Health and Safety at the Workplace

Health & Safety at Health & Safety at WorkplaceWorkplace

““The bottom line is that The bottom line is that success in controlling a success in controlling a particular hazard is particular hazard is proportional to the amount of proportional to the amount of attention given to that attention given to that hazard.”hazard.”

Health & Safety at Health & Safety at Workplace (Contd)Workplace (Contd)

It is safe to assume that most employers It is safe to assume that most employers consider their employees to be their most consider their employees to be their most important asset. That is why it is so important important asset. That is why it is so important for employers to protect workers from hazards, for employers to protect workers from hazards, or potential hazards, in the workplace. or potential hazards, in the workplace.

The Occupational Safety and Health provisions The Occupational Safety and Health provisions in the Labour Act (Act 651) requires employers in the Labour Act (Act 651) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free from to provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing, or are recognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to employees. To achieve that end, employers to employees. To achieve that end, employers should develop a comprehensive safety and should develop a comprehensive safety and health plan. health plan.


Developing and maintaining an Developing and maintaining an organizational culture of health and organizational culture of health and safety requires management safety requires management commitment at all levels. Regardless commitment at all levels. Regardless of the type of industry—from of the type of industry—from manufacturing and construction to manufacturing and construction to knowledge management and retail—knowledge management and retail—safety is managed by focusing on safety is managed by focusing on training and accident preventiontraining and accident prevention. .


In today’s litigatious society, In today’s litigatious society, organizations cannot afford to organizations cannot afford to be ignorant regarding be ignorant regarding occupational safety. occupational safety.

Further, if companies want to Further, if companies want to maintain a positive employer maintain a positive employer brand and reputation, safety brand and reputation, safety is keyis key


Employers receive big dividends from Employers receive big dividends from an effective safety and health plan. an effective safety and health plan. Studies have shown that a good plan: Studies have shown that a good plan:

• • Reduces the extent and severity of Reduces the extent and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses. work-related injuries and illnesses.

• • Improves employee morale and Improves employee morale and productivity. productivity.

• • Lowers workers’ compensation costs. Lowers workers’ compensation costs. • • Helps with retention and recruiting, Helps with retention and recruiting,

due to the organization’s good due to the organization’s good reputation for safety. reputation for safety.


Every effective safety and health Every effective safety and health plan has four key elements: plan has four key elements:

management commitment and management commitment and employee involvement; employee involvement;

worksite analysis (risk assessment); worksite analysis (risk assessment); hazard prevention and control; and hazard prevention and control; and training and education. training and education.

Management Management Commitment and Commitment and

Employee Involvement Employee Involvement There are seven steps that contribute to the There are seven steps that contribute to the

successful involvement of both managers successful involvement of both managers and employees in developing a safety and and employees in developing a safety and health plan:health plan:

1.1. . Go to the top officer in the organization . Go to the top officer in the organization and present the plan; request the support and present the plan; request the support of each member of management as well. of each member of management as well. Ask that safety and health be made a core Ask that safety and health be made a core value of the company and that value of the company and that management’s actions reflect that management’s actions reflect that commitment. Without strong support from commitment. Without strong support from the head of the organization, the plan the head of the organization, the plan cannot succeed.cannot succeed.


Employee Involvement Employee Involvement 2. Develop a safety and health policy 2. Develop a safety and health policy

and be sure to communicate that and be sure to communicate that policy to all employees. It should be policy to all employees. It should be posted on the bulletin board of each posted on the bulletin board of each company location and included in the company location and included in the employee handbook. employee handbook.

3. Develop short-term and long-term 3. Develop short-term and long-term goals and communicate them to all goals and communicate them to all employees. Develop a plan to help employees. Develop a plan to help achieve the goals and provide achieve the goals and provide feedback on the progress made. feedback on the progress made.


Employee Involvement Employee Involvement 4. 4. Create a safety and health manual and be Create a safety and health manual and be

sure it defines responsibilities at all levels. sure it defines responsibilities at all levels. 5. 5. Be sure that all levels of management have Be sure that all levels of management have

a visible role in the implementation of the a visible role in the implementation of the plan. If management is not in evidence, plan. If management is not in evidence, employees will not take management’s employees will not take management’s commitment to safety and health seriously. commitment to safety and health seriously. Managers can reinforce the plan by Managers can reinforce the plan by complying with its provisions themselves. If complying with its provisions themselves. If safety glasses are required in a certain safety glasses are required in a certain area, for example, be sure managers wear area, for example, be sure managers wear safety glasses when they are in that area. safety glasses when they are in that area.


