University of Nigeria Virtual Library

Serial No

Author 1

OSUAGWU, Charles Chukwudi Author 2

Author 3

Title Engineering Education For Risk

Control

Keywords

Description Faculty Of Risk Management

Category

Engineering

Publisher Faculty Of Engineering

Publication Date

March, 1989

Signature

THE FACULTY OF RIM RISK MANAGEMENT, NIGERIA

4 Your R e f : Secretariat: Faculty of Risk Management

(FARIM1

Our R e f . Reinsurance House 46, Marina. P, M . 8. 12766, Lagos, Nigeria Telex: 21092

P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE FIL?ST INTL;?NC:TIONAL

COi?JF;ZI? :!JCZ ON rlI3K ANALY 5 I :. AND MANAGEMENT

O i I G A N I 3 d D BY TH.': FACUL' iY CF XCSK MANXGEMZNT

AT TH.2 N I K 3 LAKE RESORT HOTZL, ENUGU, N I G E R I A

ON MARCH 2 0 - 2 3 , 1989

XCCEPTANCE OF PAPZRS ---

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC E N G I N E E R I N G , 2, A F F I L I A T I O I ~ O F AUTHOrl (5 ) . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . , , . . . ,,. . U N I V E R S I T Y OF N I G E R I A , NSUKKA.

e 0 0 . 4 0 . . . 0 0 0 0 0 . . 0 0 0 . O O . . ~ . . O . . . . . , . . O . O . . o ~ ~ o . . . o o o . .

"ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR I N D U S T R I A L RISK 3. T I T L Z O F PAPZ!:(S) o o o o o e o o o . o o o o ~ o . . . o ~ . . . ~ . e o o e o o e I .

A C C S P T E D NOT ACCEPTED

F'cj:? PUSLIC. , iTION 111 T I i 2 CONFYi'\XNCE P R O C E E D I N G S

FOR: T H J EDITCjRI i ,L BO. . R D AND GC)V,i'.?.JIi':G

COUNCIL O F FARIM.

President: Ch ie f J . 0 . Irukwu, Managing D~rcctor, Nigeria Re , Secr~taryGeneral: Dr . A . N. Nzeako, University of Nigeria, Ns~ikk.

1st Vice President: Alha~i S . A. Bello, Group Deputy Managins] Director [NNPCI '\

Assistant Secretary-General: Mr. J. F. Wilcox. Nigeria Re.

ENGTNEERTNG EDUCATION FOR

INDUSTRTAL R T S K CONTROL

C. C . OSUAGWU Depar tment of E l e c t r o n i c ~ n g i n e e r i ng ,

U n i v e r s i t y of N i g e r i a , ~ s u k k a , NI. geri a.

1

ABSTRACT

The b e n e f i t s of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t l o n a r e immense. ~ u t i n c r e a - 1 '

singly i m p o r t a n t now are t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e h a z a r d s w o i k e r s

i n i n d u s t r y are exposed a s a r e s u l t of t h e u n r e s t r t c t e d

i n t e r p l a y of t e c h n o l o g y and economic forces. Thi s i n t e r p l a y

i s r e s p o n s t b l e f o r a number of d r a m a t i c b u t avoidable

i n d u s t r i a l t r a g e d i e s a s w e l l a s l e a d i n g t o many l o n g t e r m

d e b i l i t a t i n g i n d u s t r i a l d l s e a s e s . ~f t h e s e n e g a t i v e

i m p a c t s on h e a l t h r e s u l t i n g from the use of t e c h n o l o g y are

t o be e l i m i n a t e d , t h e r e i s a n u r g e n t need t o e d u c a t e

e n g i n e e r s who d e s i g n ' and o p e r a t e i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s and who

r o u t t n e l y t a k e decl s i o n s t h a t a f f e c t t h e safety and h e a l t h

of w o r k e r s i n 1 n d u s t r i a1 rt s k i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , c o n t r o l and

p r e v e n t i o n . Thi s p a p e r o u t l l n e s s t r a t e g i e s fo r i n t e g r a t i n g

e d u c a t i o n i n 1 n d u s t r t a1 risk c o n t r o l wi thi n t h e e x i sti ng

e n g i n e e r i n g c u r r i c u l u m , The g o a l i s to a c h i e v e r a p i d

i n d u s t r l a l t z a t i on w l t h o u t e n d a n g e r i n g life.

1 0 I NTRODUCTI ON

he a p p l f c a t l on of t e c h n o l o g y t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s

has r e s u l t e d i n v a s t c r e a t i o n o f wea l th . T h i s w e a l t h h a s

b e e n used i n many c o u n t r i e s t o improve h e a l t h , e r a d i c a t e

i g n o r a n c e and e n s u r e s o c t a l s t a b i l i t y . T n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n

i s t h e means of a p p l y i n g t e c h n o l o g y t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s

t o g e n e r a t e w e a l t h . f t i s f o r t h t s r e a s o n , t h a t r a p i d

i n d u s t r i a l i z a t l o n h a s been r e c o g n i s e d as t h e means qf s u r v i v a . 1 ' !

for t h e d e b t - r l d d e n and f am1 ne p rone d e v e l o p i ng c o u n t r i e s .

