Safety Management and Safety Problem in Grameen Phone

The main aims of this report is to know about the awereness and level of understanding and complaints of the employees of Grameenphone Limited regarding safety management system and Safety Problem. Report allover review and analyze the existing safety management system in the organization and determine the acceptability and reliability of the  safety management. Here find out factors which influence the safety system and recommend measures to improve the system. Finally find out the strength and weakness of the safety management in grameenphone.

Objectives of the study

This term paper is undertaken as an assign ment for the fulfillment of the requirement for the completion of the Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management for the year 2006. This is mainly aimed to develop the safety problem in the safety management activities under the guidance of expert faculty member of Bangladesh Institute of Management.

The study aims at knowing about the awereness and level of understanding and complaints of the employees of Grameenphone Ltd. regarding safety management system.  it is really a difficult task to assess consistency,releavance and reliability of the tools and techniques of the system. However, an effort is made to have some ideas about the matter.

The specific objectives of the study are:

• To be acquainted with and acquire practical knowledge regarding safety management system of an organization.
• To relate theoretical knowledge of safety management with practical implication.
• Determining training need for further improvement in safety.
• To review and analyze the existing safety management system in the organization.
• To determine the acceptability and reliability of the safety management.
• To assess the factors which influence the safety system.
• To recommend measures to improve the system.
• The overall objective of the study is to find out the strength and weakness of the safety management in grameenphone (especially technical division) and put suggestion and recommendation to make the system more effective, so that it can contribute to human resource development process of the organization.

Importance of the study

Safety management is an important management tool and an employee motivation tool. Through safety management, a company can discover the real health, safety and environment demand and need of the employees. Employees can be motivated through the safety management.

The vital role that grameenphone plays in the telecommunication sector, also in the economy can be carried out only with the help of an organized, efficient and motivated work force. The study being proposed aims not only at evaluating the performance but also the safety issue of the employee. This will, in turn, help the management to design a better safety system to improve work force in grameenphone.

I believe that this study will provide the necessary information regarding the existing safety system of grameenphone and make necessary recommendation so that management can take the appropriate measures in developing and designing the safety management which a result to develop necessary employee motivation in achieving the ultimate goals and objective of the organization.

Methodology of the study

The methodology that has been adopted in the study emphasizes on the primary sources of data. The main study is based on primary sources of data, using the questionnaire method. However, secondary sources are equally emphasized for determining the most appropriate methodologies. Questionnaires were developed incorporating mixed type of questions. The questions were designed  in such a way that every element of the safety management could be covered by it.

To evaluate the safety I had to review the literature and reports. A review of the literature show how various organization appraise their employees. To collect the information, I had to go through company’s rules and regulations. I had to collect various information officially and unofficially from the employees of the organization to find out weather they have any complain about the safety.

Study site

The study has been conducted within the premises of the GrameenPhone Ltd. It is the largest telecommunication company in Bangladesh(currently 63% market share).

Sample respondent

GrameenPhone Ltd. consists of 5 major divisions and has many departments in each division. I have decided to take 2 divisions, especially technical division. From each department 70 staffs as well as officers are taken as my respondent.

Background of the safety management

The elimination of hazards or their control to the levels of acceptable tolerance as determined by law, regulations, ethics, personal requirements, scientific and technological capability, experimental knowledge, economics and popular practice.

A safety system of work is one which minimizes the risk of employees and others from being injured or harmed by the work activity. To achieve this required level of safety, the employer must:

• Consider modern technical standards and approved codes of practice applicable in the industry.
• Systematically identify all hazards are significant,
• Determine which of the identified hazards are significant,
• Take all practicable steps to eliminate or at least minimize the risk of injury or harm from the hazard through isolation, substitution, administrative or engineering means or the provision of PPE.

Fundamental Safety Concepts

Five fundamental safety concepts apply to any safety effort

• Safety is a line responsibility. Line mangers and supervisors are responsible for the safety of their organizational units and operation.
• Safety is productive. Safety is achieved by doing things right the first time, every time. Safety system ensures an extremely efficient, productive, cost-effective operation.
• Safety requires upstream efforts. The selection of personnel, the ongoing and initial training, the development of procedures and the design of the facilities and equipment are the types of tasks that must be ensure safety from the top management. Good safety practices must begin as far upstream as possible. Improvements in safety can often be made for a minimal amount of money if they are made far enough upstream.
• Safety depends on the safety precedence sequence. It is prioritized list of controls that should be considered as applied, in sequence, to eliminate or control identified hazards.

