2. Strategic Importance of Workplace Safety
and Health
• Benefits of a Safe and Healthy Workforce:
Higher productivity
Increased efficiency and quality
Reduced medical and insurance costs
Lower workers’ compensation rates and payments
Improved reputation as an employer of choice
12–2
3. Consequences of an Unsafe and Unhealthy
Work Environment
• Injury and Disease • Mental Health
Back injuries are most Psychological symptoms
prevalent can affect productivity
Exposure to Chemicals and life away from work
Undetected effects, • Deaths and Violence
possible long-term risk
• Economic Costs
12–3
5. The External Environment
• Global Consideration
There are substantial differences in national standards regarding
workplace safety and health.
• Global Organizations
International Labour Organization (ILO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Strengthen international and national policies.
Develop practices for improving health at work.
Promote health at work through technical assistance/support.
Develop human resources for the field of occupational health.
Establish relevant and useful registration and data systems.
Raise public awareness.
Strengthen research on occupational health.
12–5
6. Workplace Safety and Health Hazards
• Occupational Accidents
Organizational Qualities
Factors most affecting workplace accidents:
– Working conditions and times
– Tools and technology available to do the job
12–6
7. Individual Qualities: The Unsafe Employee
• Characteristics that make people more
susceptible to accidents:
Emotionally “low”
Stressed
12–7
8. Violent Employees
• Homicide is leading cause • Signs of potential
of workplace deaths after violence:
highway accidents Verbal threats
Physical Actions
Intimidation
Show weapons
Try to gain access
Frustration
mania
12–8
9. Occupational Diseases
• Disease-Causing Hazards:
Arsenic, asbestos, benzene, bichloromethylether
Coal dust, coke-oven emissions, cotton dust
Lead, radiation, vinyl chloride
• Workers most likely to be exposed:
Chemical and oil refinery workers, miners, textile
workers
Steelworkers, lead smelters
Medical technicians, painters, shoemakers, plastics
industry workers
12–9
10. Diseases Linked to Workplace Hazards
• Cancer
Liver, lung, brain, kidney
• Lung Disease
White, brown, and black lung
• Leukemia
• Bronchitis, emphysema
• Lymphoma, aplastic anemia
• Central nervous system damage
• Reproductive Disorders
• Skin Diseases
12–10
11. Accident Prevention
• Design a safe work environment
Guards, handrails
Safety goggles, helmets
Warning lights
Self-correcting mechanisms
Automatic shutoffs
• Ergonomics
Change job environment to match
capabilities limitations of employees
12–11
12. Accident Prevention (cont’d)
• Health and Safety Committees
At the department level, do implementation and
administration
At the organization level, formulate policies
• Behavior Modification
Small percentage of workforce responsible for
majority of health insurance claims
Measure, communicate, monitor, and reinforce
desired behavior
• Assessing Intervention Effectiveness
12–12
13. Disease Prevention
• Reducing the Incidence of Diseases
Record keeping
Monitoring exposure
Genetic screening
12–13
14. Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA) of 1970
• Mission of OSHA
To assure the safety and health of America’s workers
by setting and enforcing standards
providing training and education
establishing partnerships with businesses
encouraging continual improvements in workplace
safety and health
Coverage of employees—all nongovernmental
employers and employees; state and local
government employees
12–14
15. Provisions of OSHA
• OSHA Standards
Apply to general industry, maritime, construction, and
agriculture
Cover the workplace, machinery and equipment,
material, power sources, processing, protective
clothing, first aid, and administrative requirements.
• Enforcement of the Act
The Secretary of Labor is authorized by the Act to
conduct workplace inspections, to issue citations, and
to impose penalties on employers.
Inspections are conducted by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration of the Department of Labor.
12–15
16. Creating a Safe Work Environment
Safety Motivation Safety Awareness
and Knowledge Programs
Elements in Creating a Safe
Work Environment
Accident
Enforcement of
Investigations
Safety Rules
and Records
12–16
17. Creating a Safe Work Environment (cont’d)
• 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
12–17
18. Creating a Safe Work Environment (cont’d)
• 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
12–18
19. 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.
12–19
20. Key Elements for a Successful Ergonomics Program
• Provide notice and training for employees.
• Conduct pre-injury hazard assessment.
• Involve employees.
• File injury reports.
• Plan and execute.
• Evaluate and assess the ergonomics program.
12–20
21. Workplace Violence
• Reducing Violence in the Workplace
Commitment to prevent violence
Identify areas of potential violence
Develop violence prevention policies
Provide violence prevention training
Evaluate program effectiveness
12–21
22. Building Better Health
Alternative
Wellness Programs
Approaches
Health Services Focus on Nutrition
12–22
23. Employee Health
• Cleanliness ( sewerage and sanitation)
• Air ventilation and temperature (maximum 25 – 30 degree Celsius)
Cross ventilation, required no of fans and exhaust fans
Thermometer kept in visible place
• Dust Sucker, Mask
• Lighting
• Safe drinking water
Minimum 4 ltr per day
Min 6 mtr away from toilets
Water cooler ( 250 employees and more)
3 ltr saline water if needed
Toilets
one / 25 (female) up to first 500
one / 40 (male) up to first 500
12–23
24. Employee Safety
• Safety of building equipment and other infrastructure
• Fire fighting and safety ( emergency door, 2 per room, emergency
staircase)
• Fire fighting equipment
• Safety against electrical wearing and connections
• Crane and lift etc
• Turbine
12–24