Output details

An evaluation of occupational accidents in the wooden furniture industry – A regional study in South East Asia

This research concerned the manufacture of furniture, in keeping with the 'research for design production' agenda identified in RAE 2008. Studies on the rate of occupational accidents among workers in the wooden furniture industry have been sparse, although the industry is widely regarded to be highly accident prone through comparative Health & Safety records. The rate of accidents in the world’s largest producer-centres, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, were studied through 240 furniture factories, using a structured questionnaire. Findings identified that contract workers are less prone to occupational accidents compared to their permanent counterparts and were therefore more productive. The results also revealed that contract workers have a more positive attitude towards work and pick up core safe working practices quickly. The research concluded that a ‘production oriented mentality’ must be recognized in the wood furniture industry, and previous arguments compromising health and safety standards were questionable. In this context, it is essential for the four national employment policy makers to re-examine the nature of contract workers’ employment for the furniture manufacturing industries and a policy recommendation paper is being implemented at the time of census.

Ioras conducted the statistical analysis and authored the conclusions and recommendations, in concert with the national industry leaders of the countries studied - all with developing producer-centred economies. Ioras coordinated Doctoral students in undertaking the contextualisation for the policy paper. The Journal of Safety Science serves as an international medium for research in the science and technology of human safety and is multidisciplinary in nature including the physics and engineering of safety; its social, policy and organisational aspects; the management of risk; the effectiveness of control techniques for safety; standardization, legislation, inspection, insurance, costing aspects, human behaviour and safety.