Improving the Quality and Competitiveness of MSMEs, FPH UI Students Help Tapioca Flour Factories Implement OHS

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute greatly to Indonesia’s economic growth. MSMEs support equal distribution of people’s economic levels, provide jobs to increase the country’s foreign exchange. However, this will be fulfilled if all workers are healthy, safe, prosperous, productive, and competitive. To achieve this, an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program is needed.

Undergraduate student of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Study Program, Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI) under the guidance of Dr. Robiana Modjo carries out community service activities to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) create and run OSH programs. The activity which was carried out from 21 to 24 November 2022 was carried out by 9 (nine) students of the OHS Undergraduate Study Program at CV Wangun Mandiri, Cipagiri Village, North Bogor.

CV Wangun Mandiri, is an MSME in Bogor City that produces tapioca flour in various brands. As a workplace, the CV Wangun Mandiri tapioca flour factory has many OHS hazards and risks that must be controlled to maintain the welfare and productivity of its workers.

For one week, the FPH UI student team made observations to carry out Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (IBPR). During the observation activity, Haryadi, the Head of Management of CV Wangun Mandiri and his staff and workers were very enthusiastic and actively participated in explaining the tapioca flour production process.

The culmination of this community service is counseling related to the riskiest OSH problems in this factory, namely fire, muscle and skeletal disorders, and respiratory problems. The series of simulations and materials provided interactively were greeted warmly and enthusiastically by the employees and management of CV Wangun Mandiri. This can be seen in their participation in asking and answering quizzes. At the end of the event, the student team gave three OHS posters to remind workers to control the risk of fire, muscle and skeletal disorders, and respiratory problems.

This activity was also attended by Widya Kiswiranti, a representative of the Environmental Health and Occupational Health Section, Bogor City Health Office to monitor the progress of the activity. “Hopefully this activity can be the first step for CV Wangun Mandiri to create an OSH program,” said Widya appreciating this activity

The hope of OHS FPH UI students in carrying out this activity is to increase knowledge and awareness regarding the hazards and risks of OHS in the workplace. In addition, through this series of activities, it is hoped that the management of CV Wangun Mandiri will always play an active role in maintaining the safety and health of its workers. “Hopefully the knowledge shared by UI students can add to our knowledge and can be applied so that we can all work safely and healthily,” said Haryadi, Head of Management of CV Wangun Mandiri Bogor City.