1. Design for minimum hazard
2. Provide safety devices
3. Control with procedures and training
4. Accept remaining residual hazards

• Systematic tools and techniques help. The use of systematic methods and a systematic approach to identifying, analyzing and controlling hazards aids in reducing error rate and performing safety tasks more effectively and efficiently.

Safety measures are activities and precautions taken to improve safety or reduce risk. Common safety measures included:

• Implementation of standard procedures
• Training of employees
• Instruction Manuals
• Instructional video
• Examination of activities by specialists
• Government regulations
• Industry regulations
• Self impose regulations
• Statement of ethics
• Drug testing
• Physical examination
• Periodic examination of employees and departments
• Stress testing
• Geographical survey.

Safety management is a process of identifying and eliminating hazards that causes human injuries or property damage in an organization through

• Effective planning
• Organizing(the resources as required to avoid unsafe condition)
• Communicating(the effects of unsafe act of a person or unsafe working conditions)
• Motivating the workforce to practice safety/ personal protective equipment while in operation.
• Controlling the deviations(if any)

In order to minimize losses due to accidents and injuries and to achieve cost effective operations.

Objectives:

1. To preserve the physical assets from unsafe conditions.
2. To prevent the Human Resources from unsafe act resulting injuries or death.
3. To reduce the operating costs resulting from compensation paid or cost of property damages.

Safety policy

One such a policy would be:

Safety should be the responsibility of all company personnel from CEO to floor operator.

Employee’s attitude towards safety (why does a worker do a job in an unsafe way):

1. He or she may consider the unsafe way easier, less troublesome or faster.
2. To him/her the unsafe way the best way.
3. He/she may consider him/she worthy enough of taking his/her own care.
4. He/she may think that safety measures are unnecessary.
5. It may be that he/she at all does not know.

Safety manager

Traditionally, the duties of safety manager centered around unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. The safety manager of tomorrow has to work on a larger canvas. His responsibilities will, inter alias, include:

1. Understand the company policy and programmes, and integrate the concept of safety and health in all areas of management.
2. Work closely with other managers and achieve higher standards of safety and health.
3. Short and long term planning of safety and health activities and implementation of plans.
4. Consider safety and health training as apart of human resource development and coordinating the training and safety functions.
5. Designing and implementing programmes to promote employee participation in safety.
6. Collection, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information on safety and health with the objective of improving performance.
7. Compliance with legislation, and liaison and coordination with enforcement agencies.
8. Making available technical information, guidance notes, and training manuals for use by managers.

Globally common features incorporated in legislation for safety and health at work

• The responsibility to prevent accidents and health hazards is placed squarely on the employer.
• The state will prescribe standards.
• The worker has the right to know about the dangers at work and participate in safety measures.
• Training of workers and supervisors in safety and health is the duty of the employer.
• Liability in case of accident, health hazards or disasters rest with the highest level of management and cannot be passed on to junior levels.
• Safety of the community-prevention and control of major hazards is included in safety legislation.

Roles of Supervisors in Health and Safety Program

• Complying with all applicable safety and health standards, rules, regulations and orders issued by competent authority pertaining ti the activities immediately under their jurisdiction.
• Ensuring that employees are instructed and or trained in safe practices and methods of job performance as relates to their assignment.
• Ensuring that sick and or injured employees performing official duties receive appropriate first aid and or medical attention.
• Investigating and reporting each incident and or injury in accordance with established procedures.
• Initiating to the limit of their authority and capability, such actions necessary to correct unsafe or unhealthy working conditions determined to exist and promptly advising appropriate management when such conditions require corrective actions beyond their authority.
• Conducting regular surveys of their operations to ensure compliance with such safety standards, codes, regulations, rules and orders applicable to the work area concerned.
• Ensuring that employees under their supervision are aware of their responsibilities.
• Supervisors are responsible for implementing PPE program in their area.

Background / History of GrameenPhone Ltd.

In Bangladesh there are currently five mobile operators: Grameen Phone (stable 63% market share), Aktel, Banglalink, CityCell and Tele Talk. Warid is expected to launch its service soon. From the market share point of view it is clearly visible that Grameenphone is leading today. With the right kind of the efforts from their extremely dedicated work force, they not only can keep their beloved Grameenphone in the position of market leader but also can place it in a better position. Grameenphone is the biggest private telecommunication organization employing as many as 4872 employees. It is a matter of considerable interest to find out how the safety of such a large number of employees are assessed (especially Technical Division) and whether the safety management system in force meets modern management needs.

