Measuring work practice improvement
The observation of work practice improvement involved
using a checklist proposed by the Work Improvement Small
Enterprises (WISE) and Work Improvement for Safe Homes
(WISH) programs developed by the ILO.P
13P Both the WISE and
WISH methods focus on the participatory approach—
convincing the owners of small and medium sized enterprises
(SMEs) and informal sector groups to join in the self-help
practice of solving OHS problems.
The checklist consists of the 7 practice improvement
sections including improvements in the: materials storage
and handling, work-station design, machine safety, control of
chemicals, working conditions, welfare facilities and
premises—with a total score of 120 points. Levels of the
“work practice improvement” were assessed using the
following classification scheme: low level of work practice
improvement = scoring less than 50 % of the total score, or 0
- 60 points; medium level of work practice improvement =
scoring equal to 50-75% of the total score or > 60 - 90
points; and high level of work practice improvement = scoring higher than 75% of the total score or > 90 - 120 points