Chapter 13: Safety and Health at Work
must be provided to employees, local fire departments, state and local officials this; list not only chemical components but health risks of the substance, how to handle the material safely, and how to administer first aid in the case of an accident; states that inventories of all on-site chemicals must be reported to local and state governments
material data safety sheets
OSHA is responsible for enforcing standards, and besides reporting , OSHA also performs what?
inspections
applies to this OSHA safety law saying Some examples of these OSHA requirements include the following: Potable water should be provided in all places of employment. Vermin control is required in all enclosed workplaces. Toilet facilities must be provided, separate for each sex. The number of toilets provided depends on the number of employees.
sanitation
these events are classified as fatalities or catastrophes and must be reported within an 8 hr time frame
sites where 3 or more employees were harmed
applies to this OSHA safety law saying Fire extinguishers are required to be on-site for use by employees, unless there is a written fire policy that requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees.
standards for fire equipment
applies to this OSHA safety law saying Moving machine parts require safeguards (depending upon the industry) to prevent crushed fingers, hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Safeguards might include a guard attached to the machine.
standards for machine guards and other power tools
this was coined in 1936 by Hans Selye as "the nonspecific response of the body to any demand for change"; also known as the reaction we have to a stressor
stress
this is some activity, event, or other stimulus that causes either a positive or negative reaction to the body; despite what people may think, some stress is actually good
stressor
It is estimated that _________ new chemicals are developed in North America alone every year. For many of these chemicals, little is known about their immediate or long-term effects on the health of workers who come into contact with them. As a result, policies should be developed on how chemicals should be _________________ and ____________________should be given as to the harmful effects of any chemicals found in a job site
1,200 handled proper warnings
Name 10 Most Frequently Violated and Cited OSHA Standards:
1. 1926.451—Scaffolding 2. 1926.501—Fall Protection 3. 1910.1200—Hazard Communication 4. 1910.134—Respiratory Protection 5. 1926.1053—Ladders 6. 1910.147—Lockout/Tagout 7. 1910.305—Electrical, Wiring Methods 8. 1910.178—Powered Industrial Trucks 9. 1910.303—Electrical, General Requirements 10. 1910.212—Machine Guarding
While keeping employee information private is the responsibility of all management in an organization, ensuring privacy remains the job of the HR professional. Name 5 things to combat employee identity theft include the following:
1. Conduct background and criminal checks on employees who will have access to sensitive data. 2. Restrict access to areas where data is stored, including computers. 3. Provide training to staff who will have access to private employee information. 4. Keep information in locked files or in password-protected files. 5. Use numbers other than social security numbers to identify employees.
Health and Safety standards are specifically mentioned for what 3 types of businesses:
1. Construction 2. Shipyard 3. Marine terminals
Name 6 tips from OSHA for a safer workplace:
1. Establish a workplace violence prevention policy, with a zero tolerance policy. 2. Provide safety education. 3. Secure the workplace with cameras, extra lighting, and alarm systems. 4. Provide a drop safe to limit the amount of cash on hand. 5. Provide cell phones to workers. 6. Require employees to travel in groups using a "buddy system."
Implementing policies surrounding MCS may be not only a legal requirement but a best practice to keep employees safe and healthy in the workplace. Name 6:
1. Institute a fragrance-free workplace policy (e.g., no scented lotions, hair products, or perfumes). 2. Limit use of restroom air fresheners, cleaning agents, and candles. 3. Ensure the ventilation system is in good working order. 4. Provide a workspace with windows where possible. 5. Consider providing an alternate workspace. 6. Be cautious of remodels, renovations, and other projects that may cause excessive dust and odors.
Name 7 techniques you can implement to have a safe and healthy work environment:
1. Know OSHA and other safety laws. 2. Provide training to employees on OSHA and safety laws. 3. Have a written policy for how violations will be handled. 4. Commit the resources (time and money) necessary to ensure a healthy work environment. 5. Involve employees in safety and health discussions, as they may have good ideas as to how the organization can improve. 6. Make safety part of an employee's job description; in other words, hold employees accountable for always practicing safety at work. 7. Understand how the health (or lack of health) of your employees contributes to or takes away from the bottom line and implement policies and programs to assist in this effort.