The mobile communication industry in Bangladesh will likely be forced to transform itself due to extreme price erosion, disruptive changes in technology and business models. In order to survive and to grow in a challenging environment and on top of it, in order to add value to the society, key people in GrameenPhone Ltd. have realized that being best today is not enough.

Considering the future challenges, Gp has initiated a portfolio of projects in the following three areas:

• Maximizing revenue within business model
• Optimizing the cost for the current GP value chain
• Developing and implementing new business models.

Cross-functional Teams will be involved to implement the various initiatives/projects embedded in the three areas mentioned above. In order to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives/projects, a core team will steer and guide this portfolio of projects. GP’s organization consists of an exceptionally dedicated work-force. With proper utilization of this work force, this portfolio of projects can become a success story.

GrameenPhone’s strategy

GrameenPhone’s basic strategy is coverage of both urban and rural areas. In contrast to the “island” strategy followed by some companies, which involves connecting isolated islands of urban coverage through transmission links, GrameenPhone builds continuous coverage, cell after cell.

While the intensity of coverage may very from area to area depending on market conditions, the basic strategy of cell-to-cell coverage is applied throughout   GrameenPhone’s network.

Result

By bringing electronic connectivity to rural Bangladesh, GrameenPhone is delivering the digital revolution to the doorsteps of the poor and unconnected. By being able to connect to urban areas or even to foreign countries, a whole new world of opportunity is opening up for the villagers in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank borrowers who provide the services are uplifting themselves economically through a new means of income generation while at the same time providing valuable phone service to their fellow villagers. The telephone is a weapon against poverty.

Health, Safety and Environment in GP

GrameenPhone Ltd. is a safe and attractive place to work. The main principle of this policy is that injury, discomfort in the job and work related diseases can be prevented. This can be achieved through systematic work, awareness of dangers and common sense. GrameenPhone Ltd. strives to maintain a well-motivated and well educated work force.

Health, Safety and Environment issues must have high and must also be managed by objectives. All concerned are encouraged to reduce workplace hazards and to implement new or improve existing safety and health programs. It is an important issue that all concerned employee and officials give great importance to HSE. The working environment has to be evaluated as accompany issue and all efforts should be given for a good working environment. If all demonstrates a cooperation attitude and plays their active role concerning HSE issues, then it is expected that GrameenPhone Ltd. will become an attractive place to work having a good atmosphere and low injuries figures.

A good and safe working environment in the company will enable all employees to render a high level of services to customers and ensure high productivity and efficiency. GP policy on HSE is based on the corresponding policy in Telenor and adapted to condition in GP and Bangladesh.

GrameenPhone wish to be a leader in Health, Safety and Environment issues by performing and managing these disciplines actively, consistently and efficiently. They take Health, Safety and Environment into their business strategies to add value to the enterprise, to manage risk and to enhance the social image of the company.

They foster awareness and a sense of responsibility for HSE among their associates; to this end they provide appropriate information and training and develop their HSE skills. They care about the expectations and concerns of their employees and all concerns. They promote programs to maintain or improve the health of their associates.

They recognize the interest of all our valued customers, neighbors and the public at large in their HSE performance. They do communicate and provide all information necessary to understand the risks and effects of their operations on Health, Safety and Environment.

Relation to Telenor HSE Policy

GP policy on HSE is Based on the corresponding policy in Telenor, and adapted to conditions in GP and Bangladesh.

Relation to ILO-OSH Policy

GrameenPhone shall try to comply with the ILO-OSH policy with their day to day activities. It also shall try to establish the standard ILO-OSH management system in GP.

HSE GOALS

HSE goals for GP are:

1. To establish an HSE policy and create an operational body to implement it.
2. To create an awareness of HSE throughout the company.

SITUATION LEAD TO INJURY, DISCOMFORT OR DISEASE

The following situation may lead to injury, discomfort or diseases

• Antenna installations and maintenance on roof tops
• Traveling between worksites
• Working situation in offices, strained muscles, and draught from air conditioner leakage of gas from AC.
• Natural disasters, cyclones, earthquake.
• Political unrest, unsatisfactory hygiene.
• Use of intoxicating agent.

