R1711064Z

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS AMONG WORKERS INVOLVED

IN SCRAP METAL RECYCLING: A CASE STUDY OF STEEL BRANDS PRIVATE
LIMITED COMPANY ADBERNNIE PLANT IN HARARE, ZIMBABWE

By

R1711064Z

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY,

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND RESILIENCE BUILDING IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF BSc HONOURS DEGREE STUDIES IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF BACHELOR OF IN GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES

APRIL 2022

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DECLARATION
This research project is my original work and it has not been submitted to any other examination
body. No part of this research project should be reproduced without my consent or that of
Midlands State University

Signature………………………………………………. Date ……………………………………..

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MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

Approval form
The undersigned people certify that they read and recommend Midlands State University to
accept a dissertation entitled, Occupational safety and health hazards among workers involved in
scrap metal recycling: A case study of Steel Brands Private Limited Company Adbernnie plant in
Harare, Zimbabwe by (R1711064Z) submitted to the Department of Geography and
Environmental Studies in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Science, Honors Degree in
Geography and Environmental Studies.

Student Valentine. T. Nhopi Signature …………………….. Date 01 /04 /2022

Supervisor Signature ……………………… Date.….../….../2022

Chairperson Signature……… ……………… Date….../….../2022

External Examiner Signature …………… …………Date….../….../2022

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DEDICATIONS
This dissertation is dedicated to my loving family and relatives, without whose constant support,
love, and prayers I would not have made it this far. You were my pillars of support throughout
this academic journey.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My most sincere gratitude goes to the Almighty God who has seen me this far in my academic
pursuit. Great obligation goes also to my academic supervisor, who has been casting beams of
light on my fledgling academic career. Your excellent support, patience, and guidance have
guided me through this dissertation. You have ignited an academic desire in me to continue
achieving more. During my one-year attachment at Steelbrands, I'd want to convey my sincere
appreciation to my industrial supervisor, Mr. R. Zireva. The SHE team at Steelbrands will also
not go unnoticed as the first family I was ever part of in the world of work.
I'd like also extend my gratitude to my caring mother S. Marangarire for all the sacrifices and
encouragement during the period of my studies. It will be unjust if I don’t thank and appreciate
my friends and relatives, for their understanding, information content, and guidance during this
rigorous exercise. Lastly, I would like to thank the Faculty of Social Sciences, particularly the
staff in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies for their stunning excellence in
delivering quality lectures, information, and tutorials, I salute you all.

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ABSTRACT
Occupational hazards and risks are rising in Steel manufacturing industries in Zimbabwe. As a
result, they are increasing accidents occurrence, serious occupational injuries, and illnesses.
Therefore this study aims to analyze the occupational safety and health hazards among workers
involved in scrap metal recycling at Steel Brands Company, Adbernnie plant in Harare,
Zimbabwe. The study shall identify occupational safety and health hazards associated with
recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands Company; determine the frequency of accidents from
2018 to 2021 among workers involved in recycling of scrap at Steel Brands Company and
evaluate procedures that have been put in place to help minimize workers' exposure to
occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands
Company. The research used a case study approach that combines both quantitative and
qualitative data collection techniques. Data was collected using participant observations,
questionnaires, and interviews. The researcher purposively selected the General Manager, SHE
manager, Foremen/Engineers, and Human Resources Manager for key informant interviews.
Quantitative data obtained were was subjected to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis and qualitative
data was subjected to content analysis. Study findings revealed that major categories of hazards
occurring at Steel Brands manufacturing are namely, physical, chemical, mechanical, and
ergonomic hazards.
The type of hazards experienced differed by the department that is types of hazards experienced
by employees from the rolling department different from those experienced by employees from
the engineering and administration department. These hazards were also discovered to be
endangering the lives and wellbeing of Steelbrands steel employees. According to the report, the
organization had implemented steps such as auditing and OSH training, SHE lectures, Personal
Protective Equipment and meetings, to safeguard employees from occupational, safety and
health hazards to strengthen the safety system of Steel Brands steel manufacturing company,
research advises that safety, health, and environmental standards such as ISO 9001 and OHSAS
18001 be applied. The study recommends that Steelbrands management should undertake off-
the-job training for SHE supervisors and representatives, as well as adequate distribution of PPEs
that are relevant for the job. These suggestions were provided to the organization to develop and
cultivate the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes towards sustainable OSH practices.

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Table of Contents
DECLARATION
Approval form
DEDICATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABSTRACT
Table of contents
List of figures0
List of tables1
ABBREVIATIONS2

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................13
1.3 OBJECTIVES..........................................................................................................................17
1.3.1 General objective..................................................................................................................17
1.3.2: Specific Objectives..............................................................................................................17
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY.......................................................................................17
1.5 STUDY AREA........................................................................................................................18
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................20
2.1 Overview of the Steel sector in terms of health safety............................................................20
2.2 Occupational health and safety in scrap metal recycling industries......................................20
2.2.1 Occupational safety hazards: An overview..........................................................................20
2.2.1 Explosions and fires..............................................................................................................23
2.2.2 Overhead cranes....................................................................................................................23
2.2.3 Fumes....................................................................................................................................23
2.2.4 Noise.....................................................................................................................................23
2.2.5 Trips and slips.......................................................................................................................24
2.2.6 Mechanical hazards..............................................................................................................24
2.2.7 Ergonomics hazards..............................................................................................................24
2.3 Models and Theories of Accident Causation...........................................................................25
2.3.1 The Domino Effect...............................................................................................................25

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2.3.2 The Model of Swiss Cheese.................................................................................................26

2.4 Classification of Accidents......................................................................................................26
2.5 Accident occurrence trends in the iron and steel industries....................................................27
2.6 The effectiveness of measures implemented to reduce workers' exposure to health hazards
associated with the recycling of scrap metal.................................................................................28
2.6.1 Risk Management.................................................................................................................29
2.6.2 Hazard identification............................................................................................................30
2.6.3 Pre-task risk assessment.......................................................................................................31
2.7 Knowledge Gap.......................................................................................................................33
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.......................................................................34
3.1 Research Design...................................................................................................................34
3.2 Target Audience...................................................................................................................34
3.3 Sample Size and its Determination......................................................................................35
3.3.1 Stratified Random Sampling.............................................................................................36
3. 3.2 Purposive Sampling.........................................................................................................36
3.4 Research Techniques............................................................................................................36
3.4.1 Questionnaires...................................................................................................................37
3.4.2 Interviews..........................................................................................................................37
3.4.3: Direct Observations.........................................................................................................39
3.4.4 Secondary Data.................................................................................................................40
3.5 Data Analysis and presentation............................................................................................40
Consideration of Ethical Issue...................................................................................................41
Respondents' right to privacy.....................................................................................................41
Voluntary participation..............................................................................................................41
Authorization.............................................................................................................................41
Informed consent........................................................................................................................41
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION......................................42
4.1 Response Rate of Questionnaire.......................................................................................42
4.1.1 Demographic Data.........................................................................................................42
4.1.2 Level of education.........................................................................................................43

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4.2 OSH HAZARDS IDENTIFIED AT STEELBRANDS STEEL MANUFACTURING

COMPANY............................................................................................................................43
4.2.2 Health hazards identified in the Smelting department..................................................44
4.2.2.1 Physical hazards.............................................................................................................45
4.2.2.2 Mechanical hazards....................................................................................................45
4.2.2.3 Chemical hazards.......................................................................................................45
4.2.2.4 Ergonomic hazards.....................................................................................................46
4.2.3 Type of hazards by department.....................................................................................46
4.2.4 Relationship between hazard type and department.......................................................49
4.3 Accident occurrence rate at Steel Brands steel manufacturing company.........................49
4.4 Measures adopted to reduce impacts of occupational safety and health hazards.............51
4.4.1 Safe Work Procedures (SWPs)......................................................................................51
4.4.2 Firefighting equipment..................................................................................................51
4.4.3 Occupational health monitoring....................................................................................52
4.4.4 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (PPEs)...............................................................52
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................53
5.1 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................53
5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................54
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................56
APPENDICIES......................................................................................................................61
APPENDIX A........................................................................................................................61
APPENDIX B.........................................................................................................................65
APPENDIX C.........................................................................................................................67

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List of figures
Pages
Fig 1:1Map of steel Brands (Pvt) (Ltd) Company........................................................................19
Fig 2.1 Hazards and risks of exposure to physical hazards....................................................…...22
Fig 2.2 The domino Sequence........…………………………………….……………………..…25
Fig 2.3 The Swiss Cheese Model……………………………………………………………..….26
Fig 2.4 Hierarchy of protective and preventive measures…………………………………….... 29
Fig 2.5 Safety and Health Risk Assessment, Communication and Control …………………..…32
Fig 4:1 Level of education………………………………………………...……………………. 43
Fig 4.2 OSH hazards identified at Steelbrands…………………………………………………..44
Fig 4.3 Health hazards identified at Steelbrands…………………………..…………….…….45
Fig 4:4 Types of hazards by department...................................................................................... 47
Fig 4.5 Frequency of accidents occurrence at Steelbrands steel manufacturing company......……
50

Plate 4.1 Smelting department personnel loading scrap into furnace…...……….……….………

45
Plate 4.2 Hot rolling steel…………………………………………………………………………
47

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List of tables
Pages
Table 2.1 Frequency distribution of fatalities and injuries in Zimbabwe iron and steel industry.28
Table 2.2 Hazard identification tools and methods...............................................................…... 30
Table 3.1 Plant side and managerial employees …………………………………...……………34
Table 3.2 Representation of the sample size, drawn from the population size…………………..36
Table 3.3 Interviews and Selection Criteria………………………..…………………………… 38
Table 4.1 Response rate of Questionnaire ……….…………………………………………...
….42
Table 4.2 Demographic data of the
employees…………………………………………………...42
Table 4.3 Chi-square for the relationship between hazards type and department………...…..…
49

