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SAFE WORK PROCEDURES IN TEA PLANTATIONS

Like in any other employment sector, workers in the tea plantations run an equal if not higher risk of being injured as a result of the type of work they do. The main risks posed are from unguarded machinery in the factory, exposures to fertilizers, pesticides and other agro-chemicals, and, accidents caused as a result of the terrain in the fields. Most of the field workers are required to work on high altitudes and uneven terrain under wet weather conditions. From the large number of cases of acute pesticide poisoning it could be presumed that many thousands of cases of chronic poisoning are not even diagnosed. It appears to be obvious therefore, that there is a need to take action in the field of chemical safety and prevention of major occupational diseases and accidents at a national level. The high number of cases of pesticide poisoning clearly indicates that safety awareness in the use of chemicals is rather low. Many accidents have taken place among the users of these pesticides, who are mainly estate labourers and their families. Many different varieties of pesticides, weedicides and fertilizers are used in the plantations every day. The quantities used vary from estate to estate. These pesticides and fungicides, most often, are not transported and stored in a safe manner. Unauthorized or poorly trained persons are sometimes involved in preparation of pesticides. In the mixing of concentrate, safety precautions are often neglected by these persons. Measuring utensils and personal protective equipment are improperly used or not used at all, thereby causing serious exposure hazards. There are instances where entire communities have been affected due to fungicide sprays contaminating waterways and wells. There have also been instances of plantation workers being poisoned after consuming food in the fields that were contaminated by chemicals. Creating a Basic Safety Program Rules and Work Procedures:
A set of guidelines for performing a specific work assignment properly (efficiently - safely - productively) is termed as safe work procedures. All company employees and others on company worksites are responsible for obeying all safety rules, following recommended safe work procedures, wearing and using personal protective equipment when required, participating in safety training programs and informing supervisors of any unsafe work conditions. Everyone has the right and responsibility to refuse to do work when unsafe conditions exist. To be most effective, a Basic Safety Program should be based on positive reinforcement. It should focus on recognizing safe work and correcting violations as soon as they are noticed. When violations are noticed, work should be interrupted and the problem discussed with the worker. Reasons for violations may include lack of training, ignorance of rules or deliberate attempts to cut corners. It is important to assess reasons and violations before selecting corrective measures to prevent recurrences. This form of reinforcement results in better trained employees.

PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING STANDARD WORK PROCEDURES:


1. List all jobs on your worksites. 2. Create a list of critical jobs from jobs in which any of the following might occur: - Serious injuries - Frequent injuries - Severe property damage - Significant interruptions to production - Public liability - Government intervention. 3. List the jobs in order by the degree of hazards they present and the frequency at which they are performed. 4. Analyze each job by observing and interviewing workers. Record the following information: - Job name and location - Each step of the job and its hazards - Roles of each worker involved - Special equipment required - Applicable regulatory requirements. 5. Determine measures needed to control job hazards, such as: - Engineering controls to eliminate hazards - Worker training - Personal protective and safety equipment - Hazard markings - Safety meetings If engineering controls or worker training can be used to permanently eliminate or reduce the impact of hazards, implement them. 6. Prepare your standard work procedure by listing, in the order they will occur, each: - Step of the job - Control measure required (excluding one-time measures such as engineering controls and training). Also identify: - Regulatory requirements - Special equipment required - Specific training requirements for workers (e.g. pesticide sprayers, machine operators, material handling workers, electricians, etc.)

7. Test the procedure in the field to ensure it: - is accurate - meets regulatory requirements - is understandable to workers 8. Finalize the written procedure and place it at appropriate worksites. 9. Train workers to follow the procedure 10. Operate through supervision.

Mechanical injuries:
Machine related and other mechanical injuries were considerably low among plantation workers when compared to the occupational injuries that were caused in the fields. This is mainly due to the fact that only a few workers are engaged full time in the production process in the factory. One contributory factor to the rate of machine related injuries in the estate factories is the fairly old, semi-automated machinery. The Factories Act 1948 and the Factories (amendment) Act 1987 read with the Tamilnadu Factories Rules 1950 envisage the provision of safe-guards of substantial construction to enclose the moving parts of the various machineries engaged in the tea manufacture. The safe-guards shall be maintained constantly in position whenever the machinery they are protecting is in motion. Only specially trained adult male workers wearing tight-fitting clothing shall be engaged in any mounting or shifting of the belt drives, lubrication or other adjusting operation oiling, whenever the machinery are in motion. The names of such specially trained male workers shall be entered in the register and duly attested by the occupier of the factory. The roll table shall be fenced to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Factories and brushes shall be provided to the workers for the purpose of sweeping the roll tables.

