Safety and Health Evaluation Essay

Safety in the workplace used to be one of the most relevant issues about organizational environment. This point is based on outstandingly negative and even tragic consequences that can be caused by improper keeping of safety standards and guidelines. Considering that appropriate subject was deeply researched by numerous scholars and remains strongly regulated by laws, it looks surprising that there are a lot of examples of real life organizational safety neglect. In this paper we’ll try to evaluate widely spread violations in work places in the aspect of commonly known highest standards’ of safety breaking. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

As it was already noticed, society witnessed numerous interesting works about safety in organizations. The biggest part of authors are solid that appropriate task can be solved with fundamental approach, when all kinds of stakeholders are tied with one aim and endowed with inherent to their status responsibilities. However, some writers present pretty reasonable opinion that proper safety at organization is the task of management at the first hand. For example, Roughton, J. E. and J. J. Mercurio in “Developing an effective safety culture: a leadership approach” say that only management is capable to direct companies’ intention towards proper safety at workplaces establishment. Managment principles explored in noticed book include next positions: leading by example, communicating change effectively, generating shared goals to get the organization moving in the same direction, and providing visible leadership. Respectful scholars outline the need for employee participation as well noting that organizations are more social than individual by nature (Roughton, J.E., Mercurio J.J.). As for the practical guidelines concerning safety keeping, the system of management and control include three points: Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Control. Let’s make some brief notes about each of mentioned items.Hazard Identification is a kind of activity directed to find out factors that could bring harm to stakeholders.Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.  Depending on business specific, organizational environment may involve next types of them: mechanical, fall-related, lifting-related, pressure, sound, noise and vibration, heat, cold and temperature, fire, explosion, electrical, chemical, biological, toxic, carcinogenic and otherwise harmful substances, radiation, automation, ergonomic, and human and psychosocial factors (Wiliams, H.).

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Risk assessing include work aimed to foresee what are the chances that hazard will bring harm to stakeholders. To deal with this task, there is general recommendation to answer two simple questions – how likely is it that the hazard could harm me or some other stakeholders? how badly could I or other stakeholders be harmed?Risk control suggests that organization needs changes to eliminate or reduce the effects of found hazards. Mostly, this part lies in domain of employers’ responsibility. However, employees also should contribute this goal achievement feasibly. The main problem here is often met organizations’ inability rid hazards totally. In such cases, it is important to decrease the probability of hazards effect maximally. Generally, next steps can be provided at this part: Elimination, Substitution, Isolation, Safeguards, Instructing workers in the safest way to do something, and Using personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) (Williams, H.).Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Being clear with the main guidelines about safety management, let’s make some evaluations on the base of special example presented by Marc M. Rosen. There is the talk about Canadian manufacturer of automotive global company with headquarters in Canada. It was always known for pretty reasonable practices in part of organizational safety. However, including both automatic and manual working forces this company experienced several violations during the time of scholar’s observations:

a) In an assembly area that was installed recently, workers have to bend to the groundthroughout the day to attach several small parts onto a large and heavy vehicle component. Some workers have begun to develop lower back pain, likely due to therepetitive bending. The manual force was not replaced with automatic equipment due economic inappropriateness (Rosen, M.).b) High level of respiratory illnesses among employees.Used in the booths (paints, solvents, etc.) are known to be causes of the observed respiratory illnesses. Butthe workers are not supposed to come into contact with any of the substances because the paint-spray booths are designed to ensure that all materials exit the plant through a highcapacity ventilation system. As it was found, the effect of hazard was caused by not tested ventilation, which was in poor condition (Rosen, M.).

c) In an area of the plant where metal cutting occurs and workers use protective eyewear, workers have reported minor eye injuries. The area in question is one where it is common knowledge that the workers do not routinely use the protective eyewear. Workers complain that they find the protective eyewear uncomfortable and do not think it is needed or important (Rosen, M.). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay. Now let’s compare noted case and best world practices that correspond guidelines of safety at organizations keeping. This comparison will help to emphasize controversies between general principles of safety management and practices of above noted case. As for the first violation, there is the gap in risk control part and Using personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) particularly. Even considering that manual force could not be replaced by automatic equipment, employers did not use the achievements of ergonomics subject that allow to fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities. Respiratory diseases can be explained by the violation of best world practices in the part of risk assessment. It looks pretty clear that management did not make the comprehensive list of steps to predict the negative influence of toxic hazards to their employees. At last, the cases of eye injuries among employees is explained by violations of risk control best standards. There is no doubt that management implemented needful measure about using personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE). However, the lack of instructing work is felt there. Speaking frankly, analyzed case is useful to support the idea of Roughton, J. E. and J. J. Mercurio who stated that safety at workplaces keeping is the task of management mostly. Each of three violations is not only the example of risk management guidelines’ violation, each of them can serve as a visionary aid of employers irresponsible behavior to attitude towards own duties. As it was stated at the beginning of this paper, there are several needful items to say that organization’s management is conscientiously approached towards main goal of safety establishment. Provided evaluation showed that formal approach to safety management generates inevitable violations that cannot correspond the highest standards. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