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ABBREVIATIONS

HIRA………………………………………………….Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

IFR……………………………………………………………….. Injury Frequency Rate
LTI ……………………………………..………………Lost Time Injury
NSSA……………………….…………………………. National Social Security Authority
OHS………………………………………........Occupational Health and Safety
OHSMS…………………………………... Occupational Health and Safety Management System
PPE/C …………………………………………………Personal Protective Equipment/Clothing
SHE…………………………………………………………….. Safety Health and Environment
SPSS…………………………………………………Statistical Products and Services Solutions
WHO…………………………………………………………………World Health Organization
WMSDs ………………………………………………..Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1:1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND
This study analyses occupational safety and health problems associated with workers recycling
scrap metal at Steelbrands, an industrial company. It determines the frequency of accidents from
2018 to 2021 among workers involved in recycling scrap at Steel Brands Company, Adbernnie
plant in Harare. The study also explores the efficiency of the present workplace health and safety
management strategies. The study also makes recommendations to the steel industry,
government, and other relevant authorities in Zimbabwe tasked with developing and
implementing occupational health and safety policies.
Occupational health and safety refers to the advancement and protection of employees'
psychological, social, and physical well-being in all aspects of their jobs (International Labor
Organization, 2001). The International Labor Organization (ILO) of 1919, the Mine Health and
Safety Convention of 1995, the Factory and Works Act of 1996, the Pneumoconiosis Act of
1971, the Public Health Act of 2002, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH), such as
OSHAS 18001: 2007, were all created to protect the health and safety of workers in various
industries around the world. Nonetheless, many people around the world continue to work in
unsafe and harmful environments, and the recent economic crisis and recession have threatened
to hinder this progress. (2018, Jerie).
Despite their important role in job generation, the European Agency for Safety and Health at
Work (2011) stated that their occupational safety and health record does not directly correlate
with the larger steel manufacturing sectors. According to the agency, small steel industries in
Europe have a fatal accident rate that is usually double than of larger steel processing companies.
This is partly due to the fact that small sectors are mostly unregulated or under-regulated, which
is exacerbated by the fact that existing regulations are rarely enforced by regulatory bodies such
as the local According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Geneva (2001), estimates
suggest that 250 million occupational diseases and work-related injuries occur each year, of
which 330,000 accidents are fatal. It is estimated that around 160 million workers worldwide
suffer from occupational diseases each year. These diseases include cardiovascular and
respiratory diseases, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), reproductive and musculoskeletal
diseases, and mental illnesses (International Labor Organization Report 2010).

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Occupational accidents in steel manufacturing companies are also common in countries such as
the Caribbean and Latin America, with an estimated 27,270 to 73,500 accidents occurring in the
region each year (Giuffrida et al., 2002). In 1990, occupation-related deaths accounted for 3% to
2% of all deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean (Murray and López 1996). Although
statistics on occupational injuries are not accurate due to insufficient information in the most
developed and underdeveloped economies, Sub-Saharan Africa has the uppermost rate of
occupational injuries in processing steel (Olorunnishola et al., 2010). Employee safety and
health, as well as their level of efficiency, work capacity, and professional dependability. As a
result, working in the steel industry is classified as one of the most hazardous occupations
(Dumet 2011). This means that when performing steelwork-related duties, safety rules must be
undertaken.
Steel manufacturing involves the use of a variety of materials and tools, which present plenty of
safety and health issues. According to WHO (2009), the number of people working in the steel
manufacturing sector is vulnerable to a variety of chemical, physical, psychological, and
biological risk factors. Historically, smoke and furnace explosions have been the leading causes
of death in the steel industry. Scrap metal, heavy machinery, electrical apparatus working in
smoke, dust, noise, and other unstable platforms are just a few of the significant hazards that can
cause everything including minor injuries to fatal accidents for steel industry workers (Kazem
2012). Workers in the steel industry and executing steel duties, some of which are not directly
related to employment, are exposed to hazards such as those posed by the, smoke, use of
explosives and dust produced during activities, according to Brauer (2006). Occupational
sickness and accidents, according to Dwiwayo and Mtetwa (2012), impose a significant
economic cost on individuals' employees and society as a whole. Accidental costs, such as
damaged equipment, lost time, and lost income, are easily quantifiable. According to Leigh et al.
(1999), the majority of the economic effects of occupational accidents, such as decreased worker
morale, decreased market competitiveness, and interruptions to various working procedures, are
largely hidden and difficult to quantify.
The incidence of occupational deaths, injuries, and diseases has been steadily increasing in
Zimbabwe. According to figures maintained by NSSA, Zimbabwe's regulating authority on
occupational safety and health problems, the government registered 3122 significant accidents in
2009, 64 of which were fatal, and 4410 accidents in 2010, resulting in 90 deaths. With 4158
accidents and 75 fatalities registered in 2011, there was a slight decrease in work-related
accidents in 2011. There were 5141 accidents reported in 2012, with 106 work-related deaths. In
2013, there were 5666 work-related injuries and accidents. The sustained growing trend in
accident statistics is unacceptable in an economy that is working at less than half of its capability
(Jerie 2018). However, because the use of absolute figures in OSH statistics does not provide a
complete picture, the country had injury frequency rates of 1.18 in 2009, 1.67 in 2010, 1.56 in
2011, 1.93 in 2012, and 2.34 in 2013, compared to an international standard of less than 1
(NSSA OSH Annual Reports (2009–2013). However, as compared to well-established industries,

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the majority of occupational accidents are reported by small and medium-sized businesses.
(2018, Jerie).
According to Mtetwa and Dozva (2010), a reduction in the steel manufacturing sector's IFR
would certainly impact the Zimbabwe injured frequency rate. According to Doba (2016),
Steelmakers (Pvt) Ltd Company in Zimbabwe had an increase in the number of injuries since
2010. Steelmakers experienced 101 injuries and two fatalities in 2010 and 207 injuries in 2011,
representing a 3% increase from 2011 (Steelmakers Annual Report 2011). Secondary data from
Steelbrands' accident registry report revealed that the company has reported a total of 78
incidents since its reopening in 2018. Four of the 78 accidents involved first aid, eight involved
medical treatment, thirty-nine involved lost injuries, seventeen involved property loss, and ten
involved environmental issues. According to NASSA (2009), previous studies in Zimbabwe
were done to verify the causes of high rates of work-related hazards and accidental accidents in
the steel industrial sector, but no study has yet been conducted specifically at Steelbrands (Pvt)
Ltd Company. This study intends to examine the occupational health and safety hazards among
scrap metal recycling workers, with a focus on Steelbrands (Pvt) Ltd Company.

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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Steel Brands is a Zimbabwean bulk steel production company. It's linked to a slew of health
risks, as well as the risk of reprocessing scrap metal into deformed bars. At Steel Brands Private
Limited Company, there had been an alarming spike in accidents. Also, the company was
gradually losing production time due to a lot of employees being put on sick leave and meetings
that were being held to mitigate the causes. This situation had rippling consequences that were
now significantly affecting firm profitability and compensation of employees, consequently
leading to reduced employee morale and productivity. Steel manufacturing industries contribute
the most to the IFR, and as a result, accident management at this level could have a significant
impact on national accident statistics. Since the year 2018, the number of accidents in Zimbabwe's
steel manufacturing industry that resulted in deaths and severe injuries has increased significantly. In
2012, 513 significant workplace injuries and illnesses occurred, resulting in 102 deaths. There were 4158
fatal work-related injuries reported in 2011. There were 4410 major injuries in 2010, 3810 in 2009, and
3121 severe injuries in 2008. (NSSA 2012). According to these figures, occupational accidents in
Zimbabwe's steel manufacturing industry are on the rise. Because they are recorded examples of
OSH difficulties that arise in steel-production processes, the steel industry contributes a large
share of these accidents. However, understanding the root causes of accidents is essential for
limiting and preventing them. This provides the researcher the idea to examine the OSH hazards
among Steelbrands employees in the steel manufacturing industry, with the goal of assisting in the
solution of the existing issue of a high increase in the number of workplace incidents and accidents.
Despite the fact that Steelbrands Company has a Safety, Health, and Environmental Policy with the goals
of complying with statutory safety regulations and achieving the greatest levels of worker health and
safety, accidents are inevitable. Various aspects of hazardous management have been studied
elsewhere, but not much is known about the hazards involved in the recycling of scrap metals.
Therefore, the goal of the research is to bridge the gap that is currently existing by assessing the
occupational health and safety hazards among workers in recycling of scrap metal at the Steel
Brands Company, Adbernnie plant in Harare.

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1.3 OBJECTIVES

1.3.1 General objective

 To assess the occupational safety and health hazards among workers involved in
recycling scrap metal at Steel Brands Company, Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.

1.3.2: Specific Objectives

 To identify occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling of scrap
metal at Steel Brands Company, Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.

 To determine the frequency of accidents from 2018 to 2021 among workers involved in
recycling of scrap at Steel Brands Company, Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.

 To evaluate measures that are in place to reduce workers' exposure to occupational safety
and health hazards associated with recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands Company,
Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.

1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

In Zimbabwe, the occupational safety and health risks associated with employees processing
scrap metals have received relatively little attention. According to OSHA (2008), employees at
companies that recycle scrap metal are subjected to a multitude of safety health hazards linked to
handling materials and metals due to dust and fumes. Steelbrands Private Limited Company and
other recycling scrap metal companies will benefit from the research findings, which will assist
them in developing or upgrading a comprehensive occupational health and safety management
system for the profit of workers. The generated information from this study may also assist
companies to reduce the expenses associated with injuries and accidents by providing instant
payment of compensation to sick or injured workers, legal associated costs, and material damage

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to equipment and premises due to accidents and incidents. The identification of occupational
health and safety issues will allow recycling scrap employers and workers to follow established
norms of practice, resulting in a safe and healthy workplace. The researcher will gain a depth of
knowledge about the occupational safety and health risks of recycling scrap waste as a result of
the study. It will also give the researcher practical learning experience with hazard identification
and a deep understanding of how management systems are crucial in sustaining occupational
risks.

1.5 STUDY AREA

As shown in Figure 1:1, Steel Brands is a Private Limited Company plant situated at Adbernnie
in Harare, Zimbabwe. This company was established in 2013 by the Managing Director, Mr. D.
Narran. Due to some complaints from neighboring communities, the company was closed for a
while and then officially opened on May 28th, 2018 by the Minister of Industry and Commerce,
Dr. Mike Bimha, after it took a while to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Mr. D Narran found the concept of recycling scrap metal when he was associated with Kwekwe
city, situated in the Midlands Province in Zimbabwe. This is where steel is manufactured from
iron ore and scrap metal using blast and induction furnaces. Steel Brands' steelmaking method
involves recycling a variety of ferrous scrap steel grades in an induction furnace. The company
entered the steel industry after recycling scrap metal into reinforced steel bars, which is one of
the three R's of waste management.
The factory runs a 24-hour operation on a 33 shift matrix and employs over 147 people at a time,
inclusive of permanent and contract employees. Employees are drawn mostly from local
communities such as Waterfalls, Houghton Park, Mbare, and other Harare suburbs. The Steel
Brands, Plant Manufacturing is situated on a 3.17-hectare piece of land in New Ardbennie,
Harare Urban, Zimbabwe, at stand number 1826 Spurn Road. The geographical coordinates of
Ardbennnie are 17 52 59 South, 31 023 East. Figure 1.1 shows a map of Steelbrands.

