Workplace Safety and Health Conditions and Facilities in Small Industries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A lot of attention has been paid to improving occupational safety and health (OSH) in small scale industries all over the globe. This study describes the outcomes of a preliminary OSH status assessment in small scale industries of motor vehicle repair workshops (MVRW) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). An inspection tool composed of 10 OSH elements and 62 items employed walk-through survey, observations and interviews. The mean positive responses for different OSH elements surveyed were as follows; personal protective equipment (PPEs) (43%), emergency preparedness (49%), fire protection (60%), facilities (80%), general workshop safety (43%), housekeeping (17%), chemical exposure (12%), services and maintenance (57%), mechanical handling (81%) and tool safety (63%). However, special concerns were found for OSH elements including; use of PPE's, emergency preparedness, general workshops safety, housekeeping and exposures to chemicals as having safety score less than 50%. OSH elements with lower positive responses at surveyed workshops would be addressed through further monitoring and training of technical and administrative staff. This preliminary survey will form the basis of a more comprehensive study for evaluation of an accurate representative OSH status in small scale industries in KSA.

Estimating occupational risks associated with roadside automobile vulcanizing trade in a part of southwestern Nigeria

“…Also, the association between level of education and use of protective measure revealed that low-level education is a contributory factor to non-use of protective equipment among vulcanizers in the study area. This finding supported previous findings that finding that low education level may contribute to non-use personal protective measures among small scale business workers, as they do not know, recognize and appreciate the significance of personal protective equipment (Ahmad et al, 2017;Kumar et al, 2013;Abraham et al, 2015;Taha 2000).…”

Assessment of personal protective equipment use and occupational exposures in small industries in Jeddah: Health implications for workers

“…Small-scale industries account for a large proportion of jobs and play a very vital role in most countries’ economic growth and prosperity, but in many cases the jobs are low-paid and the job security is poor (Ahmad et al, 2017). According to Webster's New World Finance and Investment Dictionary (2010), a privately-owned and operated business/activity with relatively small turnover and staff numbers is termed as the small industry.…”

“…The small-scale industry can also be defined as non-manufacturing industries employing less than 20 employees and manufacturing industries with less than 100 employees (Seneviratne and Phoon 2006). The main characteristics of the small-scale industries include; operated and owned independently, closely controlled by managers/owners who contribute to the operating capital and are the principal decision makers (Ahmad et al, 2017). There is a dearth of actual and reliable data available to the public on the number of workers in informal small repair workshops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).…”

“…The main reasons for their vulnerability are a lack of education, insufficient knowledge, a dearth of awareness of OSH hazards, and non-availability or use of personal protective equipment’s (PPEs). Small-scale industry workers are least aware of safety and health outcomes resulting from the workplace exposures, activities, and materials (Ahmad et al, 2017). Literature proved that there is a deficiency of understanding, knowledge, and information on proper use of PPEs among such workers and the use of PPEs in small-scale industries is very low (Ahmad et al, 2017, Taha, 2000).…”

“…Small-scale industry workers are least aware of safety and health outcomes resulting from the workplace exposures, activities, and materials (Ahmad et al, 2017). Literature proved that there is a deficiency of understanding, knowledge, and information on proper use of PPEs among such workers and the use of PPEs in small-scale industries is very low (Ahmad et al, 2017, Taha, 2000). Also low education level may contribute to non-use of personal protective measures, as they don’t know, recognize and appreciate the significance of PPEs (Taha, 2000).…”