OHSWA Journal of Safety and Environment

JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION OF SAFETY STANDARDS OPERATION PROCEDURE TO REDUCE WORK ACCIDENTS IN A SUGAR INDUSTRY

2025-07-04T15:57:29+07:00

This study is a research and development aimed 1) to analyze occupational hazards and determine of Safety Standards Operation Procedure, 2) to compare injury frequency rates, injury severity rate and compare accident statistics from the past with the present after implementing safety standards operation procedure. The study area was a special product packaging production process. The data was analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The accident frequency decreased by 0.87 times per million working hours, and the accident severity decreased by 3.50 days per million working hours. The occupational safety performance score, when compared to the past, was -2.85, indicating a significantly higher current accident rate than in the past. The decreased accident statistics demonstrate that adherence to safe work practices can reduce the number and severity of work-related accidents. Companies should promote safety policies, emphasizing the ability of all workers to prevent accidents for themselves and their colleagues, and promoting a focus on workplace safety, leading to a sustainable safety culture.

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE FIRE HOSE ROLLING DEVICE TO REDUCE ERGONOMIC RISK: A CASE STUDY OF FIREFIGHTERS IN BANGKOK

2026-03-12T17:50:49+07:00

This research aimed to design and develop a fire hose rolling device to reduce labor requirements, ergonomic risks during operation and task completion time. The study involved analyzing working postures and assessing ergonomic risks using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. A comparison was conducted between manual hose rolling and the use of the developed rolling device. The results from a sample group of 18 participants indicated that the fire hose winding device reduced the number of operators from two to one person, representing a 50% reduction in manpower. The average operation time decreased from 1.50 minutes to 1.38 minutes per hose, equivalent to an 8% reduction compared with manual hose rolling. Ergonomic risk assessment using REBA revealed that the traditional manual method had an average score of 9.5 ± 1.3, indicating a high-risk level. In contrast, the use of the developed device resulted in an average score of 4.8 ± 1.0, indicating a medium-risk level. This corresponds to an approximate 50.2% reduction in ergonomic risk. Observations and user feedback demonstrated that the developed prototype helped reduce lifting force and bending posture, while promoting proper ergonomic working positions. These improvements are likely to reduce muscle fatigue and discomfort, and may also decrease the risk of work-related injuries. Furthermore, the device contributes to improved occupational safety and enhances user comfort during operation.

EFFECTIVENESS OF A HEALTH BELIEF MODEL-BASED PROGRAM ON PERCEPTIONS AND LEAD EXPOSURE PREVENTION BEHAVIORS AMONG AUTO REPAIR WORKERS IN MUEANG DISTRICT, AMNAT CHAROEN PROVINCE

2026-06-11T07:28:57+07:00

Lead poisoning remains a significant occupational health problem, particularly among auto repair workers who are at risk of lead exposure during routine work activities. Insufficient perceptions of lead poisoning and inappropriate lead exposure prevention behaviors may increase the risk of lead absorption into the body. This quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre–post design aimed to examine the effects of a health promotion program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on perceptions of lead poisoning and lead exposure prevention behaviors among auto repair workers in Mueang District, Amnat Charoen Province. The participants were 46 workers selected through cluster sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires assessing perceptions of lead poisoning and behaviors related to lead exposure. The 12-week health promotion program consisted of health education, practical training, online communication, and follow-up activities. Data were analyzed using descriptive and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. The results showed that perceptions of lead poisoning after the intervention was significantly higher than before the intervention (p < 0.001). Likewise, important prevention behaviors, including appropriate use of personal protective equipment, handwashing after work, changing clothes after work, and avoiding eating in work areas, significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the Health Belief Model-based health promotion program was effective in perceptions of lead poisoning and improving lead exposure prevention behaviors among auto repair workers. Therefore, public health agencies and auto repair workplaces should implement this program continuously and support the use of personal protective equipment, provide separate eating areas from workspaces, and ensure adequate handwashing facilities to reduce the risk of lead exposure and promote workers’ health in the long term.