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Fig 1:1 Map of Steel Brands (Pvt Ltd) Company Compiled by the researcher
Adbernnie is located in Harare’s heavy industrial area with clay soils unlike most of Harare
which has sandy from the weathering of granite rocks. Harare is located in Mashonaland,
Zimbabwe's north-eastern province. The city is situated on a plateau at an elevation of 1,483
meters (4,865 feet) and has a subtropical highland climate. Chenje (1998) divulged that mean
daily temperatures in summer fluctuate between 13 to 28 degrees Celsius and the average annual
temperature is 17.95 ̊ C. Mean winter temperature fluctuate between 7 to 20 ̊ C. According to
Feresu (2011) between November and March the city average rainfall of 840mm per annum
which is mostly received in summer. The maximum average in summer can exceed 30 ̊ C and
the minimum winter is approximately below 6 ̊ C. The area where the Steel brands plant is
located is characterized by dark clay soils which are not easily drained in the wet season. The
area surrounded CBD supports natural woodlands dominated by invernaculat, (Feresu 2012)

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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview of the Steel sector in terms of safety health

According to Benjamin (2008), occupational safety and health is the discipline of anticipating,
recognizing, assessing, and mitigating hazards that may jeopardize workers' health and well-
being while also taking into account the potential impact on neighboring communities and the
environment. Employees in facilities that recycle metal scrap are exposed to a variety of hazards,
according to Edwin and Foulke (2008), including material handling risks, risks associated with
the metals themselves (such as dust or fumes), and risks associated with hazardous substances
used to process or recover the metals. Occupational health and safety are concerned with the
growth and protection of workers' mental, bodily, and social well-being in all occupations.
(International Labor Organization, 2001).
According to Bente (2009), the comparison of occupational injuries and fatalities between
nations is complicated, because information and reporting methods are not standardized.
According to estimates of occupational health and safety accidents, the number of accidents is
under-reported globally, especially in underdeveloped nations. Every year, a hundred million
occupational injuries and accidents occur around the world, with many of these injuries resulting
in fatalities (Leigh et al., 1999). In Britain, some 150, 000 non-fatal accidents and injuries are
reported per year, and about 200 employees perish while melting scrap metal. (Zorigt and Chen,
2012). According to the HSE (2020), approximately 5,000 workers in the UK suffer from work-
related illness or health cases each year (new or long-standing), with approximately three-
quarters of them suffering from stress, musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety, or depression.
The remaining were afflicted with other illnesses such as skin or respiratory problems. By
implementing the OSH Administration Act in the United States of America, the OSH
Administration has achieved significant progress in reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in
scrap metal recycling operations. Between 2003 and 1992, occupational injuries and illnesses in
scrap metal recycling industries in the United States dropped by 36%. (Chen and Zorogt, 2012).
In Sub-Saharan Africa, almost 57,000 work-related deaths and 55,000 injuries resulted in a loss
of nearly 4% of GDP (Eijkemans, 2004). In 2010, there were approximately 350,000 fatal
workplace accidents and 1.9 million fatal work-related disorders. 2014 (Nenonen & Saarela). In
Ethiopia, although employing a significant percentage of the population, health and safety issues
in the iron, steel, and metal manufacturing sectors (ISMMI) in Addis Ababa were given little
attention.

2.2 Occupational health and safety in scrap metal recycling industries

2.2.1 Occupational safety hazards: An overview

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According to NSSA (2012) hazard is nothing more than the possibility of causing harm.
Occupational hazards can cause injuries, disabilities, illnesses, and even death. Occupational
dangers must be controlled since they are a financial burden on the entire world. The most
important concern is to control hazards so that workers' safety and health are not jeopardized.
This can be done simply by teaching staff how to recognize and assess hazards, as well as how to
analyze and control those hazards. Occupational hazards are thus becoming a growing cause of
concern at the global, regional, and local levels, as they present a severe threat to a large
proportion of the global workforce. Occupational hazards are divided into two categories by the
International Labor Organization (2001): general and specific. Health hazards are those that lead
to the development of illnesses or diseases. Safety hazards, on the other hand, are those that
result in workplace accidents that cause physical harm to workers. The nature of the injuries and
illnesses suffered by exposed personnel is determined by the length of exposure and the toxicity
of the safety and health concerns. Hazards can also be categorized based on how much harm they
produce. A substantial hazard is one that has the potential to cause serious harm or death.
Steelworks practices result in a slew of circumstances with far-reaching consequences for human
safety and health. Biological, chemical, behavioral, and physical risk factors all contribute to
these safety and health concerns. Figure 2.1 depicts physical hazards and the risk of being
exposed to them.

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Physical Hazards
According to Gislason(2018) physical
hazards can be defined as element that
can be harmful\danger to the body without
touching it in particular environment for
instance noise, dust extreme temperatures, RISK OF EXPSORE to PYSICAL HAZARDS
radiation, dust etc.
 Noise
Exposure to high levels of noise exceeding maximum
expected by competent authorities many consequently
into noise-induced hearing loss, communication
interference, nervous fatigue etc (25 Safety Guidelines
for Iron and Steel Sector 2019)
 Fire and explosion
Steel manufacturing industries handles and store
various flammable chemical for instance fuel gases,
oils, oils etc. These flammable chemicals possess
TYPES OF PHYSICAL potential fire and explosion hazards’ Slag sparks, hot
HAZARDS
metal, electrical shot circuiting welding sparks, can also
 Noise lead to fire in surrounding areas if combustible
 Fire and materials are present.
explosion
 Falling objects  Slips, Falls and trips
 Slips, Falls and Slip and trip injuries can be caused by poor
trips housekeeping, insufficient coverings on openings, and
 Heat and cold improper walkways or platforms fitted with handrails
stress and protective obstacles, among other things. Falling
 Confined space
from a height, particularly with a hung load, is possible
 Smoke
if fall arrest equipment is not used. (2019 Safety
Guidelines for the Iron and Steel Industry)
 Heat
According to Krishnamurthy, M etal (2017) exposure
to excessive heat may lead to dizziness\fainting,
headache tiredness, excessive sweating and thirst.
Exposure to high heat can also resultantly in muscle
cramps, prickly heat and rushes

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Hazards and risk of exposure to physical hazards in Figure: 2.1

Source: Author’s view

2.2.1 Explosions and fires

Industrial plants usually face the risk of fire and explosions. Steel industries are not immune to
these hazards (FEMA 998). Fire hazards are inherent due to the presence of induction melting
furnaces, boilers, gas cooking machines, and other flammable materials (OSHA 2010). Induction
melting furnaces can explode due to wet change material, dropping heavy charge material into a
molten bath or sealed scrap, or centrifugally scrapped rolls. The most common cause of molten
metal deck injuries is metal splash from molten metal (Turner 2009). Boilers in scrap metal
recycling are used mainly for generating steam and cooling purposes. FEMA (1998) noted that
boiler accidents occur in developing countries due to a shortage of spare parts, as the boilers are
imported and spare parts are not readily available. Fragmented laws and poor regulations in
terms of maintenance and installation have also been noted as major causes of boiler accidents
(ILO 1993 and FEMA 1998).

2.2.2 Overhead cranes.

According to Doba (2016), steel manufacturing involves the use of heavy equipment in the
processes and maintenance operations. Approximately seven hundred kilogram sections can be
machined, and it’s inevitable to lift them manually, hence the use of overhead cranes. These
become a hazard when they fall, accidentally releasing overhead suspended loads that are hot
molten metal due to equipment failure or communication breakdown. Some workstations could
also be located in areas hidden from the site of the crane operator.

2.2.3 Fumes

Fumes from steelmaking furnaces are composed of smoke fumes, metal oxides, and dust to make
up the observable aerosol plume (Vallero 2014). They may also include gases, both inorganic
and organic. Steel scrap, if it is melted, may contain appreciable amounts of grease, oil, and other
combustibles that further add to the organic gas and smoke loadings. Carbon monoxide, organic
gases, and oxides of nitrogen may be expected during steelmaking. According to Saif (2015) and
AWS (2013), the duration and frequency of exposure to these metals result in respiratory and
neurological health problems.

2.2.4 Noise

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Occupational Safety and Health, industrial deafness is a term used to describe noise-induced
hearing loss and can be defined as hearing impairment arising from direct exposure to excessive
noise in the workplace (National Code of Practice, 2004). In steel manufacturing industries,
noise exposure to potentially harmful noise levels is widespread due to the nature of work. Some
activities on steel manufacturing sites are notoriously noisy. For instance, loading scrap metal
into furnaces, sorting scrap for loading into furnaces, etc. According to HSE (1998), noise comes
from the plant machinery, deliveries of materials, and the movement of vehicles. As a result, all
of these contribute to distinct noise issues for nearby workers in terms of maintaining their
hearing acuity.

2.2.5 Trips and slips

According to Hughes and Furret (2011), trips and slips contribute to more than a third of all
important occupational safety and health injuries and are the most common workplace injuries.
Trips and slips almost occur in all workplaces, and ninety-five percent of major slips result in
broken bones and other serious injuries. According to Phoya (2012), trips and slips are mainly
caused when workplace design is poor, housekeeping is poor, when materials are scattered
everywhere haphazardly, on greasy or wet floors, and when lighting is poor. The provision of
rubberized floor mats in workplaces as well as resistance to slipper safety shoes have been
widely adopted to counter these hazards.

2.2.6 Mechanical hazards

Steel-making machinery and tools can have a variety of harmful health consequences for
workers. Many machines used to perform steel jobs contain sharp edges, moving parts, and
heated surfaces that, if used improperly, can stab, cut, crush, or injure people. Steel processing
machinery, according to Heyns et al. (2000), can also cause injury and death to exposed workers
if a worker falls and slides on a sharp or pointed object.

2.2.7 Ergonomics hazards

Strains and sprains of various body parts are common in the scrap metal recycling industry (ILO
1993). Ergonomic hazards result from heavy lifting, prolonged standing, repetitive motions, and
awkward postures during work. (University of Chicago, 2010). Due to those hazards, employees
become vulnerable to musculoskeletal disorders. According to ILO (1993), a study in the USA
implies that strains and sprains accounted for one-half of the diseases and injuries in the
recycling of scrap industry in the United States of America. According to Jerrie (2016),
prolonged exposure to these tasks can cause discomfort, fatigue, and injury. Overexertion from
lifting heavy objects, pushing and pulling, is known to cause these effects.

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It should be noted that some achievements have been made in mechanization, which has seen a
lowering in the incidence of ergonomic cases mostly in developed countries, but the incidence
remains high in developing countries where mechanization remains relatively lower
(OSHA2010).