Name 11 types of safety laws overseen by OSHA:
1. Regulations on walking/working surfaces 2. means of egress (exiting), which includes emergency evacuation plans 3. occupational noise exposure 4. hazardous handling of materials 5. protective equipment (eye, face, and respiratory) 6. sanitation 7. requirement of first aid supplies on-site 8. standards for fire equipment 9. standards for machine guards and other power tools 10. electrical requirements and standards 11. commercial diving operation requirements
Name 7 Examples of workplace bullying:
1. Unwarranted or invalid criticism 2. Blame without factual information 3. Being treated differently than the rest of your work group 4. Humiliation 5. Unrealistic work deadlines 6. Spreading rumors 7. Undermining or deliberately impeding a person's work
Name the 5 main priorities for OSHA inspecting sites:
1. imminent danger situations 2. sites where 3 or more employees were harmed, suffered illness, or were killed 3. responding to complaints 4. organizations with previous violations 5. planned programs
The record-keeping aspect of OSHA is perhaps as important as following the laws. Companies having fewer than ___________ employees in some industries are not required to keep records. The purpose of the record keeping does not imply that the employee or the company is at fault for a illness or injury.
10
According to OSHA, slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents and ___________ % of all accidental deaths.
15
According to OSHA, _____million American workers are victims of workplace violence every year. OSHA addresses some of the workers who are at increased risk for workplace violence. Name 5:
2 1. Workers who exchange money with the public 2. Workers who deliver goods, passengers, or services 3. People who work alone or in small groups 4. Workers who work late at night or early in the morning 5. Workers who work in high-crime areas
In the United States,__________ of the 50 states have smoking bans in enclosed public spaces. These smoking bans are designed to protect workers' health from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
26
The Workplace Bullying Institute found that _______% of workers have reported being bullied at work. This number is worth considering, given that workplace bullying reduces ___________________ with missed work days and ________________. The Workplace Bullying Institute found that litigation and settlement of bullying lawsuits can cost organizations $100,000 to millions of dollars, in addition to the bad publicity that may be created
35% productivity turnover
In 2009 ____________ fatalities and __________ million injuries were reported. This is why health and safety is a key component of any HRM strategic plan.
4,340; 3.3
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that state or local smoke-free laws cover ________ percent of workplaces.
47.8%
The inspector then walks around, pointing out any obvious violations, and then the inspector and representative discuss the findings. Within ______________months a complete report is sent, along with any citations or fines based on what the inspector found. If the organization is in disagreement with the violation or citation, a follow-up meeting with the OSHA director is scheduled and some fines may be reduced if the organization can show how it has improved and met the standards since the original visit.
6
In 1984, only 25 percent of people used computers at work, and today that number is _____________% . Awareness of the effects of computer monitors and other similar terminals are necessary to ensure a healthy workplace.
68%
According to an American Management ________% of employers monitor e-mail messages and __________% monitor web surfing. If your organization finds it necessary to implement monitoring policies, ensuring the following 3 things is important to employee buy-in of the monitoring:
73% 66% 1. Develop a policy for monitoring. 2. Communicate what will be monitored. 3. Provide business reasons for why e-mail and Internet must be monitored.
The American Psychological Association found that money (______ percent), work (______ percent), and the economy (______percent) remain the most oft-cited sources of stress for Americans.
76% 70% 65%
OSHA is responsible for _______ million worksites across the country and so, of course, has to prioritize which ones it visits. OSHA has __________ main priorities for inspecting sites.
