Toyota's occupational health and safety management systems

¶ … Occupational Health and Safety Policies at Workplaces

Occupational Health and Safety Policy of Toyota

Occupational Health and Safety Management Strategies of Toyota

Organizational Structure of Toyota In Relation To the Occupational Health And Safety

Working For the Safety of the Employees

Detailed Human Resources Development

The paper will highlight occupational health and safety management systems being followed at Toyota Motors Corporation. Employees are the main stakeholders for any organization and it is important that the organization in order to be successful in the global bossiness and in the environment of cutthroat competition values its employees and taken into account all the daft measures that are needed by the employees working at the workplaces. The main occupational health and safety management systems being followed to Toyota will be taken into consideration along with the fact that if these policies and management systems are being advantageous for the clients, customers and employees of Toyota.

Importance of Occupational Health and Safety Policies at Workplaces

It has been seen that more than 4 million deaths occur each year at workplaces and one of the main reasons is that there are no policies in the organizations. Of these, more than 2 million deaths are because of occupational diseases and illnesses. These deaths have been a serious challenge to those who are now in the verge of expanding their businesses. One of the main facts of concern is that more than 160,000 deaths in Europe are only because of occupational diseases (Leigh, 2000, p. 15). Based on these numbers, serious steps have been taken by International Labor Organization. It has been recommended by the International Labor Organization in relation to the health concerns of the employees that;

1. All organizations that have a global business mist design strategies that can help protect health of the employees in order to make sure that the employees can work in an appropriate manner.

2. The organizations must make sure that campaigns are started by the organizations that can help increase the awareness of employees in relation to health and safety in the workplace (Creighton, and Rozen, 2007, p. 67).

Occupational Health and Safety Policy of Toyota

In the case of Toyota, it has been seen that importance has been given to three main aspects within the workplace and these include quality, safety, and environment. These three words are considered as the foundation of Toyota Corporation. There are two important philosophies being followed by Toyota in the case of occupational health and safety management systems. These two important philosophies include safety is the best management in itself and the respect for people including customers, clients, employees, suppliers, and retailers. Safety is one of the most important rules and legislations within Toyota and it has been seen that Toyota emphasizes this rule be followed with its highest priority from the employees as high as a senior executive (Leigh, 2000, p. 93).

The importance of health and safety levels of the workers, clients, customers, and employees is very important for Toyota Corporation. The safety of the consumers and the clients has been considered as very important objective and aim of the company. It has been seen that the organization is committed to provide complete occupational safety of their customers as well as the clients. The provision of healthy working environment has been seen to be one of the main objectives of the company. Some of the accompanying policies that are observed in the case of Toyota is that it is made sure that illnesses and accidents are completely prevented at the workplaces. In these cases, Toyota has made sure that occupational health and safety management system is provided to the employees. The company for the safety of their employees follows occupational health and safety management legislation. Still there are some changes to be made in the occupational health and safety regulations being followed in Toyota (Johnson, Redmon, and Mawhinney, 2001, p. 90). These are as follows;

1. It has been realized that the risks at the workplaces are to be properly understood by properly understanding the surroundings of the workplace itself. The risks present at the workplace can play important roles in causing damage, accidents and injuries to the employees. By understanding the risks and managing them in a proper manner, these unwanted accidents and hazards can be avoided (Creighton, and Rozen, 2007, p. 38).

2. The legal and other obligations in relation to the safety of the employees are to be followed in the workplace in a proper and an appropriate manner. In these cases, relevant legislations and policies include occupational health and safety legislation as well as Occupational Health and Safety Policies.

3. All Occupational Health and Safety Policies are to be implemented within the workplace in a proper manner and for that, it is important that third parties are included as suppliers and vendors.

4. Based on the competition that is being faced by Toyota, it is seen that the new strategy is to make sure that all the areas and sites within the workplace are taken into consideration and separate safety standards are designed for each site and area in order to make sure that all workers in all sites are protected and safe. It has been now understood by Toyota that when all work related injuries and chances of any accidents are removed from the worksite, there are more chances that the workers will perform well and with ease keeping in mind the fact that health and safety standards being followed are protecting the employees ensuring zero harm.

5. One of the most important facts that have been now realized by Toyota is training and increasing awareness. It is very important for Toyota that all employees are made aware about the rules in relation to the occupational safety at the worksite. Any new and incoming employees are trained and they should be made aware of the safety standards being followed at all sites and areas within the workplace.

6. Workplace health and safety is one of the most important aspects for any organization and it is realized by Toyota that effective consultations and having a word regarding safety with the employees can have effective impact on the changes needed in the policies and legislations in relation to occupational health and safety management (Rhodes, E., Warren, and Carter, 2006, p. 90).