2.3 Models and Theories of Accident Causation

According to Goetsch (2011), the process of establishing control measures is reactive. He claims
that precautions are only put in place after an accident. Hughes and Ferret (2010) agreed,
pointing out that the polar opposite was foresight. The duo proposed that foresight allows for the
identification of accident risks and the implementation of necessary proactive measures to avoid
accidents. The following theories have been proposed to explain the accident's causes:

2.3.1 The Domino Effect

Heinrich proposed the domino theory in the 1940s, which asserts that all accidents, whether at
home or at work, are caused by a chain of circumstances. The chain of events is made up of an
individual's error, a harmful activity or physical hazard, the actual accident, and injury as a
consequence of the previous components (Heinrich et al., 1980). These elements are referred to
as "dominoes," and any one of them can avoid an accident. As demonstrated in figure 2.2 below,
when the first domino falls, the entire row falls with it (Robson et al., 2007).

Figure 2.2: The Domino Sequence

Source: Robson et al., (2007)

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According to Heinrich and Petersen (1982), human error is the primary source of accidents and
injuries. This is also supported by the findings. of Ronald et al. (2011), who determined in a
similar study that the majority of accidents were caused by poor behavior and risky work
environments. As this Domino notion implies, the only approach to preventing incident
occurrences is to try to control human mistakes (Geller, 1988). According to Colvin (1992),
Asim (2009), and Safety Science (2005), dangerous activities account for 88 percent of industrial
accidents, unsafe situations account for 10%, and natural causes account for the remaining 2%.

2.3.2 The Model of Swiss Cheese

Industrial accidents are described as events caused by latent conditions (such as cultural
influences or management decisions) that combine with surrounding triggering conditions (such
as location or weather) and active failures by teams or individuals to produce the accident,
according to the Swiss Cheese Model Reason (1997).

.
Fig 2:3 The Swiss Cheese Model
Source: Reason (1990).
The Swiss cheese concept is based on a defensive strategy that incorporates multiple layers of
barriers that support each other to lessen the likelihood of an accident. A failure cannot be traced
back to a single root cause, according to The Swiss Cheese Model Reason (1997), because
accidents are typically the consequence of a combination of variables. Figure 2.1 depicts the
accident causation dynamics, which demonstrate an accident developing due to gaps in
safeguards and barriers.

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2.4 Classification of Accidents

The severity of accidents in the steel industry is divided into four categories: fatality (death),
major (lost time), minor (non-lost time), first-aid, and (SI 68:1990). According to Cheng et al., a
catastrophic event injures three or more people or kills at least one person whenever it happens,
as defined by the Taiwan Labor Safety and Health Act (2012). Individual and organizational
accidents, according to Hamalainen (2006), are the two types of accidents. These are
occurrences that occur in today's complex modern environment and have a variety of an
"individual accident" occurs when a single person is both the cause and the victim of an accident.
Although organizational failures are rare, they can be costly.

2.5 Accident occurrence trends in the iron and steel industries

According to the American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR)
(2018), around the world, at least 250 million occupational accidents occur each year, with
335,000 of these incidents resulting in death. A global estimate of 160 million people are
affected by work-related illnesses. The disease causes a four-day or longer absence from work in
one-third of these cases. However, because many countries lack adequate record-keeping and
reporting processes, the actual figures are probably far higher (ILO Report, 2011). Steel has
always been, and will continue to be, a high-risk sector. Nonfatal injuries and illnesses are more
common in basic steel mills than in other industries. The overall recordable case rate for basic
steel products in 2002 was 62 percent higher than the total recordable injuries in the private
sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Furthermore, the rate of severe days, far away from work (cases with lost workdays) in basic
steel is 70% greater than in the private sector (United Steelworkers). Workers in the iron and
steel industries may be exposed to a variety of hazards, occupational activities, or situations that
can lead to accidents, death, illness, or disease (Geneva, International Labor Office, 2005). To
design countermeasures to prevent these incidents, a thorough understanding of the time trends
of occupational injuries is essential (Baldasseroni et al., 2005). In Iran, unintentional injuries are
the second most common cause of death (Naghavi, 2004).
The incidence of occupational deaths, injuries, and diseases in Zimbabwe's iron and steel sector
has been steadily increasing. According to figures kept by NSSA, Zimbabwe's regulating
authority on occupational safety and health problems, the government registered 3122 significant
accidents in 2009, 64 of which were fatal and 4410 incidents in 2010, resulting in 90 deaths.
With 4158 accidents and 75 fatalities registered in 2011, there was a slight decrease in work-
related accidents in 2011. In 2012, 5141 accidents were reported, with 107 work-related deaths.
In 2013, there were 5666 work-related accidents in the country, including 76 deaths. However,
because the use of absolute figures in OSH statistics does not provide a complete picture, the
country had injury frequency rates of 1.18 in 2009, 1.67 in 2010, 1.56 in 2011, 1.93 in 2012, and

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2.34 in 2013, compared to an international standard of less than 1 (NSSA OSH Annual Reports
(2009–2013). Table 2.1 below shows the frequency distribution of Zimbabwe iron and steel
industry fatalities and injury frequency rates for the past decade.
Table 2.1 shows the distribution of frequency of accidents and injuries in the Zimbabwe iron and
steel industry.

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Fatalities 64 90 75 refer 107
Injury 1.18 1.64 1.56 1.93 2.34
Frequency
rate

Source: NSSA Annual Statistics Report (2009-2013).

The sustained growth trend in accident numbers is unacceptable in an economy that is working at
less than half of its potential (Mazehere et al. 2018). After small-scale underground mining,
quarrying, agriculture, and construction, it is widely acknowledged that the steel industry sector
is among the most hazardous working conditions (Jerie 2018). Inspection, welfare, information,
medical, and emergency services are similarly underserved in the sector (Chikova 2011).
According to the National Social Security Authority of Zimbabwe's (NSSA) Annual Statistical
Report of 2009, there were 11,713 workers in basic metal production and 36,519 workers in
fabricated metal production, implying that there may be more active small-to-medium-sized
businesses involved in metal production and fabrication. , according to Humanities and Social
Sciences Research (2018). According to annual statistics reports, injury statistics in basic metal
production and metal fabrication enterprises were relatively considerable from 2004 to 2009.
These injury figures necessitate a thorough examination of the factors that cause them, as well as
recommendations on how to decrease and/or eliminate these crippling workplace mishaps. For
the six years from 2004 to 2009, the average number of occupational injuries was 633 per year in
basic metal production, 556 in metal fabrication, 648 in mining and quarrying, 302 in wood
production, 481 in transportation and storage, and 553 in agriculture (Jerie 2018).

2.6 The effectiveness of measures implemented to reduce workers' exposure to health

hazards associated with the recycling of scrap metal

Control of risks and hazards at source can be done through engineering controls and
minimization can be attained through administrative controls (Drabek 2003; Uhr 2008; Barbealet
2006). According to Alli (2011), preventive and protective measures can be graded. Hazards like
slips, falling off heights, and fatalities due to leakage of poisonous gases can be eliminated by
adequate provision of PPE and safety gear, setting up gas detectors, and regular inspections.
According to the European Council Directive (2013), Because of their experience with and

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understanding of the hazards at their workplace, workers should participate in risk assessment
and hazard identification processes. Hazards are to be controlled at the source, and safety work
procedures (SWP) are sought to additionally minimize risks and hazards. Ultimately, hazards and
risk residuals can be managed by the provision of PPE.

2.6.1 Risk Management

Risk control measures, according to Lingard and Rowlison (2005), are processes or technologies
that are designed to prevent or eliminate hazards or hazardous situations from emerging in order
to minimize the severity of the effects of an incident. Measures that can be put in place to
mitigate or eliminate the likelihood of events (Hughes and Ferret 2011). Trade groups, codes of
practice, and other publications, such as those from suppliers and manufacturers, can provide
information on risk control strategies. The hierarchy of risk control measures is used to classify
them. As a result, individuals can use this hierarchy to help them determine which risk control to
implement first. Top-of-the-hierarchy measures are more effective than bottom-of-the-hierarchy
measures, and top-of-the-hierarchy measures are generally preferred. Figure 2.4 illustrates the
five steps of risk control.
Hierachy of protective and preventive measures

Eliminate the hazard

Substituting the hazard

Prevent people coming into

contact with the hazard

Introduce a safe system of

work (SSOW)

Provide personal protective

equipment (PPE)

Figure 2.4 Hierarchy of protective and preventive measures

(Source: Adapted from Robinson and Brown 2005.p 11)

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The elimination of hazards is the initial stage, and the hazard is removed at this stage.
Eliminating all harmful situations, according to Marhvilas and Koulouriotis (2000), is difficult
and occasionally impossible. The second stage is replacing or reducing the risk, such as manually
handling a lighter load. The third factor is isolation. For example, in areas where risks exist,
barriers or fences can be established. The fourth stage is implementing occupational control
procedures (OCP). This involves written measures and procedures of the safety system that assist
employees to understand what activities are prohibited (Phoya 2012). The last stage is
introducing (PPE). PPE should only be used as a last option, after all other measures and
procedures have been implemented (Huges and Furret 2011).

2.6.2 Hazard identification

Hazard identification mainly focuses on determining potential risks associated with any work
assignment an employee can perform. Also, it involves the identification of a person that can be
harmed and how. According to Phoya (2011), hazard identification involves the identification of
a process and locations related with the hazard, as well as those who may be affected, for
instance, contractors, employees, and visitors. According to Carter and Smith (2006), the most
essential stage of risk assessment is risk identification. Human-related hazards, such as hazards
from the work environment, such as site conditions, equipment-related hazards, production-
related hazards, and hazards from the organization's management, leadership, and styles, must all
be considered in hazard identification. According to HSE (2004), the process of hazard
identification should include the entire work system. Many techniques and tools for identifying
occupational safety and health hazards have been classified into 3 groups: intuitive, inductive,
and deductive. These methods include brainstorming, expert opinion, structured interviews,
checklists, questionnaires, previous experience, historical data and modeling, and project testing
and assessment, according to Simu (2006), Carter and Smith (2006), and Lingard and Rowlinson
(2005). Table 2.2 highlights the tools and methods utilized to identify hazards and hazardous
situations as given by Phoya (2012).
Table 2.2: Hazard identification tools and methods

METHOD EXAMPLE
Intuitive Brainstorming
Inductive
“What could go wrong?” Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP)
“What if.…?” Analysis of potential problems
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)
Job safety analysis (JSA)
Event tree analysis (ETA)
Key points/checklists
Action error analysis

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Deductive Fault tree analysis (FTA)

“How can it happen?” Accident analysis

Source: Adapted from Phoya (2012)

2.6.3 Pre-task risk assessment

Occupational health and safety injuries and illnesses are common in the manufacturing,
construction, and mining industries (NSC 2013). Risk Assessment (RA) is a powerful technique
that has proven to be effective in raising and improving safety standards in a variety of hazardous
industries. Pre-task risk assessment, according to Carter and Smith (2006), considers the
relationship between the activity or job at hand, the employees and equipment to be used, and the
environment. To meet their needs, a number of researchers have created risk assessment
approaches (HSE 2004, Lingard and Rowlinson 2005, Huges and Ferret 2001). Many risk
assessment approaches share the essential concepts of work analysis, hazard identification, risk
evaluation, and risk estimation (Phoya 2012). Risk assessment is a step-by-step process with
interconnected but different phases. Before the hazard can be identified, the context must be
defined. The four stages of risk assessment are indicated in Figure 2.5, which include
establishing the context, identifying the risk, analyzing the risk, evaluating the risk, treating the
risk, and the risk assessment and management process.