The bene f f t s of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n are immense b u t i n c r e a s i n g l y

i m p o r t a n t i s t h e s i d e e f f e c t s of i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n ; t h a t i s ,

t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e n e g a t i v e e f f e c t t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d i n t e r p l a y

of t e c h n o l o g y and economic forces c a n have on t h e v e r y

s u r v l v a l of man . Thi s i n t e r p l a y of t e c h n o l o g y and economic forces

p r o d u c e s a number of pa radoxes . F o r example , t h e p r o g r e s s i v e

u s e of t e c h n o l o g y t o i n c r e a s e i n d u s t r i a1 p r o d u c t i v i t y h a s

advanced so far t h a t now o n l y l a b o u r d i s p l a c i n g t e c h n o l o g y

is regarded f n economfc terms as s u f f i c i e n t l y e f f i c i e n t to

create abundan t w e a l t h - rl - 7. T h i s d r i v e t o r e d u c e i a b o u r

costs so as t o i n c r e a s e p r o f t t a b i l i t y h a s g i v e n rise t o

industrial a u t o m a t t o n with i t s p romise of more w e a l t h and

more unemployment.

~t i s t h t s u n f o r t u n a t e t r a d e - o f f between l a b o u r costs

and p r o f 1 tabi li ty t h a t d r i v e some u n s c r u p u l o u s e m p l o y e r s t o

c u t a lo t of c o r n e r s on safety so as t o make q u i c k p r o f i t s

a t t h e expense of t h e o c c u p a t l o n a l s a f e t y and h e a l t h o f

t h e i r w o r k e r s , ~ n d e e d , i t i s n o t u n u s u a l i n t h e d e v e l o p i n g

c o u n t r i e s , fo r power fu l f o r e l g n and local i n v e s t o r s t o s e e k

t o p e r s u a d e p o l i c y makers t h a t s a f e t y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s are

i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h r a p i d economic deve lopment . The o b j e c t i v e

i s t o foster a laissez-faire a t t i t u d e a b o u t o c c u p a t i o n a l

s a f e t y and h e a l t h so t h a t extremely h a z a r d o u s e n t e r p r i s e s

c a n be k s t ab l i shed w i t h o n l y cosmetic w o r k e r p r o t e c t t o n .

Such employers are o n l y f o r c e d by t r a g e d i e s i n t h e i r i n d u s t r i e s

o r by 1 E t i g a t t o n o r b o t h to do something abou t s a f e t y i n t h e

workplace , Examples world-wide show t h a t u n l e s s s t i f f

f i n a n c i a l p e n a l t i e s a r e handed down to employers whd expose

t h e 1 r workers t o a v o i d a b l e rl s k s , l i t t l e improvement w i 11

o c c u r i n o c c u p a t i o n a l s a f e t y and h e a l t h .

Recent i n d u s t r i a l a c c l d e n t s show v i v i d l y t h e t r a g e d i e s

t h a t r e s u l t when s a f e t y measures are d i s r e g a r d e d i n a b id

t o make quick p r o f i t , T n Seveso I t a l y , a s t e r r i b l e i n d u s t r i a l

accident caused t h e r e l e a s e of dangerous d i o x i n s i n t o t h e

atmosphere r e s u l t i n g i n t h e d e a t h of many peop le p a r t i c u l a r l y

young c h i l d r e n . I n sw1 t z e r l a n d , t h e Sandoz warehouse f i re

p o l l u t e d t h e r i v e r Rhine d e s t r o y i n g c o m p l e t e l y t h e e c o l o g y I

of t h a t r i v e r , Davis r 2 7 h a s shown that i n b o t h c a s e s , - - the d i s a s t e r s would no t have o c c u r r e d , had t h e European

~ c o n o m i c community d i r e c t i v e s govern i ng s a f e t y s t a n d a r d s

i n chemlca l works been a p p l i e d ,

The i n a d e q u a t e a t t e n t i o n t o o c c u p a t i o n a l s a f e t y i n

t h e Bhopal p l a n t i n Under p redesh r e s u l t e d i n an a c c i d e n t

t h a t c l a imed many l i v e s , The ~ h e r n o b y l n u c l e a r di s a s t e r

poured l e t h a l r a d i a t i o n i n t h e USSR. Many peop le d i e d and

t h e hab i t a b 1 li t y of t h a t town was c o m p l e t e l y d e s t r o y e d .

The chernoby l d l saster a l s o demons t ra ted t h a t i n d u s t r i a 1

a c c i d e n t s are no r e s p e c t e r of n a t i o n a l borders .

~t , l r r a d L a t e d much of Europe, producing r a d i o -ac t ive m i l k , t meat and vegetable p r o d u c t s i n i t s wake. ~ e s p i t e o f f i c i a l

a s s u r a n c e s , a g l o b a l n u c l e a r c a t a s t r o p h e c o u l d have o c c u r r e d

as a r e s u l t of d e s i g n i m p e r f e c t i o n s and I n a p p r o p r i a t e s a f e t y

s a f e g u a r d s .

