1.1 Introduction
Pulp and paper production are extremely complex and incorporate a wide variety of process fields, including wood preparation, pulping, chemical recovery, bleaching and paper production, to transform wood into finished product which is paper. The processing of paper is effectively a two-step process where the fibrous raw material is first extracted into a pulp and then the pulp is converted into paper. Pulp production can be accomplished through mechanical or chemical process. Depending on the type and grade of paper required for processing, the pulp is then retouched and thus further processed. The pulp consists of mechanically or chemically broken wood or other lignocellulosic materials, and then the detached fibers are released and can be dispersed in water and turned into a network of woven pulp. Mechanical pulping is a way to break down fiber bonds by adding mechanical energy to the chips (Hart, 2011).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The recent growth of imported wooden furniture appears to indicate strengthening domestic demand. There is also a general trend in the sector internationally to connect within global value chains that require an export focus. The primary export markets for South African wooden furniture are the UK and Germany (Moodley 2002: 34). In these international markets, there is also significant competition from developing nations in Asia and Eastern Europe. In this context, international retailers are able to dictate costs, designs and quality conditions to a much greater extent.
The wood furniture sector relies on sawn timber inputs from the primary processing sector as well as on plastic, metal, leather and cloth inputs. Pulp milling is the most important component of fibre processing and is integrated, through the Mondi and Sappi duopoly, with downstream paper manufacturing in South Africa and abroad. Wood chipping is a smaller, but significant, component related to the pulp and paper production stream. Export-focused chipping plants independent of the pulp mills were created in the 1970s to check the domestic buying power of Mondi and Sappi (Chamberlain et al. 2005b).
The growth cycles for all of these trees vary by sub-species, management practices and natural environmental influences. Other factors being equal, a tree that will be used for its fibre in pulp milling or as wood chips will have a growth cycle about half as long as a tree used for saw logs. The plantation forestry sector is characterized by a strong degree of vertical integration with down- stream sectors. Therefore plantation owners also tend to be significant primary processors, and involved in secondary beneficiation. While historically state plantations were important timber sources, in 1997, the government undertook to withdraw from plantation forestry. This ongoing privatization involves the state retaining ownership, but leasing its holdings. While these leases are focused on promoting black economic empowerment in the sector, they typically involve an established partner with downstream linkages.
Advances in technology mean many products made from pulp or the residue of making pulp that can be eaten, wear, power the car or even to conduct medical research. Biochemicals and the textile form of materials are not made of traditional pulp, instead of variations in the pulp method and of the same raw materials or residues of the pulping process. Pulp also plays a big part in daily production, for example, pulp produces medical papers, binding agents in foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals for the medical industry. Other than that, pulp also produces filters for coffee and tea, fresh food wrapping, paper bags and paper cups for everyday use.
Labour is one of the vital resources required for high level productivity at both organizational and national level. Without labour, other factors of production like capital, machines and land may remain passive. This is so because it is labour that put other factors into effective use. Perhaps, this explains why labour is often held responsible for whatever goes wrong in the production process. Suffice it to say that without efficient labour, high level productivity particularly in the manufacturing sector may be elusive. It however requires a sound health and well safeguarded working environment to have an effective and efficient workforce that is highly productive and capable of accomplishing the corporate goals of organization.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Occupational Health and Safety in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that there is inadequate knowledge and a lack of competences in plant design, selection of appropriate technologies, equipment and tools as well as in production engineering and plant operations (MF&W & MFA 2008). Also in maintenance and other services, that could be provided by service providers, the saw millers rely on their own work rather than outside service providers (MF&W & MFA 2008).
Timber sawing for wood, pulp and paper production is one of the occupations that provide raw materials to the building construction, furniture, paper and wood making industries. This very essential industry has offered employment opportunities to several people. It has also improved their economic status and projects the works of other sectors of the economy that depend on the timber raw materials.
This industry is now being threatened by occupational hazards causing discomforts in the operations, tampering with efficiency and continuality in the business. majority of workers the manufacturing sectors are daily exposed to diverse occupational health and safety hazards. This has impaired their health status and adversely affected their productive capacity. In the same vein, their prunes to industrial accidents had equally incapacitated physically some of the factory workers, which in turn had caused a decline in their level of productivity.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Occupational Health and Safety in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the relative effects of occupational health and safety on employee's productivity in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector;
- To identify safety and health hazards that employees are exposed to in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector;
- To assess the employers’ and workers’ knowledge and awareness in recognizing safety and health hazards and unsafe work practices; and
- To appraise the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector control measures adhered in managing safety and health hazards and workplace risks;
- To offer suggestions on how occupational health and safety could be used to enhance employee's productivity.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the relative effects of occupational health and safety on employee's productivity in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector?
- What are the safety and health hazards that employees are exposed to in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector?
- What are the employers’ and workers’ knowledge and awareness in recognizing safety and health hazards and unsafe work practices?
- What is the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector control measures adhered in managing safety and health hazards and workplace risks?
- What could be done to improve employee’s productivity using occupational health and safety in the Forestry, Wood, Pulp and Paper Sector?
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