Employee Safety

Employee Safety

Employee Safety

DeLeon Dallas

Human Resource Management

Kendal Garrison

May 4, 2012

Dallas 2

Most employees have the expectation that their workplace will offer a safe environment in which to do their work. Some workplaces are safer than others just as some occupations offer more safety than others. Workplace safety ranks high on the list of goals for most workplaces. The employers care about their employee safety. They work towards more about how to create workplace safety and employee safety. In this research paper on human resource, I will be covering employee safety, and how important it is for companies to insure that their employees have a comfortable and non-hazardous work place environment. The employee rights under OSHA, the effects of OSHA, and safety awareness programs. I also will be giving data and statistics on employee injury or deaths within the past few years, in order to give an idea of how well companies take care of their employees.

Employee safety is a top concern everywhere in the business community. How do you take care of your workers and present a safe workplace environment for them to produce and grow? The main concern is the health of the employees. The last thing a company needs is for their employees getting hurt from any given possibility. Therefore, you have to take preventive measures in order to insure this. There are many areas of concern to address and many options for you to solve them with. By taking care of your employees, you are in return, taking care of your business in the long run. You don’t want to bury your company with high cost insurance due to accidents that could have been avoided. You should explorer some of the areas that render future concerns, if not addressed properly.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and protective workplace for their employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the U.S.

Dallas 3

Department of Labor, has the responsibility of insuring the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training; outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. The most comprehensive legislation regarding worker safety did not emerge in this country until the early 1970’s. At the time, there were roughly 15,000 work-related fatalities every year (page. 138). Under OSHA all employees have rights in regarding their safety in the workplace. Rights, such as requesting an inspection; have a representative present at an inspection; have dangerous substances identified; being promptly informed about exposure to hazards and be given access to accurate records regarding exposures; and to have employer violations posted at the work site (table 3.6). The main provision of OSHA states that each employer has a general duty to furnish each employee a place of employment free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm (page. 138). Addressing safety and health issues in the workplace can save the employer money and add value to the business.

Statistics show that in 2007 all non-fatal injuries and illnesses in private industries show total recordable cases of 4,002,700; cases involving days away from work 1,158,900; cases involving sprains, strains, and tears 444,510; Cases involving injuries to the back 235,960 and cases involving falls 253,410. All fatal work-related injuries in 2007 also in private industries included total recordable cases of total fatalities in all sections 5,488 (p); total fatalities 4,956(p); highway incidents 1,157(p); falls 803(p); and homicides 527(p) (table 3.7). One of the major

Dallas 4

policy of OSHA is that they have unannounced inspections. These inspections are conducted by specially trained agents of the Department of Labor called compliance officers. OSHA’s regulations prohibit advance notice of inspections. The officer, after showing his credentials, tells the employer the reasons for the inspection and describes, in a general way, the procedures necessary to conduct the investigation (page. 139).

An OSHA inspection has four major components. First the compliance officer reviews the employer’s records of deaths, injuries, and illness. OSHA requires this kind of record keeping from all firms with 11 or more full-or-part time employees. Second, the officer, typically accompanied by a representative of the employer, conducts a “walk around” tour of the employer’s premises. On this tour, the officer notes any conditions that may violate specific published standards or the less specific general duty clause. The third component of the inspection, employee interviews, may take place during the tour. At this time, any person who is aware of a violation can bring it to the attention of the officer. Finally, in a closing conference the compliance officer discusses the findings with the employer, noting any violations. The employer is given a reasonable time frame in which to correct violations. If any violation represents imminent danger the officer may, through the Department of Labor, seek a restraining order from a U.S. district court. Such an order compels the employer to correct the problem immediately (pages. 138-140). As you can see the policy and procedure of OSHA has been very effective in raising the awareness of hazardous materials in the workplace. However, statistically many industrial accidents are a product of unsafe behaviors, not unsafe working conditions. So

Dallas 5

because the act does not directly regulate employee behavior, a little behavior change can be expected unless employees are convinced of the standards’ importance. This has been recognized by labor leaders. (page. 141)

If a compliance officer believes that a violation has occurred, he or she issues a citation to the employer that specifies the exact practice or situation that violates the act. The employer is required to post this citation in a prominent place near the location of the violation even if the employer intends to contest it. Nonserious violations may be assessed up to $1,000 for each incident, but this may be adjusted downward if the employer has no prior history of violations or if the employer has made a good-faith effort to comply with the act. Serious violations of the act or willful, repeated violations may be fined up to $10,000 per incident. Fines for safety violations are never levied against the employees’ themselves. The assumption is that safety is primarily the responsibility of the employer, who needs to work with employees to ensure that they use safe working procedures. In addition to civil penalties, criminal penalties may also be assed for willful violations that kill an employee. Fines can go as high as $20,000 and the employer or agents of the employer can be imprisoned. Criminal charges can also be brought against everyone who falsifies records that are subjected to OSHA inspection or anyone who gives advance notice of OSHA inspection without permission from the Department of Labor (pages. 140)

When workers stay whole and healthy a number of things can help a company benefit from it such as the direct cost-saving to a business. Examples may include lower workers’

Dallas 6

compensation insurance cost; reduce medical expenditures; smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs; fewer faulty products; lower cost for job accommodations for injured workers; and less money spent for overtime benefits. Companies may also see that safety and health also make huge reductions in indirect cost as well such as increase in productivity; higher quality products; increased morale; better labor and management relations; reduced turnover; and better use of human resources. Lastly, employees and their families benefit from safety and health issues because their incomes are protected; their family lives are not hampered; and they have less stress.