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i.)External environment
ii) Internal environment
iii) Risk management system

Identify the risks

i) Risk issues (what)
ii) Impacts (how)
Communicate and Consult

iii) Causes (why)

Monitor and Review, Audit

Analyze and estimate risk
Frequency × exposure
Consequence probability = risk critically

Identify and assessing controls

Evaluate risk NO
i)Compare against Criteria
Treat
ii)Set priorities
YES

Treat risk

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Figure: 2.5 Safety and Health Risk Assessment, Communication and Control
Source: Adapted from Jerry (2016)

2.7 Knowledge Gap

Occupational safety and health hazards faced by workers in the recycling of scrap metal
industries have greatly added to the body of knowledge (ILO 2012). According to the
International Labor Organization (2018), a significant amount of research has been conducted in
the USA and the European Union on identifying hazards among scrap metal recyclers, the
frequency of accident occurrence, and the evaluation of mitigation measures that may be used.
This can also be evidenced by researchers such as Makomeri (2011), who conducted case studies
on work-related dangers, accidents, and diseases among informal scrap metalworkers. In
Zimbabwe, research has been carried out on the factors that contribute to the high accident
prevalence patterns in the steel manufacturing industry (Tashinga 2016: ILO 2012). Jerie (2018)
also conducted a research on health and safety issues in small and medium-scale metal
fabricating industries in Harare's Willowvale industrial area. There is a scarcity of data on
hazards among workers in the recycling of scrap metals in Zimbabwe’s steel sector and also on
case studies of evaluation of measures that are in place to manage those hazards. The
considerable company closures in Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry also make it complex to
access information on key occupational health and safety performance programs. While
individual recommendations should be made as needed, first and foremost, it is necessary to
examine the situation on the ground in order to formulate guidelines. Therefore, this research
aims to bridge the gap between developed nations and Zimbabwe in OSH hazards amongst
recycling scrap work.

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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

Research design is the specification of settings for data collection and analysis in order to
simplify the findings of the sample on the population. To achieve the requirements of the
research aims, the researcher used a descriptive case study research design. The research
methodology assists in collecting appropriate information and doing an in-depth examination of
steel recycling occupational safety and health, metal recycling health hazards, and identifying the
frequency of accidents among workers at the Steel Brands Company factory in Harare. A mixed-
method methodology was used, combining quantitative and qualitative research techniques.
Through the use of semi-structured interviews and direct observations, the qualitative research
approach allowed for obtaining more in-depth information about workers' knowledge of the
occupational health hazards of the metal scrap recycling, as well as attitudes and behaviors
towards occupational safety and health issues within the company premises plan. The
quantitative research approach was used to acquire quantitative data utilizing closed-ended
questionnaires and secondary data sources such as the company's occupational safety and health
near-miss and accident registration records. Interviews with key informants, questionnaires, and
direct observations contributed in the collection of data for the study.
3.2 Target Audience

According to Gray (2004), the target population is the group of elements of concern from which
information is sought. Kumar (2008) identified a big group of people who share similar defined
qualities, characteristics, and attributes, which researchers may readily identify and use for
research. Steel Brands Company employs 147 people, as indicated in the tables and graphs below

Table 3:1 PLANT SIDE AND MANAGERIAL EMPLOYEES

Department employees Number of employees per department

Scrap cutters 15
Scrap off loaders 14
Induction Furnace loaders 20
Continuous Casting Machine(CCM) Engineers 10
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Rolling Engineers 9
Dispatch workers 30
Welders 15

Sales 4
Procurement and Logistics 5
Sinner Lab technicians 10
Accounting 3
She officers 5
Human resource managers 2
Electricians 5
Total 147
(Source Field Data 2021)
According to Bryman (2015), there should be criteria for selecting a target population, and those
criteria must be justified. This research focused on the managers and plant workers who oversee
the company's day-to-day operations. Because plant workers are continually exposed to
occupational health dangers every time they enter the company's grounds, the study concentrated
on them. In this case, the company's scrap metal recycling plant's viewpoints and knowledge
were also important to this study, such as their viewpoint on management commitment to safety
concerns. Managerial employees were also important in the study since they make decisions that
affect the company's day-to-day operations. The Health and Safety Department was also
targeted since it is a vital source of information on safety, health, and environmental
management, and it is in responsible for managing safety issues at Steel Brands Company.
3.3 Sample Size and its Determination
The sample in a research is a smaller subgroup of the target population selected for the study.
The results gained are used as representative of the whole population (Chiromo 2002). In this
research Steelbrands workers were sampled using stratified random sampling and purposive
sampling respectively. Crouch and Houseden(2001) argue that a sample size of 10-20% of a
target population can be used to get accurate rests in a research. Following the lockdown
regulations the company has decongested its staff and this made the researcher to choose the
non-probability sampling method since the sample size was unknown. As postulated by Achaya
(2016), non-probability samples are those in which the probability that a subject is selected is
unknown or cannot be individually identified. In this research 107 employees of the 147
employees at Steelbrands were chosen as a sample and results and findings were to be assumed
for the organization basing on this sample. The researcher was guided by the Sloven’s theory to
generate a commendable sample size.
N
n= 2
1+ N x

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Where n =Sample size

N=Target population size
e=Error margin (0.05)

3.3.1 Stratified Random Sampling

In order to obtain precise and reliable information on different employees' beliefs and behaviors,
the study used stratified sampling. Employees were split into four unique subgroups (strata) with
shared characteristics, which in this case were determined by the nature of their jobs
(departments). The following are the subgroups: Strata A (administration), Strata B (rolling
mills), Strata C (smelting), and Strata D (engineering). After the divide, employees were chosen
at random from each strata, ensuring that everyone had an equal chance of being chosen. This
sampling approach has the advantage of ensuring that all groups in the population are
represented. The attributes of each stratum can be estimated, and comparisons can be made. It
also reduces variability from systematic sampling (Achaya, 2016).
Table 3.2: Representation of the sample size, drawn from the population size

Department Questionnaire Sample size Percentage of sample

size

Admin 30 18 60%

Rolling mills 50 40 80%

Smelting 40 30 75%

Engineering 27 19 70%

Total 147 107 73%

Source Field data (2021)

3. 3.2 Purposive Sampling

Purposive sampling was used to choose key informants. When a researcher uses purposeful
sampling, he or she selects respondents to be included in the sample by choice. The decision is
made based on the researcher's need for specific information (Creswell 2012). These include the
General Manager, HR Manager, SHE Manager, Foremen/engineers, and plant workers.

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3.4 Research Techniques

Research methodology are the tools and strategies used to perform research (Walliman 2011).
These are the research methods or approaches that are used in the field (Avison et al., 2005). The
researcher employed both primary and secondary sources to acquire data for the study.
Interviews, direct observations, surveys, and focus group discussions are all examples of primary
data gathered directly from the source by the researcher (Ajayi 2017). To collect primary data
from the field, semi-structured interviews, direct observations, questionnaires, and focus group
discussions were used. Secondary data refers to information that has previously been published,
such as material found in journals, books and periodicals. For this study, secondary data was
acquired from SHE incident reports.
3.4.1 Questionnaires

A questionnaire is a piece of text that contains questions and other features and is used to collect
information for research or analysis (Babbie 2012). A questionnaire is a set of questions that
must be answered by all participants in a sample. The researcher used questionnaires because
they put less pressure on respondents to respond immediately. A total of 107 questionnaires were
distributed at random to Steel Brands Company employees. The study's questionnaires were
divided into four components: Section A, which sought demographic information, B, identifies
occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands
Company, Section C aims to gather data about the frequency of accidents among workers in
the recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands Company, and Section D is about the evaluation of
measures that are in place to reduce workers' exposure to health hazards associated with
recycling of scrap metal at Steel Brands Company. To collect quantitative and qualitative data,
open-ended and closed questions were used in combination. Closed-ended questions were
utilized when a detailed explanation was required, whereas open-ended questions were essential
for getting the respondents' perceptions.
3.4.2 Interviews

Interviews consist of both the interviewer's questions and the interviewee's responses. A
researcher interview, according to Lagan (2018), comprises of an interviewer who guides the
conversation and an interviewee who responds to the questions, highlighting the necessity of
asking and responding questions in accordance with an interview guide. The researcher
performed semi-structured interviews to gain information on workplace health and safety risks
among workers at Steel Brands in Harare who recycle scrap metal. The researcher carried out
semi-structured interviews with key informants. According to Chiromo (2002), interviews are an
effective technique to collect information about the participant's experience and as follow-ups to
questions in surveys. After a question has been answered, semi-structured interviews guided by a

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template allow time to probe for additional information. The interviews were utilized to
supplement the information obtained from the Steelbrands questionnaires. The interviews were
conducted one-on-one with four interviewees: Steel Brands' SHE officer, General Manager, HR
manager, Plant engineers, and Plant workers (Appendix C). Because the interviewees were
identified to be in demanding positions, prior communication was done before any interviews
were conducted. This allowed for the possibility of absenteeism from the interview sessions.
During the interviews, important notes were jotted down and later improved for future reference.
The interview was guided by a guide, but the interviewer had the opportunity to explore for
further information when it was needed, and the interviewee was not writing anything.

Table 3.3 Interviewees and Selection Criteria

Department Interviewee Justification for selection

SHE Officer  Steel Brands Company's Health, and Safety
Officer knows more about safety concerns than
everyone.
 Implements safety measures and strategies to
reduce workplace hazards.
 He maintains all health, safety and
environmental records, including accident
reports, injuries, licenses, work permits, illness
statistics, and papers used as secondary sources
by the researcher.

Administration General Manager  The general manager is in charge of the

organization's general manager.
 Participate in the development and planning of
the company's SHE policy.
 He is the person in charge of allocating funds
for OSH management programs.

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HR Manager  Employees are assigned resources, such as

safety equipments, by the Human Resources
Manager/Officer
 The Human Resources Manager/Officer keeps
track of all personnel within the reorganization
and is involved in any human resource issues,
such as accidents, injuries, and investigations.
 Employees are assigned resources, such as
Personal Protective Equipment, by the Human
Resources Manager/Officer (PPE).

