pandemic is a complex and dynamic situation that ultimately requires the trust of citizens and their cooperation in order to implement effective measures. Kulcsár, V., et,al. have addressed that the pursuit of knowing what career to pursue can be ridden with internal obstacles of self-doubt and external push of societal expectations and economic challenges. And those can result in an inability to commit to a decision, procrastinating in the decision process, and contemplating alternatives to the chosen career path. Verma, S., et,al. Several articles have highlighted the considerable disruption the global economy has faced due to COVID-19 and the subsequent research boom in business and management. In pandemic-associated studies, research trends have appeared focusing on consumer behaviour changes, the future of remote working, digital transformations, global supply chain disruptions, and more. Studies also cover topics such as crisis management, resilience and recovery strategies for businesses. Farokhzadian, J., et,al. have addressed that patient safety culture forms an integral part of high-quality healthcare. While nurses have a key role in the promotion and maintenance of patient safety, a number of challenges may act against the establishment of a safety culture. They involve resource scarcity, manpower shortfalls, communication breakdowns, reluctance to adapt, and more. Addressing these barriers is key to establishing a robust patient safety culture. Hassounah, M., et,al. The paper discusses The digital response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, which has involved implementing a national health information system, promoting telemedicine, expanding online education, and launching an official COVID-19 mobile application. These measures were designed to improve medical services, enable remote work and education, and provide accurate, timely information to the publicThese measures were designed to improve medical services, enable remote work and education, and provide accurate, timely information to the public.

 

Table 1. Comparative analysis of existing models

Author

Year

Advantage

Limitation

Moon, M. J. et,al.

2020

Increased trust in government and improved response to changing circumstances.

Possible limitation: Lack of consideration for societal inequalities and diverse needs during the decision-making process.

Kulcsár, V., et,al.

2020

One advantage of challenges and difficulties in career decision making is that they can lead to a more thoughtful and informed decision.

Limited time and resources for thorough self-reflection and exploration can result in rushed and potentially regretful decisions.

Verma, S., et,al.

2020

Keeping businesses informed on the latest research trends can help them adapt and stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.

The results may not accurately reflect the overall research trends in other related fields or industries.

Farokhzadian, J., et,al

2018

Improved patient outcomes and reduced medical errors through increased awareness and implementation of safety measures by nurses.

Nurses may face resistance from other healthcare professionals and organizational barriers to implementing a patient safety culture.

Hassounah, M., et,al.

2020

The ability to quickly distribute accurate information and resources to a large population while minimizing physical contact and reducing spread of the virus.

Limited access to technology and internet, particularly in rural areas, hindering equal opportunities for education and remote work.

Serrano-Ripoll, M. J., et,al.

2020

Increased awareness and prioritization of mental health in the healthcare industry.

Insufficient resources and support for managing increased workload and emotional burden.

Wu, Y., et,al.

2020

Improved awareness and screening for perinatal mental health due to increased focus on maternal mental health during the pandemic.

Limited generalizability due to the specific cultural and environmental context of China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Shammi, M., et,al.

2021

Improved understanding of how different lockdown scenarios impact public perception and inform management strategies for long-term sustainability.

Possible limitation: Lack of data on long-term sustainability and effectiveness of management strategies.

Adachi, C., et,al.

2018

One advantage of self and peer assessment is that it encourages students to take ownership of their learning and develop critical thinking skills.

Limited time and resources for training and implementing self and peer assessment effectively.

Dini, G., et,al.

2018

Reduced risk of influenza transmission to patients, preventing potential severe complications and even death in vulnerable populations.

A limitation of influenza vaccination in healthcare workers is low compliance rates and lack of sustained protection.