These d i s a s t e r s have c a u s e d t h e d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s

t o s t i f f e n domestic r e g u l a t i o n s on s a f e t y , raise t h e

a w a r e n e s s of w o r k e r s o n rL s k p e r c e p t i o n , and re-affirm

employe r ' l f abi 11 t y for a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g from n o n 4 o m p l i a n c e

w i t h l a i d down s a f e t y r e g u l a t f o n s , Xn f ac t ~merica h a s

mapped o u t a n e n g i n e e r l ng e d u c a t i o n a l ob j e c t l v e t o promote

o c c u p a t i o n a l s a f e t y and h e a l t h - - r 3 7:

"BY 1990, a t least 70 p e r c e n t of a l l g r a d u a t e

e n g i n e e r s s h o u l d be s k i l l e d i n t h e d e s i g n of

p l a n t s and p r o c e s s e s t h a t i n c o r p o r a t e occupa-

t i o n a l safety and h e a l t h c o n t r o l t echno logy"

u n f o r t u n a t e l y , some of t h e s e n a t i o n s are t a k i n g

a d v a n t a g e of t h e p o v e r t y and i g n o r a n c e of t h e n a t i o n s i n

Africa to dump t h e C r u n t r e a t e d t o x i c w a s t e s t h e r e .

T n t h e c a s e of Koko, i n ende el S ta te o f N i g e r i a , I t a l i a n

firms e x p o r t e d t h e i r t o x i c wastes i n t o N i g e r i a u s i n g ~ i g e r i a

c i t i z e n s as a g e n t s . The d o u b l e t r a g e d y i s t h a t t h e s e same

c o u n t r i e s w i l l i n f u t u r e sell e x p e n s i v e p o l l u t i o n a b a t e m e n t

t e c h n o l o g y t o A f r i c a n nat ions t o h e l p them c l e a n u p t h e

~f r i c a n env i ronmen t they ate now d e l i b e r a t e l y making

u n l n h a b i table , The Koko i n c t d e n c e c l e a r l y shows t h a t a s r' a n a t i o n , we need t o t a k e u r g e n t s t e p s t o raise t h e a w a r e n e s s

of t h e p u b l i c a b o u t t h e r i s k s and h a z a r d s of i n d u s t r i a l

wastes. we a l s o need t o ralse t h e p e r t e p t i o n of w o r k e r s

a b o u t i n d u s t r i a l ri s k s i n t h e work p l ace . E d u c a t i o n i s a n

effective t o o l f o r a c h i e v i n g t h e s e o b j e c t i v e s , I t i s clear

t h a t b y producing o u r own experts i n i n d u s t r i a l r i s k a s s e s s m e n t

and c o n t r o l , i t i s p o s s i b l e f o r d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s to

a c h i e v e r a p i d i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n w i t h o u t e n d a n g e r i n g l i fe .

2 , THE NEED FOR I N D U S T R T A L RTSK CONTROL

The need for i n d u s t r f a l risk c o n t r o l i s t o e n h a n c e

o c c u p a t i o n a l s a f e t y and h e a l t h t h r o u g h e f f e c t i v e m e a s u r e s

that reduce c o n s i d e r a b l y the c h a n c e s o f i n d u s t r i a l a c c i d e n , t s ,

i n j u r i e s and d i s e a s e s . X n d u s t r i a l r i s k s arise as s i d e effects

of using t e c h n o l o g y t o improve t h e q u a l i t y of l i fe . T h e s e

r i s k # may be a c t u a l or p o t e n t i a l and t h e i r effects may be

dramatic l i k e a huge e x p l o s i o n or m a n i f e s t a f ter a l o n g

e x p o s u r e , u s u a l ly i n t h e form of a deti 11 tat1 ng d i a a b i li t y

or d i s e a s e , example d e a f n e s s d u e t o p ro longed exposure t o

e x c e s s i v e n o i s e ,

f f we view a n i n d u s t r y as a sys t em which t r a n s f o r m s raw ?

m a t e r i a l i n p u t s i n t o d e s i r e d p r o d u c t s t h r o u g h a p r o c e s s of

d e s i g n and m a n u f a c t u r e , w e c a n i d e n t t f y t h e f o l l o w i n g a s 1;: p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e s of i n d u s t r i a l r i s k ,

Des ign

Materi a1

M a n u f a c t u r e

Ma1 n t e n a n c e

w a s t e

Envf ronment

: F a u l t y d e s i g n of p l a n t s or e q u i p m e n t s

: use of poor q u a l i t y m a t e r i a l or componeints

t h a t f a i 1 c a t a s t r o p h i c a l l y when equ ipmen t

i s used ; u s e of h a z a r d o u s materials like

r a d f o - a c t i v e materials,

: Use of u n r e l i a b l e m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s .

: I m p r o p e r o p e r a t i o n

: X n a d e q u a t e m a i n t e n a n c e

: 1

: { ' 9

1

O b v i o u s l y t h e d e g r e e of h a z a r d v a r i e s f rom i n d u s t r y

t o industry - t h e risk a s s o c i , a t e d with t h e c h e m i c a l , metal

and r n l n i ng I n d u s t r i e s being t h e g r e a t e s t , S i nce N i g e r i a

has a number of these hazardous i n d u s t r i e s , i t i s I m p o r t a n t

t o i d e n t i f y some of the hazards and r i s k s w o r k e r s face i n

t h e s e i n d u s t r t e s , BY i d e n t i f y i n g t h e h a z a r d s , s t r e n u o u s

e f fo r t s can be made t o p r e v e n t o r c o n t r o l them a t s o u r c e t h r o u g h :

1.. s e l e c t l o n and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of a d e q u a t e c o n t r o l

measures .

