Abstract:
This research aims 1) to study the safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems existing in the operations of paper and printing industry businesses in the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate, 2) to investigate the problems and obstacles related to the utilization of safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems in the operations of paper and printing industry businesses in the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate, and 3) to propose an suitable model for safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management in line with the employees of paper and printing industry businesses in the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate. This qualitative research utilized in-depth interviews with 15 key informants, observed the work practices of employees from five establishments, and conducted focus group discussion with a group consisting of eight participants.
The research findings revealed that:
1) The organization of safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems in the operations within the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate exhibits diverse formats. These includes international standards like ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems ISO 45001-2018). Thai safety management system standard (Ministerial Regulation prescribing standards for safety management systems, B.E.2565), Thai labor standards (Ministry of Labor Regulation No. 4001-2563), Corporate Social Responsibility, Department of Industrial Works (CSR-DIW), Safety Standards, Occupational Health, and Environmental Management Systems (SHES), as well as other governmental standards and initiatives established under legal requirements. These standards and programs are adaptable to safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems, which are formulated through legal requirements and business operation agreements.
2) Challenges and obstacles in implementing safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems identified that many industrial establishments within the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate faced difficulties in managing safety, occupational health, and environmental aspects, stemming from various sources. These challenges include the lack of clear policies and plans, ingrained attitudes, beliefs, work time constraints, exposure times to potentially hazardous materials, rushing through tasks, skipping steps in work processes, engaging in playful behavior, neglecting receiving information and public relations media, removing safety guards from machinery, as well as neglecting participation in various business establishment activities. Furthermore, shortages in qualified safety personnel as required by law also contribute to these challenges. To promote sustainable and appropriate safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems, mechanisms were observed from business partners that exert substantial influence to encourage the adoption of such systems. In addition, government agencies also play a role in both promoting the development of such systems and enforcing legal compliance. The government strives to stimulate and foster cooperation among government bodies, private sector, civil society, and educational institutions to facilitate the sustainable and suitable development of safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems within business establishments.
3) The suitable model for organizing safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management systems were identified through the study. It was found that the implementation of management systems within industrial establishments stems from knowledge dissemination, building motivation, and enforcement. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for using a specific management system; it could involve self-reporting through various projects, customer assessments, orders from governmental agencies, all contributing to the creation and development of these systems. Industrial establishments should consider and prioritize the selection of a safety measure, occupational health, and environmental management system based on the context of their own situation. This includes factors like the nature of business operations, the number of employees, the perspectives of various departments, impacts, or internal and external environmental conditions, budget, resources, problems encountered, and the implementation to achieve the objectives of the organizing this system in working environment. This requires the establishment of policies, analyzing weaknesses and strengths, risks and opportunities, planning, monitoring, evaluating outcomes, communication, and continuous review of operations, all in accordance with the standards or projects that the business establishment has chosen to implement, and comprehensively reporting to all relevant parties.