Plant Foremen/Engineers  Plant Foremen is aware of all the potential

hazards that may arise during the smelting
process.
 He is well-versed in all of the risks, illnesses
and injuries that employees face as a result of
the smelting process if protocols are not
followed properly.

Plant Workers  Scrap metal recyclers, such as scrap loaders,

(Scrap collectors, collectors, and dispatchers, are well-versed in
loaders, furnace the hazards that can arise throughout the
loaders, recycling process.
dispatchers,
rollers).  This is because they are hands-on workers who
are exposed to a variety of situations.

3.4.3: Direct Observations

Observation, according to Merriam et al. (2015), is a method of gathering data through

witnessing behaviors, events, or physical qualities in their natural context. Direct and indirect
observations are the two sorts of observations (Merriam et al., 2015). Direct observation, a data
collecting and evaluation approach in which the researcher observes the subject in their normal

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settings without changing anything, was employed in this study. Direct observations were
conducted to support and confirm information acquired from interview questionnaires and other
data sources. Complete participant observations were used in this study to observe significant
causes of hazards, accidents, and work platforms. Because participant observations are a cost-
effective and unbiased method of data gathering, they were chosen. Observations were
conducted under the supervision of the company's SHE manager. To obtain a better
understanding of the diversity in working environments and the types of occupational hazards
that can be found in each one, the researcher moved among departments. To learn about potential
sources of workplace hazards, accidents, and injuries, on-the-spot observations of various
equipment, working platforms, and all processes involved in steel manufacture were conducted.
The observations were also conducted to see how well workers were protected from occupational
hazards in Zimbabwe, according to OSH regulations and guidelines.
According to Safeopedia(2017), observation checklists are documents used during safety
inspections for the identification of potential hazards . In each section, the observation checklist
was employed. More specifically, the checklist was used to analyze employee responses to
health and safety and environmental measures as a method of avoiding occupational accidents at
work, as well as machine operation, PPE provision, and risk assessments.
3.4.4 Secondary Data

Secondary data sources, according to Kumar (2005), are data sources from previously published
works from which a researcher obtains useful material for their own research. Journals, books,
newspapers, films, and official company documents are all good places to look. Validation and
changes are required for this data. Secondary data is sometimes known as second-hand data
sources because it is data that has been obtained for other purposes. Official firm documents and
records were among the secondary data sources visited. Additional secondary sources with
information on hazards, accidents, and response strategies include the SHE Weekly, monthly,
and quarterly reports, accident registers, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The annual
publications of the National Social Security Association (NSSA) on OHS performance issues in
Zimbabwe were examined. The significance of secondary data is that it establishes the study's
basis and highlights what is already accessible in the field, guiding the researcher.
3.5 Data Analysis and presentation

Data analysis, according to Robson (2002), is the process of evaluating, altering, cleaning, and
data modeling to highlight the relevant information. It is the systematic presentation and
evaluation of facts using statistical and logical methodologies. Qualitative data acquired through
questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and graphic presentations in
the form of bars and graphs were utilized to illustrate discrete data, such as the key hazards on-
site identified by Steelbrands employees and the effective strategies in place. SPSS was used to

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transform qualitative data from questionnaires and interviews into numerical data. Gender, age,
and work experience, as well as respondents' education and level of schooling, are among the
variables coded. The use of SPSS allowed descriptive statistics to be presented that showed the
distribution of hazards between departments. SPSS enabled the visualization of descriptive
statistics in the form of graphs to show the distribution of hazards among departments. The
package assisted in determining the frequency of accidents and evaluating the measures in place
to address those accidents. Data from the observations and questionnaires were tabulated and
then presented on graphs and tables for further examination of the presence of hazards and the
frequency with which accidents occurred.

Consideration of Ethical Issue

Academic brotherhood is built on professionalism, which suggests that individuals must support
research ethics in all academic activities in order for any study to be respectable (Makau &
Akaranga) (2016). A letter from Midlands State University's Department of Geography,
Environmental Sustainability, and Resilience Building had to be obtained and sent to Steel
Brands' administrative department. The standards that guide researchers' behavior when dealing
with both immediate and intermediate in responders are referred to as research ethics. The
following factors were taken into consideration:
Respondents' right to privacy the respondents' right privacy was respected throughout the data
collection process. Right to privacy means not identifying respondents' racial or cultural
backgrounds, not sharing any other sensitive information about them or using their names,
(Mugenda 2013). This was made possible by the fact that the study instrument was designed in
such a way that it provided a better level of privacy and only the investigator had access to the
results.
Voluntary participation it’s worth emphasizing that when the concept of informed consent was
appropriately conveyed to the participants, they consented to engage in the study willingly and
voluntarily, with no excessive pressure or compulsion from the researcher.
Authorization after acquiring official authorization from company executives, the researchers
started data gathering, ensuring that the study was communicated to the company's management
and supporting the collection of reliable data
Informed consent according to Kowalczyk (2003), informed consent is the ability to provide
participants with sufficient detailed information about the study in order for them to make an
informed and rational decision about whether or not to join. As a result, participants were
provided with accurate information about the study, allowing them to make an informed decision
about whether or not to join. They were told about the study's advantages and disadvantages, as
well as the option to withdraw at any time and for any reason (Makau & Akaranga 2016).

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CHAPTER 4: RESULTS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Response Rate of Questionnaire

Of the 107 questionnaires that were distributed, four were spoiled, and 103 were returned and
used in the study. As a result, response rate to the questionnaire was 96%.
This can be shown below by table 4.1 [n=103]

Department Questionnaire Returned Response rate

Admin 18 18 100%

Rolling mills 40 38 95%

Smelting 30 29 97%

Engineering 19 18 95%

Total 107 103 96%

4.1.1 Demographic Data

Of the selected respondents, 67% were males while 33% were females. There is an imbalance
between the proportion of males and females working at Steel Brands in Harare. The selected
respondents have varied ages. Majority (33%) are between the ages categories of 26-35 years.
The following table summarizes the age categories of respondents and gender (Table 4.2)
Table 4.2. The demographic data of the employees

Variable Category Percentage

Gender Males 67%
Females 33%

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Age 15-25years 18%

26-35years 33%
36-45years 25%
46-55years 13%
55-65years 8%
66+ 2%
Source: Field data

4.1.2 Level of education

Almost half of the respondents (48%) only had primary education, followed by 38% who had
secondary education, and 13% who had tertiary (Figure 4.1). This finding demonstrated that the
majority of employees had a very poor level of knowledge, which can affect how they perceive
health and safety risks and communication. Level of education has an impact on one’ attitude,
perceptions on safety and health issues at an organization.

60%

50%

40%
Respondents

30%

20%

10%

0%
Primary Secondary Tertiary
Level of education

Figure 4.1: Level of education

Source: Field Data

4.2 OSH HAZARDS IDENTIFIED AT STEELBRANDS STEEL MANUFACTURING

COMPANY

Occupational health and safety hazards identified at steel manufacturing company, includes
rolling mills, a smelting department, administration, and an engineering department. The

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findings show that the types of occupational hazards at Steelbrands vary by department. When
compared to the administration department, the rolling mills, smelting, and engineering
departments were more vulnerable to hazards. As shown in figure 4.2, the administration section
was vulnerable to chemical hazards since it housed all chemicals used in steel operations, such as
coke, limestone, manganese, limestone flux, and iron ore (iron and oxide). They were also at risk
of fires because of the chemicals they used, which are flammable if proper precautions are not
taken. The engineering department was also involved. The engineering department was also
vulnerable to physical hazards such as ultraviolet light and lifting heavy objects.

Smelting hazards Rolling mill Engineering Administrati

hazards hazards on hazards
Excessive dust
Electrocution
during off loading/ Contact with Explosions of
loading operations hot metals Exposure to oil gas
spillages,
Fugitive dust at Working on Chemical
row material confined Ultraviolet light spillages
handling spaces
Lifting heavy Fire
Suspended load Moving objects outbreaks
Electrocution machinery on
Welding fumes Risk of
site, transport,
Noise electrocution
forklifts and Sharp edged
Electrical flash and cranes machines
electric shock
Exposure to Suspended load
Fire and explosions controlled and
uncontrolled
Inhalable agents energy sources
(gases, vapors and
flames) Unguarded
machinery
Ironizing radiation
and non-ironizing
radiation

Figure 4.2: Occupational Safety and Health hazards identified at Steel brands

Fig 4.2 OSH hazards identified at Steelbrands

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Source: Field data

4.2.2 Health hazards identified in the Smelting department

The research identified the main types of hazards at Steel Brand manufacturing. Physical hazards
were identified as the most common hazards as articulated by 55% of the selected respondents,
21% mentioned chemical hazards and 11% mentioned mechanical hazards (Figure 4.3).

60%

50%

40%
Respondents

30%

20%

10%

0%
Physical hazards Mechanical hazards Chemical hazards Egornomic hazards
Types of hazards at Steel brands

Figure 4.3: Health hazards identified at Steel Brands

Source: Field data
4.2.2.1 Physical hazards

A total of 55% of the selected respondents highlighted physical hazards as the dominant class of
hazards affecting employees. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents are exposed to
physical hazards. The Safety Healthy and Environmental Officer in an interview highlighted that
employees in the smelting department are more vulnerable to physical hazards than employees in
all other types of occupational safety and health hazards. Some of the identified forms of
physical hazards as mentioned by respondents include high temperatures in the furnace, smoke,
dust and noise.
4.2.2.2 Mechanical hazards

Of the selected respondents, 11% mentioned mechanical hazards. The respondents mentioned
that workers are exposed to mechanical hazards and this was also supported by the SHE officer.
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Moving conveyors, tilting furnaces, and moving ladles could all cause vibrations to workers and
other users. It was established that scrap loaders are also vulnerable to mechanical hazards
because vibrations are generated during the melting process.
4.2.2.3 Chemical hazards

A total of 22% of the selected respondents mentioned chemical hazards. Different gases emitted
during scrap metal and chemical spills could be absorbed by workers through the skin, ingestion
or inhalation. Hence employees should be given protective clothing to minimize their exposure
to chemical hazards which have the potential of causing health disasters to exposed employees.
4.2.2.4 Ergonomic hazards

The Safety Health and Environmental Officer highlighted that ergonomic hazards are common at
steel brands manufacturing company. The selected respondents from the smelting department
employees confirmed that ergonomic hazards had an impact on them. Ergonomic hazards
identified are due to the heavy lifting of scrap during loading, prolonged standing, repetitive
motions, and awkward postures at work. According to Jerrie (2016), long-term exposure to these
tasks can cause discomfort, fatigue, and injury.