7; 5
The US Justice Department show that some _________________ adults have been targets of online harassment; therefore, many states have passed laws against digital harassment as far back as 2007. Name the 4 states that have done so:
850,000 New York, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Maryland
simply known as right-to-know laws; established by Congress in 1986; purpose was to require local and state governments to provide emergency response plans to respond to chemical emergency; must be reviewed on an annual basis
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)
was passed in 1970 and created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which oversees health and safety in the workplace; mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
_____________________ is on the rise as a source of stress: nearly half (49 percent) of adults reported that job instability was a source of stress in 2010 (compared to 44 percent in 2009). At the same time, fewer Americans are satisfied with the ways their employers help them balance work and non-work demands (36 percent in 2010 compared to 42 percent in 2009).
Job instability
Knowing what should be reported and what shouldn't be reported is an important component to OSHA. Data are reported using a form called _________________________.
OSHA 300
True/False - A culture that promotes safety is one that never puts cost or production numbers ahead of safety. You do not want to create a culture in which health and safety priorities compete with production speedup, which can lead to a dangerous situation.
True
True/False - According to one study of CTS, the percentage of a workday at a computer, posture while at the workstation, and the individual's body features all contribute to this workplace issue. More recently, CTD can be found in people who text a lot or use their smartphones to type or surf the Internet.
True
True/False - Although OSHA standards may appear to apply only to companies in production, manufacturing, or construction, even companies with primarily an office function are required to abide by the laws set by OSHA.
True
True/False - An HR professional can then use this data and compare it to other companies in the same industry to see how its business is meeting safety standards compared with other businesses. This calculation provides comparable information, no matter the size of the company. If the incidence rate is higher than the average, the HR professional might consider developing training surrounding safety in the workplace.
True
True/False - CTD disorders cost companies money through higher health-care costs and workersworker's compensation#8217; compensation payments. CTD is a required recordable case under OSHA. OSHA has voluntary employer guidelines for reducing CTD in specific industries such as poultry processing, shipyards, retail grocery, and nursing homes. OSHA is currently developing standards for industry-specific and task-specific jobs.
True
True/False - Elizabeth Carll's research on cyberbullying shows that people who experience this type of harassment are more likely to experience heightened anxiety, fear, shock, and helplessness, which can result in lost productivity at work and retention issues a major concern for the HR professional
True
True/False - Employee health and safety is a must in today's high-stress work environments. Although some may see employee health as something that shouldn't concern HR, the increasing cost of health benefits makes it in the best interest of the company to hire and maintain healthy employees.
True
True/False - HR professionals and managers should have a good understanding of these laws and make sure, no matter which industry, that all these standards are followed in the workplace. These standards are normally part of the overall strategic HRM plan of any organization and are even more crucial to organizations involved in manufacturing.
True
True/False - If an employee is unable to handle the situation on his or her own, the manager should then take suggestions from employees seriously; making the change and then communicating the change to the employee can be an important component of a safe and healthy workplace.
True
True/False - If an organization is going to implement a fragrance-free work policy, this is normally addressed under the dress code area of the organization's employee manual. However, many employers are reluctant to require employees to refrain from wearing or using scented products. In this case, rather than creating a policy, it might be worthwhile to simply request a fragrance-free zone from employees through e-mail and other means of communication.
True
True/False - It is also important to note that some state standards are different from federal standards, which means the HR professional will need to be aware of the laws in the individual state in which the company is operating.
True
True/False - Most workplaces have no-smoking policies, and some even prefer not to hire smokers because of the higher cost of health care. Some even implement no-smoking policies simply to set a good example. Policies dealing with substances and chemicals are an important part of any employee training and orientation.
True
True/False - OSHA has certain standards for how chemicals should be handled and how they should be labeled. Chemicals should be labeled in English, and employees must be able to cross-reference the chemicals to the materials safety data sheet, which describes how the chemicals should be handled.
True
True/False - OSHA has several penalties (per violation) it can assess on organizations, ranging from $7,000 to $70,000. The higher penalties often are a result of very serious offenses, in which an employee could have been killed, but also are imposed for willful offenses that the employer was aware could cause serious injury or death and did nothing about them. This is considered blatant indifference to the law.