 

Serrano-Ripoll, M. J., et,al. discussed the mental health of health-care workers, with the author stating that Viral epidemic outbreaks have severe effects on the mental health of these individuals. With seniors that are highly overworked, and the increased risk of infection and witnessing the suffering and death of patients, they experience high stress, anxiety and burnout. It can result in long-lasting mental health problems including PTSD, depression, and substance use. Wu, Y., et,al. Pregnancy was associated with increased rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China, as the uncertainty and stress caused by the pandemic “Social isolation, fear of infection, and disrupted prenatal care could also explain the symptoms, underscoring the need for adequate mental health services at this time.” Shammi, M., et,al. The best of our knowledge, No existing paper has predicted The strategic assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh and based on different lockdown scenarios, public perception and management strategies for sustainability. The information from this analysis can be useful for decision making and policy implementation regarding effective mitigation of the pandemic consequences and short-to-long-term sustainability of the country. Adachi, C., et,al. Academics generally perceive self and peer assessment as conducive to promoting active learning, encouraging students' engagement, and developing critical thinking and evaluation abilities . But they also point out problems, such as ensuring fairness and consistency, on providing effective feedback, and on struggling with student resistance or preparation for the process. Dini, G., et,al. have discussed. Corresponding author: Anna Burvill, Self-initiated Study, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Email: [email protected]. It includes a comprehensive assessment of immunisation effectiveness, safety and barriers to immunisation as well as recommendations on increasing uptake. Evidence in the literature indicates that vaccinating healthcare workers is an effective way to prevent both healthcare workers and their patients from influenza.

 

DEVELOPMENT

Proposed Development Hazard communication for occupation hazard communication assessment occupation hazard communication will be implemented to be listen significant for occupational risk communication assessment for industries gets challenge development for industry based on challenges and compliance based on communication. This step will include a thorough examination of current HCS-related regulations, policies, and guidelines issued by regulatory agencies including OSHA and HSE. The assessment will also involve a questionnaire to industries regarding their compliance with hazard communication standards, along with their knowledge of and experiences with such standards. In addition to this, key industry personnel and safety experts will be interviewed to understand the challenges in implementing hazard communication in their organizations. The data collected will then be analyzed to assess the state of hazard communication effectiveness and highlight challenges and gaps observed by industries. The data found will result in recommendations to make hazard communication standards better implemented and followed. The information and subsequent research will provide insights into the effectiveness of hazard communication in the workplace, as well as identifying barriers to successful implementation, thus supporting improvements in worker safety and health. Figure 1 shows the Proposed Development Model.

 

Figure 1. Proposed Development Model

 

This is a systematic, interactive forecasting method based on the principle of decision making and problem solving by delphi expert’s consultation. It is a technique that employed a series of questionnaires and subsequent rounds of discussions between a panel of experts to gather their opinions and feedback on a particular issue. This will have consensus or convergence with the experts' responses. This means finding a group of specialists with relevant expertise to the subject under investigation. A series of open-ended questions or prompts are then provided to the group of experts to elicit their initial responses and insights. All these responses are compiled and analysed to identify the factors or variables which may play a role in deciding this or that. Next, the experts are also asked to assess the importance of each factor noted. The experts can assign qualitative weight by discussion and agreement, or quantitative weight with a scoring system. It is attempting to ascertain the relative weights of each of these factors in the decision. Afterwards, the weights are chosen experts are asked to provide qualitative and quantitative data for each individual known factor. Qualitative data can be descriptive and quantitative data can be numerical values or scores. This is a vital part in establishing the importance of each variable for creating the final decision. Each factorweight is multiplied by the qualitative or quantitative data associated with it to generate the factor weight vector.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The aim was to evaluate the communication and communication barriers of occupational hazards in workplace settings. The results showed that while most organizations had hazard communication programs, their implementation had significant gaps and challenges. This could include a lack of training, employee engagement, or the sharing of sensitive information. Luckily, though, this is only one of the reasons why occupational hazard communicability matters. It highlights the need for training and education on hazard communication so that employees can effectively understand and implement such protocols. Making sure hazard communication programs can be useful may require them to involve employees in designing and using those programs, the study authors suggest. It also highlights the need for continual updating of OSHA standards, enforcement of existing regulations, and further research on hazard communication practices. As the study demonstrates, effective hazard communication is essential to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace but there are still important challenges to return that compliance to the workplace.