Plate 4.1: Smelting department personnel loading scrap metal into a furnace.
Source: Field data (2021)
4.2.3 Type of hazards by department

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The research examined the types of hazards in different departments. It was established that the
types of hazards differed by department and as such the safety measures to be adopted should be
differentiated by department. Of the selected respondents, 37% mentioned that physical hazards
are more dominant in the rolling department, while 29% mentioned ergonomic hazards in the
rolling department (Figure 4.5). In department, 50% of the selected respondents’ highlighted
physical hazards, while20% are exposed to chemical hazards.

60%
50% 50%
50%

40% 37%
32% 30% 30%
29%
30%
20% 20%
Respondents

20%

10%

0%
Physical hazards

Mechanical hazards

Ergonomic hazards

Physical hazards

Mechanical hazards

Ergonomic hazards

Physical hazards
Chemical hazards

Chemical hazards

Rolling department Enginnering department Adminstration department

Type of hazard by department

Figure 4.4 represents the types of occupational hazards identified at Steelbrands by department.
Of the total sampled respondents, 37% mentioned physical hazards to workers in the rolling mill
department (Figure 4.5). Workers from the rolling mill department are prone to high
temperatures as mentioned by the SHE Officers. Responses from interview with the SHE officer
confirmed that high heat levels are generated as a result of rolling element friction between the
raceways and retainer, as well as all hazards affecting this department as drag and lubricant
churning. There was also a lot of noise in the rolling mill department. Noise generated by high-
speed rotating machines' metal-on-metal contact causes occupational health problems for those
who are exposed.
Some of the respondents (32%) advocated that rolling mill workers are exposed to mechanical
hazards (Figure 4.5). Observations in the rolling department reveal that employees in the rolling
mill department are vulnerable to moving machines that are not guarded. Hot steel is pressed
between two cylinders, or "rollers," which flatten or shape it. This process is repeated through a

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series of rollers until the desired thickness of steel is achieved. As a result, workers in that
department are vulnerable to a variety of accidents and injuries.
Employees in the rolling mill department are also at risk of ergonomic hazards due to repetitive
handling of coils or blanks with sharp edges or burrs, handling heavy rolls setting up jams, and
usage of the jog mode for threading coils and testing rolls, among other things. A total of 29% of
the selected respondents mentioned that rolling department workers are exposed to ergonomic
hazards

Plate 4.2: Hot rolling steel, which can induce heat exhaustion in workers, particularly those in
the rolling department.
A total of 50% of the selected respondents highlighted that workers from the engineering
department are vulnerable to physical hazards (Figure 4.5). The health of boilermakers and fitters
in the engineering sector was found to be affected by welding gases and ultraviolet radiation
during the welding process. Observations revealed that during welding and other maintenance
activities in the engineering sector, there is a lot of noise. In the engineering department,
mechanical and chemical hazards were also identified as potential workplace hazards. The lifting
of large materials in the engineering area created a health hazard for individuals who worked
there. Chemical hazards faced by engineering staff included exhaust fumes, welding gases, and
oil spillages used to lubricate steel manufacturing equipment.
In this engineering department the most common musculoskeletal diseases were strains and
sprains caused by repetitive actions and awkward postures. This is so because all of the

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chemicals needed in steel operations, such as manganese, limestone, limestone flux, and iron ore
(iron and oxide), are held in this department making people more exposed to chemical dangers.

4.2.4 Relationship between hazard type and department

Chi square tests were performed to confirm the relationship between hazard type and
department at Steelbrands manufacturing.

Table 4.3: Chi square test for relationship between hazard type and department

Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)

Pearson Chi-Square 20.681a 5 .001

Likelihood Ratio 22.198 5 .000
Linear-by-Linear Association 13.001 1 .000
N of Valid Cases 107

H0 There is no relationship between hazard type and department (P>0.05)

H1 There is a relationship between hazard type and department (P<0.05)
Chi square results on the relationship between type of hazard and name of department revealed
that the p value was 0.001 which is less than 0.05(margin of error). This reflects that there is a
significant relationship between type of hazard and department thus we accept H1 (there is a
relationship) and reject H0. This support the assertion that hazard occurrence differed by
department.
4.3 Accident occurrence rate at Steel Brands steel manufacturing company.

At Steel brands manufacturing company, the researchers established the frequency of occurrence
of accidents and types of accidents from the period 2018 to 2021. Findings obtained revealed
that, in 2018, 10% of the accidents recorded were first aid injury cases, 20% were medical
treatment cases, 18% were property damage cases (Figure 4.6). In 2019, 20% were first aid

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injury cases, 30% were medical treatment cases while 20% were environmental accidents. In
2021, 37% of the accidents recorded were environmental, 27% were property damage accidents.
The obtained findings revealed variations of dominant accidents recorded per year at Steel
Brands manufacturing company.

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%
Injuries recorded

20%

10%

0%
Property damage

Property damage

Property damage
Medical treatment

Medical treatment

Medical treatment

Medical treatment
Environmental cases

Environmental cases

Environmental cases

Environmental cases
First aid injuries

First aid injuries

First aid injuries

First aid injuries

Lost injury

Lost injury

Lost injury

2018 2019 2020 Lost injury

2021
Types of injuries from 2018 to 2021

Figure 4.5: Frequency of accident occurrence at Steelbrands steel manufacturing company.

Findings obtained revealed that the company had experienced accidents from 2018 when it was
re-opened as shown on figure 4.7. The occurrence of accidents has been attributed largely to the
organization's financial crisis, which meant that staff was under an enormous of pressure most of
the time to reach output objectives, even though they couldn't meet them in some circumstances.
In 2019, the number of first-aid cases skyrocketed, maybe due to the nature of the jobs that
employees were exposed to. Steelbrands began full operations in 2018. The majority of the
laborers were recruited from Mbare, Waterfalls, Houghton Park, and other Harare districts.
These individuals were not having the proper qualifications to operate in scrap metal processing
and were unfamiliar with steel processing processes. Because the staff may have developed a
safety culture, the number of first aid cases was low in 2018 falls, minor injuries, exposure to
extreme heat, and other causes of first aid cases. An accident that results in a fatality, permanent

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disability, or time away from work is known as a "lost-time injury." It could be for a single day
or shift (Ebrahim et al. 2016).
There have been 39 lost-time injuries since the reopening of Steelbrands, with lost-time injuries
having the highest number and incidence rate. Since the beginning, there has been an increase in
the number of lost-time injuries, with 6 in 2016, 14 in 2019, 15 in 2020, and 4 in 2021. Lost time
injuries were caused by a variety of circumstances, including poor policy enforcement, working
under pressure to meet production goals, and failing to adequately evaluate the hazards
associated with one's task.
Medical treatment instances are serious situations in which a casualty or wounded person needs
medical help from a trained doctor or nurse (International Association of Geophysical
Contractors et al., 2000). Since the reopening in 2015, the organization has recorded eight
medical treatment cases that will last until 2021. The number of medical treatment cases
recorded gradually increased in 2019, which might be linked to employees being under a lot of
pressure to make their monthly goal because the leadership had promised that if they didn't, the
plant will close if they didn't.
Property damage accidents were the second most prevalent form of accident recorded between
2018 and 2021, following lost time injuries. It is clear from the records that there has been an
increase in the number of property damage reports. The occurrence of accidents has been
attributed to issues such as stress, exhaustion, and drinking alcohol while on the job may
contribute to property damage.
4.4 Measures adopted to reduce impacts of occupational safety and health hazards.
4.4.1 Safe Work Procedures (SWPs)

At Steel Brands manufacturing there were measures adopted to reduce the impacts of
occupational health and safety hazards. The findings of this study revealed that company as
attempted to manage the occurrence of hazards and accidents. It was established that the
company top management hierarchy formulated Safe Work Procedures to improve occupational
safety. The procedures initiated targeted to manage health hazards that can arise as a result of a
failure to adhere to regulations and guidelines. Awareness training programs were to educate all
employees on the appropriate job measures to follow on various operations. Workplace injuries
and illnesses can be reduced, according to Kazem (2012), by ensuring that personnel understand
and follow SWPs when operating machinery. To lessen the hazards related with cross-cutting
operations, the organization has made Safe Work Operations necessary for all employees.
4.4.2 Firefighting equipment

The researchers observed fire extinguishers throughout the company premise. The corporation
has put aside fire extinguishers for use in firefighting. The corporation had placed fire

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extinguishers of various sizes in all areas where fires could occur. Fire extinguishers were
located at the entrances to all offices, in storage rooms where explosives, carbon, and other
gases, as well as other steel processing equipment, in the engineering and plant area, and-plant
operating premises.

4.4.3 Occupational health monitoring

At Steel Brands manufacturing company, all employees are supposed to go for medical checkup
pre-employment. If a worker is proven to have problems such as cardiovascular or headaches
issues, his or her prospects of finding a job are diminished. As a result, the employer could only
employ healthy people. Periodic health exams were also conducted to identify any health issues
that had emerged during the workers' time on the job. Employees in the smelting, rolling mill,
and engineering departments were exposed to them on a yearly basis because of their exposure to
smoke, extreme noise, and high temperatures. The organization conducted employee medical
examinations in compliance with the Public Health Act of 2002, which requires employers to
conduct medical examinations on employees to determine their health conditions. Medical
surveillance, according to Murray et al. (2000), is critical for identifying disease-causing jobs
and workplaces and implementing smoke and noise reduction strategies.
4.4.4 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (PPEs)

To limit the dangers linked with occupational hazards, the organization has provided safety
equipment to its employees. Work suits and overalls for skin protection, helmets for head
protection, and gloves for hand protection, gumboots, and safety shoes for feet protection were
issued to employees. Some other workers were given eye protection in the form of goggles or
spectacles. The company provided safe clothing to their employees to comply with SI 68 of 19.
A walk-through examination of the engineering and plant departments revealed that some
employees were working without earplugs, dust masks, or other protective equipment.
Employees were provided with safety clothing on an annual basis, according to an interview with
the SHE manager. If an employee's safety clothes deteriorated to the point where they were no
longer safe to use, the SHE manager would propose that he be issued with new safety clothing.