VIBRATION EXPOSURE LEVELS AND CONTROL MEASURES AMONG OCCUPATIONAL WORKERS IN THAILAND: A SCOPING REVIEW

2026-06-11T06:44:18+07:00

Occupational workers are at risk of exposure to mechanical vibration, including both Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) and Whole-Body Vibration (WBV), which can adversely affect multiple body systems. This study aimed to scoping review exposure levels, and control measures related to mechanical vibration exposure among occupational groups in Thailand. A scoping review was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Google Scholar, and ThaiJo databases covering the period from 2015 to 2025. A total of 15 eligible research articles were identified (ThaiJo: 11 articles; Google Scholar: 4 articles). The findings revealed that both HAV and WBV exposure assessments were conducted using vibration meters in conjunction with musculoskeletal disorder questionnaires. Workers operating hand-held tools and heavy machinery were exposed to HAV levels ranging from 0.108 to 8.64 m/s², while vehicle operators in both the industrial and agricultural sector were exposed to WBV levels ranging from 0.147 to 7.160 m/s². Where the contact value exceeds both the Exposure Action Value (EAV) and the Exposure Limit Value (ELV) according to relevant measurement standards like ISO and the exposure monitoring value from Europe, often expressed as A(8). The most prevalent health effects were musculoskeletal disorders (34.91–80.00%), followed by neurological disorders (16.70–50.00%) and vascular disorders (17.96–40.00%). Control measures for HAV included handle wrapping material modification and anti-vibration gloves (percentage change: 21.67–29.93%), while WBV control measures included engine speed reduction (percentage change: 87.43%) and seat cushion modification (percentage change: 8.53–28.84%). Therefore, plans should be developed to assess and control vibration exposure among occupational groups at risk. This is essential to establish safety limits and monitor health in compliance with Thai labor standards.

GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRE RESPONSE IN PARKING BUILDINGS

2026-06-20T09:41:00+07:00

This research project aimed to study the consensus of expert groups about electric vehicle fire response in parking buildings and propose guidelines and procedures for electric vehicle fire response in parking buildings. This is a descriptive research using the Delphi Technique to gather consensus from experts who were purposive selected and snowball technique, in a total of 19 people. Divided into three groups: fire fighters, safety officers, and individuals with experience in electric vehicles. The research tools consisted of interviews and two rounds of questionnaires and analyzed data by using the median (MD) and interquartile range (IR). Guidelines for electric vehicle fires response in parking buildings can be divided into four parts: (1) Fire suppression procedures (31 items), (2) Preparation of tools and equipment (8 items), (3) Fire prevention measures for parking buildings (18 items), and (4) Other suggestions (5 items), in a total of 62 items. The research results show that the experts have consensus on 61 guidelines for electric vehicles in parking buildings. On the other hand, there is only one point of disagreement: moving electric vehicle wreckage without appropriate vehicle-moving equipment. The experts agreed upon appropriateness from high to highest levels for a total of 61 guidelines (MD = 3.85 - 5.00, IR = 0.50-1.25) This research can be used in a guideline document for electric vehicles fire response in parking buildings, as well as a preliminary guideline for preparing tools, equipments, and fire protection systems for parking buildings.

FACTOR AFFECTING SAFETY MANAGEMENT OF COMPANY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF RESOURCE DEPENDENCE THEORY AND INSTITUTIONAL THEORY

2026-06-22T06:38:41+07:00

This research aims to examine the factors influencing safety management in enterprises and to test a conceptual framework developed through the integration of Resource Dependence Theory, Institutional Theory, and Safety Management. The research adopts a observational study using a cross-sectional survey approach, with a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The sample consists of 259 enterprises recognized at the national level for excellence in safety management. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings indicate that the proposed model demonstrates a very good fit with the empirical data. Resource dependence has a direct positive effect on the effectiveness of safety management systems, while institutional pressure exerts both direct and indirect effects through resource dependence. Together, these variables explain 80.6% of the variance in safety management effectiveness. Key contributing factors include social pressures, professional network recognition, and access to knowledge. Based on the findings, organizations should emphasize enhancing their capacity to systematically manage safety-related resources and strengthen internal support mechanisms. At the same time, organizations should recognize institutional pressures in terms of regulations, laws, professional norms, and societal expectations, and leverage these pressures as positive driving forces to improve internal safety standards. Developing a safety culture aligned with social and professional norms can enhance legitimacy and ensure the long-term sustainability of safety management systems.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS IN A HOSPITAL LAUNDRY DEPARTMENT: A CASE STUDY OF A HOSPITAL IN PHATTHALUNG PROVINCE

2026-06-28T17:39:36+07:00

The hospital laundry department plays a crucial role in managing clean linen for the hygiene of patients and personnel. However, its work processes may involve various risk factors affecting the occupational health and safety of workers. This exploratory study aimed to assess occupational exposures and their associated risks within the laundry department of a hospital in Phatthalung Province. The sample consisted of 25 workers. Data were collected through questionnaires, observations, and hazard identification with risk assessment using checklist techniques. The risk assessment was categorized into four levels: negligible, acceptable, high, and unacceptable, based on the Department of Industrial Works regulations. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The assessment results revealed high-level risks in all nine main work processes of the laundry department, totaling 21 issues. The highest risk was identified in the drying process, while exposure to textile dust and inappropriate working postures were prevalent risks in almost every work process. Therefore, the hospital should implement risk control and prevention measures against environmental and operational hazards that pose risks to the health and safety of workers, such as hazard elimination at the source, training on appropriate working postures, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular monitoring of the working environment, continuous safety supervision by supervisors, and the promotion of a safe working environment in the workplace.