Abstract:
Pakistan is located in South Asia also known as ‘third-world’ region in the
world. South Asian countries; India Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are Asia’s
emerging economies. Occupational accident and disease issue is one of the challenges
due to poor working conditions. In countries like Pakistan, industries face multiple
challenges e.g. power cuts, expensive fuel and transportation, outdated technology,
lack of skilled workforce and competition with other industries. Unfortunately, law
enforcement is very ineffective in the region including Pakistan which makes the
situation worse as factory owners have nothing to worry about the punishment for
breaking laws. This study has been conducted to discover safety law compliance in
manufacturing industries. Three different industries from Islamabad-Rawalpindi
region (also known as ‘twin cities’) were selected. Factories Act, 1934 was chosen as
reference law which provides basic safety guidelines for factory workers. The study
findings revealed very poor compliance with safety rules in two (out of three)
industries. Good work safety practice observed in one of the industries as the industry
is exporting its products to EU countries requiring international certifications
including OHS system. Inadequate signage, absence of work safety protocols, no
emergency evacuation and fire safety, poor lighting, unguarded machines, high
temperature and noise, hygiene problems and inappropriate PPEs are some of the
critical OHS problems in the industries. The situation is like a disaster waiting to
happen in most of the industries which is mainly due to poor factory inspection
system failed to enforce the basic laws. It is recommended that the government should
improve industrial safety law enforcement, promote OHS in public, make workers’
occupational health and accidental insurance necessary, certify industrial mechanics
and include OHS in local building codes.