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CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 CONCLUSION

Regardless of its importance to socioeconomic development, steel processing employment is

extremely hazardous. Its hazardous nature varies by department, depending on the nature of the
activity, the types of machinery employed and the precautions taken to mitigate the hazards'
effects on persons who are exposed. Smelters, rolling mills, and engineering workers were
among the most vulnerable. This is due to the fact that these workers were exposed to more
massive and powerful machinery, chemicals, and other physical variables such as dust, smoke,
and extreme heat, all of which constituted a health risk. Personnel in the management
department were exposed to the least amount of risk since they mostly did office work that
required little movement and little machinery. Physical hazards accounted for a higher proportion
of all OSH hazards observed at Steelbrands steel manufacturing company across all divisions
than all other hazards, according to the report. Occupational hazards discovered at various
departmental levels were determined to have negative health and safety implications for
individuals who were exposed.
Accidents are occurring at an accelerating rate at the organization, and according to the
researcher's trend study, the rate of accident incidence has been increasing since the company's
re-opening. In comparison to prior years, the year 2020 saw the most accidents, with a total of 15
accidents. Ten of the 78 accidents involved the environment, 17 involved property damage, 8
involved medical assistance, 4 involved first aid, and 39 involved lost time injuries. Steelbrands
employees know very little about the causes of accidents. This explains why accidents are
increasing at such a rapid rate. The statistics demonstrate that, despite knowing practically the
entire reporting procedure, an accident occurs almost every week, but employees do not report
all of the incidents for fear of being laid off. The HSE team is failing to fulfill its responsibility
of training and educating staff on the causes of accidents. Safe Work Procedures, Occupational
Health Monitoring, and Firefighting Equipment Implementation were all underway at the time.
Workers were also provided with personal protective equipment, however it was insufficient for
other departments' staff. All of these safeguards were taken in order to ensure that no Steelbrands
employees were harmed, although some casualties have occurred.

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5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

After accumulating evidence through, interviews, direct observations and questionnaires, as well
as information from the company's SHE paperwork, the researcher discovered that critical areas
require management attention if Steelbrands is to become an accident-free workplace. As a
result, the researcher proposes the following:
 Steelbrands, a steel manufacturing company, should become certified with the safety
management systems OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001, according to the researcher, because
it improves compliance by establishing, monitoring, and complying with all legal and
regulatory requirements related to the company's operations. Certification ensures
quality, increases output, and saves money while also improving worker health and
safety.

 Steelbrands should provide their employees with appropriate safety gear. Work suits,
helmets, safety shoes, overalls, , and gumboots are currently available from the company.
Employees who work in noisy environments, such as engineering and plants, should be
provided with earplugs to safeguard their hearing. Dust muffs and knee protection are
required for those who operate in the smelting department. Even though this safety
clothing is critical in protecting the workers' safety and health, it was not present.

 Steelbrands employees, particularly those working in the rolling mill and smelting
departments, are exposed to high temperatures and should be given with fluids on a
regular basis. Fluids will serve as cooling systems, reducing the danger of heat-related
occupational ailments.

 Employees are afraid of getting laid off if they report small incidents, thus supervisors
and top management should urge them to do so.

 The HSE department should include concerns such as accident causes in their induction
and conduct refresher inductions for all employees to ensure an accident-free workplace.

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 Steelbrands, a steel processing company, should invest in heavy-lifting machinery to

prevent having to work physically. Employees may develop more occupational health
issues if they do not purchase lifting equipment.

 Employees were afraid of getting fired if they reported the majority of events, particularly
small ones. The corporation viewed employee involvement in an accident to be a crime
because the bulk of the mishaps were caused by human error. As a result, it is
recommended that business management improve their handling of personnel engaged in
accidents and that all incidences be recorded.

 The organization should examine and update risk assessments as well as normal work
procedures.

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APPENDICIES

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EMPLOYEES AT STEELBRANDS (PVT) LTD

COMPANY, ADBERNNIE PLANT, HARARE, ZIMBABWE
MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
QUESTIONNAIRE: Perceptions and opinions of employees on the Occupational Safety and Health
Hazards among workers involved in recycling scrap metal. A Case of Steelbrands (PVT) LTD
Company Adbernnie plant, Harare, Zimbabwe

DATE……………….. FIELD WORKER…………..........

TIME………………… QUESTINNAIRE No………..……
S
DEPARTMENT…………..

The questionnaire has been designed to assess the occupational safety and health hazards among
workers involved in recycling of scrap metal at Steelbrands (PVT) LTD Company in Adbernnie plant,
Harare, Zimbabwe. Kindly be informed that the information you provide in this survey will be used
solely for the purposes of this study, and your impressions and opinions will be treated with near-
complete secrecy. You are respectfully requested to answer the questions as honestly as possible.

RESPONTANTS INSTRUCTIONS
Use tick (√) in the space provided where applicable
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Fill in all the gaps provided where necessary

Do not include personal details for instance names, cell numbers addresses, es, etc.

SECTION (A) – PERSONAL DETAILS/ DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

1. Sex: Female Male
2. Age: 15-25 26-35 36-45 45-55 55-65 66+
3. Level of education
Non Primary Secondary First Degree Other
1) Department: .......................................................
2) Occupation............................................ .............
3) Period employed by Steelbrands…………………………
SECTION (B): Occupational Safety and Health Hazards associated with recycling of scrap
metal at Steelbrands Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe
1. What are the main hazards in your department of the plant? Tick all suitable hazards in your
department

Hazards Tick (√) Department

Fire
Explosion
Smoke
Dust
Noise
Radiation(ionizing and non-
ionizing
Working on confined space
(Outline others)
1.
2.
3.

2i). Do you suffer from any health-related problems you identified above?

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Yes No
2ii) If yes may you state the health-related problem.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. How long is your average working day?
4 hrs. 6 hrs. 8 hrs. More than 8 hrs. Not fixed.
SECTION (C): Accidents occurrence among workers involved in recycling of scrap metal
at Steel Brands Company Adbernnie plant in Harare, Zimbabwe
1. How often do you experience accidents in your department?

Period Tick(√) Department

Weekly
Daily
Monthly
Yearly
Other specify
1.
2.
3.

2. How do you classify types of accidence and injuries in your department?

Accidence classification Tick(√) Department Period

Minor (non-lost time)
First Aid Case
Medical Treatment Case
Lost time Injury Property
damage
Environmental Case
Other Specify
1.
2.
3.

SECTION (D): Evaluation of measures that are in place to reduce workers’ exposure to
occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling scrap metal.

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As a worker which measures would you think should be employed to reduce hazards? Tick
where appropriate

Measures that can be Tick(√) Department

employed to reduce hazards

Safety talks and meetings

Use personal protective
equipment
Use engineering controls
Use of firefighting equipment
Discourage Risky Behavior.
Other specify
1
2
3

2. Did you attend an HSE induction session before starting work?

Yes No
3. Were you taught about the causes of accidents?
Yes No
4. Do you change departments section at times where you are working?
Yes No
5. If yes, where do you generally go to work?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Are you aware with the hazards that exist in that area?
Yes No
7i). Are you aware that it is your accountability to look for ways to reduce workplace accidents?
Yes No

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Explain why you say so?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
THANK YOU STAY BLESSED

APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW GUIDELINES

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
Objective 1: To identify occupational safety and health hazards associated with scrap
metal recycling at Steel Brands (Pvt) Ltd in Harare, Zimbabwe.
1) How long have you been serving in the office of Safety, Health, and Environmental
Manager at Steel Brands (Pvt) Ltd Company in Harare, Zimbabwe?
2) What are the foremost causes of hazards in the company?
3) In which department do the majority of the hazards occur?
4) Do you believe employees are aware of the risks they face in their tasks?
5) What are the most common hazards you encounter at Steelbrands Steel Processing
Company?
6) Do you have any hazardous inspections scheduled?
Objective 2: To determine the frequency of occurrence of accidents among workers
involved in recycling of scrap metal
1) Can you comment on the company's accident trend since it reopened?
2) Since the reopening of Steel Brands Steel Company, how many accidents have you had
to deal with?
3) How often do these accidents happen?
Objective 3: To evaluate measures that are in place to reduce workers' exposure to
occupational safety and health hazards associated with the recycling of scrap metal
1) What are the safety measures and procedures you implemented to deal with OHS
problems at this steel manufacturing company?
2) Do you carry out safety talks and safety health audits?
3) How often do employees report incidents that happen in the plant?
4) Are workers trained in the causes of accidents?
5) Is there anything further that can be done to protect employees at this organization from
occupational injuries and illnesses?

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GUIDE FOR INTERVIEWING PLANT FOREMAN AND ENGINEERS

Objective 1: To identify occupational safety and health hazards associated with scrap metal
recycling at Steel Brands (Pvt) Ltd in Harare, Zimbabwe.
1) What are the main hazards at the company under your jurisdiction?
2) Do employees report hazards or accidents in their work areas to you?
3) In which part of the plant do the majority of hazards usually occur?
Objective 2: To determine the frequency of accidents among workers involved in
recycling of scrap metal
1) What can you say about the high percentage of accidents that have occurred since the
company reopened?
2) Since the re-opening of Steelbrands Steel Company, how many accidents have you
recorded?
3) How frequently do employees report workplace accidents?
4) As a manager, do you conduct job hazard analyses?
5) What can you do as a manager to encourage employees to work in a safe manner?

Objective 3: To evaluate measures that are in place to reduce workers’ exposure to

occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling scrap metal.
1) Did employees receive any training on how to prevent accidents?
2) Do you participate in your employees' training sessions?
3) Do you conduct accident investigations?

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR STEEELBRANDS GENERAL MANAGER

Objective 1: To identify occupational safety and health hazards associated with scrap metal
recycling at Steel Brands (Pvt) Ltd in Harare, Zimbabwe.
1) Have you encountered or identified any occupational hazards or risks during your time at
work?
2) Are those accidents, minor or major, fatal?
3) What are the most serious health implications for employees as a result of the occurrence
of these hazards?
4) What are the most common sources of hazard at Steelbrands under your jurisdiction?

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5) Do your workers notify you if they identify a hazard or an accident in their workplace?

Objective 2: To determine the frequency of accidents among workers involved in the

recycling of scrap metal at the Steel Brands Company's Adbernnie plant in Harare,
Zimbabwe
1) What can you say about the increase in accidents after Steelbrands Steel Company
reopened?
2) How frequently do employees report plant-related accidents?
3) Since the company's re-opening, how many accidents have you recorded?
4) What can you do as a manager to encourage employees to work safely?
5) As a manager, do you conduct job hazard analyses?

Objective 3: To evaluate measures that have been put in place to limit the exposure of
workers to occupational safety and health hazards associated with recycling of scrap metal
1) Do you think current safety measures and strategies are adequate to reduce hazards in the
plant?
2) Did employees receive any training on accident causes?
3) Do you take part in the training sessions with your employees?

APPENDIX C: OBSERVATION CHECKLIST

Departments visited Observation Yes No Comment

Rolling mill Are hazardous inspections
department carried out?
Are employees conducting
Smelting department risk assessments?
Are there any HSE complaint
Engineering books in use?
department Are standard working
procedures followed and in
Dispatch department place?
Is there anything that can be
done to keep employees safe
while they're at work?
Is the accident log accurate in
recording all of the accidents
that have occurred?
Are employees informed

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about potential safety and

health risks?

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