Dessler, Cole, Goodman and Sutherland Fundamentals of Human Resources Management in Canada Chapter Ten Occupational Health and Safety © 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-1

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-2 Basic Facts About Occupational Health and Safety Legislation General Health and Safety General Health and Safety Three Categories of Rules Specific Industries Specific Industries Specific Hazards Specific Hazards

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-3 Basic Facts About Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Responsibilities and Rights of Employers and Employees –joint responsibility for health and safety –due diligence responsibility (employer) –right to refuse unsafe work (employee) –joint responsibility for health and safety –due diligence responsibility (employer) –right to refuse unsafe work (employee)

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-4 Basic Facts About Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Other Requirements –joint health and safety committees –enforcement: health and safety inspectors –control of toxic substances –joint health and safety committees –enforcement: health and safety inspectors –control of toxic substances

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-5 Basic Facts About Occupational Health and Safety Legislation WHMIS Legislation 1.Labeling of hazardous materials 2.Material safety data sheets 3.Employee training 1.Labeling of hazardous materials 2.Material safety data sheets 3.Employee training

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-6 Top-Management Commitment Supervisor’s Role in Safety –legislation imposes personal duty on supervisors to ensure safety –need to get workers to want to work safely –safety commitment begins with top management –legislation imposes personal duty on supervisors to ensure safety –need to get workers to want to work safely –safety commitment begins with top management

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-7 What Causes Accidents? Chance Occurrences (beyond control) Chance Occurrences (beyond control) Three Basic Causes of Accidents Unsafe Conditions Unsafe Conditions Unsafe Acts (by employees) Unsafe Acts (by employees)

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-8 What Causes Accidents? Unsafe Conditions –improperly guarded equipment –defective equipment –hazardous procedures –unsafe storage –improper illumination –improper ventilation –improperly guarded equipment –defective equipment –hazardous procedures –unsafe storage –improper illumination –improper ventilation

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 10-9 What Causes Accidents? Unsafe Acts –throwing materials –operating/working at unsafe speeds –rendering safety devices inoperative –using unsafe equipment/procedures –improper lifting –horseplay –throwing materials –operating/working at unsafe speeds –rendering safety devices inoperative –using unsafe equipment/procedures –improper lifting –horseplay

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario What Causes Accidents? Job (some inherently dangerous) Job (some inherently dangerous) Three Other Work-Related Accident Factors Work Schedule (fatigue) Work Schedule (fatigue) Psychological Climate (stress) Psychological Climate (stress)

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario How to Prevent Accidents (1 of 2) 1.Reduce Unsafe Conditions 2.Reduce Unsafe Acts –practice careful selection –establish safety policy –set specific loss control goals –obtain top management commitment 1.Reduce Unsafe Conditions 2.Reduce Unsafe Acts –practice careful selection –establish safety policy –set specific loss control goals –obtain top management commitment

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario How to Prevent Accidents (2 of 2) 2.Reduce Unsafe Acts (cont’d) –provide positive reinforcement –provide safety training –emphasize safety (visit plant regularly, enforce safety rules) –conduct regular health and safety inspections –monitor work-related stress 2.Reduce Unsafe Acts (cont’d) –provide positive reinforcement –provide safety training –emphasize safety (visit plant regularly, enforce safety rules) –conduct regular health and safety inspections –monitor work-related stress

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Workers Compensation Costs Controlling Workers Compensation Costs Before the accident –accident prevention measures After the accident –ensure medical attention –be supportive, keep in touch –facilitate return to work Before the accident –accident prevention measures After the accident –ensure medical attention –be supportive, keep in touch –facilitate return to work

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Employee Wellness Programs –proactive approach to employee health stress management nutrition/weight management smoking cessation programs heart health physical fitness ergonomics –proactive approach to employee health stress management nutrition/weight management smoking cessation programs heart health physical fitness ergonomics

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges –serious/widespread workplace problem –staggering costs ($1.7B annually) –‛on-the-job’ absenteeism –serious/widespread workplace problem –staggering costs ($1.7B annually) –‛on-the-job’ absenteeism Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges Substance Abuse and the Law (1 of 2) –alcohol/drug abuse considered disability (human rights law) vs. –employers’ due diligence requirement (occupational health and safety law) Substance Abuse and the Law (1 of 2) –alcohol/drug abuse considered disability (human rights law) vs. –employers’ due diligence requirement (occupational health and safety law)

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges Substance Abuse and the Law (2 of 2) employers can: forbid drugs/alcohol in workplace require random drug testing for ‘safety-sensitive’ jobs require mandatory drug testing after accident Substance Abuse and the Law (2 of 2) employers can: forbid drugs/alcohol in workplace require random drug testing for ‘safety-sensitive’ jobs require mandatory drug testing after accident

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges -almost half of Canadians experience a great deal of stress at work -relentless pace of work life is neither sustainable or healthy -modest level of stress can optimize performance -almost half of Canadians experience a great deal of stress at work -relentless pace of work life is neither sustainable or healthy -modest level of stress can optimize performance Job Stress

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges –total depletion of physical and mental resources –caused by excessive striving to meet unrealistic goals –total depletion of physical and mental resources –caused by excessive striving to meet unrealistic goals Burnout

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges –three causes: repetitive movements awkward postures forceful exertion –preventable through ergonomically-designed workstations –three causes: repetitive movements awkward postures forceful exertion –preventable through ergonomically-designed workstations Repetitive Strain Injuries

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges –cause eye strain/soreness, neck/backache –solutions: employee rest breaks flexibly-designed workstations reduced glare pre-placement eye exam –cause eye strain/soreness, neck/backache –solutions: employee rest breaks flexibly-designed workstations reduced glare pre-placement eye exam Video Display Terminals

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges –HIV/AIDS –workplace smoking –sick building syndrome –HIV/AIDS –workplace smoking –sick building syndrome Other Workplace Health Issues

© 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario Occupational Health Issues and Challenges Prevention/Control of Workplace Violence –institute workplace violence policy –heighten security measures –improve employee screening –provide workplace violence training Prevention/Control of Workplace Violence –institute workplace violence policy –heighten security measures –improve employee screening –provide workplace violence training Violence at Work