Center for Improvement of Working Conditions & Environment (CIWCE), was established in Lahore by the Directorate of Labour Welfare Punjab in 1988. It is a pioneer institution in Pakistan with professionally trained staff, modern laboratories and facilities for assisting the industry in combating safety, health and environmental problems at the workplaces.
Objectives
Following are the main objectives:
- The principal aim of this CIWCE is to improve occupational safety, health and working environment in the industries in Punjab and provide training and advisory services on labour laws and welfare issues of workers.
- The Center for the Improvement of Working Conditions & Environment (CIWCE), was established in Lahore by the Directorate of Labour Welfare Punjab, assisted by ILO/UNDP, at a total cost of Rs.33.38 million including a foreign exchange component of PKR. 11.5 million (in the form of equipment, expert services and training of professional staff of the center). The construction of building started in 1985 and was completed in 1988, when the center became operational.
- It is a pioneering institution in Pakistan with professionally trained staff, modern laboratories and facilities for assisting the industry in combating safety, health and environmental problems at the workplaces. The total number of staff working at CIWCE is 33, which include hygienists, safety, engineers, chemists, technicians and secretarial staff.
- The principal aim of this centre is to combat the safety, health and working environment hazards in the industries in Punjab, and to create awareness and change the attitudes of the employers / workers regarding safety, health and working environment.
Sphere of Activities
Following activities are to be performed:
- Training & Education: Training courses on safety, health and environmental problems for workers, supervisors, managers, trade union representatives as well as safety and health professionals are arranged
- Research: Research into safety, health and environmental problems in the industry is carried out
- Information: Information services on request basis on problems of safety, health and environment
- Monitoring: Monitoring and analysis of most chemical and physical health hazards in the workplace is carried out
- Advisory Services: The professional staff of CIWCE can carry out OSH audits and provide advisory services for the solution of the problems of safety, health and working environment
Training Courses
Training course are held on the following topics:
- Chemical safety at workplace
- Noise control, prevention and hearing conservation
- Machine-guarding
- Ergonomics as a tool for enhancing productivity
- Fire prevention and fire fighting
- Basic emergency first aid and CPR
- Work in confined spaces
- Accident investigation
- Selection and use of personal protective equipment
- Compliance with national and international health safety and environmental laws and standards