2, C a r e f u l consideration of worke r s a f e t y a t t h e

1' i n l tl a1 s t a g e s of p l a n t , equipment or factory d e s i g n a .

7 , TraT nl na a! med at brnber work o r a c t l c e a n d habf t s

7

e n v i r o n m e n t s . s u c h a c o u r s e w i l l e n a b l e them a p p r e c i a t e

t h e i m p o r t a n c e of p r o t e c t t v e hoods and masks a s w e l l a s

make them f a m i l i a r w i t h d i f f e r e n t methods of a i r c l e a n i n g

i n c l u d i n g p o l l u t a n t gas removal ,

2.2. NOISE

r The t y p i c a l ~ i g e r i a n e n v i r o n m e n t i s u s u a l l y n o i s y .

A s a r e s u l t , many N i g e r i a n s d o n o t r e c o g n i s e t h e d a n g e r s

i n p ro longed e x p o s u r e t o n o i s e . Some i n d u s t r t a1 e n v i r o n m e n t

are excess l . ve ly no t s y , t h e no t se a r i s i n g f rorn t h e t r a n s f orma-

t l o n p r o c e s s e s u sed i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n of much needed products.

some c I

d r i 1 li

compre

h e a r i n

f reque

heari n

g l a n d u l a r and n e u r o l o g i c a l d l s o r d e r s , r 4 - - 7. E f f e c t i v e noise c o n t r o l i n t h e workplace) i m p l i e s t h a t

f u t u r e e n g f n e e r s : should be s k f

) l a t o r s , Thc

L l l e d i n t h e design of e f f e c t i v e

e n c l o s u r e s and isc 3y s h o u l d know how to m e a s u r e " ,

sound l e v e l , c a l c u l a t e t h e n o i s e d o s e t h e i r w o r k e r s are

e x p o s e d , and u n d e r s t a n d the role of a u d i o m e t r i c i a n s i n

p r e v e n t 1 ng h e a r i n g loss.

2.3. V T B R A R O N

Excessive v l b r a t l o n r e s u l t s in r e d u c e d working e f f i c i e n c y

i n man a s w e l l as p r o d u c i n g a number of i n t e r n a l i n j u r i e s .

i n d u s t r i e s . The problems c a u s e d i n c l u d e diseases of t h e b l o o d

v e s s e l s , j o i n t s and c l r c u l a t i on , Severe e x p o s u r e t o hand- "

arm v i b r a t i on r e s u l t s i n "dead hand" v i b ra t i o n 4 nduced

w h i t e f i n g e r or Raynaud* s d i s e a s e . Gangrene r e s u l t s i n

extreme cases

C l e a r l y , t h e r e i s need f o r e n g i n e e r s t o be aware of

t h e risks t o w o r k e r s i n t h e p ro longed u s e of hand h e l d power

tools . They s h o u l d r e c e l v e some t r a i n i n g i n vibration

measurement and g e n e r a l v t b r a t i on c o n t r o l . ( u s e of vibration

i solators, damping, s i l e n c e r s and e n c l o s u r e s ) s u f f i c i e n t \

t o ask r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n s t o c o n t r a c t o r s h a n d l i n g p r o j e c t s ,

2-4. HEAT AND GLARE 1 ' I

The t h e r m a l comfort of a human b e i n g i s i m p o r t a n t i n

l a b o u r productivity as t h e body i s e x t r e m e l y s e n s l t l v e t o

extremes of t e m p e r a t u r e , Heat s t r o k e

e x p o s u r e t o h e a t , ~ i s k s from h e a t e x j

industrial p r o c e s s e s are carried o u t i

like i n steel r o l l l n g m i l l s , boiler ruurr~s, w c r u L r b y ~ I I L J ~ ~ CLL,

S t u d e n t s s h o u l d l e a r n how t o d e s i g n for e f f e c t f v e

cooling of t h e workplace, and how t o c o n t r o l h e a t a t s o u r c e .

They s h o u l d a l so be g i v e n g u i d e l l n e s on how t o implement

a h e a t stress c o n t r o l programo

Fire c a n r e s u l t f rom o p e r a t i o n s c a r r i e d out Cn '

i nf lammable e n v i r o n m e n t s , by gas l e a k a g e s ? f a u l t y or

i m p r o p e r l y c o n n e c t e d electrical a p p l i a n c e s etc, The h a z a r d s

posed by f i re and t h e r e s u l t i n g t r a g i c human losses as w e l l

The d a n g e r s of whole body v i b r a t i o n i

J3 t r d n s p o r t a t i o n o p e r a t i o n s have b e e n s

The f i n d i n g s ( s e e t a b l e I ) show t h a t mo t ion s t c k n e s s ,

d l scomf o r t , p a i n , a c t u a l 1 n t e r n a l i n j u r y and d e c r e a s e d job

p r o f i c i e n c y r e s u l t f rom t h e e x c i t a t i o n of v a r i o u s body

r e s o n a n c e s (e.g. thorax-abdomen, head- shou lde r , e y e b a l l etc)

at low f requencles.

