Workplace Health And Safety Research

Background Research

Collect and analyze information needed to understand the production process and the hazards involved in each stage of the cotton dying process (chemicals, machinery, equipment, health effects, processes, controls, legislation, standards, guidelines, SDS, studies, statistics, reports, etc.).

These are the stages (You ONLY have to research #5. #6, #7, IGNORE THE FIRST 4):

1. Powdered dyes are stored in metal containers in the dye room (1)
2. They are scooped out of the containers by hand, measured, and carried in paper bags to the mixing room (2) where the dye solution is mixed.
3. Depending on the dye being prepared the powder is mixed in open metal containers with other agents—methanol or sodium hyposulphite—and cold, warm, or boiling water.
4. These agents are stored in large metal drums (3) and either poured directly or removed through a plunger-type spout located on the top of the drum. Workers involved in this stage complain that they can wane the dyes, and that fumes from the mixing agents are powerful. The only ventilation is a small overhead fan located in the roof at the rear of the mixing room (4).
5. The mixed dyes are then carried manually to the dyeing vats, and poured by hand into the reserve tanks (5). These tanks have a metal cover and feed via piping to the main dyeing tank (7).
6. Other chemicals and bleaching agents are added to the uncovered expansion tanks (6) that also feed into the main vats (7).
7. The spools of cotton to be dyed are brought to the dye room on a pushcart, pushed by one worker. The combined mass of the cart and spools often reaches 680 kg (1500 lb.).

Utilize the following Research Links:

https://bb-gbc.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-5402952-dt-content-rid-72055048_1/xid-72055048_1

https://bb-gbc.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-5402952-dt-content-rid-72055047_1/xid-72055047_1

– Also, include at least one article reference from the Occupational Health and Safety Canada Magazine.  SDS’s can be located through the CCOHS Academic Support Program link accessed via http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/asp/

Essay:

First half of essay –  problem-solve and synthesize your information to discuss the hazards involved in each stage of the production process. Apply relevant research on the hazards and health effects to the workers. (Remember this is a research paper and extensive research needs to be integrated into your discussion).

Second half of essay – develop detailed recommendations to reflect a higher priority and accountability to Organizational Health and Safety. First, overall Organizational Initiatives should be discussed in detail such as policies and programs, JHSC’s etc. Then, for each hazard identified in the process, recommendations should be described in detail and prioritized according to ‘The Principles of Control’ (At the Source, Along the Path, and At the Worker level).  Relevant research and legislation should be incorporated in your discussion to support your recommendations.

Note, this research paper should be completed in essay format (no point form). You are not merely repeating information from the case, but instead are conducting a significant amount of research to understand the processes involved and to address the requirements.

Appendices:

Any diagrams, charts, SDS’s etc. should be included in an Appendix after discussing in the essay.

References:

References for research must be properly cited using the APA or MLA method of documentation.

References to legislation in the Pocket Ontario OHS Act & Regulations need to include section, sub-section, clause etc. and you need to state whether you are referring to the OHS Act, or state the name of the particular Regulation that you are referencing, for example, WHMIS Regulation, Regulation for Industrial Establishments etc.

Legislation should not be merely listed – it needs to be properly applied to your recommendations. See examples below.

Examples:

a) The employer needs to develop an occupational health and safety policy and program, as is required under Section 25(2)(j) of the OHS Act. This includes detailed information on..….. which relates to this case.

b) This workplace has 500 employees and therefore requires a JHSC of a minimum of 4 people, as discussed in Section 9(6) of the OHS Act.   We would even recommend further that the committee……

c) As it states in The Noise Regulation, Section 2(4), employers must ensure that employees are not exposed to a noise level greater than 85 db. In order to control for noise at the source, it is  recommended that ……..

d) Workers are required to wear appropriate eye protection according to the Regulation for Industrial Establishments Section 81. The specific type needed for this operation is ……..