Employee Involvement Employee Involvement 6. 6. Ensure employee participation—a critical Ensure employee participation—a critical

factor. Levels of involvement for workers range factor. Levels of involvement for workers range from contributing advice to serving on a safety from contributing advice to serving on a safety committee. If there is to be an incentive plan committee. If there is to be an incentive plan based on safety achievements, be sure that the based on safety achievements, be sure that the employees, not just managers, take part. Share employees, not just managers, take part. Share the goals and objectives with employees and the goals and objectives with employees and ask for their support and commitment. ask for their support and commitment.

7. 7. Review the plan regularly. It should be Review the plan regularly. It should be reassessed at least once a year to evaluate its reassessed at least once a year to evaluate its success in meeting the established goals and success in meeting the established goals and objectives. When a new standard comes out or objectives. When a new standard comes out or an existing standard is revised, update the an existing standard is revised, update the written plan. written plan.

Worksite AnalysisWorksite Analysis

After managers and employees are committed to After managers and employees are committed to the safety and health plan, specific job issues should the safety and health plan, specific job issues should be addressed. Walk through the facility and conduct be addressed. Walk through the facility and conduct a thorough needs analysis. Once the analysis is a thorough needs analysis. Once the analysis is complete, develop a job safety analysis for each complete, develop a job safety analysis for each position. A job safety analysis looks at each function position. A job safety analysis looks at each function of a job, identifies any potential hazards, and lists of a job, identifies any potential hazards, and lists what should be done to protect employees from what should be done to protect employees from those hazards. those hazards.

After the safety and health plan has been After the safety and health plan has been implemented, conduct frequent and regular implemented, conduct frequent and regular inspections of the workplace. This will reveal issues inspections of the workplace. This will reveal issues that may have been omitted from the original plan, that may have been omitted from the original plan, or facets of the plan that require modification. If or facets of the plan that require modification. If problems are uncovered, adjust the plan to correct problems are uncovered, adjust the plan to correct them. them.

Hazard Prevention & Hazard Prevention & ControlControl The first step in preventing or eliminating hazards should The first step in preventing or eliminating hazards should

be the use of engineering controls. Engineering controls be the use of engineering controls. Engineering controls can include lowering work benches, installing safety can include lowering work benches, installing safety switches, adding lifting devices, or changing the chemicals switches, adding lifting devices, or changing the chemicals used in a particular process. In addition, layouts can often used in a particular process. In addition, layouts can often be redesigned to eliminate hazards.be redesigned to eliminate hazards.

Administrative controls are another way to reduce hazards. Administrative controls are another way to reduce hazards. One example is reducing the length of time employees are One example is reducing the length of time employees are exposed to particular hazards. If an employee has worked exposed to particular hazards. If an employee has worked for two or three hours in a noisy area, allow him (or her) to for two or three hours in a noisy area, allow him (or her) to work in another section of the facility for a while. When the work in another section of the facility for a while. When the total time of exposure is calculated, the employee should total time of exposure is calculated, the employee should be below the threshold limit. In such cases, be sure to be below the threshold limit. In such cases, be sure to document any administrative actions taken to reduce document any administrative actions taken to reduce exposure. exposure.

The last method used to protect employees is the use of The last method used to protect employees is the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE). PPEs must be proper personal protective equipment (PPE). PPEs must be provided by the employer at no cost to the employeeprovided by the employer at no cost to the employee

Training and EducationTraining and Education

Employees should be trained person in a specific Employees should be trained person in a specific areas of safety, such as fall protection, scaffolding and areas of safety, such as fall protection, scaffolding and excavations. excavations.

Regular training should be conducted with all Regular training should be conducted with all employees. Some safety standards require that all employees. Some safety standards require that all employees who are exposed to a hazard be trained in employees who are exposed to a hazard be trained in how to recognize the hazard and protect themselves. how to recognize the hazard and protect themselves.

