Browsing by Author "Madhusanka, HWN"

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Developing a framework to ensure safety of maintenance workers in Sri Lankan commercial buildings
(2016) Udani, SHMI; Disaratna, PAPVDS; Weerasinghe, RPNP; Madhusanka, HWN
Maintenance is one of the most important and critical activities in every high rise commercial building. Maintenance activities often comprised of risk increasing factors and different kinds of potential hazards. Significant numbers of maintenance workers may be exposed to a variety of risks when doing their job. The safety of the maintenance workers should be prioritized in every maintenance work. It is mandatory to provide a safe working environment for their workers. Organisations and maintenance workers are not adhering appropriate safety practices to safeguard their lives and properties. Initiated regulations and standards are not specifically designed for the building maintenance activities. Therefore, this research intended to address this issue by developing a framework to ensure safety of maintenance workers in commercial buildings. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was carried out on the subject matter. Based on the nature of the study, data collection was carried out in two phases. A case study approach was used to gather existing information on maintenance works carried out under different categories, their related hazards. Semi structured interviews were conducted with a professional who is in the management level of the maintenance department in each selected case study. Expert survey was then carried out with three industry professionals to gather information about appropriate suggestions to ensure the safety of maintenance workers. The study highlighted key categories of maintenance works as confined space works, hot works, works at height, works involve with electrical equipment and works involve in using dangerous substance. These activities involve with different kinds of potential hazards such as physical, chemical, biological and psychological. The exposure level of the maintenance workers to the hazards is significantly high in this work environment. The study identified safe procedures to follow during different maintenance tasks.
item: Conference-Full-text
DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE SAFETY OFMAINTENANCE WORKERS IN SRI LANKAN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
(2016-08-29) Udani, SHMI; Disaratna, PAPVDS; Weerasinghe, RPNP; Madhusanka, HWN
Maintenance is one of the most important and critical activities in every high rise commercial building. Maintenance activities often comprised of risk increasing factors and different kinds of potential hazards. Significant numbers of maintenance workers may be exposed to a variety of risks when doing their job. The safety of the maintenance workers should be prioritized in every maintenance work. It is mandatory to provide a safe working environment for their workers. Organisations and maintenance workers are not adhering appropriate safety practices to safeguard their lives and properties. Initiated regulations and standards are not specifically designed for the building maintenance activities. Therefore, this research intended to address this issue by developing a framework to ensure safety of maintenance workers in commercial buildings. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was carried out on the subject matter. Based on the nature of the study, data collection was carried out in two phases. A case study approach was used to gather existing information on maintenance works carried out under different categories, their related hazards. Semi structured interviews were conducted with a professional who is in the management level of the maintenance department in each selected case study. Expert survey was then carried out with three industry professionals to gather information about appropriate suggestions to ensure the safety of maintenance workers. The study highlighted key categories of maintenance works as confined space works, hot works, works at height, works involve with electrical equipment and works involve in using dangerous substance. These activities involve with different kinds of potential hazards such as physical, chemical, biological and psychological. The exposure level of the maintenance workers to the hazards is significantly high in this work environment. The study identified safe procedures to follow during different maintenance tasks.
item: Conference-Abstract
Development of a Customer Satisfaction Assessment Model for the Immigration and Emigration Service in Sri Lanka
(2015-08-20) Madhusanka, HWN; De Silva, N
Immigration and Emigration Service (IES) is among the most vital set of state services of a country. In Sri Lanka it has played a great role with the augmented rates of immigrants and emigrants during past few years. The efficiency of this service relies on its customers’ satisfaction. Thus the focus of the research was to identify the level of satisfaction of customers regarding the quality of services, and to suggest appropriate further improvement strategies to maximize its efficiency. Quantitative approach was used for the effective fulfilment of desired objectives. During the first phase of data collection, two preliminary surveys were carried out to filter and specifically identify the factors to be included in the satisfaction assessment. Subsequently, the customer satisfaction assessment was completed focusing on 125 customers. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 4 experts, aiming to identify possible improvement strategies for further enhancements in the service quality. Twenty eight factors were established to appraise the immigration and emigration service quality. The service quality assessment using IPA matrix revealed that the customers were satisfied with 15 factors and dissatisfied with 13 factors. Thus, several improvement strategies were proposed to improve the current service quality.
