Chapter 12Promoting Safety and Health

Learning Outcomes

Summarize the general provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

Describe the measures managers and employees can take to create a safe work environment

Identify ways to control and eliminate various on-the-job health hazards

Describe the programs organizations utilize to build better health among their workforces

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

General provisions

Assure safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards

Provide training, outreach, and education

Establish partnerships

Encourage continual improvements in workplace safety and health

OSHA’s coverage

Private sector employees

Public employees in state and local governments

OSHA Standards

Employers need to:

Become familiar with those standards that are applicable to their establishments

Ensure that their employees use personal protective gear when required for safety

Enforcement of the Act

OSHA is authorized to:

Conduct workplace inspections

Issue citations

Impose penalties on employers

OSHA’s System of Inspection Priorities

Inspection of imminent danger situations

First Level

Investigation of catastrophes, fatalities, and accidents that result in hospitalization of five or more employees

Second Level

Investigation of valid employee complaints of alleged violations of standards or of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions

Third Level

Special-emphasis inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries, occupations, or substances that are injurious to health

Fourth Level

Citations and Penalties

Violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but one unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm

Other than serious

Violation for which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result

Serious

Violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits

Willful

OSHA Consultation Assistance

Onsite consultation

Consultants from the state government or private contractors help employers identify hazardous conditions and determine corrective measures

Cooperative programs

Alliances

Strategic Partnership Programs (SPPs)

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs)

Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

Responsibilities and Rights Under OSHA

Employers’ responsibilities and rights

Inform all employees about the safety and health requirements of OSHA

Required to keep certain records and post an annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses

Provide employees with protective equipment when necessary and ensure it is used

Provide workers with safety training and be prepared to discipline employees for failing to comply with safety rules

Incidence Rate

The number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees during a given year

Same formula can be used to compute incidence rates for:

Number of workdays lost because of injuries and illnesses

Number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses without lost workdays

Cases involving only injuries or only illnesses

Employee’s Responsibilities and Rights Under OSHA

Required to comply with all applicable OSHA standards

Report hazardous conditions

Follow all employer safety and health rules and regulations

Right to demand safe and healthy conditions on the job without fear of punishment

Right-to-know laws: Require employers and manufacturers to give employees information about the toxic and hazardous substances

Promoting a Safe Work Environment

Creating a culture of safety

Interviewing for safety and fitness-for-duty tests

Fitness-for-duty evaluations: Determine an employee’s physical, mental, and emotional fitness

The key role of the supervisor

Communicate to an employee the need to work safely

Proactive safety training programs

Safety and health training is legally required

Enforcing Safety Rules

Ways to involve and engage employees in company safety programs

Jointly set safety standards with managers

Participate in safety training

Help design and implement special safety training programs

Establish safety incentives and rewards

Be involved in accident investigations

Investigating and Recording Accidents

Recordable case: Any occupational death, illness, or injury to be recorded in the log

Recordable accidents

Death

Days away from work

Restricted work or transfer to another job

Medical treatment beyond first aid

Other problems include loss of consciousness or diagnosis of a significant injury or illness by a healthcare professional

Figure 12.3 – Guide to Recording Cases under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Safety Hazards and Issues

Fatigue

More of a problem in organizations that operate around the clock or have night shifts

May not result in life or death consequences for most jobs

Distracted driving

Employer can be penalized for giving workers incentive to engage in distracted driving

Safety Hazards and Issues

Workplace violence – Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting

Beatings and stabbings

Suicides

Shootings

Rapes

Near suicides

Psychological traumas such as threats

Obscene phone calls

Safety Hazards and Issues

Reducing violence in the workplace

Management commitment and employee involvement in preventing acts of violence

Analyzing the workplace to uncover areas of potential violence

Preventing and controlling violence by designing safe workplaces and work practices

Providing violence prevention training throughout the organization

Evaluating violence program effectiveness

Figure 12.4 – Violence Indicators: Know the Warning Signs

Safety Hazards and Issues

Workplace emergencies

Floods

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Fires

Toxic gas releases

Chemical spills

Radiological accidents

Explosions

Civil disturbances and terrorism

OSHA requires companies to have emergency action plans to deal with incidents

Emergency action plans

Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency

Evacuating a facility

Accounting for employees after an evacuation

Safety Hazards and Issues

Crisis management teams

Composed of hourly and managerial employees

Work in conjunction with HR to conduct initial risk assessment surveys

Develop emergency action plans

Perform crisis intervention during emergency events

Mandate

Gather facts about threat

Decide if organization should intervene

Determine most appropriate method

Figure 12.5 – Calming an Angry Employee

Figure 12.6 – Key Elements for a Successful Ergonomics Program

Creating a Healthy Work Environment

Health hazards and issues

Cumulative trauma disorders: Injuries of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, and spinal discs caused by repeated stress and strains

Computer workstation issues

Visual difficulties

Muscular aches and pains

Job stress

Creating a Healthy Work Environment

Chemical hazards

Material safety data sheets (MSDSs): Document that contains vital information about hazardous substances

Smoking and tobacco smoke

Organizations initiate smoking policies specifying when and where smoking will be allowed

Bloodborne pathogens

In industries where employees may come in contact with blood or other body fluids, employers are required to follow OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standards

Building Better Physical and Emotional Health Among Employees

Issues that workplace programs can address to help improve employee welfare

Wellness and weight issues

Increasing a person’s physical exercise

Adopting nutritional dietary programs

Job stress and burnout

Stress: Any adjustive demand caused by physical, mental, or emotional factors that requires coping behavior

Building Better Physical and Emotional Health Among Employees

Eustress: Positive stress that accompanies achievement and exhilaration

Distress: Harmful stress characterized by a loss of feelings of security and adequacy

Burnout: Severe stage of distress, manifesting itself in depression, frustration, and loss of productivity

Depression: Negative emotional state marked by feelings of:

Low spirits

Gloominess

Sadness

Loss of pleasure in ordinary activities

Building Better Physical and Emotional Health Among Employees

Alcoholism

Classified as a disability under American with Disability Act (ADA)

Prevalent across the sexes

Affects workers in every occupational category

Drug abuse

Abuse of illegal drugs by employees increases costs for organizations due to:

Safety risks and theft

Reduced productivity

Absenteeism

Accidents

Figure 12.8 – Tips for Reducing Job-Related Stress

PromotingSafetyandHealth.pptx

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