References

Rosen, M. (2006).“Engineering Health and Safety Module and Case Studies”, 4p. Retrieved from http://www.safetymanagementeducation.com/en/data/files/download/Documents/engineering%20hs%20module.pdf
Roughton, J. E. and J. J. Mercurio (2002). Developing an effective safety culture : a leadership approach. Boston, Butterworth-Heinemann.

Williams, H.A.H. “10 Steps to a Safer Workplace.” HR Focus 74, no. 2 (1997): 9–10.

Human resources are one of the most important features of many businesses. A business’ success relies heavily on the effectiveness to which this resource is managed. Policies and practices used by the firm, set out the standards to which they seek to aspire. They are designed to govern the operation of the business; especially in today’s economy where there is such a rise in service industries (Biz/ed, 2010). This topic is of importance to us because it has proven to be a neglected field in today’s corporate world; especially in Grenada. In this regard, this paper seek to highlight the importance of Workplace Health and safety to the business, to develop an understanding of how its effective management can affect the performance of a business, outline how this can be effectively carried out with the interest of the company in mind.Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

It is often said that, “the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation” (Fraser, 2004), the same concept applies to business. The health and safety of a company’s human resource is an enormous contributor to the success of that business. Human resources account for a large proportion of many company’s’ costs; it is the people that invariably drive a business (Biz/ed, 2010)

According to the Bureau Veritas, Workplace Health and Safety refers to, the evaluation of risks relating to the health and safety of an organization’s workers and others (including the public) who may be affected by its activities (Bureau Veritas, 2007).

Who establish workplace health and safety?

The health and safety of a workplace is established through different sources. Firstly, on a national level occupational health and safety is instituted in accordance with legal regulations that were created by legislative decisions and is enforced and monitored by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for the U.S., and the Ministry of Labour in Grenada. OSHA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labour, has the responsibility of assuring the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging (OSHA, n.d.).

On a national and/or on a company level there are also instances of regular inspections by a safety representative. This can be self requested or legally mandated. This is done to ensure that companies follow the stipulated guidelines that are set to govern the safety and health of the workplace. Also, from a corporate standpoint, the health and safety standards of the company can be establish by the declaration of it in the Company’s general worker manual and/or in the separate manual set aside for clearly laying out, the standards by which the company seek to keep its work environment and the people that use it safe and healthy. A more informal, but still an effective method is employee observation. This is simply employees reporting hazards that go unnoticed to the inspection representative and/or management.

These options are in place to ensure accordance of a company to monitor and control the health and safety of the workplace, and to maintain it.Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.  In-adherence of regulations set by the above regulatory bodies can result in an employer being fined or sentenced to jail time (Cascio, 1998).

Reasons for Maintaining Workplace Health and Safety

There are reasons why a business should maintain a safe and healthy workplace. It purges the environment of possible risks to everyone that uses the facility. An organization’s productivity is directly related to the health and safety of its workforce. Therefore, proper health and safety practices safeguard the productivity of its employees. When the workforce is unhealthy it affects productivity; quantity and quality. Proper practices maintain the health of the workers and it protects human rights; the human right to a safe and healthy environment and the human right to a safe and healthy workplace (PDHRE, n.d.)

A major reason for maintaining health and safety in the workplace is that failure to do so cost too much. The consequences of not up keeping proper health and safety practices can range from having expensive monetary payouts, to death (users of the workplace). Other repercussions are

Lower productivity levels – sick or injured worker do not produce the same quality and quantity as do health workers.

Poor quality products and services – the direct relation between quality of workforce and quality of products or service they produce.

High levels of complaints from customers – lower quality of products or services delivered to customers would make them unhappy. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Loss of customers and subsequently lower revenues – if the quality of the production isn’t addressed it can result in a loss in the customer base and later loss in revenues because of lower sales.

Higher costs – this increase in cost can come from different sources including: payment of insurance claims for damages, cost of substitution for sick or injured workers (training and wages), and benefits for sick or injured workers.

Higher staff turnover – as persons get sick or injured on the job they tend to leave. If the health and safety practices of the workplace are dreadful employees would not stay therefore higher turnover.