The final step in education is to have regularly The final step in education is to have regularly scheduled safety meetings. A weekly safety talk of scheduled safety meetings. A weekly safety talk of five to 10 minutes is an ideal way to continue the five to 10 minutes is an ideal way to continue the educational process. Use the weekly talk to provide educational process. Use the weekly talk to provide feedback on safety goals, talk about a “close call” feedback on safety goals, talk about a “close call” incident, or educate employees about a wide array of incident, or educate employees about a wide array of safety and health issues. safety and health issues.

Health & Safety Health & Safety Committee Operating Committee Operating

ProceduresProcedures Purpose: Purpose: In accordance with the company’s commitment to safety, each In accordance with the company’s commitment to safety, each

company element will be responsible for establishing a Health company element will be responsible for establishing a Health and Safety Committee for the following purposes: and Safety Committee for the following purposes:

1. To maintain and enhance employee interest in health and 1. To maintain and enhance employee interest in health and safety issues. safety issues.

2. To ensure that managers, supervisors and employees are 2. To ensure that managers, supervisors and employees are aware through training activities that they are responsible for aware through training activities that they are responsible for the prevention of workplace accidents. the prevention of workplace accidents.

3. To help make health and safety activities an integral part of 3. To help make health and safety activities an integral part of the organization's operating procedures, culture and programs. the organization's operating procedures, culture and programs.

4. To provide an opportunity for discussion of health and safety 4. To provide an opportunity for discussion of health and safety problems and possible solutions. problems and possible solutions.

5. To inform and educate employees and supervisors about 5. To inform and educate employees and supervisors about health and safety issues and research findings, etc. health and safety issues and research findings, etc.

6. To help reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses. 6. To help reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses. 7. To help ensure compliance with federal and state health and 7. To help ensure compliance with federal and state health and

safety standards. safety standards.

Health & Safety Health & Safety Committee Operating Committee Operating

ProceduresProcedures Functions: Functions: To accomplish these objectives, the Health and Safety Committee To accomplish these objectives, the Health and Safety Committee

will: will: 1. Develop a written mission statement in accordance with corporate 1. Develop a written mission statement in accordance with corporate

requirements. requirements. 2. Define duties and responsibilities of committee members. 2. Define duties and responsibilities of committee members. 3. Identify and prioritize goals and establish action plans to achieve 3. Identify and prioritize goals and establish action plans to achieve

each goal. each goal. 4. Include representation from different levels and areas of the 4. Include representation from different levels and areas of the

company element. company element. 5. Meet at least monthly. 5. Meet at least monthly. 6. Record and disseminate minutes of meetings, documenting 6. Record and disseminate minutes of meetings, documenting

attendance, problems, and issues, as well as corrective action attendance, problems, and issues, as well as corrective action proposed and actions taken to address each issue. proposed and actions taken to address each issue.

7. Make attendance mandatory with the penalty of removal for 7. Make attendance mandatory with the penalty of removal for repeated absences. repeated absences.

8. Develop methods to increase and maintain safety awareness. 8. Develop methods to increase and maintain safety awareness. 9. Organize special subcommittees to address specific issues, 9. Organize special subcommittees to address specific issues,

projects or programs.projects or programs.

Safety Scorecard SystemSafety Scorecard System

Building a world-class workplace safety program takes time, dedication Building a world-class workplace safety program takes time, dedication and commitment. The following 10 steps are guidelines for organizations and commitment. The following 10 steps are guidelines for organizations to design a safety scorecard system.4to design a safety scorecard system.4

1. Review the organizational culture, starting from top management. 1. Review the organizational culture, starting from top management. 2. Collect information on organizational safety goals, objectives, 2. Collect information on organizational safety goals, objectives,

performance measures and training documentation.performance measures and training documentation. 3. Assign safety responsibilities to all management.3. Assign safety responsibilities to all management. 4. Establish a safety steering team.4. Establish a safety steering team. 5. Develop systems to measure success regarding safety.5. Develop systems to measure success regarding safety. 6. Establish a safety committee (develop a mission, conduct training on 6. Establish a safety committee (develop a mission, conduct training on

health and safety issues, and define roles and responsibilities of health and safety issues, and define roles and responsibilities of members).members).

