The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Ministry of Labor, hosted the International Symposium on Surface Treatment Industry’s Work Environment Improvements and Achievements on October 27 in Windsor Hotel, Taichung. Director General of the OSHA, Tzou Tzu-lien, gave the opening remark for the event. He expressed the gratitude to the Taiwanese companies for sharing their success in significantly improving the overall work environment, and to the foreign experts who have traveled a long way to speak about their experience and innovation in the upgrade and transformation of surface treatment facilities. It is hoped that these examples can serve as a catalyst for further innovations in manufacturing processes and enhancement in health, safety and technology in the surface treatment industry.
Director General Tzou indicated that most of the surface treatment companies in Taiwan are small-and-medium businesses. Many workplaces are typically dirty and dangerous, due to the variety of hazardous chemicals required for the processing. The industry is known for 3Ks (kiken, kitanai, and kitsuito in Japanese, meaning dangerous, dirty and demanding), and not attractive to domestic jobseekers. As a result, the industry is suffering problems such as a chronical shortage of labor, a gap in seasoned employees and an aging workforce. It is almost two years since the OSHA launched the “Support Program for Improvement of Work Environment in the Surface Treatment Industry.” To date we have assisted a total of 66 surface treatment companies. By the end of October 2017, 15 surface treatment companies have renewed or replaced their manufacturing equipment or control equipment to enhance health and safety. This has created 309 jobs for Taiwanese nationals so far, and reduced the average age of workers in these companies from 50 to 38 years old. The organizer of the event also invited Chu Li Industrial Co., LTD., FOO TEK Co., LTD., Hsieh Shun Industrial Co., Ltd. and Y.C.C. Parts MFG CO., LTD. to share their experience of overhauling their manufacturing facilities and equipment, as well as improving ventilation effectiveness and automating process. Their successful transformation in the enhancement of workplace health and safety and the creation of stable employment opportunities has set a benchmark for other industry players.
Given that much workplace improvement for domestic surface treatment companies focuses on the installation of local exhaust devices to improve ventilation, the OSHA has brought to Taiwan the experts and scholars from Germany, the U.S. and Japan to share innovative concepts of health and safety in factories by improving from the source. They introduced the state-of-the-art automated and closed-loop electroplating equipment and processes, as well as the application of low-toxicity chemicals such as trivalent chrome coatings. It is hoped that the adoption of new equipment and manufacturing processes from overseas can put an end to occupational hazards and create a new catalyst for the upgrade and transformation of the surface treatment industry in Taiwan.
The OSHA indicated that with the joint efforts from the industry, the government and the academics, the surface treatment industry has gathered momentum to seek mutual benefits for employers and employees. In response to the industry demand, the OSHA will continue to assist in the improvement of the work environment. We encourage other companies in the industry to follow suit with similar breakthroughs in order to reinforce the success in the transformation of the industry, putting an end to the stereotype of the 3K industry and building up global competitiveness.