item: Article-Full-text
Relationally integrated value networks (RIVANS) for total facilities management (TFM)
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2017) De Silva, N; Weerasinghe, RPNP; Madhusanka, HWN
Purpose – A case is made for developing “Relationally Integrated Value Networks for Total Facilities Management” (RIVANS-TFM) by synergistically connecting significant stakeholders of the project management (PM) and facilities management (FM) phases to deliver substantially better value for the end users of built infrastructure. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire survey enabled identification of typically significant stakeholders in the PM and FM phases. In total, 14 key stakeholders were identified through t-test analysis in this Sri Lankan study. Semi-structured interviews unveiled relationships among the aforementioned stakeholders and the findings were used to develop the “required” RIVANS-TFM, as well as the “existing” RIVANS-TFM, using the UCINET social network analysis software package. Social network theory of relationships was applied to analyze the networks in terms of “Structural Holes” or missing links and “Brokerage Potentials.” Findings – Structural holes analysis highlighted the existing setup to be more vulnerable to missing links than the “required”/targeted setup. Furthermore, brokerage potentials analysis revealed that owners, project managers, facility managers, maintenance engineers, main contractors, designers, principal consultants, and other specialist consultants can act as “brokers” to bridge the gaps or minimize structural holes, thereby uplifting and reinforcing the existing network to deliver better performance and value in TFM. Originality/value – By revealing existing and required levels of integration of each stakeholder in RIVANS-TFM, clients are provided a great opportunity to identify the stakeholders who should be engaged more, or less – in order to best achieve clients’ long-term aspirations and project objectives. Furthermore, the findings also indicate appropriate levels of stakeholder relationships to target, in order to maintain efficient flows of information, material and services in the supply chains while enhancing TFM life-cycle values.
item: Conference-Full-text
Strategic approach to ensure process safety in apparel manufacturing industry using total productive maintenance (TPM)
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2016-07) Denipitiya, HWSN; De Silva, N; Soorige, SDA; Madhusanka, HWN; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Ramachandra, T
Accidents in the apparel manufacturing process lead to huge monetary and productivity loses. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can be identified as a rapidly spreading process improvement tool which is targeting zero defects, zero breakdowns and zero accidents. The aim of this research was to explore the suitability of TPM to ensure Process Safety (PS) in the apparel industry. An extensive literature review was carried out to identify process safety, process accidents and relationship between process safety TPM in the apparel industry. Accordingly set of accidents and existing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices were identified in the apparel manufacturing process. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for the effective fulfilment of research aim. During first phase of data collection questionnaire survey and document survey were carried out with support of OSH experts to gather knowledge regarding process related accidents. Second phase of data collection was conducted using semi structured interviews and observations to identify TPM approaches used to enhance the PS in apparel manufacturing process. Findings of the study revealed that implementing TPM led to improve the process safety in the apparel manufacturing process up to some extent. But 90% of the identified TPM approaches focused to ensure the production and quality systems. Therefore, process safety was not adequately addressed by identified TPM approaches in both cases. Hence after implementing TPM, still there were accidents in the apparel manufacturing process. Since the research highlighted the importance of paying adequate attention to process safety when implementing TPM otherwise achieving zero accidents remains as a challenge.
item: Conference-Full-text
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO ENSURE PROCESS SAFETY IN APPAREL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY USING TOTAL PRODUCTIVE MAINTENANCE (TPM)
(2016-09-06) Denipitiya, HWSN; De Silva, N; Soorige, SDA; Madhusanka, HWN
Accidents in the apparel manufacturing process lead to huge monetary and productivity loses. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can be identified as a rapidly spreading process improvement tool which is targeting zero defects, zero breakdowns and zero accidents. The aim of this research was to explore the suitability of TPM to ensure Process Safety (PS) in the apparel industry. An extensive literature review was carried out to identify process safety, process accidents and relationship between process safety TPM in the apparel industry. Accordingly set of accidents and existing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices were identified in the apparel manufacturing process. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for the effective fulfilment of research aim. During first phase of data collection questionnaire survey and document survey were carried out with support of OSH experts to gather knowledge regarding process related accidents. Second phase of data collection was conducted using semi structured interviews and observations to identify TPM approaches used to enhance the PS in apparel manufacturing process. Findings of the study revealed that implementing TPM led to improve the process safety in the apparel manufacturing process up to some extent. But 90% of the identified TPM approaches focused to ensure the production and quality systems. Therefore, process safety was not adequately addressed by identified TPM approaches in both cases. Hence after implementing TPM, still there were accidents in the apparel manufacturing process. Since the research highlighted the importance of paying adequate attention to process safety when implementing TPM otherwise achieving zero accidents remains as a challenge.