1. SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK CHAPTER 7

2. Safety- protecting employees from injuries caused by work- related accidents Safety- protecting employees from injuries caused by work- related accidents Health- employees’ freedom from physical or emotional illness. Health- employees’ freedom from physical or emotional illness.

3. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994 created the Safety and Health Administration Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994 created the Safety and Health Administration Aims to ensure safe working conditions for every worker by Aims to ensure safe working conditions for every worker by - Setting and enforcing work - Promoting employer- sponsored educational programs - Requiring employers to keep records regarding job related safety and health matters

4. ACCIDENTS AT WORK What are the consequences of accidents at work? What are the consequences of accidents at work? Financial lost Financial lost Losses of output Losses of output Lowered morale Lowered morale Negative publicity Negative publicity

5. TYPES OF ACCIDENTS Near miss, whereby no one was injured or hurt, although damage to propert may have occurred Near miss, whereby no one was injured or hurt, although damage to propert may have occurred Non-fatal, one or more employees required first-aid treatment Non-fatal, one or more employees required first-aid treatment Non-fatal, whereby one or more employees were temporarily disabled Non-fatal, whereby one or more employees were temporarily disabled Non-fatal, whereby one or more employees were permanently disable Non-fatal, whereby one or more employees were permanently disable Fatal, whereby one or more workers were killed Fatal, whereby one or more workers were killed

6. CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS Technical causes Technical causes Human causes Human causes Environmental causes Environmental causes

7. DuBrin (1987) says accidents may occur where there is: Production machinery Production machinery Walkways and areas where people climb Walkways and areas where people climb Use of hand tools Use of hand tools Use of electricity Use of electricity Use of toxic or boiling liquids Use of toxic or boiling liquids Personal protective equipment (PPE) including helmets, goggles, gloves and safety shoes help keep workers safe. Personal protective equipment (PPE) including helmets, goggles, gloves and safety shoes help keep workers safe.

8. Fleishman (1967) summarizes the human causesof accidentsas follows: Faulty attitudes Faulty attitudes Low attention span Low attention span Drinking and drug abuse Drinking and drug abuse Faulty judgement of speed and distance Faulty judgement of speed and distance Impulsiveness Impulsiveness Irresponsibility Irresponsibility Nervousness and fear Nervousness and fear Worry and depression Worry and depression

9. Individual characteristics that correlate with accident rates: Age and seniority Age and seniority Quality of supervision Quality of supervision Poor vision and perceptual skills Poor vision and perceptual skills Stress and emotional issues Stress and emotional issues Working on the night shift whereby lack of sleep leads to fatigue Working on the night shift whereby lack of sleep leads to fatigue

10. OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES Use of organic chemicals and toxic substances Use of organic chemicals and toxic substances Fumes, dust and smoke Fumes, dust and smoke Radiation Radiation Infection Infection Noise and vibration levels Noise and vibration levels Extreme temperature Extreme temperature

11. ENSURING A SAFE WORKPLACE Safety Policies include: Safety Policies include: A statement of the organization’s commitment to providing a safe and healthy workplace A statement of the organization’s commitment to providing a safe and healthy workplace An explanation of who is responsible for safety in the organization An explanation of who is responsible for safety in the organization A description of any procedures or structures which exist to implement safe work practices A description of any procedures or structures which exist to implement safe work practices

12. ENSURING A SAFE WORKPLACE Safety programs must provide for: Safety programs must provide for: Total commitment from all levels of workers Total commitment from all levels of workers Appointment of specific individuals to take charge of safety and health issues Appointment of specific individuals to take charge of safety and health issues A system of keeping and analysing records A system of keeping and analysing records Extensive training Extensive training Campaigns to raise worker awareness Campaigns to raise worker awareness Incentive and rewards schemes Incentive and rewards schemes Provision of personal protective equiment Provision of personal protective equiment Disciplinary systems Disciplinary systems

13. Summary of actions required by Employers in order to comply with OSHA Ensure the safety of all employees and any other person at the workplace as far as is practicable Ensure the safety of all employees and any other person at the workplace as far as is practicable Draft and disseminate a safety policy if the organization have more than 5 employees Draft and disseminate a safety policy if the organization have more than 5 employees Appoint a safety committee, if the organization has 40 or more employees Appoint a safety committee, if the organization has 40 or more employees Appoint a dedicated, qualified safety and health officer, if the organization falls within the scope of the relevant regulation Appoint a dedicated, qualified safety and health officer, if the organization falls within the scope of the relevant regulation Provide appropriate training, supervision and information to employees concerning safe work practices Provide appropriate training, supervision and information to employees concerning safe work practices Report serious accidents to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Report serious accidents to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health

14. SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK Definition Definition Any unwanted conduct sexual nature having the effect of verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment: Any unwanted conduct sexual nature having the effect of verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment: That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as placing a condition of a sexual nature on his/her employment; or That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as placing a condition of a sexual nature on his/her employment; or That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as an offence or humiliation, or a threat to her/his well being, but has no link to her/his employment That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as an offence or humiliation, or a threat to her/his well being, but has no link to her/his employment

15. HANDLING A CLAIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT The major problem faced by anyone investigating a claim of sexual harassment is the lack of evidence. The major problem faced by anyone investigating a claim of sexual harassment is the lack of evidence. Most claims are one person’s word against another, without any external corroboration Most claims are one person’s word against another, without any external corroboration

16. HANDLING A CLAIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT Workers should be advised that in order to strengthen their case against an alleged harasser, they should: Workers should be advised that in order to strengthen their case against an alleged harasser, they should: Inform a senior officer immediately when the sexual harassment occurs Inform a senior officer immediately when the sexual harassment occurs Keep any documents, objects or other proff of the harassment Keep any documents, objects or other proff of the harassment Make a police report against the harasser Make a police report against the harasser Keep a record of what was said and done by the harasser Keep a record of what was said and done by the harasser

17. VIOLENCE AT WORK Violence includes not only physical harm or attempted physical harm by also harassment and bullying Violence includes not only physical harm or attempted physical harm by also harassment and bullying

18. Thomas Capozzoli and Steve McVey (1996) categorize violence in any given situation as follows: Violence which originates in the workplace and occurs in the workplace Violence which originates in the workplace and occurs in the workplace Violence which originates in the workplace but occurs outside the workplace Violence which originates in the workplace but occurs outside the workplace Violence which originates outside the workplace and occurs in the workplace Violence which originates outside the workplace and occurs in the workplace

19. The best way to reduce risk of violence is by: Conducting a risk assessment to identify where and when incidents of violence may occur Conducting a risk assessment to identify where and when incidents of violence may occur Establishing strict rules prohibiting violence at workplace Establishing strict rules prohibiting violence at workplace Designing and disseminating a procedure to deal wit incidents of violence in the workplace Designing and disseminating a procedure to deal wit incidents of violence in the workplace Providing training for all employees so that they will know what to do in such an event Providing training for all employees so that they will know what to do in such an event

20. IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF EMPLOYEES Programs which improve employees’ health reduce employers’ costs. Programs which improve employees’ health reduce employers’ costs. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may offer counseling services for both personal problems as well as financial problems, stress and time management sessions and medical advice both physical and psychiatric An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may offer counseling services for both personal problems as well as financial problems, stress and time management sessions and medical advice both physical and psychiatric

21. IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF EMPLOYEES ¥ Wellness Programs ¥ Stress Management ¥ Reducing Drug and Alcohol Related Problems