SAFETY AND HEALTH EMPLOYEES Chapter 8 SAFETY AND HEALTH EMPLOYEES Prepared by : Ly Sokcheu Updated : 1st September, 2012

After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Objectives After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Summarize the general provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Describe what management can do to create a safe work environment. Identify the measures that should be taken to control and eliminate health hazards. Describe the organizational services and programs for building better health. Explain the Approaches to Effective Safety Management

I. Definitions of Safety and Health Safety involved protecting employees from injuries caused by work-related accidents. Health refers to employees’ freedom from physical or emotional illness. Line managers are responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, HR professionals provide staff expertise to help them deal with these issues. HR manager is responsible for coordinating and monitoring safety and health programs.

Occupational Safety & Health Act Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Aims to ensure worker safety and health in U.S. by working with employers and employees to create better working environments . Act requires employers to provide employees a safe and healthy place to work and this responsibility extends to providing safe employees.

Current Mission of OSHA Reduce occupational hazards through direct intervention. Promote a safe and healthy culture through compliance assistance, cooperative programs and strong leadership. Maximize OSHA’s effectiveness and efficiency by strengthening its capabilities and infrastructure.

OSHA’s Changing Role Give employers choice between partnership and traditional enforcement, to inject common sense into regulation and enforcement and to eliminate red tape. The overall purpose is to reduce injuries, illnesses and fatalities. To help small business, OSHA is expanding its assistance, reducing penalties and putting more of its informational materials in electronic format.

Guide to Record ability of Cases Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act Source: U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, What Every Employer Needs to Know About OSHA Record Keeping (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office). Figure 15–5

II. Job Safety Programs Costs of Accidents Workers’ compensation premiums. Time lost due to injury. Time to investigate/report accidents. Damage to equipment/materials. Work stoppages/personnel changeover.

II. Job Safety Programs (Cont.) Causes of Accidents Accidents are generally classified as human or environment. Human causes responsible for majority of accidents. Environment causes include: Tools Equipment physical plant general work environment

II. Job Safety Programs (Cont.) Preventative Measures Education Skill training Engineering Protection devices Regulation enforcement

II. Job Safety Programs (Cont.) Ensuring Job Safety Management needs feedback from inspections, reports, and observations. Safety should be part of organizational culture. Top management must be committed to safety. Safety committees empower employees to maintain a safe environment.

II. Job Safety Programs (Cont.) A Safety Issue: Workplace Violence Homicide is the number-two cause of work-related death. Recommended HRM actions: Develop a plan, including review of policies and employee treatment. Train supervisory personnel to identify and deal with troubled employees. Implement stronger security mechanisms. Prepare employees to deal with violent situations.

III. Employer Responsibilities under OSHA Provide hazard-free workplace. Be familiar with mandatory OSHA standards. Inform all employees about OSHA. Examine workplace conditions for conformity to applicable standards. Minimize or reduce hazards. Provide safe tools and equipment. Warn employees of potential hazards. Establish operating procedures to protect employee safety & health, and communicate them. Provide medical examinations where required by OSHA standards. Provide training required by OSHA standards.

III. Employer Responsibilities under OSHA (Cont.) Report major accidents and all job-caused deaths to nearest OSHA office. Keep OSHA-required records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Post OSHA poster. Provide employee access to Log (OSHA Form 300) Provide employee access to employee medical/exposure records. Cooperate with OSHA compliance officer for inspections. Do not discriminate against employees who properly exercise their rights under the Act. Post OSHA citations at or near the worksite involved. Abate cited violations within the prescribed period.

III. Employer Responsibilities under OSHA (Cont.) Read the OSHA poster at the jobsite. Comply with all applicable OSHA standards. Follow all employer safety and health rules and regulations. Wear or use prescribed protective equipment at work. Report hazardous conditions to the supervisor. Report any job-related injury or illness to the employer, and seek treatment promptly. Cooperate with OSHA compliance officer on inspections. Exercise employee rights under the Act in a responsible manner.

IV. Creating a Safe Work Environment Safety Awareness Programs Safety Motivation and Knowledge Elements in Creating a Safe Work Environment Enforcement of Safety Rules Accident Investigations and Records

IV. Creating a Safe Work Environment (Cont.) Promoting Safety Awareness The Key Role of the Supervisor Communicating the need to work safely. Proactive Safety Training Program First aid, defensive driving, accident prevention techniques, hazardous materials, and emergency procedures. Information Technology and Safety Awareness and Training.

IV. Creating a Safe Work Environment (Cont.) Typical Safety Rules Using proper safety devices Using proper work procedures Following good housekeeping practices Complying with accident- and injury-reporting procedures Wearing required safety clothing and equipment Avoiding carelessness and horseplay

IV. Creating a Safe Work Environment (Cont.) Enforcing Safety Rules Actively encourage employee participation in the safety program by: Jointly setting safety standards with mgt. Participation in safety training Involvement in designing and implementing special safety training programs Involvement in establishing safety incentives and rewards Inclusion in accident investigations.

IV. Creating a Safe Work Environment (Cont.) Investigating and Recording Accidents Recordable Case Any occupational death, illness, or injury to be recorded in the log. Recordable accidents include: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, or medical treatment beyond first aid. Other problems include loss of consciousness or diagnosis of a significant injury or illness by a healthcare professional.

Other Safety Issues Employee and Workplace Safety Safety Policies and Discipline Safety Committees Employee and Workplace Safety Employee Motivation and Incentives Safety Training and Communications

Phases of Accident Investigation Figure 15–9

Approaches to Effective Safety Management Figure 15–8

V. Creating a Healthy Work Environment Indoor Air Quality Proliferating Chemicals Cumulative Trauma Disorders Health Hazards and Issues AIDS Video Display Terminals V. Creating a Healthy Work Environment Managing Human Resources, 14e, Bohlander and Snell

V. Creating a Healthy Work Environment (cont.) Recognizing and Controlling Health Hazards Related to Hazardous Materials and Processes Use substitutes for hazardous materials. Alter hazardous processes and engineering controls. Enclose or isolate hazardous processes. Issue clothing to protect against hazards. Improve ventilation.

V. Creating a Healthy Work Environment (cont.) Problems with Video Display Terminals (VDT) Visual difficulties, muscular aches and pains, and job stress. Solutions: Place the computer screen four to nine inches below eye level. Keep the monitor directly in front of you.

Problems with Video Display Terminals (VDT) (Cont.) Sit in an adjustable-height chair and use a copyholder that attaches to both the desk and the monitor. Use a screen with adjustable brightness and contrast controls. Use shades or blinds to reduce the computer-screen glare created by window lighting.

V. Creating a Healthy Work Environment (cont.) Cumulative Trauma Disorders (Repetitive Motion Injuries) Injuries involving tendons of the fingers, hands, and arms that become inflamed from repeated stresses and strains resulting from jobs requiring repetitive motion of the fingers, hands, or arms. Injuries lower employee productivity, increase employer health costs, and incur workers’ compensation payments.

Top Eight Security Concerns at Work: VI. Security Top Eight Security Concerns at Work: Workplace violence Internet/intranet security Business interruption/disaster recovery Fraud/white collar crime Employee selection/screening concerns General employee theft Unethical business conduct Computer hardware/software theft

Profile of a Potentially Violent Employee Robert L. Mathis and John H. Jackson, Human resource management, 10e. Figure 15–12

Workplace Violence Issues Training in Detection and Prevention Domestic Causes Management Responses Workplace Violence Issues Training in Detection and Prevention

Security Management Security Audit Controlled Access Computer Security Workplace Security