Safety awareness programs go beyond compliance with OSHA and attempt to instill symbolic and substantive changes in the organization’s emphasis on safety. These programs typically focus either on specific job and job elements or on specific types of injuries or disabilities. A safety awareness program has three primary components identifying and communicating hazards, reinforcing safe practices, and promoting safety internationally (page. 141). When it comes to identifying and communicating job hazards employees, supervisors, and other knowledgeable sources need to sit down and discuss potential problems related to safety. Use the “job hazard analysis technique” as described in our text is one of the mean for accomplishing this. With this technique, each job is broken down into basic elements and each of these is rated for potential harm or injury. If there is consensus that some job element has high hazard potential, this element is isolated and potential technological or behavioral changes are considered. The second primary component is reinforcing safe practices. One common

Dallas 7

technique for reinforcing safe practices is implementing a safety incentive program to reward workers for their support and commitment to safety goals. Initially programs are set up to focus on improving short-term monthly or quarterly goals or to encourage safety suggestions. These short-term goals are later expanded to include more wide-ranging, long-term goals. Prizes are typically distributed in highly public forms. These prizes usually consist of merchandise rather than cash because merchandise represents a lasting symbol of achievement. A good deal of evidence suggests that such programs are effective in reducing injuries and their cost. The third and final component is promoting safety internationally. Given the increase focus on international management, organizations also need to consider how to best ensure the safety of the people regardless of the nation in which they operate. However, cultural differences may make this more difficult than it seems (pages. 141-144) Twenty-four states, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands operate their own OSHA approved safety and health programs. While programs in these states may differ in some respects from Federal OSHA, the standards imposed by State Plan Sates must be at least effective as Federal OSHA standards

I personally think the most strategic and effective way of handling occupational safety and health is by simply applying good business strategy. Nobody wants accident to happen in his or her business. Such as a fire, permanent injury, or death of an employee or an owner can cause the loss of profit or their entire business. To prevent such losses, you don’t have to turn you business upside down and you may not have to spend a lot of money, either. However, I do think you need to use a good business concept and apply it to recognized prevention principles. In

Dallas 8

other words there are reasons why accidents happen or something goes wrong somewhere. It may take some thought, and maybe the help from your fellow peers or colleagues, to figure out what went wrong but an accident always has a cause. Once you know why an accident happened, it is possible to prevent future incidents. You need some basic facts and perhaps some help from others who already have the answer. You also are going to need a strategic plan on how to avoid this from ever happening again. Not all dangers at your worksite depend on an accident. Employees’ exposure to toxic chemicals or harmful levels of noise or radiation may happen in conjunction with routine work as well as by accident. You may not realize the extent of the exposure or harm that you and your employees face. The effect may not be immediate, but you will need a plan that includes prevention of these health hazard exposures and accidents. You need a safety and health management system. I wouldn’t think it would be very difficult for a company to develop such a plan. All they have to do is address the types of accidental and health hazard exposures that could happen in your workplace. Because each workplace is different, your program should address your specific needs and requirements.

In the end when you’re looking at the big picture protecting people on the job is in everyone’s best interest, our economy, our communities, and our fellow workers and families. Safety and health add value to business workplace and lives.

Works Cited

Geller, E., Bolduc, J. E., Foy, M. J., & Dean, J. C. (2012). Actively Caring for Safety. Professional Safety, 57(1), 44-50.

Carmeli, A., Reiter-Palmon, R., & Ziv, E. (2010). Inclusive Leadership and Employee Involvement in Creative Tasks in the Workplace: The Mediating Role of Psychological Safety. Creativity Research Journal, 22(3), 250-260. doi:10.1080/10400419.2010.504654

Behm, M. (2009). Employee Morale. Professional Safety, 54(10), 42-49

Silvestre, J. (2010). Improving Workplace Safety in the Ontario Manufacturing Industry, 1914-1939. Business History Review, 84(3), 527-550.

Sohawon, K., & Whitaker, S. (2011). Healthcare workers in safe hands. Occupational Health, 63(9), 20-23.

Smith, T. A. (2011). Safety Management: A Personal Development Strategy. Professional Safety, 56(3), 58-68.

Coniglio, J. (2010). OSHA Inspections: What to Do When OSHA Calls. Professional Safety, 55(12), 39-41.

Abrams, A. L. (2010). Legislative Activities Favor Heightened OSHA/MSHA Enforcement. Professional Safety, 55(4), 40-43.

OSHA Timeline Commemorates 40 Years of Progress. (2011). Professional Safety, 56(4), 20.

OSHA to Modernize Reporting System for Injuries & Illnesses. (2010). Professional Safety, 55(7), 17-18.