Striking against stationery or moving objects:


Most of the factory layout plans are outdated and do not conform to present day safety requirements. House-keeping and safe access for all the work places are complementary to the prevention of striking against stationary or moving objects inside the factory premises. Striking against stationary or moving objects is considered as a common form of injury that occurs in estate factories and store areas. In most situations workers are hit by moving objects such as trolleys, which are used to transport tea chests from the factory to the stores, or injured by striking against machinery or tea packing chests. Among the causes identified, the improper storage of tea chests in the stores, the location of machinery and equipment, the absence of safety signs and safety markings of passage ways in the factory are prominent. Compared to the number accidents caused due to collision with stationery objects accidents caused by workers striking against moving objects was high. Accidents in this category are often caused due to the negligence of workers who are ignorant to the imminent dangers and hazards that may be created by their own actions. Hence the floor marking of aisles and demarcated storage areas with yellow painting or self-adhesive yellow tapes shall be in place for the effective prevention of such accidents.

Fractures, sprains, bruises and cuts:


The most number of injuries caused on the plantations were either in the form of fractures, sprains or dislocation of limbs. The sprain injuries are a result of persons

falling this is common in the fields due to the uneven and rough terrain. The estate worker who is mostly female is required to carry a heavy load of plucked tea on their backs, which causes loss of balance when negotiating rough ground. Fractures and dislocations are a result of many serious falls that may require hospitalization for a long period. Fractures are also caused due to accidents occurring in the factory where heavy machinery is used in the process of manufacturing tea.
The second most frequent type of injuries that occur on plantations is due to cuts and bruises sustained. The most common reasons for the high rate of injuries of his nature could be attributed to the following facts: 1. The improper use of a sharp cutting devises such as knives, shears, and mammoties etc. and 2. The non-use of protective foot wear. In most of the above situations workers are required to seek medical treatment which would mean that they are required to be away from work for at least a day. It also means that in the absence of necessary first aid and medical attention, workers are forced to use traditional methods of treatment, which may lead to serious complications.

Application of pesticides:
The safe use of pesticides is determined by the care and attention given to precautionary measurers before, during and after application. In the plantations the scale of operation, the area of application and the form in which the pesticide is applied is important. These pesticides are manufactured locally and are available in the local market under different trade names. The Pesticides Act is the only legislation that deals with the classification and labeling of chemicals and applies only to pesticides. The labeling regulation specifies the contents, languages and the size of the lettering, the danger symbols and colour codes, precautions to be taken in handling, first aid and antidote etc. However, most of the plantation workers are illiterate, therefore, cannot comprehend some of these precautions. It is vital that these employees are properly trained in the handling of chemicals. The most commonly used pesticides in the tea plantations are Bitertanol (Baycor), Copper Oxychloride (Helmoxy) Cobex, Bordox, Sulphate of Ammonia, Zinc, Fernoxone, Dolomite, Formic Acid, Methyl Bromide etc. The quantities used vary from low to moderate levels in 90% of the instances. In some large estates higher volumes are used in order to combat harmful fungi, pests and weeds. Occupational Dermatitis is also a common form of injury caused to workers on the plantations. Unless proper care and prevention is taken, this may result in a

serious occupational problem among plantation workers in the future. The reasons for skin disease to be common among the estate workers is the lack of

awareness in the use of pesticides and weedicides, the lack of proper sanitation facilities and the ignorance of the need to maintain high standards of personal hygiene. In most cases pesticide and weedicide sprayers do no follow the required safety standards such as wearing protective gloves and masks. They are often clad in the same clothes during their working hours and thereafter at home until the end of the day and this causes serious skin exposure. Many of these workers do not obtain medical treatment for these skin irritations, which may spread rapidly among the other members of the community thereby causing epidemic situations. Hazards of Standing for Long Hours of Work: Section 44 of the Factories Act 1948 stipulates that in every factory suitable arrangements for sitting shall be provided and maintained for all workers obliged to work in a standing position, in order that they may take advantage of any opportunities for rest which may occur in the course of their work.
Individuals spending most of the day on their feet every working day are at greater risk of health problems including varicose veins, poor circulation and swelling in the feet and legs, foot problems, joint damage, heart and circulatory problems and pregnancy difficulties. A Hazards survey of UK union health and safety officers found widespread problems from standing at work. More than 11 million UK workers, half the UK workforce, could be facing health risks caused by prolonged standing. Constant sitting is not the safe alternative to constant standing; in fact, prolonged sitting is pretty bad for you too. The option to sit, stand, move around and vary the nature of work tasks is the preferred, healthy option. There are two essential principles of good workplace design: No working posture is so good that it can be maintained for any length of time without variation; and no two individuals are alike, so the workstation has to be adapted to the individuals using it.

Basic principles of good job design for standing work include: Provision for worker training on proper work practices and use of rest breaks; job rotation among a group of workers; job enlargement to give workers more and varied tasks to increase body positions and motions; avoidance of extreme bending, stretching and twisting; work paced appropriately; and frequent rest breaks.

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