Assessment and enhancement of occupational health and safety (OHS) practices at CITCO : confectionery industry and trading company

Abstract

Ever since the father of occupational medicine “Bernardo Ramazzini” raised the issue of visiting the workplace in order to identify potential hazards and find out the reason behind a worker’s illness, occupational health and safety receives enormous attention. This attention has been increasing throughout the years, especially in developed countries. However, developing countries still neglect the impact of this field on public health, even in high-risk occupations like manufacturing industries. Manufacturing settings, like confectioneries, subject employees to various physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial hazards. In response to that, this practicum aimed to (1) assess and identify the gaps in OHS practices at CITCO, a confectionery industry in Lebanon, (2) spread awareness and assert the importance of enhancing OHS practices, and finally (3) provide recommendations to enhance these practices based on international health and safety standard: ISO45001 in order for CITCO to further implement them. The practicum was completed over a span of 200 hours, starting from the 15th of December till the 15th of March 2024. Many tools were used throughout this period to achieve the practicum’s aims and objectives. The practicum was successful in achieving its objectives and various outcomes, in spite of diverse challenges. Through this practicum, the intern acquired countless skills on the technical, personal, and knowledge levels.