Published: 12:19 AM, 15 March 2020

https://dailyasianage.com/news/222776/csr-towards-the-worker-of-waste-management

CSR towards the worker of waste management

M S Siddiqui

Business activity generates both negative and positive externality simultaneously for both the environment and the society. Expectations of the society towards businesses have grown tremendously during the past few decades; the stress is upon a socially, environmentally and legally responsible business. Organizations have responded to this expectation by indulging in a set of activities which are termed as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Commission of the European Communities (2001) described CSR is ?A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis and is not about philanthropy. European Commission has defined CSR as "a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis". Socially responsible companies aim to go beyond minimum legal requirements and obligations stemming from collective agreements in order to address societal needs. The beyond the legal requirement is CSR. It is related to responsibility to consumers, workers, stake holders and the community. European Agency of Safety and Health at Work in its report (2004), the Agency has clearly stated: "There can be no doubt that safe and sound working conditions and good worker health belong to the social responsibilities of companies and can be regarded as an integral part of CSR" and emphasized that "companies cannot be socially responsible externally without being socially responsible internally. CSR especially has internal dimension to look into the welfare of workers. Workers faces major health hazard during management of waste in workplace. Waste is a complex mixture of different substances, only some of which are intrinsically hazardous to health. The generation of waste and the collection, processing, transport and disposal of waste-the process of 'waste management'-is important for both the health of the public and aesthetic and environmental reasons. The safety of Waste Management employees and the safe operation of Waste Management equipment is always a primary goal. The workers involved in waste management is more prone to these effect of waste. Every day, workers are safely removing potentially infectious and hazardous materials on a massive scale, providing enormous benefit to the public. Such medical waste services that reduce contamination risk, protect human health and support sustainability.

The health problems investigated include respiratory symptoms, irritation of the skin, nose and eyes, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, headaches, psychological problems and allergies. Studies focusing on a single waste incinerator suggested some relationship between distance from the site and mortality or incidence from some cancers. There is considerable potential for hazardous exposure to occur through waste management. There is a large workforce employed in waste collection, sorting and disposal. Workers may be exposed to the same potential hazards as the general population, although the amount of exposure and risk may differ. The type of work varies between waste management options with some, such as landfill and incineration, being more automated than others, such as waste collection, sorting and recycling. The incidence of occupational accidents in waste collection workers has been found to be higher than the general workforce. The work of waste collectors involves considerable heavy lifting as well as other manual handling of containers, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal problems. It has been suggested that increased exposure to bio-aerosols and volatile compounds may lead to elevated incidence of work-related respiratory gastrointestinal and skin problems in waste collections compared to the general workforce. Cross-sectional studies of workers in the waste sorting and recycling industries and in landfill sites, have observed similar work-related problems to those of waste collectors. Many of the substances, such as cadmium, arsenic, chromium, nickel, dioxins and PAHs are considered to be carcinogenic, based on animal studies or studies of people exposed to high levels. Evidence that these substances cause cancer at environmental levels, however, is often absent or equivocal. Many of these substances can produce other toxic effects (depending on exposure level and duration) on the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, skin, reproduction, etc. For other pollutants such as SO2 and PM10, air pollution studies have indicated that there may be effects on morbidity and mortality at background levels of exposure, particularly in susceptible groups such as the elderly. Chemicals such as dioxins and organochlorinesmay be lipophilic and accumulate in fat-rich tissues and have been associated with reproductive or endocrine-disrupting endpoints. Several geographical comparison studies have investigated cancer mortality and incidence around waste sites. Increased frequency of cancers in counties containing hazardous waste sites causing particularly for gastrointestinal, oesophageal, stomach, colon and rectal cancer. Responsible companies invest in human capital, enhance health and safety using voluntary schemes (e.g. occupational safety and health (OSH) criteria in certification

of management systems, procurement, labelling, etc.) and manage change in a socially responsible manner. CSR towards internal stakeholders is a major prerequisite for the implementation of various forms of decent work and decent work means socially responsible role towards employees. Waste Management is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an environment free from discrimination. Since the 1990s various instruments have been created in the world with the aim of implementing CSR into management practices. Some of them refer to specific areas of company's management such as quality, environmental or occupational safety and health (OSH) management. Some other also indicate a way of integrating CSR issues within company's management and can be implemented in different areas, including occupational safety and health. Companies may adapt global standard for the safety and health of employees by periodic assessments of occupational health and safety risks and maintain them at an acceptable level. The commonly known international standards which can support the implementation of CSR within the OSH area are: (1) ILO-OSH-2001 Guidance on occupational safety and health management systems, (2) OHSAS 18 000 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (including OHSAS 18001 and OHSAS 18 002); (3) SA 8000. (4) Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000). ILO-OSH-2001 is a voluntary guidance on OSH management systems that has been developed by International Labour Organization (ILO). It is intended to support effective, systematic occupational safety and health management at national as well as at company's level. OHSAS 18 000[13] series consists of two standards: (a) OHSAS 18 001, i.e. an international specification for OSH management system that can be used for certification and/or self-declaration purposes, (b) OHSAS 18002 provides guidance for implementation of OSHSAS 108001.The OHSAS standards are intended to support and promote good practices in the area of health and safety in balance with socio-economic needs. Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000) standard has been launched by Social Accountability International, a non-governmental and non-profit organization. The aim of the standard is "to promote workers' rights and enable employers to sustainably implement a systems-based approach to ensuring decent work and working conditions". Social responsibility requirements defined in the standard are related to child labour, forced labour, health and safety, freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, discrimination, discipline, working hours, compensation and management systems. Companies can confirm compliance with the given standard's requirements by external certification.

Without workers a company is unthinkable. Workers are asset of any organization. CSR can also help to mainstream occupational safety and health management activities aimed at providing reasonable working hours, ensuring a proper work-life balance, promoting health and well-being. At the same time, development of OSH management system supports implementing Management systems CSR-related activities in the area of OSH. The establishment and operation of committees for health and safety at work, involving both management and employees, with the purpose of monitoring and advising on occupational health and safety at work. The experience and technology changing regularly. Regular analysis and knowledge of the attitudes towards work and the measurement of the quality of relations at the workplace. Automation is one of the solutions of safe waste management. A wider use of alternative technologies is likely, including advanced thermal treatment, such as gasification and pyrolysis, and bio-mechanical waste treatment which refers to a number of mechanical and biological processes to treat waste before disposal. The health impacts of thesetechnologies will need to be assessed and monitored. Organization should regular monitor the fluctuation rate, absenteeism, and other health-related indicators in the company according to the age group, gender, level of education of employees and other meaningful demographic categories. Employees must immediately report any work-related accident, illness, or unsafe condition or practice to an appropriate supervisor or manager, Corporate Safety Department, or Business Ethics and Compliance Department. The writer is a legal economist Email: mssiddiqui2035@gmail.com