• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2024

Background: Silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone products in micro or small-sized enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited. Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone fabricating MSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatory intervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in 34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded. Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m³ TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseas-born migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups. Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers' demographic factors can influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such as silicosis in vulnerable workers.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.505-515
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• 2021

The essential purpose of this study is to propose strategies for developing micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to realize sustainable competitive advantage by applying the SWOT analysis method. Thus, the main problems investigated in this study are: a) around 60-70% of MSMEs in Kulonprogo regency do not yet have access or financing from banks; b) lack of knowledge of production technology; c) in general, MSMEs business actors are still incorporated legal entities; d) MSMEs do not have a good financial administration and management system; e) coordination between MSMEs stakeholders has not been integrated; f) limited facilities and infrastructure of MSMEs, primarily related to technological tools; and g) limited access to raw materials so that MSMEs often get low-quality raw materials. This study employed a survey method with questionnaires and interviews. By using the Slovin tools sampling technique, the number of samples was 39 MSMEs in Kulonprogo Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The results of this study confirmed that the Kulonprogo MSMEs should pay attention to seven aspects of business management to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. The seven aspects are: 1) business strategy; 2) human resources; 3) information technology; 4) products; 5) promotion; 6) cooperation; and 7) corporate social responsibility (CSR).