Table 1: Response of human s u b j e c t s t o single shock a c c e l e r a t i o n pulses of t h e t y p e produced i n .the tloor near d r o p k o r g e s L 5-f.

symptoms

G e n e r a l f e e l i n g of discomfort

Head s y m p t o m

Lower jaw symptoms

I n f l u e n c e o n speech

9lLurnp i n t h e t h r o a t *

Chest p a i n

~ b d o m l nal pal n s

Urge t o u r i n a t e

I n f l u e n c e on b r e a t h i ng movements

~ u s c r e c o n t r a c t i o n s

F r e q u e n c y HZ

4 - 9

13 - 20 6 - 8

13 - 20 I 12 - 16

5 - 7

'4 - 10 ' . 1.0 - 18

4 - 8

4 - 9

Hand h e l d power t o o l s t r a n s m i t hand-arm , v i b r a t i o n t h a t

cause a c t u a l p h y s i c a l damage i f t h e l e v e l of v t b r a t i a n and

e x p o s u r e t i m e are s u f f i c i e n t l y h i g h a s happens i n i n d u s t r y ,

s u c h power too ls i n c l u d e c h i p p i n g hammers, power g r i r iders ,

hammer d r i l l s and c h a i n saws. These too ls a r e i n wtdespread

use i n t h e min ing , c o n s t r u c t i o n , f o r e s t r y and m a n u f a c t u r i n g

as economic r u i n to i n d i v i d u a l s and o r g a n i s a t i o n s h a v e b e e n

e x t e n s i v e l y s t u d i e d b w z e a k o - r 7 , 8 - 7. I t i s clear f rom

these s t u d i e s t h a t a d e q u a t e e d u c a t i o n w i l l p r e v e n t t h e

o c c u r r e n c e of a lot of f i r e s , ~ n g i n e e r s need t o be t r a i n e d

i n f l r e c o n t r o l measures and s h o u l d know how t o d e s i g n , I

select or i n s t a l l f i re and smoke d e t e c t o r s .

2 -6. T N D U S T R T A L EFFLUENTS * '

I n d u s t r i a l wastes pose a l o t of d i r e c t r i s k s t o man and

his e n v i r o n m e n t , These wastes may b e solid, l t q u i d o r

g a s e o u s ; and may be toxic or non-toxlc . The h a n d l i n g and

d i s p o s a l of i n d u s t r i a l wastes i n N i g e r i a pose a lo t o f

h a z a r d s t o t h e n a t l o n . T n d u s t r i e s a r e a l l o w e d to d i s c h a r g e

i n d u s t r i a l e f f l u e n t s i n t o s t r e a m s and r i v e r s , p o l l u t i n g i n

t h e process t h e s o u r c e o f d r l n k i n g water of many p e o p l e and

k i l l i n g o f f marl ne I t f ee smoke and n o x i o u s fumes are poured

daily i n t h e a tmosphe re o f t e n f rom l o w s t a c k ch imneys ,

The l o n g term effects of these r i s k s need to be s t u d i e d

with a view t o e n a c t i n g and enforcing p r o p e r r e g u l a t i o n s ,

2.7. RADSATTON

~ l s k s e x i s t t o w o r k e r s i n p r o l o n g e d e x p o s u r e t o i o n i z i n g

and non- ion iz i nq r a d i a t i o n e X-ray o p e r a t o r s i n hospl t a l s

and 11 tio on.

Also ( 'er

long 1

2.8 - OTHER T N D U S T R T A L RTSKS

~ l e c t r i c a l i n s t a l l a t i o n s with t h e i r p o t e n t i a l fo r

3 0 STRATEGT ES FOR PROVTDING ENGINEERING EDUCATION I N INDUSTRIAL R I S K CONTROL

The o b j e c t i v e of e d u c a t i o n i n i n d u s t r i a l r i s k c o n t r o l i s

t o e q u i p e n g i n e e r s who may be i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e d e s i g n or

o p e r a t i o n of i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s and machines w i t h t h e basic

s k i l l s n e c e s s a r y t o i d e n t i f y e x i s t i n g and p o t e n t i a l r i s k s

I n t h e work p l a c e w i t h a view t o d e s i g n i n g o r s e l e c t i n g

e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l measures t o minimise them. E n g i n e e r s i n

c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l d u t i e s t a k e d e c i s i o n s t h a t

affect t h e s a f e t y and h e a l t h of workers and t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c ,

I t i s t h e r e f o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a t e n g i n e e r s b e e d u c a t e d i n such

a way t h a t t h e i r d e c i s i o n s d o n o t s u b j e c t workers t o a v o i d a b l e

r i s k s . I n d e e d t h e e n g i n e e r i n g p r o f e s s i o n r e c o g n i ses t h a t a n

e n g i n e e r i s l i a b l e f o r any undue r i s k s t o s a f e t y and h e a l t h

h i s d e c i s i o n s expose workers and t h e p u b l i c .