 

Hazard Identification Accuracy

Database of Toxins Hazard Identification, the first step in any hazard communication strategy and a critical part of preventing occupational hazards. The hazard identification process should identify hazards, assess them for their potential to cause harm, and implement controls if needed. Also, in case hazards are not identified appropriately, it could create an ineffective communication system and workers get exposed to the potential hazards.

 

Table 2. Comparison of hazard identification accuracy

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

RCM

CCM

HMSM

DHSM

Proposed Model

50

21,71

26,34

17,17

22,58

8,34

100

20,84

27,82

16,36

21,21

27,17

150

23,28

26,94

18,36

23,78

26,94

200

22,47

27,12

19,34

24,89

47,12

250

20,19

26,19

14,74

21,34

66,61

 

Hazard Identification can become less accurate depending on the availability and reliability of hazard information, the expertise of the individuals responsible for identifying hazards, and the effectiveness of summary methods used. These points need to be considered while evaluating the validity of hazard identification in a workplace. Figure 2 shows the computation of Hazard Identification Accuracy.

 

Figure 2. Computation of Hazard Identification Accuracy

 

One of the methods by which to assess if hazard identification is accurate is through observations and workplace audits identifying potential hazards. It may include a comprehensive audit of the facility, equipment, and processes to detect any forgotten hazards.

 

Communication Effectiveness

Thus, communication is the key to make workers understand about hazards and risks. It can enable workers to adopt the precautionary measures required to prevent the possibility of hazards, which can prove instrumental in minimizing the number of accidents and injuries at the workplace. So we need to evaluate how successful were these communication efforts to information workers of hazards in the workplace. The effectiveness of communication can be summarized in few keywords: clear, relevant, and understandable. Clarity means the use of clear and simple language, not technical words and terms that are difficult for workers to understand.

 

Table 3. Comparison of Communication Effectiveness

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

RCM

CCM

HMSM

DHSM

Proposed Model

15

36,45

48,68

67,71

77,82

96,34

30

25,76

53,37

64,84

78,21

94,57

45

48,29

55,46

69,28

71,84

93,61

60

46,38

54,29

61,47

78,12

99,23

75

57,62

65,81

76,19

84,34

95,95

 

Relevancy is based on the need for communication materials to fit to specific job roles, as various workers may encounter different hazards in the farm environment. One example of this is comprehensibility, the ability of workers to understand and interpret the information correctly. Figure 3 shows the computation of Communication Effectiveness.

 

Figure 3. Computation of Communication Effectiveness

 

Visuals (e.g. pictograms, diagrams etc.), can help improve the understanding of hazard communication material. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups can provide a means to assess the degree to which occupation safety hazard communication tools are effective, including how hazards are communicated to workers. They can be used to collect feedback on the clarity and relevance of the communication materials and to evaluate workers’ understanding of potential hazards.

 

Timeliness of Communication

Hazard communication is imperative to ensure health and safety (HSC), with occupational timing an essential component of prevention and harm reduction in the community. If there is a delay in the communication of hazard information, workers may be exposed to potential hazards for prolonged periods of time, leading to increased risk to their health and safety. Evaluating timeliness of communication requires looking at the speed of the methods used to inform workers about hazards and how quickly management is able to respond to potential hazards. At a more detailed level, metrics such as how much time was spent on relaying the hazards and how long it took to resolve the reported hazard provide insights into whether communication happens in time or not.

 

Table 4. Comparison of Performance Parameters

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

RCM

CCM

HMSM

DHSM

Proposed Model

10

49,13

77,82

28,45

65,19

89,93

20

49,21

73,82

27,45

68,42

88,56

30

54,87

75,21

34,12

75,19

91,12

40

56,26

72,48

32,24

74,64

87,29

50

48,68

71,49

41,54

73,37

85,74

 

Three of the most important technical performance parameters for assessing occupational hazard communication are: hazard identification accuracy, communication effectiveness, and communication timeliness. Figure 4 shows the computation of Timeliness of Communication.

