Introduction
General Motors (GM) is a global automotive industry based in Detroit, Michigan. This is one of the largest car makers based on sales from vehicles. It has a work force of 202000 people and business partners in 157 countries. General motors’ has five branches spread out in different countries. It produces cars and trucks in 37 countries and services vehicles through different brands.
There are many risks involved in the motor assembly company. There are many stages involved during the development of a car from various parts that have been produced from different sites across the globe. Once these parts arrive to the main assembly point the work of assembly is divided between man and machine. Robots take over jobs that need precision, which include, riveting and precision cutting. The most dangerous job in general motors’ is the use of hand held machines to complete various tasks assigned. The workforce in this sector is required to be keen to their surroundings’ and never be intoxicated at any point. This hand held tools include drills, riveting machines, cutting tools and spray guns. These tools are extremely dangerous when handled by someone who lacks experience, under the influence of drugs or plainly ignorant.
These tools can cause serious harm to the person using them either by accident or ignorance. The riveting machines shoot out rivets at high speeds with immense, force enabling it to drive rivets into the body of the car with ease. When handled carelessly one could drive one of these rivets into their bodies causing serious injuries and even death in some cases, drills, on the other hand, can cause immobilization of the operator if handled without care. When a car is taken for spraying the workers are at risk from intoxication by the chemical elements contained in the paint. Long term exposure to these elements without the use of safety gear can lead to serious ailments including cancer. Another risk involved in general motors’ is job security. Its work force is constantly laid off as a result of mechanization of the assembly process. Over the years, general motors’ have replaced their human work force with robots to increase efficiency and curb human error. They are cutting down on people who rivet and paint with robots.
Employees are informed of the general risks they may face when working for general motors’, but leave out crucial details that include job security. The workforce of GM are not adequately informed of all the risks posed to them when they are employed by this company, this method is used to reduce fear to people who think of applying for a job in general motors. The work forces only come to learn of these risks after employment and after gaining experience.
These risks faced by employees who work at general motors’, are somehow acceptable and reasonable because the safety of a worker depends on ones character and the ability to be self aware of the surrounding environment. Most accidents are a result of ignorance and inability to follow simple laid out safety procedures.
Conclusion
Over the years, the number of fatal accidents experienced in the motor industry has considerably reduced as a result of increased training of the workforce and the implementation of safety procedures set in place to guide its workforce on safety and how to perform one’s assigned duty effectively. The issue of job security has also been addressed by the use of work contracts that define ones objectives and work details.
