Ch. 16: Safety, Health, and Risk Management

*Repetitive motion disorders

Include disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, and result from too many uninterrupted repetitions of an activity or motion, or from unnatural motions such as twisting the arm or wrist. It affects people who perform repetitive tasks such as assembly line or computer work. Employers can reduce the problem, for instance, with programs to help workers adjust their pace of work.

Reducing Unsafe Acts

Fostering a Culture of Safety - Employers and supervisors should create a safety-conscious culture by showing that they take safety seriously Creating a Supportive Environment - Organizations can develop a supportive environment by training supervisors to be better leaders, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and social support, and establishing the value of safety Establishing a Safety Policy - Have a written policy Setting Specific Loss Control Goals Through Behavior-Based and Safety Awareness Programs - Behavior-based safety means identifying the worker behaviors that contribute to accidents and then training workers to avoid these behaviors Through Employee Participation

Preventing and Dealing with Violence at Work

Heighten Security Measures Improve Employee Screening Use Workplace Violence Training Violence Toward Women at Work

*Behavior-Based Safety

Identifying the worker behaviors that contribute to accidents and then training workers to avoid these behaviors

Gender-Motivated Violence Act

Imposes liabilities on employers whose women employees become violence victims

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

The law passed by Congress in 1970 "to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources." Created OSHA

Unsafe Conditions

The mechanical and physical conditions that cause accidents

*Burnout

The total depletion of physical and mental resources caused by excessive striving to reach an unrealistic work-related goal

*Mechanical security

The utilization of security systems such as locks, intrusion alarms, access control systems, and surveillance systems to reduce the need for continuous human surveillance

Penalties for Violations

These generally range from $5,000 up to $150,000 for willful or repeat serious violations but can be far higher

Business Continuity and Emergency Plans

To help the organization prepare for potential disasters, the human resource department should develop a plan and identify key responsibilities, make sure all employees are aware of the plan, and train employees regularly

*Management Role in Safety

Top management must be engaged Supervisor's role in Accident Prevention

*Organizational security

Using good management to improve security

Job Hazard Analysis

A systematic approach to identifying and eliminating workplace hazards before they occur

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

About two-thirds of people with an alcohol disorder work full-time. Some estimate that almost 13 million workers use drugs illicitly. About 15% of the U.S. workforce "has either been hung over at work, been drinking shortly before showing up for work, or been drinking or impaired while on the job at least once during the previous year. Ideally, a drug-free workplace program includes five components: 1. A drug-free workplace policy 2. Supervisor training 3. Employee education 4. Employee assistance 5. Drug testing Pre-employment drug testing discourages those on drugs from applying for jobs or coming to work for employers who do testing. Pre-employment tests pick up only about half the workplace drug users, so ongoing random testing is advisable Disciplining, discharge, in-house counseling, and referral to an outside agency are the four traditional prescriptions when a current employee tests positive

Dealing with Employee Resistance

Although employees are responsible to comply with OSHA standards, they often resist; the employer usually remains liable for any penalties.

Occupational Illness

Any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment

*Asbestos Exposure at Work and Air Quality

Asbestos is a major source of occupational respiratory disease. OSHA standards require several actions with respect to asbestos.

*Natural security

Capitalizing on the facility's natural or architectural features to minimize security problems

What Causes Accidents?

Chance Occurrences - more or less beyond management's control Unsafe Conditions - The mechanical and physical conditions that cause accidents Unsafe acts - Work schedules and fatigue also affect accident rates

*Hazard Communication

Chemical manufacturers and importers must label and provide hazard safety data sheets to their customers. All employers must have labels and safety data sheets available for their exposed workers, and train workers to handle the chemicals appropriately

Rights and Responsibilities of Employers and Employees

Employers are responsible for providing "a workplace free from recognized hazards," for being familiar with mandatory OSHA standards, and for examining workplace conditions to make sure they conform to OSHA standards. Employers have the right to seek advice and off-site consultation from OSHA, request and receive proper identification of the OSHA compliance officer before inspection, and to be advised by the compliance officer of the reason for an inspection. Employees are responsible, for example, for complying with all applicable OSHA standards, for following all employer safety and health rules and regulations, and for reporting hazardous conditions to the supervisor. They have the right to demand safety and health on the job without fear of punishment. Retaliating against employees for reporting injuries or safety problems is illegal.

OSHA Standards and Record Keeping

Employers must report all occupational illnesses. They must also report most occupational injuries, specifically those that result in medical treatment (other than first aid), loss of consciousness, restriction of work (one or more lost workdays), restriction of motion, or transfer to another job. If an on-the-job accident results in the death of an employee, all employers, regardless of size, must report the accident to the nearest OSHA office

How to Prevent Accidents: Reducing unsafe conditions

Job hazard analysis - Involves a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating such hazards before they cause accidents Operational safety reviews - A review complying with all the applicable safety laws, regulations, orders, and rules Personal protective equipment

Chemicals and Industrial Hygiene

OSHA standards list exposure limits for about 600 chemicals. Hazardous substances like these require air sampling and other preventive and precautionary measures. Managing such hazards comes under the area of industrial hygiene and involves recognition, evaluation, and control.

Safety Awareness Program

Program that enables trained supervisors to orient new workers arriving at a job site regarding common safety hazards and simple prevention methods

Operational Safety Reviews

Reviews conducted by agencies to ascertain whether units under their jurisdiction are complying with all the applicable safety laws, regulations, orders, and rules

How to Prevent Accidents: Reducing unsafe acts

Screening - Here the employer's aim is to identify the traits that might predict accidents on the job in question, and then screen candidates for this trait Training Through Posters, Incentives and Positive Reinforcement

Company Security and Employee Privacy

Security programs often entail monitoring employee communications and workplace activities. Ideally, employers should get employees' consent for monitoring. However, the employer may also monitor if it's clear from existing policies and notices that employees should have known monitoring might take place.

Citation

Summons informing employers and employees of the regulations and standards that have been violated in the workplace

*Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The agency created within the DOL to set safety and health standards for almost all workers in the US

The five most frequent OSHA inspection violation:

scaffolding, fall protection, hazard communication, lockout/tagout (electrical disengagement), and respiratory problems

Terrorism

● Screen the identities of everyone entering the premises. ● Check mail carefully. ● Identify ahead of time a lean interim "crisis organization" that can run the company after a terrorist threat. ● Identify in advance under what conditions you will close the company down, as well as the shutdown process. ● Institute a process to put a crisis management team together. ● Prepare evacuation plans and make sure exits are well marked and unblocked. ● Designate an employee who will communicate with families and off-site employees. ● Identify an upwind, off-site location near your facility as a staging area for all evacuated personnel. ● Designate in advance several employees who will do headcounts at the staging area. ● Establish an emergency text-messaging procedure to notify affected individuals that an emergency may exist.