**6. Properties of materials used or produced**

*Safety and Health for Workers - Research and Practical Perspective*

efficiency [14]. Accidents at workplaces are mainly attributed to workplace condition or workers' acts. Workplace conditions refers to the working environment and all existing circumstances affecting labor in the workplace, including working time (hours of work, rest periods, and work schedules) to remuneration, legal rights and leaders' responsibilities as well as the physical conditions and mental demands that exist in the workplace. In other words, workplace condition deals with the organization leadership structure and floor layout or equipment setting. International Labor Organization (ILO) has consistently demanded for workers' work-life balance. Therefore, critical attention is required for worker schedule, leadership skills of the authority, and good workplace layout for proper flow to ensure workers' well-being and better productivity. Research findings on job redesign at call centers significantly improved employee well-being, psychological contract fulfillment, and supervisor-rated job performance [15], mental health [16]. Likewise, research has revealed that work systems design may have effects on physical health, mental health, and longevity of life [17]; therefore, continuous attention to health and safety of the employees is important because ill-health and injuries caused by the systems of work or working conditions cause suffering and loss to individuals and their dependents [18]. As simple as workplace condition might sounds, the fear created through improper workplace conditions such as violent, abuse, segmental judgment, gender biases, etc. are factors, which could prevent employee from taking goal-directed action toward safety. Although, the psychologically, flexible people are less emotionally disturbed in such environments as argued in Hayes et al.'s [19] findings. Nevertheless, adequate consideration should be given to workplace condition to ensure workers' well-being and

Employees' act is another important aspect to be considered at workplaces, to reduce or eliminate accidents that might result in illnesses, diseases, injuries, and death at workplaces. Certainly, no environment is free from all hazards, but workers' behavior toward handling the hazards is a crucial aspect of preventing accidents from occurring at workplaces. Undoubtedly, safety and health specialists need to have general knowledge of the impacts of any hazardous materials to the human body and train all employees on ways of preventing such effects, but because of human nature, how many adhere to the totality of this principle? Employees' safety responsibilities were acknowledged in 1999 by Bratton and Gold [20] that employee is to behave in a manner that safeguards his or her own health and safety and that of his/her co-workers. Furthermore, Jonathan and Mbogo documented the findings from the research carried out at The Research Centre Design and Technology of the Saxion University of Applied sciences on "Safety at work," which acknowledged that personal safety, a safe environment, and safe behavior were important components that employers need to ensure their availability within their organizations for proper productivity and safety of the employees. Liao et al. [21] acknowledged in their study that almost all accidents and injuries occurring at workplace are attributed to workers' unsafe acts, which are also a reflection of system deficiency and unsafe work condition. Dodoo and Al-Samarraie [22] concluded in their study that lack of adequate knowledge on safety and health, violation of safety rules, work pressure, stress, and non-use of protective equipment were the unsafe acts perpetrated by the workers sampled. Researcher has also referred unsafe act as a deliberate omission or deviation from the recommended safety standards Mason [23]. The same researcher described an unsafe act as an individual's likelihood of

**4**

safety at workplace.

**5. Worker acts**

The physical and chemical properties of raw material use and produce are other essential factors that need attention to properly monitor the health and safety of workers at workplaces. To do this, detailed attention must be given to workplace Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The importance of MSDS in handling worker exposure to hazardous materials in every workplace cannot be substituted for another record keeping data sheet for the purpose of workers' health and safety. According to Translink online website, MSDS is a document that contains information on the potential health effects of exposure to chemicals, or other potentially dangerous substances, and on safe working procedure when handling chemical products. It is an essential starting point for the development of a complete health and safety program. MSDS contains hazard evaluations on the use, storage, handling, disposal information, and emergency procedures related to that material. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the use of MSDS in every workplace to ensure better control of hazardous materials effect on the employees.

This book highlights significant factors contributing to workers' poor health and safety at work, which could result in injury, chronic diseases, and death. Both theories and practical applications are discussed in this book for easy understanding of the readers.