Occupational Health and Safety Management Strategies of Toyota

One of the most important aims that is to be achieved by Toyota is often known as STOP6 project which is Safety Toyota zero accident Project 6. The project includes six main kinds of hazards and accidents that are important in occupational health and safety regulations in the workplaces. There are six kinds of accidents that can cause deaths and accidents. These include being caught in the machines, being in an increased contact with heavy metals and machines, falls, contact with heated objects and electrocution. Some of the most important occupational diseases that are common at the workplaces include disorders in relation to the muscles, heat and dust injures. From here the additional fact that needs to be highlighted that Toyota makes sure that zero accident record based on which strategies and activities have been formulated. Here the five-year safety policy designed by Toyota is to be highlighted. According to the policy, Toyota will make sure that proactive prevention systems and structures are designed within the workplace that can ensure zero accidents and hazards at the workplace. The second important part of the policy is to make sure that the workplace environment is such that complete peace of mind and body is provided to the employees. Based on these policies, accident prevention activities have been developed by Toyota (Open University Reader Series. Rhodes, Warren, and Carter, 2006, p. 61). It is seen that the policies and activities to prevent occupational illnesses and injuries have been very successful to date, as there has been no report that shows accidents, injuries, and illnesses at Toyota workplaces. Many reports have shown that the number of STOP6 type injuries, diseases and illness have been the lowest in the workplace. In the case of workplace management and occupational health safety, these activities have ensured complete safety at the workplace. Some of the most important facts that have been taken into account by Toyota include strengthening of the workplace management. Some of the most important changes that have been incorporated by Toyota in their occupational health and safety program includes musculoskeletal disorders that are one of the most common disorders of the workplace, the new policy has highlighted that working conditions and the working environment being provided to the employees should make sure that the injuries are reduced (Johnson, Redmon, and Mawhinney, 2001, p. 50).

Organizational Structure of Toyota In Relation To the Occupational Health And Safety

In order to make sure that the occupational safety of the employees, Toyota has designed the organizational structure in a way that can ensure complete implementation of the safety policies in all workplaces.

Detailed Human Resources Development

It is believed at the end of Toyota, that the employees are the ones that make sure that best of the predicts is delivered to the customers and without these customers, no operation and action can be moved forward. The value of the employees can be realized from the value that the customers give to the products that Toyota makes. Based on this better development of the human resources is one of the main aims of Toyota. One of the main aims that are to be achieved by Toyota in the case of development of Human resources is to make sure that values and resources are handed down to the employees. Increased competition in global business world requires an increased geographical business expansion based on which it is important that global actions are taken for the development of better human resources. In the case of handing down values, it is important that the regulations and legislations of worker and employee safety be strengthened so that the employees can feel valued and important. How these regulations and legislations are implemented at the workplace is also important as when these regulations are strictly implemented these will make sure that employees and worker health is safe.

Occupational Health and Safety Policies of Toyota and Collaboration with Research

It has been mentioned that the importance of workplace environment has been realized by Toyota as it is a well-known fact that the environment of the workplace can play e important roles in the health and safety of the employees. Realizing this fact, recently it has been reported that a research-based collaboration has been initiated with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The research will study the main principles of management, assessment and control of the workplace environment that can improve health and safety-based conditions for the employees. This partnership between Toyota and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will make sure that requirements of the management of workplace environment are studied so that better wokrplace conditions can be provided to the employees. The research will be such that workplace analysis will be conducted on the currently used workplace so that any changes required are reported to the higher authorities. It has been reported that the research will highlight some of the most important aspects that are needed in case of the occupational safety programs in the organizations. In order to prevent job related illnesses and injuries it is important that newer methods are designed that can help in the identifications of the needs of the employees. These newer methods can help in reducing job related illnesses as well as injuries.

It needs to be highlighted here that one of the most important goals of Toyota is to be one of the most secure and safest automobile manufacturer in the world. It is realized by Toyota that there are more than 30,000 people work for Toyota and their safety is one of the most important concern for Toyota. For Toyota, it is important that the safety of the employee is ensured and for this, one of the main aims that will be achieved by Toyota is that this research will help Toyota in improving the safety conditions of the workplace environment. Some of the main areas of the research in this case are as follows;

1. Understanding the main advantages of safety management systems implemented in the workplaces.

2. Implementation of ergonomic and economic injury and illness prevention programs in order to make sure that age related injuries and illnesses, demographics in relation to the diverse workforce, risk factors in relation to the increased motion risks, and manufacturing requirements of the organization are understood,

3. Injury prevention, fleet safety, Trips, falls, and injuries are to be understood;

4. Industrial hygiene is very important and these are to be understood. It has been highlighted that in the case of occupational health and safety programs, these hygiene factors are to be understood.

5. Safety culture elements are to be understood as safety programs that are to be implemented within the work environments are based on the cultural requirements of the employees (Open University Reader Series. Rhodes, Warren, and Carter, 2006, p. 19).

Recommendations

Toyota Production System is based on health and safety of employees because employees are important and their lives are important. There are a number of factors that are important ion playing roles in health and safety of the employees in the workplaces. It is important that safety and health regulations be most strictly implemented. Awareness campaigns and knowledge sharing should be increased so that the employees are more aware of safety and health regulations. It is important that higher authorities must be aware of the health related issues that include illnesses and injuries that can risk the health of employees. Based on an increased competition and global business expansion there are a number of changes ot be made in the occupational health and safety regulations by Toyota. In every geographic; region, cultures are different and there is a great difference between the physical and surrounding environments. When health and safety regulations are being designed by the higher authorities, supervisors and managers of Toyota, it is important that these cultural as well as environmental differences are kept in mind. For example, Toyota's headquarters in North America should be more concerned about the health issues of the employees who may be suffering from HIV AIDS. Mexican headquarters will have separate illness and health rated concerns in the case of employees as well as newly hired employees.

Conclusion

The above mentioned sections have highlighted some of the most important strategies that have been adopted by Toyota in order to make sure that their employees, clients, workers and suppliers face the safest working environments. Here it is important to highlight that Toyota is also incorporating latest research-based findings in the new policies being designed for occupational health and safety of its employees.