The Counci l of ~ e g i s t e r e d E n g i n e e r s of ~ i g e r i a (COREN)

i n i t s c o d e of conduc t e n t r u s t s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of

p r o t e c t i n g t h e s a f e t y and h e a l t h of t h e p u b l i c on r e g i s t e r e d

e n g i n e e r s , I ts c o d e of c o n d u c t p r o v i d e s as f o l l o w s :

1, A R e g i s t e r e d Eng ineer i n d i s c h a r g i n g h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

t o h i s ~jmployer and t o t h e P r o f e s s i o n , s h a l l have f u l l

r e g a r d t o t h e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t ,

2, I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s a f e g u a r d s r e q u i r e d of him, a

Regi s t e r e d Engi n c e r s h a l l r ecogn i se h i s b r o a d e r

o b l i g a t i o n t o p r o v i d e amply f o r t h e s a f e t y , h e a l t h

and comfort of t h e p u b l i c i n whatever f i e l d h i s s e r v i c e s

may b e r e q u i r e d r 9 7. - II

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e m a j o r i t y of N i g e r i a n E n g i n e e r s a r e

n o t a d e q u a t e l y equ ipped b y e d u c a t i o n and t r a i n i n g t o , p l a y

t h i s c r u c i a l r o l e of p r o v i d i n g amply f o r t h e s a f e t y , h e a l t h

and c o m f o r t of t h e p u b l i c , T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n

does n o t e x p l i c i t l y make them aware of

( i ) e x i s t i n g and p o t e n t i a l i n d u s t r i a l r i s k s i n t h e i r

f i e l d ;

( i i ) e q u i p them w i t h s k i l l s i n r l s k a n a l y s i s , r i s k

c o n t r o l and l o s s p r e v e n t i o n ,

I t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g , employer s

of l a b o u r and p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s , who s h a r e j o i n t

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n p r o v i d i n g e d u c a t i o n and t r a i n i n g i n i n d u s t r i a l

r i s k c o n t r o l , t o t a k e u r g e n t s t e p s t o remedy t h e s i t u a t i o n .

I n d e e d i f e m p l o y e r s are made t o pay s t i f f p e n a l t i e s f o r

a v o i d a b l e i n d u s t r i a l a c c i d e n t s and d i seases, t h e y w i 11 t a k e

n e c e s s a r y s t e p s t o e d u c a t e t h e i r w o r k e r s i n s a f e p r a c t i c e

azc! e n f o r c e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s i n ri sk c o n t r o l ,

3.1 ROLE OF FACULTIES OF ENCXNEERTNG TN TNDUSTRTAL RISK CONTROL

I n d u s t r i e s i n N i g e r i a w i l l be fo r a l o n g t i m e t o come

p e o p l e - d r i v e n , I t i s t h e r e f o r e t h e d u t y of f a c u l t i e s of

e n g i n e e r i n g t o e q u i p t h e f u t u r e i n d u s t r i ' a l l e a d e r s w i t h t h e

knowledge and s k i l l s r e q u i r e d t o i d e n t i f y , assess and c o n t r o l t

p r e s e n t and f u t u r e i n d u s t r i a l r i s k s . C o n s t r a i n t s e x i s t i n

o u r f a c u l t i e s of e n g i n e e r i n g i n a d e q u a t e l y c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s

e d u c a t i o n a l objective:

(i) t h e c u r r i c u l u m i s overcrowded,

( i i ) t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r i s i n te r -d i sci p l i n a r y

( i i i ) t h e r e may o n l y be a f e w s t a f f w i t h p e r s o n a l

e x p e r i e n c e I n i n d u s t r i a l r i s k c o n t r o l t o t e a c h

s u c h a c o u r s e m e a n i n g f u l l y .

( i v ) t h e r e may be i n a d e q u a t e r e s o u r c e s i n c l u d i n g t e x t

books t o s u p p o r t s u c h a c o u r s e ,

3.1.1, OVERCROWDED CURRTCULW

There i s no d o u b t t h a t t h e e n g i n e e r i n g c u r r i c u l u m i s

overcrowded. The r a p i d pace of t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h a n g e i s

e x e r t i n g a l o t of p r e s s u r e on e n g i n e e r i n g e d u c a t o r s t o add

newer c o u r s e s t o t h e c u r r t c u l u m . The dllemma i s t h a t u s u a l l y

t h e r e i s no agreement o n which c o u r s e or c o u r s e s t o d r o p ,

A l s o t h e r e i s t h e added problem of s h o r t a g e of staff t o

h a n d l e a d e q u a t e l y t h e e x i s t i n g c o u r s e s . ~t seems clear

t h a t a ca l l for c u r r i c u l u m r e v i e w t o i n t r o d u c e new c o u r s e s i n

i n d u s t r i a l r i s k . c o n t r o l w i l l be r e s i s t e d on t h e above g r o u n d s

a s w e l l a s b y t h e f ac t t h a t t h e c o u r s e c a n be h a n d l e d b y

i n v i d u a l e m p l o y e r s i n i n d u s t r y and b y p r o f e s s i o n a l qi a s s o c i a t i o n s l i k e t h e ~ i g e r i a n s o c i e t y of Engineers . .

