Principles of Occupational Safety and Health

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health

A PowerPoint Presentation keyed to Chapter 2 of Materials for Teaching Agricultural Safety

in the College Classroom by Carol J. Lehtola, PhD, and Charles M. Brown

Book and more presentations in this series are available on the National Ag Safety Database, www.nasdonline.org

Objectives

• Define occupational safety • Define occupational health • Explain the seven primary

principles of occupational safety and health

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.1

Safety is...

• ...the minimization of risks while maximizing the quality of life

• ...a Best Management Practice

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.2

Safety Requires...

...condition or changing set of circumstances that presents a potential for injury, illness, or property damage. The potential or inherent characteristics of an activity, condition, or circumstance which can produce adverse and harmful consequence.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.3

Safety is All About...

• Identifying problems • Developing solutions • Implementing interventions

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.4

Identifying Problems

• Agent of injury (“item”) • Environment (physical and social) • Human (operator/worker)

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.5

Agent of Injury...

What factors for the “agent of injury” will impact safety?

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.6

Agent of Injury...

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.7

• What factors for the agent of injury will impact safety?

• Examples: age, maintenance, safety features, risk for breaking down, ergonomics, shielding, guarding

• Animals: temperament, familiarity with people, having just given birth

Human...

What factors does the human bring to the workplace that will influence safety?

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.8

Human...

• What factors does the human bring to the workplace that will influence safety?

• Examples: age, attitude, training, experience, impairments, risk perception, size, skills

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.9

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.10

Environment...

What factors does the environment bring to the workplace that will influence safety?

Environment... • What factors does the environment bring

to the workplace that will influence safety?

• Physical examples: weather, heat, cold, wet, windy, climate controlled, noise, site hazards

• Social examples: peer, attitudes and support, “it’s just the cost of doing business” mentality

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.11

Discouraging Use of the “A” Word

...use of the term “accident” promotes the concept that these events are outside of human influence and control. NHTSA, NSC, and others promote use of terms such as crash, collision, incident, injury, event, or fatality. These things are predictable and preventable.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.12

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)...

• ...elimination or minimization of damage or harm to people in the workplace, their working tools, equipment, materials, products, etc., and their living and working environment

• Safety — acute injuries/events • Health — chronic exposures over time

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.13

OSH Examples of Disciplines

Engineers Industrial hygienists

Medical Loss control specialists

Educators Public health

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.14

Industrial Hygiene...

Toxicology Gases, vapors, solvents

Dermatoses (skin-related diseases)Hearing

RespiratoryVibrations

Ergonomics

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.15

Principles of OSH

Incidents have identifiable causes which are either preventable or controllable.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.16

Principles of OSH

An incident normally derives from multiple causes rather than a single cause. This results in multiple approaches to hazard and injury prevention and control being more effective than any single approach.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.17

Principles of OSH

Risk is inherent and always present in life.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.18

Principles of OSH

To be human is to err.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.19

Principles of OSH

Human perceptions of risk are not very accurate

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.20

Principles of OSH

• Human behavior can be changed. • Two items essential for OSH

behavior change: a. personalization of the risk b. access to the means for change

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.21

Principles of OSH

• OSH is a function of management. • There needs to be a plan for buy-in

to the OSH program.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.22

Principles of OSH

Each individual has a responsibility to work safely and to not put another worker at risk.

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.23

Six E’s of Safety

• Engineering • Education • Enforcement • Ergonomics (human factors) • Economics • Empowerment

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.24

OSHA (www.osha.gov)

• Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970) administered by OSH Administration

• Minimum federal safety standards requiring employers to provide a safe workplace for employees

• State OSHAs are often stricter

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.25

Compliance vs. Best Practices • Compliance – in compliance when a

company meets all minimum safety regulations

• Best Practices – safety program that uses the best practices and equipment to ensure worker safety; often exceeds the minimum standards (proactive approach)

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.26

Industry Best Practices • Management commitment • Supervisory commitment • Employee commitment and involvement • Team commitment • Accountability by all • Authority to carry out OSH

responsibilities • Rules that are logical and enforceable

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.27

Best Practices (cont’d) • WRITTEN safety policies • Safety inspections • Safety meetings and trainings • Subcontractor management plan • Incentive programs • Incident and injury reporting and

investigations • Light-duty, early return to work

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.28

Inspections

• Daily • Periodic • Internal • External (OSHA, insurance carrier,

consultant)

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.29

Training

• New employees • Employees doing a different task or

using different equipment • Tailgate (daily or weekly, frequently) • Periodic • Seasonal or annual • Recognize accomplishments

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.30

Injury Factors

• First 30 days of employment • Lack of equipment guarding • Employee error

Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Slide 2.31