Personal security cannot be taken for granted in today’s civilized world. There are measures that have put in place in every context to ensure that the agents therein are safe and protected from harms’ way. The sector that is most critical about safety is the industrial sector. This filed comprises of a lot of risks that if not taken care of compromise the lives of people and their ability to function normally as individuals because of accidents. The main goal of industrial safety is to ensure that there is safety in the workplace. Professionals in the field of industrial safety protect workers and safeguard the property and environment of the workplace. Industrial safety has not always existed as an institution but in the recent past, it has grown to prominence owing to the advancement of technology hence the increment of risks that workers are exposed to.
The Industrial Revolution probably saw to the loss of many lives and the incapacitation of many workers because it was the beginning of the development of machinery. There were little to no precautions taken to ensure that the workers were safe. Worse, children formed a significant portion of the workforce in factories. The workers in factories were exposed to unprecedented dangers from the machines that were the hallmark of the Industrial Revolutions. Inventors and entrepreneurs came up with machines that albeit productive and profitable, posed great risks to the people who operated them. There was little to no knowledge in the aspect of protective gear and safety precautions. The industrial setting which was diverse included mills, mines, textile factories and construction sites. Mines, manufacturing and the construction of locomotives were probably the most hazardous. These areas presented great difficulty to workers because of the great risk that they were exposed to.
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Investing in the workplace and industrial safety was not an option at that time (Sutton, 2016). This is because no one bothered to keep track of the number of injuries and deaths that occurred in the industrial set-up. One of the main elements that fuel the need for industrial safety in the present day is statistics on the number of casualties in factory accidents. These statistics are taken yearly and are used to inform measures to improve the safety of workers in the industrial sector. In the past, workers took out insurance policies so as to take care of themselves in the event of accidents in the workplace. Health and life insurance covers were a common place since the events of the industrial environment were unpredictable. In the event of accidents, workers often sued the companies. It is sad to note that most of these workers lost these cases hence an investment in industrial safety would not be a good idea. Sometimes, the best option would be to leave the job altogether if one was not able to afford insurance or money for court procedures. Companies did not do much to alleviate the seriousness of the situation other than paying more wages to the workers whose jobs were deemed dangerous.
Efforts to establish industrial safety began in the early 20 th century when the Factories Act of 1844 was passed. The Factories Act was the first piece of legislation towards industrial safety. The provisions of the act demanded that machinery should be guarded and it also prohibited the cleaning of machinery whilst in motion (WOHIS, 2018). The subsequent legislations that followed that of 1844 included the Factory and Workshop Act that raised the minimum working age to 10 years. At some point, it became costly for employers to be able to compensate their employees for workplace injuries and other accidents. It also became unprofitable to pay some employees more than others. The legislations that followed brought industrial safety closer to what it is today. There were frameworks developed to ensure that there were guidance codes and codes of practice that ensured safety for the people operating machinery. The introduction of protective gear and equipment was also championed for by employees. Many companies took initiative to increase workplace safety and comply with the demands of the passed legislations. There was the creation of safer work equipment and also there were departments charged with the responsibility of identifying workplace risks and dangers and preventing them. In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established to oversee that workplace safety was a priority.
Today, industrial safety is a top priority and concern for employers and employees. There is the requirement for strict adherence to the rules and regulations set by OSHA which have improved greatly since the end of the world war. Most, if not all, the present day industries have departments dedicated to the issues of safety, health and environment. The creation of these industries led to the final breakthrough for careers in industrial safety. These departments are concerned with preventing incidences and accidents in the workplace that may lead to death, injuries, sickness or incapacitation, damage to property and negative impacts on the environment. Safety positions in the industry are hierarchical and require different levels of experience.
Opportunities in the field of industrial safety are available in the government, manufacturing and chemical industries, insurance companies, consulting agencies, hospitals and construction firms. Research indicates that job satisfaction in the field is high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that jobs in this field shall increase by 7% before 2022. With these estimates, it is safe to conclude that industrial safety as a career is thriving.
Much gratitude is showered upon the individuals who strove to ensure that industrial safety became a reality. It is evident that the achievement of this feat was not sudden but rather it took time. There were legislations passed that slowly paved way for a new era in the industrial sector. It is a matter of pride to see that the worker's safety is prioritized over profit and gain. Industrial safety is beneficial to the worker and also to the individuals who ensure that it is a reality through their careers.
References
Sutton, P. (2016). A review of the History of Safety. Green Innovations. Retrieved from: www.green-innovations.asn.au/SCSWG/A-review-of-the-history-of-safety.pdf
Windsor Occupational Health Information Service. (2018). The History of the Occupational Health and Safety Act . Retrieved from: http://wohis.org/history/