7. Brainstorm safety ideas.7. Brainstorm safety ideas. 8. Provide additional training to safety steering team and safety 8. Provide additional training to safety steering team and safety

committee (e.g., ergonomics, OSHA topics, hazard analysis skills, safety committee (e.g., ergonomics, OSHA topics, hazard analysis skills, safety conferences, plant tours).conferences, plant tours).

9. Deliver safety training to management (e.g., incident investigation 9. Deliver safety training to management (e.g., incident investigation skills, corrective action development and tracking, safety scorecard skills, corrective action development and tracking, safety scorecard measurements, and safety program responsibilities).measurements, and safety program responsibilities).

10. Provide safety training for the entire workforce.10. Provide safety training for the entire workforce.

Elements of a Safety Elements of a Safety ProgramProgram

A workplace safety program is more than training. It A workplace safety program is more than training. It encompasses a wide range of issues and topics, as listed encompasses a wide range of issues and topics, as listed below, and establishes clear roles and responsibilities below, and establishes clear roles and responsibilities regarding health and safety within the organization. regarding health and safety within the organization.

• • Written safety policy. Written safety policy. • • Safety committee (safety inspections, accident investigation, Safety committee (safety inspections, accident investigation,

safety record keeping).safety record keeping). • • Companywide safety training.Companywide safety training. • • Training on workplace violence prevention.Training on workplace violence prevention. • • Health issues (e.g., drug-free workplace, smoke-free work Health issues (e.g., drug-free workplace, smoke-free work

environment).environment). • • Fire drills.Fire drills. • • Ergonomics.Ergonomics. • • Emergency response plan (e.g., medical emergencies, Emergency response plan (e.g., medical emergencies,

terrorism).terrorism). • • Training for first aid and CPR.Training for first aid and CPR. • • Employee assistance program. Employee assistance program.

Lessons Learned/Best Lessons Learned/Best PracticesPractices

In the safety arena, learning from past In the safety arena, learning from past mistakes is important. These lessons, however, mistakes is important. These lessons, however, do not happen in isolation. Workplace safety is do not happen in isolation. Workplace safety is closely tied to the organizational culture closely tied to the organizational culture supported by the leadership and management supported by the leadership and management of the entire organization. To enhance the of the entire organization. To enhance the safety program, organizations may want to safety program, organizations may want to include a “lessons learned” or best practices include a “lessons learned” or best practices program. For employee access, this program. For employee access, this information may be posted in a safety information may be posted in a safety newsletter on the company intranet.newsletter on the company intranet.

Other Health & Safety Other Health & Safety Concerns (Research)Concerns (Research)

Security abroad for expatriates will increase to ensure Security abroad for expatriates will increase to ensure personal and business safety and to deal with terrorist personal and business safety and to deal with terrorist kidnappings and blackmail.kidnappings and blackmail.

Obesity and diabetes among the working population Obesity and diabetes among the working population will increase, affecting health and the ability to work.will increase, affecting health and the ability to work.

Work intensification will occur as employers try to Work intensification will occur as employers try to increase productivity with fewer employees and increase productivity with fewer employees and resources. This could drive up stress and stress-resources. This could drive up stress and stress-related illnesses.related illnesses.

Businesses will increasingly ban smoking as more Businesses will increasingly ban smoking as more cities/states enact Clean Indoor Air laws. cities/states enact Clean Indoor Air laws.

Real-time video surveillance via high-speed Internet Real-time video surveillance via high-speed Internet is becoming affordable to more effectively monitor is becoming affordable to more effectively monitor employee activity and safety and prevent theft. employee activity and safety and prevent theft.

Part XV of the Labour Act Part XV of the Labour Act (Act 651)-Occupational (Act 651)-Occupational

Health, Safety & Health, Safety & EnvironmentEnvironment 118 118 (1) It is the duty of an employer to ensure that (1) It is the duty of an employer to ensure that

every every worker worker employed by him works under employed by him works under satisfactory satisfactory ,safe and health conditions.,safe and health conditions.

An employer shall:An employer shall: (a) maintain at the workplace, plant and the (a) maintain at the workplace, plant and the

system of system of work that are safe and without work that are safe and without risk to health.risk to health.

