HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER : EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH

EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH

DEFINITION OF SAFETY AND HEALTH

Safety is:

• To protect organization members from illness and physical danger in the

workplace. The process also includes the protection of the surrounding
community from pollution or toxic substance.

• To design the job place to fit the real people who must work there.

• To protect the well being of employees is to protect organizations most

valuable resource and to avoid the staggering costs and negative public
image associated with safety neglect.

Health is defined:

• The general state of physical, mental and emotional well being of employees
in the workplace.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT 1994

OSHA 1994 was gazetted on the February 24th 1994. The OSHA is a comprehensive
legislation that replaced Factories and Machinery Act 1967, which extend the
function and roles of safety and health management at the workplace.

The act aims to ensure safe working condition for every employee by:

• Setting and enforcing work

• Promoting employer-sponsored educational programs

• Requiring employers to keep records regarding job related safety and health
matters

IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AND HEALTH

There is several numbers why safety and health is quite important to organization.

• To avoid the penalty, fines and others

• To motivate the workers by providing the safe and conducive workplace

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CHAPTER : EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH

• To reduce the cost in terms of medical payment and repaired the defective
equipments or machineries.

• To protect the organizational image

• Because of this is a social obligation of organization toward the

society/community

DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS UNDER OSHA 1994

To comply with the OSHA 1994, employers must do the following:

1. Ensure the safety of all employees and any other person at the workplace, as
far as is practicable.

2. Draft and disseminate a safety policy, if the organization has more than five
employees.

3. Appoint a safety committee, if the organization has 40 or more employees.

4. Appoint a dedicated, qualified safety and health officer, if the organization

falls within a scope of the relevant regulation.

5. Provide appropriate training, supervision and information to employees

concerning safe work practices.

6. Report serious accidents to the Department of Occupational Safety and

Health.

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES UNDER OSHA 1994

1. To take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself or other person
who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work.

2. To cooperate with his employer or any other person in the discharge of any
duty or requirement imposed on the employer or that other person by the act
of any other regulation.

3. To wear or use at all times any protection equipment or clothing provided by

the employer for the purpose of preventing risks to his safety and health.

4. To comply with any instruction or measure on occupational safety and health

instituted by his employer or any other person by or under the act or any
other regulation.

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TYPES AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

Occupational accidents can be classified and described in a number of ways.

Accidents at work may be caused by:

• Technical causes

Includes use of production machinery, walkways and areas where people

climb, use of hand tools, use of electricity, and use of toxic or boiling liquids,
unclear procedures and so on.

• Human causes

The human causes of accidents includes faulty attitudes, low attention span,
drinking and drug abuse, faulty judgment of speed and distance,
impulsiveness, irresponsibility, nervousness and fear, worry and depression,
unsafe behavior and others.

• Environmental causes

It includes improper illumination (glare and insufficient light) and improper

ventilation (insufficient air change and impure air source).

HOW TO PREVENT

• Provide the safety policy

• Provide suitable training on the safety and health matters

• Reinforced through various communication with employees a method like

posters, meeting, fire drills, articles, booklets and others.

• Provide the protective equipment and cloth such as earplugs, hard hats,
safety goggles, safety boots, gloves, face shields, helmets, safety belts and
others.

• Provide competent first aid in workplace

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Common health hazards at work are:

• Use of organic chemicals and toxic substances

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• Fumes, dust and smoke

• Radiation

• Infection

• Noise and vibration levels

• Extreme temperatures

• Stress, burnout and depression

HEALTH PROMOTION TO ADDRESS HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Social support from family and organization

• Attend stress management program

• Attend wellness program. This is a program to assist employees to maintain

and improve their physical and mental health.