True
True/False - One last important thing to note is how a person goes through the cycle of stress; stress is good up to a point, but beyond that point, the person is fatigued and negatively affected by the stress. Bear in mind, this varies from person to person based on personality type and stress-coping mechanisms
True
True/False - Ongoing training and development in these areas are key to the creation of a safe workplace. While outside influences may affect employee safety, it is also important to be aware of the employee's safety from other employees.
True
True/False - Prevention of workplace bullying means creating a culture in which employees are comfortable speaking with HR professionals and managers (assuming they are not the ones bullying) about these types of situations.
True
True/False - Since the 9/11 attacks, terrorism and its effect on the workplace are in the forefront of the HR professional's mind. Planning for evacuations is the job of everyone in an organization, but HR should initiate this discussion. OSHA provides free assistance in implementing plans and procedures in case of a terror attack. OSHA also provides a fill-in-the-blank system to help organizations write a comprehensive report for evacuations and terrorist attacks.
True
True/False - Stress is very much a personal thing, and depending on individual personalities, people may have different opinions about what is a stressor and what is not.
True
True/False - The EPCRA law and how it will be reported should be facilitated by the HR professional. Although the HRM may not know the chemical makeup of the materials used, he or she is responsible for facilitating the process to ensure that reporting is done timely and accurately. For organizations that use EHSs often, it is worthwhile to include the reporting process within the orientation training and provide ongoing training as the law changes.
True
True/False - The inspector for OSHA usually performs research on the organization prior to inspection. Most site visits are unannounced. A representative of the organization is assigned to accompany the inspector and they discuss reasons for the site visit. Usually HR professionals task
True
True/False - While it seems that cyberbullying is for young people, as mentioned earlier, 35 percent of American workers feel they have been bullied. Bullying should be identified immediately and handled, as it affects workplace productivity, customer satisfaction, and eventually, profits.
True
True/False - Working with your IT department to implement standards and protect employee data kept on computers is a must in today's connected world. Communication of a privacy policy is an important step as well.
True
True/False - according to HR Magazine, many employers are taking the time to identify the chief workplace stressors in employees' lives. With this information, steps can be taken to reduce or eliminate such stress.
True
OSHA is part of the ______________________________, with the main administrator being the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health; this person reports to the labor secretary who is a member of the president's cabinet
US Department of Labor
this is short-term stress; occurs in shorter bursts and may be experienced while someone is on a tight dead line for a project
acute stress
A safe culture doesn't happen by requiring training sessions every year; it occurs how? Instead of safety being a management focus only, every employee should take interest by being alert to the safety issues that can exist.
by creating an environment in which people can recognize hazards and have the authority and ability to fix them
is a common cumulative disorder in which the hand and wrist is particularly affected; is a disabling syndrome that fortunately can be prevented or at least minimized.
carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS
this has decided that employees do not have privacy rights if they are using the organization's equipment; as a result, more than half of all companies engage in some kind of monitoring
case law
this is prolonged exposure to stress; may be someone who receives little to no positive result from stress and is continuously stressed may experience this
chronic stress
Distress can be classified into 2 categories. Name them:
chronic stress acute stress
applies to this OSHA safety law saying OSHA provides information on the safety aspects of commercial diving such as pre- and post dive procedures, mixed-gas diving, and necessary qualifications of the dive team.
commercial diving operation requirements
these are injuries to the fingers, hands, arms, or shoulders that result from repetitive motions such as typing
cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs)
this is similar to traditional bullying but is defined as use of the internet or technology used to send text that is intended to hurt or embarrass another person; facebook posts with negative comments, fake e-mail accounts, comments on blogs or post to show victim in a bad light; it is about power and control in workplace relationships
cyberbullying
this is defined by the EEOC as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of individuals and the ability to provide evidence of such an impairment
disability
this is a term for negative stress; does not produce positive feelings and can go on for a long time without relief
distress
applies to this OSHA safety law saying OSHA electrical standards are designed to protect employees from electric shock, fires, and explosions. Electrical protective devices are required to cover wiring. OSHA also addresses the installation of electrical wiring.
