Introduction to Safety and Health Preface and Chapter.1 (Goetsch)

Safety vs Health Safety and health although closely related are not the same. One view is that Safety is concerned with injury-causing situations, whereas health is concerned with disease causing situations. Another view is that safety is concerned with hazards to humans that result from sudden severe conditions; health deals with adverse reactions to prolonged exposure to dangerous but less intense hazards. An acute effect is a sudden reaction to a severe condition, while a chronic effect is a long-term deterioration due to a prolonged exposure to a milder adverse condition (Asfahl).

Safety vs Health Both concepts are accurate in portraying safety and health issues. However, there is no clear line between the two concepts. For example, stress is a hazard can cause both problems over a prolonged period. So, it is a ________concern. On the other hand, an overly stressed worker may be prone to accidents generating a __________concern.

Safety vs Health Long term exposure to noise levels in the range of 90 -100 decibels causes permanent damage._____ A sudden acute exposure to impact noise can injure the hearing system. ______ (Asfahl) Let’s come up with a similar example or two

Safety and Health Movement, Then and Now The safety area in the US has developed steadily since early 1900s. In the early 1900s, industrial accidents were common. In 1907 over 3200 people were killed in mining accidents. Then, legislation and public opinion all favored management.. There were a few protections for workers’ safety.

Safety and Health Movement, Then and Now Working conditions for industrial employees have improved significantly. Chance of a worker being killed is less than half of what it was 60 years ago. the current death rate from work-related injuries is approx. 4 per 100,000 or less than a third of the rate 50 years ago.

Safety and Health Movement, Then and Now Improvements have been the result of: The pressure for promote safety and health, The steadily increasing costs associated with accidents and injuries, The future improvements will be driven by cost effectiveness and resultant competitiveness gained from a safe and healthy workplace. The professionalization of safety as an occupation.

Development Before the Industrial Revolution Code of Hammurabi contained clauses pertaining to safety and health. “If a man has caused the loss of a gentlemen’s eye, his own eye shall be caused to be lost”. Egyptians used slaves in building temples and pyramids. Rameses II to ensure the maintenance of a workforce sufficient to build his major project, created an industrial medical service and required each worker to bathe daily.

Development Before the Industrial Revolution The Romans were very concerned about safety and health. ___________________________________ In the 16th Century, Philippus Aureolus looked at pulmonary disease of miners/diseases of smelter workers/metallurgists and Georgius Agricola emphasized the need for ventilation systems in the mines.

Development Before the Industrial Revolution In the 18th Century, Bernardino Ramazzini drew parallels between diseases suffered by workers and their occupations. Handling of harmful materials, irregular or unnatural movements of the body The Industrial Revolution change the nature of production: Introduction of inanimate power Substitution of machines for people Introduction of new methods in fabrication Organization and specialization of work

Milestones in the Safety Movement The safety movement traces its roots to England. Industrial Revolution Outbreak of fever among the children working in cotton mills led people in Manchester demand better working conditions in the factories.

Milestones in the Safety Movement When the industrial sector began to grow in the US, hazardous working conditions became common. Following the Civil War, the seeds of the safety movement were sown. Factory Inspection – 1867 First barrier safeguard patent – 1868 mine safety law – 1869 Bureau of Labor Statistics established - 1869

Milestones in the Safety Movement a law requiring safeguards for hazardous machinery – 1877 Employer’s liability law – 1877 First recorded safety program established in IL – 1892 Frederick Taylor conducts first systematic study on efficiency in manufacturing – 1900 Bureau of Mines created – 1907 Concept of Workers Compensation introduced – 1908

Milestones in the Safety Movement First cooperative study congress 1912 National Council of Industrial Safety formed – 1913 NCIS changed name to National Safety Council – 1915

Milestones in the Safety Movement Total Safety Management concept introduced – 1996 US firms begin to pursue ISO 14000 registration for ESM 2000 Workplace terrorism is an ongoing concern of safety and health professionals - 2003

Role of Organized Labor Specific Safety and Health Problems Seeked safe and healthy work environments Some say they focused too much on wages and benefits Overturn the antilabor laws relating to safety Assumption Risk Specific Safety and Health Problems Lung Disease in Miners Explosion in a mine in WV in 1968

Role of Mercury Poisoning in 1930s Japan due to release of methyl mercury into the sea Mercury nitrate was used in hat-making in the US Asbestos exposure Asbestosis or (Mesothelioma) Cancer

Development of Accident Prevention Programs Will be covered with the Accident related chapters.

Safety and Health Movement Today Came a long way from Industrial Revolution ways. Tone was set during the WWII. Need for various specialists arose: safety engineers, safety managers, industrial hygienists, occupational health nurses, and physicians.

Safety and Health Movement Today H.G. Dyktor proposed the following objectives of integration (cooperation): Learn more through sharing knowledge about health problems in the workplace, particularly those caused by toxic substances Provide a greater level of expertise in evaluating health and safety problems. Provide a broad database that can be used to compare health and safety problems experienced by different companies in the same industry. Encourage accident prevention Make employee health and safety a high priority

Integrated Approach to Safety and Health By working together and drawing on their areas of expertise, S & H professionals are better able to identify, predict, control, and correct S & H problems. OSHA reinforces this integrated approach by requiring companies to have a plan for doing: Providing appropriate medical treatment for injured or ill workers Regularly examining workers who are exposed to toxic substances Having qualified first-aid person available during all work hours

Integrated Approach to Safety and Health Small companies may contract, while the large ones have their own staff: Industrial Hygiene Chemist and/or Engineer Periodically test the work environment and the workers Dust levels, ventilation, and noise levels.. Radiation Control Specialist Electrical Engineer and Physicist Test radiation levels Prepare plans for accidents/decontamination procedures Industrial Safety Manager or Engineer Developing Programs Other

Development of Safety Organizations Alliance for American Insurers American Board of Industrial Hygiene American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists American Industrial Hygiene Association American Insurance Association American National Standards Institute American Occupational Medical Association American Society of Testing and Materials American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Development of Safety Organizations Chemical Transportation Emergency Center Human Factors Society National Fire Protection Association National Safety Council National Safety Management Society Society of Automotive Engineers System Safety Society Underwriter’s Laboratories

Government Organizations Bureau of Labor Statistics Bureau of National Affairs Environmental Protection Agency National Institute for Standards and Technology National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Occupational Safety and Health Administration Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Other Organizations American Public Health Association Commerce Clearing House

New Materials, Processes, and New Problems