Chapter 14 dessler 12-ce_ppt_ch14

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Occupational Health and Safety | 14-1

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Dessler, Chhinzer, ColeHuman Resources

Management in CanadaCanadian Twelfth Edition

Chapter 14: Occupational Health and Safety

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Learning Outcomes

• ANALYZE the responsibilities and rights of employees and employers under occupational health and safety legislation.

• EXPLAIN WHMIS legislation.

• ANALYZE in detail three basic causes of accidents.

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Learning Outcomes

• DESCRIBE how accidents at work can be prevented.

• EXPLAIN why employee wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular.

• DISCUSS six major employee health issues at work and RECOMMEND how they should be handled.

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Strategic Importance of Occupational Health and Safety

• investment in disability and wellness programs create bottom-line returns

• in 2007 there were 1,055 deaths and 317,524 injuries resulting from accidents at work

• workplace accidents can be prevented

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Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Legislation

• based on principle of joint responsibility between workers and employers

• intended to minimize work-related accidents and illnesses

• laws fall into three categories:• general health and safety rules• rules for specific industries (e.g. mining)• rules related to specific hazards (e.g. asbestos)

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Sample OHS Legislation

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Employer Responsibilities

• take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of workers (due diligence)

• specific duties include:• filing government accident reports• maintaining records• ensuring that safety rules are enforced• posting safety notices and legislative information

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Employees Responsibilities and Rights

• take reasonable care to protect their own health and safety, and that of co-workers

• includes wearing protective clothing and equipment, and reporting contravention of the law

• basic rights:• to know about workplace safety hazards• to participate in the OHS process • to refuse unsafe work

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Joint Health and Safety Committees

• non-adversarial atmosphere where management and labour can work together to ensure a safe and healthy workplace

• usually consists of between 2 and 12 members, at least half of whom represent workers

• in small workplaces, one health and safety representative may be required

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The Supervisor’s Role in Safety • ensure that workers comply with

occupational health and safety regulations

• advise and instruct workers about safety

• safety-minded managers must aim to instill in their workers the desire to work safely

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Enforcement of OHS Laws

• periodic government inspections of workplace

• penalties consist of fines and/or jail terms

• “corporate killing”: a criminal offence, failure to ensure an appropriate level of safety in the workplace

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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

• control of toxic substances

• three components: • labelling of hazardous material containers • material safety data sheets (MSDS) • employee training

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WHMIS Symbols

continued

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WHMIS Symbols

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MSDS Sample

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MSDS Sample

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OHS and Other Legislation

• other legislation covers:• human rights• labour relations• employment standards

• may lead to confusion:• is the right to wear a ceremonial knife more

important than the safety of other employees? • are workplace fights or sexual harassment a safety

hazard?

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What Causes Accidents?

• chance occurrences • beyond management control

• unsafe conditions• equipment, procedures, storage, illumination,

ventilation• job itself, work schedule, psychological climate

• unsafe acts• carrying/lifting, operating speed, avoiding

safety devices/equipment, horseplay, quarrelling, etc.

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Risk from Workplace Violence

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Personal Characteristics

Human traits related to accident repetition:

• vision

• literacy

• age

• perceptual versus motor skills

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Personal Factors Influencing Accidents

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How to Prevent Accidents

• reduce unsafe conditions:• job design, remove physical hazards• ensure safety precautions are taken

• reduce unsafe acts:• selection testing• top-management commitment • training and education• positive reinforcement

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Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs

• before the accident:• accident prevention measures

• after the accident:• provide first aid and ensure medical attention• show interest in the injured worker• document/file accident reports• encourage speedy return to work

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OHS Challenges in Canada

• substance abuse

• job-related stress

• repetitive strain injuries

• workplace toxins

• workplace smoking

• viral pandemic

• violence at work

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Substance Abuse and the Law

• human rights law (disability) vs. OHS laws (due diligence requirement)

• testing is only legal if test is:1. rationally connected to performance of the job

2. adopted in honest and good-faith belief that it is necessary for fulfillment of work-related purpose

3. reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of the work-related purpose

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Substance Abuse Testing

• random testing is illegal

• employers can:• forbid drugs/alcohol in workplace• require testing for “safety-sensitive” jobs• require testing “for cause” or “post-incident”

• positive tests must result in accommodation

• immediate termination is not generally justifiable

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Dealing with Substance Abuse

• look for signs of impairment

• make written record of observed behaviour

• refer troubled employees to employee assistance program (EAP)

• techniques for dealing with substance abuse:• discipline• discharge• in-house counselling• referral to outside agency

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Job-Related Stress

Environmental Factors:• high demand job • high levels of mental

and physical effort

Personal Factors:• Type A personalities• patience, tolerance

for ambiguity• self-esteem• health and exercise,

work/sleep patterns • non-job-related

problems

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Warning Signs of Job Stress

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Reducing Job Stress

• Employee can:• get more sleep, eat better, take vacation, meditate,

find a more suitable job, get counselling, organize activities

• Employer/supervisor can:• offer an EAP• identify symptoms of stress • ensure fair treatment• permit employee to have more control

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Burnout

• total depletion caused by excessive striving to reach unrealistic work-related goals

• avoiding burnout:• break patterns• get away from it all periodically• reassess goals• think about work• reduce stress

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Workers’ Compensation and Stress-Related Disability Claims

• benefits for post-traumatic stress from specific and sudden workplace incidents

• limited or no coverage for chronic stress, in some jurisdictions

• attitude is that stress has multiple causes

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Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

• activity-related soft-tissue injuries

• employers must:• advise and train workers about RSI’s• identify and assess RSI risk factors• encourage reporting of RSI symptoms early• use ergonomic interventions

• ergonomics:• the art of fitting work equipment to the individual

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Ergonomics Example

continued

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Ergonomics Example

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Workplace Toxins and Smoking

Toxins:

• cancer is leading cause of work-related deaths

• new chemicals and substances are introduced into the workplace without adequate testing

Smoking:

• smoking is banned in most workplaces

• Health Canada is urging employers to implement smoking cessation programs

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Viral Pandemic

• many organizations do not have a plan

• impact of a pandemic will be absenteeism, estimated at 35 percent

• HR will be relied upon to respond to a pandemic:• telecommuting• compensation for absent employees• occupational health for onsite employees

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Violence at Work

• legislation covers physical violence; some jurisdictions include psychological/emotional violence

• human rights laws prohibit forms of harassment and bullying

• employers may be liable on the basis of negligence or failure to respond to violent acts

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Reports of Abuse by Nurses on Patients

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Prevention and Control of Workplace Violence

• identify jobs with high risk of violence

• institute workplace violence policy

• create a healthy work environment

• heighten security measures

• provide workplace violence training

• improve employee screening

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Employee Wellness Programs

• proactive approach to employee health and well-being

• measurable outcomes related to productivity, recruitment/retention, and profit

• often include stress management, nutrition/weight management, smoking cessation programs, tai chi, heart health/physical fitness programs, ergonomics, etc.

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Employee Wellness Program Benefits

Chapter 14 dessler 12-ce_ppt_ch14

Health & Medicine