Dessler 16

© 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc. © 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.All rights reserved.

PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie CookPowerPoint Presentation by Charlie CookThe University of West AlabamaThe University of West Alabama

1

Human Resource Human Resource ManagementManagement

ELEVENTH EDITIONELEVENTH EDITION

G A R Y D E S S L E RG A R Y D E S S L E R

Employee Safety and HealthEmployee Safety and Health

Chapter Chapter 1616

Part 5 | Employee RelationsPart 5 | Employee Relations

© 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. 16–2

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

1.1. Explain the basic facts about OSHA.Explain the basic facts about OSHA.

2.2. Explain the supervisor’s role in safety.Explain the supervisor’s role in safety.

3.3. Minimize unsafe acts by employees.Minimize unsafe acts by employees.

4.4. Explain how to deal with important occupational health Explain how to deal with important occupational health problems.problems.


Occupational Safety LawOccupational Safety Law

• Occupational Safety and Health ActOccupational Safety and Health Act The law passed by Congress in 1970 “to assure so The law passed by Congress in 1970 “to assure so

far as possible every working man and woman in the far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.”preserve our human resources.”

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)(OSHA) The agency created within the Department of Labor The agency created within the Department of Labor

to set safety and health standards for almost all to set safety and health standards for almost all workers in the United States.workers in the United States.


Inspection GuidelinesInspection Guidelines

• Initial ContactInitial Contact Refer inspector to the company’s OSHA coordinator.Refer inspector to the company’s OSHA coordinator.

Check inspector’s credentials.Check inspector’s credentials.

Ask inspector why he or she is inspecting the Ask inspector why he or she is inspecting the workplace: Complaint? Regular scheduled visit? workplace: Complaint? Regular scheduled visit? Fatality or accident follow-up? Imminent danger?Fatality or accident follow-up? Imminent danger?

If the inspection stems from a complaint, you are If the inspection stems from a complaint, you are entitled to know whether the person is a current entitled to know whether the person is a current employee, though not the person’s name.employee, though not the person’s name.

Notify your counsel.Notify your counsel.


Inspection Guidelines (cont’d)Inspection Guidelines (cont’d)

• Opening ConferenceOpening Conference

Establish focus and scope of the planned inspection.Establish focus and scope of the planned inspection.

Discuss procedures for protecting trade secret areas.Discuss procedures for protecting trade secret areas.

Show inspector that you have safety programs in Show inspector that you have safety programs in place. He or she may not go to the work floor if place. He or she may not go to the work floor if paperwork is complete and up to date.paperwork is complete and up to date.


Inspection Guidelines (cont’d)Inspection Guidelines (cont’d)

• Walk-Around InspectionWalk-Around Inspection Accompany the inspector and take detailed notes.Accompany the inspector and take detailed notes.

If inspector takes a photo or video, you should, too.If inspector takes a photo or video, you should, too.

Ask for duplicates of all physical samples and copies Ask for duplicates of all physical samples and copies of all test results.of all test results.

Be helpful and cooperative, but don’t volunteer Be helpful and cooperative, but don’t volunteer information.information.

To the extent possible, immediately correct any To the extent possible, immediately correct any violation the inspector identifies.violation the inspector identifies.


What Causes Accidents?What Causes Accidents?

Chance Occurrences

Employees’ Unsafe Acts

Basic Causes of Accidents

Unsafe Conditions


What Causes Accidents? (cont’d)What Causes Accidents? (cont’d)

Improperly Guarded

Equipment

Defective Equipment

Improper Ventilation

Improper Illumination

Hazardous Procedures

UnsafeStorage

Unsafe Conditions


Controlling Workers’ Compensation CostsControlling Workers’ Compensation Costs

• Before the AccidentBefore the Accident Communicate written safety and substance abuse Communicate written safety and substance abuse

policies to workers and then strictly enforce policies.policies to workers and then strictly enforce policies.

• After the AccidentAfter the Accident Be proactive in providing first aid, and make sure the Be proactive in providing first aid, and make sure the

worker gets quick medical attention.worker gets quick medical attention.

Make it clear that you are interested in the injured Make it clear that you are interested in the injured worker and his or her fears and questions.worker and his or her fears and questions.

Document the accident; file required reports.Document the accident; file required reports.

Encourage a speedy return to work.Encourage a speedy return to work.


Workplace Exposure HazardsWorkplace Exposure Hazards

• Chemicals and other hazardous materials.Chemicals and other hazardous materials.

• Excessive noise and vibrations.Excessive noise and vibrations.

• Temperature extremes.Temperature extremes.

• Biohazards including those that are normally Biohazards including those that are normally occurring and manmade.occurring and manmade.

• Ergonomic hazards of poorly designed Ergonomic hazards of poorly designed equipment that forces workers to do jobs while equipment that forces workers to do jobs while contorted in unnatural positions.contorted in unnatural positions.

• Slippery floors and blocked passageways.Slippery floors and blocked passageways.


Dealing with Substance AbuseDealing with Substance Abuse

When an Employee Tests

Positive

In-house Counseling

Referral to an Outside Agency

Discharge

Disciplining


Violence at WorkViolence at Work

• Steps to Reduce Workplace Violence:Steps to Reduce Workplace Violence: Institute heightened security measuresInstitute heightened security measures Improve employee screeningImprove employee screening Provide workplace violence trainingProvide workplace violence training Provide organizational justiceProvide organizational justice Pay enhanced attention to employee Pay enhanced attention to employee

retention/dismissalretention/dismissal Take care when dismissing violent employeesTake care when dismissing violent employees Deal promptly with angry employeesDeal promptly with angry employees Understand the legal constraints on reducing Understand the legal constraints on reducing

workplace violenceworkplace violence


Evacuation PlansEvacuation Plans

• Evacuation contingency plans should contain:Evacuation contingency plans should contain:

Methods for early detection of a problem.Methods for early detection of a problem.

Methods for communicating the emergency Methods for communicating the emergency externally.externally.

Communications plans for initiating an evacuation.Communications plans for initiating an evacuation.

Communications plans for those the employer wants Communications plans for those the employer wants to evacuate that provide specific information about to evacuate that provide specific information about the emergency, and let them know what action they the emergency, and let them know what action they should take next.should take next.


K E Y T E R M SK E Y T E R M S

Occupational Safety and Health ActOccupational Safety and Health Act

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

occupational illnessoccupational illness

citationcitation

unsafe conditionsunsafe conditions

behavior-based safetybehavior-based safety

material safety data sheets (MSDS)material safety data sheets (MSDS)

burnoutburnout

natural securitynatural security

mechanical securitymechanical security

organizational securityorganizational security

Health & Medicine

Dessler 16