Employee Health and Safety

Employee Health and Safety Aim – to protect and promote the health

and safety of people working at or visiting member company work sites.

Safety – Protection of employees from injuries caused by work related accidents.

Health – Employees freedom from physical or emotional illnesses.

Management to FocusUnsafe employee

action Train new

employees on safety esp in early months of service.

Work injuries decrease with length of service

unsafe working environment

Design and maintain a safe physical working environment to prevent accidents e.g. for the machine operator

Why management is concerned It is a moral as well as a legal responsibility. Personal loss – pain and anguish for the injured worker. Can

lead to disability or death Financial loss to the injured employee – the injury may not

be covered by insurance Loss of productivity – and hidden costs e.g. replacement

worker pay He may not be at par Higher insurance premiums – compensation premiums

usually based on history of insurance claims Fines and imprisonment – for the employer by government

for violating OSHA Social responsibility – many organizations feel responsible

for H and S of employees. Even before OSHA

Benefits of workplace H and S

No man hours lost through absenteeism A lot of savings on medical costs e.g.

insurance

HEALTH and SAFETY at work

1.DEVELOP HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIESWritten policies are required to demonstrate top mgt concern about the protection of workers from hazards at work

2. CONDUCT A RISK ASSESSMENT

Is the identification of hazards and the analysis of risks attached to them i.e. the level of risk associated with them. Purpose – to initiate preventive action

Hazard = anything that can harm eg working on rooftops, electricity, chemicals and toxic substances, heavy objects, machines, etc

ranking hazards Catastrophic – hazard capable of

causing death Critical – can result in serious

illness/severe injury, equipment damage Marginal – can cause the above but not

with serious results Negligible – remote possibility of

damage beyond minor 1st aid

Possible safety actions

Hazard elimination – use of alternatives/change of design

Substitution e.g. of one chemical for another Use of barriers – removing the hazard from the

worker or vice versa Use of procedures – e.g. limitation or dilution of

exposure Use of warning systems e.g. signs, instructions,

labels Use of personal protective clothing

3. HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDITS

examine the entire org to see if it is meeting its safety aims and objectives. Done by safety advisors (H/S committee) or external audit agencies.

Managers should take charge of safety audits in their departments and individual members of the department can be trained to audit a particular area. A checklist should be used.

4.OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES

Millions of people suffer from illnesses believed to be caused by their work. Eg are muscular disorders, back pain, repetitive strain injury (RSI), stress.

RSI also called cumulative trauma disorders CTD’s e.g. data entry, or assembly line work

Key concerns Physical Work Settings – light, temp, space

etc Sick Building Syndrome SBS: acute health

problems and discomfort due to the time spent in a building (poor air quality, low ventilation, improper cleanliness, rodents, stench of adhesives and glues

Ergonomics: the study of human interaction with tasks equipments and tools. Aim - fit the machine and work environment to the person. Eg computer workstations

Engineering of Work Equipments and Materials: safety guards and covers on equipments, emergency stop buttons

Individual actions – more accidents by self than employer actions