(b) ensure the safety and absence of risks to (b) ensure the safety and absence of risks to health in health in connection with use, handling, storage connection with use, handling, storage and transport of and transport of articles and substancesarticles and substances

(c) Provide the necessary information, instructions, (c) Provide the necessary information, instructions, training and supervision having regard to the training and supervision having regard to the

age, age, literacy level and the other circumstances of the literacy level and the other circumstances of the worker worker to ensure ,so far as is reasonably to ensure ,so far as is reasonably practicable ,the health practicable ,the health and the safety at the work and the safety at the work of those other workers of those other workers engaged on the particular ;engaged on the particular ;


Health, Safety & Health, Safety & EnvironmentEnvironment d) Take the steps to prevent contamination of the d) Take the steps to prevent contamination of the

workplaces workplaces by, and protect the workers from, toxic by, and protect the workers from, toxic gases ,noxious gases ,noxious substances vapours, dust, substances vapours, dust, fumes, mists and other fumes, mists and other substances or materials substances or materials likely to cause the risk to safety likely to cause the risk to safety or health.or health.

(e) Supply and maintain at no cost to worker (e) Supply and maintain at no cost to worker adequate adequate safety appliances, suitable fire-fighting safety appliances, suitable fire-fighting equipment, equipment, personal protective equipment, and personal protective equipment, and instruct the workers instruct the workers in the use of appliances or in the use of appliances or equipments;equipments;

(f) Provide separate, sufficient and suitable toilet (f) Provide separate, sufficient and suitable toilet and and washing facilities and adequate facilities for the washing facilities and adequate facilities for the storage, storage, changing, drying, and cleansing from changing, drying, and cleansing from the contamination the contamination of clothing for male and female of clothing for male and female workers;workers;


Health, Safety & Health, Safety & EnvironmentEnvironment (g) Provide adequate supply of clean (g) Provide adequate supply of clean

drinking water at the workplace; anddrinking water at the workplace; and (h)Prevent accidents and injury to health (h)Prevent accidents and injury to health

arising out of connected with, or occurring in arising out of connected with, or occurring in the course of, work by minimizing the causes the course of, work by minimizing the causes of hazards inherent in the working of hazards inherent in the working environment.environment.

It is the obligation of every worker to use the It is the obligation of every worker to use the safety appliances fire-fighting equipment and safety appliances fire-fighting equipment and personal protective equipment provided by personal protective equipment provided by the employer in compliance with the the employer in compliance with the employer’s instructions.employer’s instructions.

Part XV of the Labour Act (Act Part XV of the Labour Act (Act 651)-Occupational Health, 651)-Occupational Health,

Safety & EnvironmentSafety & Environment An employer shall not be liable for injury An employer shall not be liable for injury

suffered by a worker who contravenes suffered by a worker who contravenes subsection (3) where the injury is caused subsection (3) where the injury is caused solely by non-compliance by the worker.solely by non-compliance by the worker.

An employer who, without reasonable An employer who, without reasonable excuse ,fails to discharge any of the excuse ,fails to discharge any of the obligations under subsection (1) or (2) obligations under subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable on commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for a 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.term not exceeding 3 years or both.


Health, Safety & Health, Safety & EnvironmentEnvironment Exposure to imminent hazardsExposure to imminent hazards

119. (1) When a worker finds himself or herself in any 119. (1) When a worker finds himself or herself in any situation at the workplace which she or he has reasonable situation at the workplace which she or he has reasonable cause to believe presents an imminent and serious danger cause to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to his or life ,safety or health ,the worker shall to his or life ,safety or health ,the worker shall immediately report this fact to his or her supervisor and immediately report this fact to his or her supervisor and remove himself or herself from the situation.remove himself or herself from the situation.

An employer shall not dismiss or terminate the An employer shall not dismiss or terminate the employment the worker or withhold any remuneration of employment the worker or withhold any remuneration of the a worker who has removed himself or herself from the the a worker who has removed himself or herself from the wok situation which the worker has reason to believe wok situation which the worker has reason to believe presents imminent and serious danger to his or her life, presents imminent and serious danger to his or her life, safety or the health.safety or the health.

(3) An employer shall not require a worker to return to (3) An employer shall not require a worker to return to work in circumstances where there is a continuing work in circumstances where there is a continuing imminent and serious danger to the life, safety or health imminent and serious danger to the life, safety or health of the worker. of the worker.

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Health and Safety at the Workplace