electrical requirements and standards
this benefit is intended to help employees with personal problems that could affect their performance at work; an option to ensure health and safety; usually includes covered counseling and referral services; can assist employees with drug or alcohol addictions, emotional issues such as depression, stress management, or other personal issues
employee assistance programs (EAP)
this is positive stress; healthy and gives a feeling of fulfillment and other positive feelings; can cause us to push ourselves harder to meet an end goal
eustress
these are substances of hazardous materials; companies who manufacture, process, or store certain hazardous chemicals must make available to local fire departments and state and local officials must develop response plans to these large quantities
extremely hazardous substances (EHSs)
What is one way to reduce employee stress? It allows employees to arrange their work and family schedule to on that reduces stress for them. Name other ways to reduce stress:
flextime; concierge services on-site child care wellness initiatives massage therapy
applies to this OSHA safety law saying OSHA regulates exposure to four hundred substances and requires communication about the possible chemical hazards to employees
hazardous handling of materials
this is a type of stress in which there are extremes with little or no relief for a long period of time; often result in burnout
hyperstress
this is the lack of eustress or distress in someone's life; boredom and restlessness results from this; we see this type of stress with people who may work in a factory or other type of repetitive job.
hypostress
these are considered serious dangers that could cause death or serious harm
imminent danger situations
What is the formula for incidence rate? Remember, 200,000 is the standard figure used, as it represents 100 full-time employees who work 40 hours per week for 50weeks per year.
incidence rate = number of injuries and illness × 200,000 total hours worked by all employees in the period
applies to this OSHA safety law saying "Every building or structure shall be arranged and maintained as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all part of the buildings. No lock or fastening to prevent free escape from inside the building should be installed (except in penal or corrective institutions)." The provision also says that exits shall be marked by a visible sign.
means of egress (exiting) which includes emergency evacuation plans
this is the inability to tolerate an environmental chemical or class of foreign chemicals; people with this are eligible for reasonable accommodations in the workplace; symptoms can include headache, dizziness, inability to breathe, muscle pain, and many more depending on the person
multiple chemical sensitivity or environmental illness
applies to this OSHA safety law saying "Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels reach a specified level. Controls should be used to control the sound, and protective equipment should be provided."
occupational noise exposure
this might be an organization that has had safety problems in the past and is working with OSHA to remedy the problem
planned program
Stress on the job can create:
productivity issues headaches stomach issues less creative work raise health care costs cause employee turnover
applies to this OSHA safety law saying OSHA requires the use of personal protective equipment to reduce employee exposure to hazards. For example, head protection is required when workers are in an area where there is potential for falling, and eye and face protection is required when workers are exposed to eye or face hazards such as flying particles and molten metal.
protective equipment, such as eye, face, and respiratory protection
applies to this OSHA safety law saying the standards apply to all permanent places of employment. The provision says that "all passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly. Every floor and working space shall be kept free of protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards." These are a few examples included in this provision.
regulations on walking/working surfaces
applies to this OSHA safety law saying First aid kits are mandatory and should include gauze pads, bandages, gauze roller bandages, and other required items.
requirements of first aid supplies on-site
things like vision problems, fatigue, eye strain, neck, back, arm, and muscle pain are common for frequent users of this; OSHA recommends taking a break every 1 hr on a computer screen and reducing glare on a screen; proper posture and seat adjustment also limits the amount of injuries due to this
video display terminals (VDTs)
While any violation of OSHA is serious, a ___________________________ is more serious, and the fines associated with it represent this.
willful violation
In addition, just because a record is kept doesn't mean the employee will be eligible for ________________________.The recordkeeping aspect normally refers to the keeping of _____________________, or the number of illnesses or injuries per one hundred full-time employees per year.
worker compensation; incidence rates
this is defined as a tendency of individuals or groups to use persistent or repeated aggressive or unreasonable behavior against a coworker or subordinate
workplace bullying