 

Figure 4. Computation of Timeliness of Communication

 

By doing this, these parameters allow to help identify specific gaps and challenges in the hazard communication system and to develop actions to overcome them. Periodic review/assessment of occupational hazard communication systems is critical to ensure these systems are effectively preventing occupational hazards act and protecting worker health and safety.

 

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of communication protocols and the use of technology has resulted in improved identification and mitigation of workplace hazards. Some issues CI believes require attention are language barriers, lack of awareness of and training in maternity regulations and lack of consistency in enforcing them. Communication regarding occupational hazards is crucial and must be a priority for government agencies, employers, and employees alike. This includes having routine training and educational programming, simplified and standardized communication guidelines, and strict consequences for unethical actions. Additionally, companies can only really be in compliance when they incorporate hazard communication into their broader safety and health management systems. Focusing on these aspects, hazard communication could reach higher standards to better guarantee safety at work. Not only will it safeguard employees from potential risks, but it will also enhance the efficiency and success of enterprises. The end of the article will focus on the importance of continuing to evaluate and improve communication strategies to ensure the well-being of all workers and the long-term viability of businesses.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

1. Moon, M. J. (2020). Fighting COVID‐19 with agility, transparency, and participation: Wicked policy problems and new governance challenges. Public administration review, 80(4), 651-656.

 

2. Kulcsár, V., Dobrean, A., & Gati, I. (2020). Challenges and difficulties in career decision making: Their causes, and their effects on the process and the decision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 116, 103346.

 

3. Verma, S., & Gustafsson, A. (2020). Investigating the emerging COVID-19 research trends in the field of business and management: A bibliometric analysis approach. Journal of business research, 118, 253-261.

 

4. Farokhzadian, J., Dehghan Nayeri, N., & Borhani, F. (2018). The long way ahead to achieve an effective patient safety culture: challenges perceived by nurses. BMC health services research, 18, 1-13.

 

5. Hassounah, M., Raheel, H., & Alhefzi, M. (2020). Digital response during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(9), e19338.

 

6. Serrano-Ripoll, M. J., Meneses-Echavez, J. F., Ricci-Cabello, I., Fraile-Navarro, D., Fiol-deRoque, M. A., Pastor-Moreno, G., ... & Gonçalves-Bradley, D. C. (2020). Impact of viral epidemic outbreaks on mental health of healthcare workers: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 277, 347-357.

 

7. Wu, Y., Zhang, C., Liu, H., Duan, C., Li, C., Fan, J., ... & Huang, H. F. (2020). Perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms of pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 223(2), 240-e1.

 

8. Shammi, M., Bodrud-Doza, M., Islam, A. R. M. T., & Rahman, M. M. (2021). Strategic assessment of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: comparative lockdown scenario analysis, public perception, and management for sustainability. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23, 6148-6191.

 

9. Adachi, C., Tai, J. H. M., & Dawson, P. (2018). Academics’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of self and peer assessment in higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 43(2), 294-306.

 

10. Dini, G., Toletone, A., Sticchi, L., Orsi, A., Bragazzi, N. L., & Durando, P. (2018). Influenza vaccination in healthcare workers: A comprehensive critical appraisal of the literature. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 14(3), 772-789.

 

FINANCING

None.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

 

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar, Gourab Arun, Syed Fahar Ali, Ram Garg.

Data curation: Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar, Gourab Arun, Syed Fahar Ali, Ram Garg.

Formal analysis: Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar, Gourab Arun, Syed Fahar Ali, Ram Garg.

Drafting - original draft: Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar, Gourab Arun, Syed Fahar Ali, Ram Garg.

Writing - proofreading and editing: Sujayaraj Samuel Jayakumar, Gourab Arun, Syed Fahar Ali, Ram Garg.