The m a j o r problem however i s t h a t t h e i m p a c t of s c i e n c e

and t e c h n o l o g y on s o c f e t y i s so f a r r e a c h i n g t h a t a n e a r l y

and organised a w a r e n e s s of its potential fo r good and e v i l

i s a f u n d a m e n t a l r e q u i r e m e n t . sf i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o

d e s i g n s e p a r a t e c o u r s e s on i n d u s t r i a l r i s k c o n t r o l , i t

s h o u l d be possible t o extend v a r i o u s c o u r s e offerings t o

explicitly i n c l u d e s a f e t y and h e a l t h a s p e c t s . R e d e s i g n i n g

t h e c u r r i c u l u m i n t h i s way s h o u l d n o t p r e s e n t g r e a t

d i f f i c u l t i e s .

Course a r e a s t h a t c a n b e n e f i t from this m o d i f i c a t i o n

i n c l u d e :

(i) G e n e r a l s t u d i e s

(it ) Introduction t o E n g l n e e r i ng

(iii) workshop p r a c t i c e

(iv) Des ign

(v) I n d u s t r i a l a t t a c h m e n t

(vi) p r o j e c t s

( v i i ) C o n t i n u i ng Engi n e e r i ng Educat ion '

(Hi t ) P o s t g r a d u a t e Diploma c o u r s e s

(ix) F a c u l t y s e m i n a r s .

3 e1.2 GENERAL STUD1 ES

I n d u s t r i a l risks affect a l l categories of w o r k e r s , 1

I t i s i m p o r t a n t , t h e r e f o r e , t o raise t h e r i s k p e r c e p t i o n of

t h e entire u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . T h i s can be a c h i e v e d by

i n t r o d u c i n g i n t h e c o m p u l s o r y g e n e r a l s t u d i e s p rognaq t h e

i m p a c t of s c i e n c e and t e c h n o l o g y on man and t h e e n v i r o n m e n t ,

A balanced t r e a t m e n t of this s u b j e c t w i 11 h i g h t e n a w a r e n e s s

of t h e rl sks i n h e r e n t i n t h e w i d e s p r e a d u s e of t e c h n o l o g y

w i t h o u t b e i n g alarmist. I t w i l l a l so indicate s i m p l e c o n t r o l

m e a s u r e s d e v e l o p e d t o d e a l w i t h t h e s e h a z a r d s .

3 . I - 3 INTRODUCTION TO E N G I N E E R I N G

w i t h i n engl neering i t se l f , and i n v iew of t h e i n t e r -

disciplinary n a t u r e of i n d u s t r i a1 ri s k c o n t r o l , s t u d e n t s

s h o u l d be exposed e a r l y i n t h e t r s t u d t e s t o t h i s problem.

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o e n g l n e e r i n g , whlch is a common f a c u l t y

course i n most N i g e r i a n u n i v e r s t t i e s serves a s a good

v e h i c l e for. . t h i s e a r l y e x p o s u r e o n i n d u s t r i a l r i s k , and

simple protective m e a s u r e s and e q u i pments.

A b a l a n c e d i n t r o d u c t o r y c o u r s e c a n be d e s i g n e d from s u i t a b l e

t o p i c s taken from a l l t h e b r a n c h e s of e n g i n e e r i n g .

A sample c o u r s e o u t l i n e , which c a n be m o d i f i e d by cu r r i . cu lum

d e s i g n e r s , i s p r e s e n t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e wide v a r i e t y of

s u i t a b l e t o p i c s :

. . . r i s k s due t o t h e w i d e s p r e a d - u s e of ' a g r k c u l t u r a l

i n p u t s

h a z a r d s from fire I ' ,

s a f e t y of c o n s t r u c t i o n a l materials

f a i l u r e of c l v l l e n g i n e e r i ng s t r u c t u r e :

buf l d i n g s , b r i d g e s , r o a d s and dams

h e a l t h effects of c h e m i c a l s

c h e m i c a l hazards In t h e p e t r o l e u m and

s e m i c o n d u c t o r i n d u s t t i e s

risks from o i l f l a r e s

h a z a r d s posed by i n d u s t r i a l e f f l u e n t s

electric s h o c k s

~ L S ~ S f ran l f g h t n l n g

ri sks from manual m a t e r i a l h a n d l i n g

g e n e r a l g u i d e l i n e s on risk a s s e s s m e n t and c o n t r o l

models of safe p r a c t i c e s

workshop p r a c t i c e a l r e a d y stresses safe i n d i v i d u a l

p r a c t i c e i n we ld ing , machin ing , wood work etc. stress s h o u l d

now b e laid on t h e d u t y of e n g i n e e r s t o e n f o r c e s a f e t y p r a c t i c e

like t h e u s e of p r o t e c t i v e d e v i c e s a t all t i m e s , The risks

3 e1.5. CONTINUING ENG'INEERTNG EDUCATTON

Many faculties of e n g i n e e r i n g d e s i g n , develop and offer

c o u r s e s aimed a t t h e p ro f essi o n a l deve lopment of the6 p r a c t i c i n g

e n g i n e e r , They can e x t e n d t h l s t o i n c l u d e c o u r s e modules o n

i n d u s t r i a l r i s k c o n t r o l , By l i a s i n g w i t h s p e c l f i c i n d u s t r i e s ,

t h e y c a n e s t a b l i s h , t h r o u g h n e e d s a n a l y s t s , t h e risk c o n t r o l

m e a s u r e s needed. They can d e s i g n such c o u r s e s and offer

them e i t h e r i n -house or i n t h e company l o c a t i o n s .

