Chapter 12

Promoting Safety and Healthy

 Chapter Objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to

1.Summarize the general provisions of the

Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA).
2.Describe the measure managers and
employees can take to create a safe
work environment
3.Identify ways to control and eliminate
various on-the-job health hazards.
4.Describe the program organizational
utilize to build better health among their
workforce
Safety and Health: the news
vIn 2011, 3 million private-sectors workers suffered
work-related injuries/illnesses
vBack injuries, most of which occur because of
improper lifting, the nation’s no. 1 workplace safety
problem
vEach year the cost of occupational injuries and
illnesses totals more than $156 billion
vIn 2012, 4.383 employees died from work accidents
v90% of fatal work injuries involve workers in private
industry
Occupational Safety and
Health Act (OSHA) of 1970
The mission
To “assure the safety and health of America’s workers
by setting and enforcing standards; providing
training, outreach, and education; establishing
partnerships; and encouraging continual
improvements in workplace safety and health.”
Coverage of Employees
All private sector employees and public employees;
state and local government employees. (Non self-
employed)
 OSHA Standards
• To develop and enforce
mandatory job safety
and health standards.
• Apply to workplace,
machinery & equipment,
materials, power
sources, processing,
protective clothing, first
aid and administrative
requirements.
Enforcing OSHA Standards
• Workplace inspections
• Citations and penalties
• On-site consultations
• Voluntary protection programs
• Training and education

-RESULTS in 2012
-51,000 workplace inspection
-Worker deaths in America are down- on average (38 worker
deaths a day in 1970 to 12/day in 2012)
 OSHA’s System of Inspection Priorities
First
Level Inspection of imminent danger situations

Second Investigation of catastrophes, fatalities, and accidents that result

Level in hospitalization of five or more employees

Third Investigation of valid employee complaints of alleged violations of

Level standards or of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions

Fourth Special-emphasis inspections aimed at specific high-hazard

Level industries, occupations, or substances that are injurious to health
 Citations and Penalties
A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but one
Other-Than-
unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA may propose a
Serious
penalty of up to $7,000 for each violation.

A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious

physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have
Serious
known, of the hazard. OSHA may propose a mandatory penalty of up to
$7,000 for each violation.

A violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits, or a

Willful violation that the employer commits with plain indifference to the law.
OSHA may propose penalties of up to $70,000 for each violation.
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs)
Programs that encourage employers to go beyond
the minimum requirements of OSHA.
• Alliances
• Strategic Partnership Programs (SPPs)
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs)
Star, Merit, and Demonstration
• Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(SHARP)
The responsibilities of employer under OSHA
1. Meet your general duty responsibility to provide a workplace free from
recognized hazards that cause death or physical harm to employees,
and comply with standards, rules, and regulations under the act
2. Be familiar with mandatory OSHA standards and make copies to
employees
3. Inform all employees about OSHA
4. Examine workplace conditions
5. Minimize or reduce hazards
6. Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment
7. Provide access to employee medical records and exposure records to
employees or their representatives
8. Not discriminate against employees who properly exercie their rights
under the act
9. And so on
The responsibilities of employee under OSHA
1. Read the OSHA poster at the job site
2. Comply with all applicable OSHA standard
3. Follow all employer safety and health rule regulations,
and wear or use prescribed equipment while engaged in
work
4. Report hazardous conditions to supervisor
 Hazardous Materials Regulation
Right-to-Know Laws
• Laws that require
employers to advise
employees about the
hazardous chemicals
they handle.
Promoting Safe Work Environment

Safety Motivation Safety Awareness

and Knowledge Programs

Elements in Creating a Safe

Work Environment

Enforcement of Safety Accident Investigations

Rules and Records
 Creating a Culture of Safety
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
• Enhanced delivery modes
• Customization of training needs
• Regulatory instruction
• OSHA’s Web-based eTools
Creating a Healthy Work
Environment
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.
Creating a Healthy Work
Environment (cont’d)
• Problems with Video Display Terminals (VDT)
• Visual difficulties, muscular aches and pains, and
job stress
• Solutions:
• Place the screen four to nine inches below eye level.
• Keep the monitor directly in front of you.
• Sit in an adjustable-height chair and use a copyholder
that attaches to both the desk and the monitor.
• Use shades or blinds to reduce the computer-screen
glare created by window lighting.
• Elbows close to body and supported.
• Wrist and hands in-line with forearms.
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
 Actively encourage employee
participation in the safety
program by:

• Jointly setting safety standards with

management
• Participation in safety training
• Involvement in designing and
implementing special safety training
programs
• Involvement in establishing safety
incentives and rewards
• Inclusion in accident investigations.
Investigating and Recording
Accidents
Recordable Case
• Any occupational death, illness, or injury to be recorded
in the log (OSHA Form 300).
• 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.
Health Hazards and Issues

Chemical Ergonomics Computer

Hazards Workstations

Smoking and Cumulative Trauma

Tobacco Smoke AIDS Disorders
Creating a Healthy Work
Environment (cont’d)
• 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.
Reducing Violence in the
Workplace
• Management commitment to and employee
involvement in preventing acts of violence
• Analyzing the workplace to uncover areas of
potential violence
• Preventing and controlling violence by designing
safe workplaces and work practices
• Providing violence prevention training
throughout the organization
• Evaluating violence program effectiveness
 Terrorism
To deter terrorist attacks:
• Heighten ID checks and baggage screening
• Increase video monitoring with threat-recognition software to back up
human surveillance
• Install blast-resistant glass to reduce casualties
• Have offsite emergency offices
• Tighten garage security with stepped-up inspections
• Stagger deliveries to reduce truck traffic
• Develop emergency evacuation procedures, including escape routes,
emergency equipment, and gathering locations
Crisis Management Teams
Teams, composed of both hourly and managerial
employees, conduct:
• Initial risk assessment surveys
• Develop action plans to respond to violent situations
• Perform crisis intervention during violent, or potentially
violent, encounters
Building Better Health

Alternative
Wellness Programs
Approaches

Health Services Focus on Nutrition

Employee Assistance Programs, for

Alcoholism

Depression Abuse of Illegal

Drugs
What Is Stress?
Stress
• Any adjustive demand caused by physical, mental, or
emotional factors that requires coping behavior.
Eustress
• Positive stress that accompanies achievement and
exhilaration.
Distress
• Harmful stress characterized by a loss of feelings of
security and adequacy.
Job-Related Stress

• Sources of Job-Related Stress

• High demand
• High effort
• Low control
• Low reward
• Burnout
• Most severe stage of distress,
manifesting itself in depression,
frustration, and loss of productivity.
• burnout
• cumulative trauma disorders
• depression
• distress
• eustress
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• recordable case
• right-to-know laws
• stress