Protecting Safety and Health Prepared by Team B

Importance of Employee Safety and Health The accident rate is falling, but workplace accidents in the U.S. still cause over 3.8 million occupational injuries and illnesses per year Dangerous workplaces are not limited to manufacturing plants! Most slips and falls in the workplace can be eliminated by requiring slip-resistant shoes

OSHA Created in 1970 after the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed. Assuring safe and healthful working conditions

OSHA’s Purpose Administer the act and to set and enforce the safety and health standards that apply to almost all workers in the United States.

OSHA Standards ‘General Duty Clause’ - Each employer “shall furnish to each of his [or her] employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his [or her] employees. Osha operates under the General Duty Clause

OSHA’s Records Under regulation, employers with 11 or more employees must maintain records and report any occupational injuries and illnesses. If an on-the-job accident leads to death or hospitalization of five or more employees ALL employees must report the accident to OSHA. If an accident at work isn’t work related it does not have to be recorded.

OSHA Inspections Uses “worst-first” approach 39,000 inspections yearly Citations inform the employer and employees of the regulations and standards violated and the time set for correcting the problem. Osha enforces these standards through inspections and citations. Priorities include, from highest to lowest, imminent dangers, catastrophes and fatal accidents, employee complaints, high-hazard industries inspections.

OSHA Penalties Penalties usually range from $5,000-$70,000 A Safety Inspection Checklist is advised to help to managers reduce problems ahead of time Penalties can be higher than $70,000 for willful and repeated serious violations

What Causes Accidents? Three main reasons: chance occurrences (ex:being hit by a car) unsafe working conditions unsafe acts by employees

Unsafe conditions Improperly guarded equipment Defective equipment Unsafe storage, such as overloading Improper illumination (insufficient light) Improper ventilation(insufficient air change)

People cause accidents No way to eliminate unsafe acts such as: Throwing materials Operating or working at unsafe speeds lifting improperly

How to Prevent Accidents Management can provide personal protective equipment to reduce unsafe conditions. 90% of eye injury could be avoided just by using safety eyewear in the work place. It is difficult to get employees to wear protective equipment most of the time because is to heavy or do not fit properly.

Protecting vulnerable workers Ex: Young, old, immigrants, women, disabled, etc. Fatality rate for older workers is about three times that of younger workers. Most of the machinery and PPE are designed for men, although half of the workers are women. It is important to make sure the equipment and machines women and vulnerable workers use are appropriate for them.

Accidents caused by unseen hazards Two primary unseen hazards: Chemicals Alcohol and substance abuse

Chemical hazards OSHA exposure limits for about 600 chemicals Recognize, evaluate, and control Personal protective gear is last resort Asbestos might require respirator

Alcoholism as a Hazard Very prevalent in workplace(⅔ of alcoholics in workplace) Alcoholism in hard to detect Self reporting screening(CAGE and MAST) Symptoms include tardiness and prolonged absences

Drug Abuse in the Workplace Drug-free program includes five components Dealing with substance abuse can include drug testing Drug testing proven to be ineffective

Pop Quiz About what percent of the workforce “has either been hungover at work, been drinking shortly before showing up at work, or been drinking or impaired while on the job at least once during the previous year? 15%

Job Stress 25% of employees- Job is #1 stressor in life Only 5% address this stress Triggers-work schedule, pace of work, job security, route to and from work, workplace noise, and number and nature of customers Burnout-Total depletion of physical and mental resources caused by excessive striving for an unrealistic work-related goal

How to Decrease Stress- Personal Build Positive Relationships Participate in something not stressful, sports? Take care of self- eat right, exercise, sleep

Employers can eliminate stress? Three-tiered approach Primary Prevention- Focuses on ensuring that things like job designs and workflows are correct Intervention- Individual employee assessment, attitude surveys to find sources of stress at work, and supervisory intervention Rehabilitation- Employee assistance programs and counseling

Workplace smoking Reduced productivity- 10 min cigarette break Increase absenteeism Higher health and fire insurance Del, Cal, Conn, and NY have banned most workplace smoking A no-smokers-hired policy doesn’t violate the Americans with Disabilities Act

Violence- How to Combat it? Adopt a zero tolerance policy Heighten Security Pre-Employment Screening Workplace Violence Training

SeaWorld Was under investigation after death of trainer OSHA issued 3 citations; 1 “willful”, 1 “serious” and an other-than-serious citation Willful violation- employer showed plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health Serious violation- issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_met1UtbVY

OSHA vs. SeaWorld To defend citations OSHA has to prove: 1.) SeaWorld’s killer whale practices put trainers at risk, and 2.) SeaWorld was aware of dangers but disregarded them April 11, 2014- U.S. Court of Appeals upheld OSHA’s fines and citations for SeaWorld