3 01 06 0 POST-GRADUATE DIPWMA COURSES

R i s k c o n t r o l and p o l l u t i o n a b a t e m e n t h a s become a

b i l l 1 on d o l l a r bust n e s s i n t h e d e v e l o p e d world r l 0 7. I L

~f we d o n o t t r a i n o u r own e x p e r t s i n t h i s f l e l d , w e s h a l l

become d e p e n d e n t on t h e d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s fo r e x p e r t s ,

For example, t h e d e p a r t m e n t of e n g i n e e r i ng p r o f e s s l o n a l

deve lopment of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of w i s c o n s l n h a s a ~i saster

Management C e n t r e . T h i s centre offers self - s t u d y c o u r s e s

as w e l l a s d i p l o m a c o u r s e o n n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r management,

O t h e r u n i versl t ies offer p o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s i n

safety e n g i n e e r i n g . o u r f a c u l t i e s of e n g i n e e r i ng s h o u l d

s t u d y t h e p rob lems of i n d u s t r i a l r i s k i n N i g e r i a and ' p r o b a b l y

offer p o s t g r a d u a t e d ip loma c o u r s e s i n t h l s area t o t r a i n

experts i n t h i s f i e l d .

4. CONCLUSION

~ n d u s t r i a l r i s k s are the u n d e s i r a b l e s i d e effects of

t h e w i d e s p r e a d a p p l i c a t i o n of t e c h n o l o g y t o e n h a n c e t h e

q u a l i t y of I f f e. These r i s k s c a n h u r t , c r i p p l e or t h r e a t e n

t h e very s u r v i v a l of man. I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o e d u c a t e and

t r a i n e n g i n e e r s -so t h a t t h e y c a n i d e n t i f y , assess and c o n t r o l

risks i n the work place so as t o fulff 1 t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

i:

19

of p r o v i d i n g amply f o r t h e s a f e t y , h e a l t h and c o m f o r t of

t h e p u b l i c , S t r a t e g i e s f o r a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h l s objective

t h r o u g h e x t e n s i o n of e x i s t i n g c o u r s e s have b e e n p r e s e n t e d

i n t h e p a p e r ,

REFERENCES :

GERSHUNY, J. J,, n L i f e s t y l e s , I n n o v a t i o n and t h e f u t u r e of workn, J o u r n a l of ' t h e Royal kocf e ty of ~ r t s , NO. 5 3 7 1 Val, CXXXV. PO 492 - 502, June 1987,

DAVIS, S.C,, nThe European Year of t h e environment^^, J o u r n a l of t h e Royal S o c i e t y of A r t s , Ip,, 5373 V o l e CXXXVI P O 676 - 686, A U ~ U S ~ , 1987 ,

WADDEN, R.A.: SCHEFF, P,Ae, " I n t e g r a t i n g Des ign f o r C o n t r o l of o c c u p a t i o n a l H a z a r d s i n t o E n g i n e e r i n g : Development of a Tex tbooks , I n t , J O Apple Engrg. - - Ed* V o l e 4, NO, 1, Po 71 - 1 0 , 1988,

RASMUSSEN, G., "Hand-Arm V i b r a t i o n ~ e a s u r e m e n t " , B r u e l & Kjaer 3 0 t h f n t e r n a ' t i o n a l ' T e c h n i c a l Cour se , Naerum, 25 - 3 0 t h J a n , 1982 ,

RASMUSSEN, G,, , ' E f f e c t s of V i b r a t i o n and Shock on Mant'. B r u e l & ~ j a e r 3 0 t h X n t e r n a t i d n a l T e c h n i c a l C o u r s e , Naerum, 25 - 3 0 t h Jan. 1982 ,

WALDRON, H ,A. " L e c t u r e Notes o n O c c u p a t i o n a l Medic i net t . B l a c k w e l l scientif ic p u b l i c a t i o n s , LONDON, 3 r d e d i t i o n ,

NZEAKO,

NZEAKO,

COUNCIL

A m N m V o n t r o l of F i r e o u t b r e a k s I n N i g e r i a : A man-envi ronrnent-system T h e o r e t i c ~ p p r o a c h n i n L a r g e scale s y s t e m s i n Deve lop ing C o u n t r i e s . V O ~ , 1 ( ~ s a l o r , J e 0. e d s ) , J o j a E d u c a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h and pub11 s h e r s ~ t d , Lagos, 1987 ,

A , N o , "Developing in-house Computer S y s t e m s f o r I n d u s t r i a1 S a f e t y Management,'. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Semi nar on t h e p e t r o l e u m I n d u s t r y and N i g e r i a n Envi ronment , owerri , 9 - 1 2 t h N O V ~ 1987 ,

OF REGISTERED ENGINEERS OF N I G E R I A n E n g i n e e r s Code of Conductn, P . 5,

WALDEGRAVE, W,, w ~ n v i r o n m e n t and I n d u s t r y - P r o g r e s s Through Co- operation^^, J o u r n a l of t h e Royal S o c i e t y of A r t s . NO^ 5377 vole CXXXVI~ P e 25 - 28, Dee. 19870