Title: Occupational health and safety management using grey relational analysis: an Indian perspective

Authors: G.S. Beriha, B. Patnaik, S.S. Mahapatra, Sreekumar

Addresses: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, India. ' Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, India. ' Rourkela Institute of Management Studies, Rourkela 769015, India

Abstract: Recent concern regarding the occupational safety of workers has resulted in the adoption of safety management systems particularly in high-risk industries. Perceptions and understandings of risk on occupational health and safety (OHS) among employers and employees influence the control of risk at work. A study of risk perceptions and understanding in OHS by workers has been conducted in three sectors, such as construction, refractory and steel industries. A broad-based questionnaire is prepared covering various aspects of current OHS practices in industries. Grey relational method is used for assessing safety culture and work practices. It is demonstrated that the method can be used for benchmarking of organisations on these two aspects. The construction sector fairly lack behind on both aspects compared to other types of industries. In addition, the respondents perceive various items related to both aspects differently in different industrial settings. The chronic ailments of workers due to occupational related stress are visible in all sectors.

Keywords: occupational health; occupational safety; risk perceptions; grey relational analysis; work practices; safety cultures; workers; safety management; high-risk industries; employers; employees; risk control; construction industry; refractory industry; refractories; steel industry; benchmarking; chronic ailments; illness; occupational stress; India; Indian culture; business management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2011.040167

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2011 Vol.4 No.3, pp.298 - 324

Published online: 31 Jan 2015 *

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