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Welcome to Unit 9 Seminar

Injury Prevention

And

Occupational Safety and Health

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Required Reading

• Chapter 21: “Injury Prevention” – 506-527

• Chapter 22: “Occupational Safety and Health Law” – 528-550

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Injuries and Deaths: Current Statistics

In this nation:--150,000 injury-related deaths and 50 million nonfatal

injuries occur each year.- Homicides, suicides and deaths from injuries caused

by motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths for persons aged 1-44.

- For all persons under age 34 years, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death.

- For persons aged 15-34 years, homicide and suicide rank as either the second or third leading causes, and

homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans in this age group.

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Injuries and Deaths: Current Statistics Continued

- Injury ranks as the leading cause of premature mortality in the United States.

- Medical treatment and associated productivity losses from injury cost an estimated $406 billion in 2000.

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Haddon Matrix

The Haddon Matrix can assist in consideration and development of legal

interventions designed to prevent an injury

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State Laws

Most injury-prevention laws are found at the state level of government. These include:

• Motor vehicle: driver’s license, seatbelts, child restraints, motorcycle helmets, etc.

• Requirements for motor vehicle inspections• Laws pertaining to assault and abuse

• Firearm laws• Regulations governing the sale, possession, and

use of other dangerous products, such as poisons, explosives, drugs, and alcohol

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State Laws Continued

• Building codes that regulate the design, function, and safety of structures

• Fire-safety laws governing the use of flammable products

• Laws that address the nature and use of restraining orders for protecting victims of

intimate partner violence• Laws governing the role of the state in intervening in families for purposes of child

protection from abuse and neglect

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Motor Vehicle

Two categories of law-related interventions to prevent motor vehicle injuries:

1. Laws designed to ensure passenger safety through appropriate use of safety equipment

2. Laws that regulate drivers (some generally address the issue of drinking and driving, and others specifically

regulate young, inexperienced drivers).

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Youth Violence Prevention

Historically, youth violence has been dealt with by providing medical treatment to the injured person, and incarcerating the perpetrator. Today:

1. An emphasis has been placed on problem-solving courts; such as drug-treatment courts, and abuse-offender courts.

2. An emphasis for youth is placed in programs, such as “youth courts,” “teen courts,” and “peer courts.”

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Occupational Safety: Historical Efforts

Early federal involvement in worker safety focused on workers in highly dangerous occupations or with a clear connection to interstate commerce, such as merchant seamen, railroad workers, and miners

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Occupational Injuries: Today

• An estimated 55,000 people die annually from work-related illnesses.

• In 2002 the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 5,524 fatal injuries and 4.4 million nonfatal

injuries and 294,500 new nonfatal occupational illnesses.

• It is estimated that 50% of occupational illnesses are undiagnosed.

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Under the “supremacy clause” of the Constitutions, Congress can pass laws

that preempt, or even prohibit, state laws addressing the subject matter of federal legislation. The OSHA Act has such a clause that effectively preempts state regulation of workplace safety, except where federal OSHA has delegated

authority to a state-run OSHA program.

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OSHA: Who it Covers

OSHA applies to all employers and employees in manufacturing, construction,

transportation agriculture, health care, retail and private education. The OSHA Act also covers secular employees of

religious groups and nonprofit organizations.

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OSHA: What it Covers

OSHA has two principle functions:

1. Setting safety and health standards

2. Conducting workplace inspections to enforce compliance with the standards.

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Final Exam

• 50 questions – consisting of true/false questions and multiple choice questions.

• Time allowed: 2 hours, 55 minutes• Must take at one sitting

• Please use your graded quizzes and midterm exam as study guides, in addition to your textbook readings throughout the course.

• Comprehensive: covers all information learned in this course.

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Instructor’s Course Reflections

My students are:• Intelligent

• Caring/Supportive• Constructive

• Patient• Reliable

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you; YOU ARE THE BEST!

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Unit 10 To-Do-List

• Study for the final exam

• Take the final exam before the end of Unit 10

• Provide course feedback in the discussion room (not graded)