About Technical Division

There are five departments within the Technical Division:

Planning

The purpose of this unit is to plan the entire GP telecom network which consist of five parts:

• CNP (core network planning)
• INP (integrated network planning)
• SNP (service network planning)
• TP (transmission planning)
• RP (radio planning)

Implementation

The task of the implementation department is to build the GP telecom network or execute the plan of the planning department in the field. The units include:

• Civil Works
• Site Acquisition
• Rollout
• Implementation Control
• Core Rollout & Backbone Rollout under Project
• Field Management

Operation

This department is responsible for running the network. This includes Operation and Maintenance of the network. Here, the network means the GSM telecom network and its Management Systems. The Units include:

• Network Operations Center
• Field Operations
• Core Network
• Service Network
• Operation System and Software
• Training
• Quality Assurance

Recently, two new departments have emerged in the Technical Division, namely: Network Quality & Performance.

Network Advancement

The purpose of this department is to provide Technology Strategy Planing; adopt new technology considering midterm and longterm technology evaluation and new business opportunities; technology evaluation and industry update; and review network plans and architecture for constant renewal.

This department consists of three sections:

• Radio and Access
• Core and Transport
• Service

General Findings

Overall observation of the Safety system currently in force suggests that the evaluations system is somewhat traditional and paper based. Employees, who have randomly traveled all through the country all the y3ear, are not satisfied of their safety. Majority of the respondents were of the opinion that the system should be strictly maintaining by the management. Among 700 employees of Technical Division of GrameenPhone Ltd. only 140 samples have been randomly selected to have an overall idea of the safety management system of the organization. Though it is a 140 samples are very simple but that help me to develop a perception regarding safety management of the organization. And this would obviously help in maintaining a better safety system.

Table on evaluation of the Safety Management

Major findings

• In GrameenPhone Ltd. there are three categories employee regular, contractual and part-time. All corporate facility provides only for the regular, though their involvement in risky and safety related activities is less.
• Among the entire department in technical division, implementation department involve in most risky work.
• No insurance policy for contractual or part-timer.
• All GP vehicles must be under the coverage of comprehensive insurance (First policy) policy, which covers the risk of vehicle, driver and passenger. Insurance will be done by Finance department.
•  Sensitive region (Barishal, Sylhet), no safety equipments (life jacket, helmet etc.) are supplied by the management unless the each individual demands.
• No tower climbing training program has not yet been occurred.
• Not adequate number of safety harness for tower climbing.
• Driving limits is not exceed 80 km/hr. but it cann’t maintain most time due to work pressure or schedule target.
• In switch room of GrameenPhone Ltd., auto CO₂ generate technology is used for fire fighting system. When fire arises, everyone in the switch room must leave the room within 20 seconds. Otherwise it causes death for employees.

Conclusion

In summary, the safety management system that is currently being used by the GrameenPhone Ltd. is not appropriate for the implementation department which a large number of contractual employees have worked. In technical division, RP, TP, site design etc. involved in desk job, so most of them think they are safe. But Civil works, Rollout, Field Operations need to visit the whole country randomly by road. So, they feel unsafe some specific event.

It is the opinion of most of the respondents. The present study was undertaken in a brief period to fulfill a specific need. Moreover, the sample size chosen was a small one compared to the total employees of over 700 employees in technical division. It is difficult to draw a conclusion from the study about the reliability and validity of the system. In order to make it more comprehensive and representative, a study with large sample size and properly developed tool may be undertaken.

The study, in its limited scope, has derived significant findings on various aspect of the GrameenPhone Ltd. safety and security policy. Once the identified shortfalls of the system are properly addressed by way of making the system more transparent, the employees and the organization, at large, will be benefited from the system.

Recommendations

The analysis of primary as well as secondary data depicts that there are a several number of limitations of the safety management in technical division. Majority of the respondents put their positive recommendation on the subject matter.

Recommendations of the respondent as well as of me are presented as follows:

1. Provide insurance policy for both contractual and part-time employees in respect of their job nature and risk hazards.
2. Vehicle speed should be strictly maintained by the transport management.
3. Training and short course for drivers to prevent accident.
4. Not create too much work pressure for the employees that tend more risks.
5. Arrange tower mounting training as early as possible.
6. Provide safety harness for all the employees.
7. Advance technology (harmless for human body) should be used for fire fighting system in switch room.
8. Should provide necessary safety equipment in each vehicle.