MANAGEMENT OF EMPLOYEE WELFARE WITH EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

Premier breweries PLC formerly Ltd sprang in n 1977 with just office some 20 year later it operate with heavy branch which includes eastern plastics ltd Emene premier farm Ltd

Even though the organization started off in 1977 its history dates back to 1974 when the government of the defunct east central state under chief Ukpabi Asika entered into a machinery supply/ plant design contract with the German company Messers brave chases for the establishment of brewery at Onitsha initially the plan was that the brewery should be a golden guinea brewery’s subsidiary.

However in January 25th 1976 Diamond breweries Ltd a fully independent company was incorporated while in December of that same year the name was changed to premier breweries Ltd. It was commissioned by col. John A Kpera (Ltd). Now brigadier then military government of Anambra state on the 11th of March 1978.

At set off the production capacity was 350.00 hectoliters. However after the first phase of the expansion programme which cost N15,00,000 (fifteen million Naira) capacity rose to 750,00 hectoliter and the second phase of the expansion programme costing N9,000.00 (Nine million Naira) bringing the capacity to 1,200,00 hectoliters. This increase has made the premier breweries the second largest producer of beer in the West African sub region.

A look at the Eastern plastic Ltd Emene reveals that it engage in the production of plastics like bottle crates etc. furthermore a land of about 100hectares has since been developed in Uzo-Uwani L.G.A. of Enugu State.

It must be noted that at start of operations there were just 80 worker (premier breweries PLC) But as at today it can boast of over 1500 employees directly and indirectly. The owners of this company include the following.

• Anambra State Ministry of finance
• Nigeria Industrial Development Bank (NIDB)

Nigeria bank for commerce and industry some other associations and publicities but with the more into the PLC class the capital bask of the company has been raised through the sell of shares thereby introducing more member via share holding also the multi malt was launched during the very first international trade fair help Enugu in April 1990.

The company has grown not just in capacity also in the qualified products. Infact in this vein the standard organization of Nigeria (SON) awarded it the N15 certificate of quality barely five months after its entry into the Nigeria malt drink market

1.2 Statement Of Problem

The frequent enactment of laws in this country and perhaps other is in the world would have made industries to look deeply into cause of these accidents with a view to brining them to a minimal level.

Despite these laws we are not yet in effective control of our working system and environment sequel to lack of skilled manpower and the shortage was largely as a result of neglect of employees training and management development programs by manufacturing organization aimed at mastering the device for work. Also lack of the much- need education poses a great problem, for some could be highly skillful on the job but lack the reading ability to read instructional manuals tagged on the machines for safety purposes

Equally there is other problems it centers around companies complying with standard laws and enforcing compliance through a system of inspection and penalties therefore the shortage of funds to acquire brand machines and other safely devices also remain a great problem Some companies run short of much needed money to purchase these and so as an alternative they try to acquire second hand machineries and safety devices which can’t last long period of working times and that is no 100% guarantee on its safety. More so, industries lack the money to pay professional who will be employed to service and maintain the machine/ safety devices as use warrants.

1.3 Aim and Objectives Of The Study

The aim of the study is to examine Management of Employee Welfare with Emphasis on Industrial Accidents and Safety. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were set out as follows:

1. To suggest and recommend ways of reducing or out righting eliminating specific hazard and unsafe environment characteristic
2. To find out the cause of industrial accidents in premier breweries PLC Onitsha.
3. To serve as a base for future research on industrial accident in the brewery.
4. To highlight on the relationship between specific employees and environment characteristic and accidents behavior

1.4 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Management of Employee Welfare with Emphasis on Industrial Accidents and Safety using Premier Breweries PLC Onitsha.

1.5 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.6 Research Questions

The following are the questions of the research work;

1. In what ways can the management prevent or reduce the rate of accident in the industries?
2. What is your status in the organization?
3. What types of accident normally come up in your industry?
4. Have you personally have an accident before?
5. If yes how did you experience it?
6. Does safety program exist in this company?
7. Which department has more accidents recorded?
8. Which machine(s) has the highest accident record?
9. What is your opinion is /are the causes of these accidents?
10. Have the causes of these accidents now been removed?
11. Which of these causes worries your mind the most?
12. Before you were employed, were you informed of the dangers of working in this company?
13. When some workers in your unit have accident how does it affect work?
14. How does it affect sales and profit?
15. Do you think safety device is enough in this company?

1.7 Research Hypothesis

H0: There is no significant relationship between Management of Employee Welfare and Industrial Accidents and Safety

H1: There is a significant relationship between Management of Employee Welfare and Industrial Accidents and Safety

1.8 Significance Of The Study

The importance of the study is in many folds, this study will reveal to management of industries the various methods of handling employee in a manufacturing outfit and the effect of such method on labor turnover. This study will also reveal to many industries the types of employee and welfare. The fact that some employee in the industry do not arise out of frustration which in turn is a result of an amalgamation of factors which can only be isolated by patient and skillful management. This study will be useful to heads of department of human resources of various industries in handling problem that arises in thir industries and in checking labor turnover as a result of such problem.

Finally, recommendation made from the study would lead to a better handling of problem when they occur in the industries which would therefore reduce labor turnover.

1.9 Definition Of Terms

Employee: Any person who enters into a contract employment to offer his labor for wages.

Welfare: The well being happiness health and organized effort for the welfare of poor and disabled ones in the company

Productivity: Rate of output per man hour of work volume output in relation to input.

Labor Turnover: Is the term given to the measurement employee leaving a company and their replacement

Combustible / Explodeable: These are sudden violent bursts of materials such as gases or very hot objectives.

Crises: Stage where workers performance is less than what is expected sequel to in efficiency and improper attitude to work.

Human Causative Factors: These factors are caused of accidents attributable to human beings

Horse Play: Rough play which could result to an injury or accident to a worker

Industrial Hygiene: Process where the work environment is kept free of infectious disease and dirt that might arise from the nature of work.

Occupation Disease: certain diseases that are inherent in certain jobs and are likely to affect the health of persons at work place.

Policy Statement: Statement made by the organization in simple from explaining the intention of management and indicating all major safety programmes measures available stipulating how the employer and employee can ensure adequate safety.

Safety Engineering: Process of creating a work situation in which the efficiency and effectiveness of man and machine are maximized

Usage Act: This act is due to actions taken by a person without due regard for his safety or that of his colleagues.

Fatal Accidents: These accidents might result to loss of part of the body or even total loss (Death) to work.