Investigation of the Conditions of Occupational Health and Safety at a Sugar Mill in Pakistan

Abstract

A situation that has sufficient potential to harm workers is typically considered an occupational hazard. Health hazards and safety hazards are the two categories of occupational hazards. Sugar mills are expected to have some hazards for occupational health and safety, such as high levels of noise, bagasse dust, and fly ash. During three selected months, environmental monitoring of various parameters in various industry sectors was carried out. In order to assess the state of occupational health and safety in the industry, a questionnaire and checklist were created in accordance with occupational safety and health standards. In order to highlight the state of occupational safety in the sugar industry, hazards were identified and risk assessments were conducted. The results of environmental monitoring showed that the majority of industries had high levels of noise during. In January, the turbine section and the packing house had noise levels of 93.3 and 95.4 decibels, respectively, and the boiler section's temperature was higher than the norm during the study period. The level of humidity was within the range, with the exception of the packing house and process house in January and March. Particulate matter levels were higher than those required by NEQS. However, the packing and boiler sections had levels of particulate matter of 656 and 560 g/m3, respectively, in January, and the packing house had a similar high level in March. The WHO standards were met by the parameters of the drinking water's quality. According to the findings, the sugar industry lacked a health and safety committee to ensure balance.