Poor industrial relations – poor health and safety practices would attract attention from unions who fight for the rights of employees.

Thus, addressing safety and health issues in the workplace saves the employer money and adds value to the business (OSHA, n.d.). When workers remain safe and healthy, the direct cost-savings to businesses include:

lower workers’ compensation insurance costs

reduced medical expenditures

smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs

fewer faulty products

lower costs for job accommodations for injured workers

less money spent for overtime benefits

Safety and health also result in substantial decreases in indirect cost (OSHA, n.d.). This is as a result of:

increased productivity

higher quality products

increased morale

better labour/management relations

reduced turnover

better use of human resources

Employees and their families benefit from safety and health because (OSHA, n.d.):

their incomes are protected; no financial shock because of illness or injury

their family lives are not hampered by injury; no loss of income destabilization because of illness and injury

they have less stress; because of a com

Workplace health and safety extend way beyond the boundaries of the worksite. The families of workers and other users of the worksite can also be impacted by health and safety in the workplace (OSHA, n.d.). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

It is of a misconception that health and safety in the workplace only entails ensuring that there aren’t any hazards on the worksite however it should be noted that the hazard can be the employees themselves. Employees who are sick (communicable/non communicable), who have a drug or alcohol problem, who have psychological problems can also pose great threat to the health and safety of others in the workplace. Violent employees can also be classified as a hazard (Cascio, 1998). In this regard testing of the individual together with the worksite is necessary; drug and alcohol testing, psychological tests etc.

Whose responsibility is it?

The health and safety of a workplace should be part of the business’ HR strategy. It should be an initiative that is deeply rooted into the culture of a business. No one person should be responsible for it. Given this, all employees, supervisors and managers should undergo training in this area to suit their position. Managers especially should possess an attitude that support good health and safety practices because it is usually mirrored by employees; if the manager care about health and safety, the employees will do too (OSHA, n.d.).

Both the employer and the employee are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is healthy and safe for all users. Employers are legally obligated to maintain and provide a working environment that is conducive for comfortable operations. They also have to provide safe systems of work and facilities that would sustain the welfare of its employees. They are also responsible for providing employees with any information, instruction, training and/or supervision that is needed to ensure that workers are safe during operations no matter the job. As a result of this responsibility to ensure employees are safe at work, an employer may institute regulations and policies that would call for the attention from and compliance of employees (Directgov, 2010).

Employees are also expected to play a part in ensuring proper health and safety of the workplace.Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.  They are to make certain their own personal health and safety and that of other persons in the workplace; whether colleague, customer, supplier, etc. Importantly, workers are expected to adhere to the directions given by management to guarantee health and safety. If workers are to ignore these directives it creates a hazard in the workplace not only for themselves but also for others (Directgov, 2010).

Effective management of the resource

Each workplace is different and dynamic. Therefore the strategy used to effectively manage the human resource should also be different and dynamic. This strategy should include clear and concise plans for the addressing the types of accidents that and exposing the health and safety hazards that could occur at the worksite (OSHA, n.d.).

An effective plan, as based upon the safety and health program management guidelines given by OSHA in January 1989 is the Four Point workplace Program.

The Four Point Workplace Program as its name suggests, it is a program that contains four elements in approaching optimum effective health and safety standards. These elements

Commitment and Employee Involvement

The manager or management team leads the way, by setting policy, assigning and supporting responsibility, setting an example and involving employees.

Worksite Analysis

The worksite is continually analyzed to identify all existing and potential hazards. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Hazard Prevention and Control

Methods to prevent or control existing or potential hazards are put in place and maintained.

Training for Employees, Supervisors and Managers

Managers, supervisors and employees are trained to understand and deal with worksite hazards.

Conclusion:

The success of a business rests to a large degree on the quality of the workforce – successful management of this crucial resource is critical (Biz/ed, 2010)

The Employer has a responsibility to ensure that his/her employees are safe at work, and so may institute regulations and policies to ensure this. It is now the responsibility of the employee to make certain that they follow these rules. As an employee, one has rights and responsibilities for their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues and by extension the public (customers) (OSHA, n.d.).” The key to the success of a safety and health plan is to see it as a part of the business operation and to see it reflected in the day-to-day operations. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay. As the implemented plan is incorporated into the business culture, health and safety consciousness will become engrained into the psyche of everyone. (OSHA, n.d.). Protecting people on the job is in everyone’s best interest – our economy, our communities, our fellow workers and our families. Safety and health add value to businesses, workplaces and lives (OSHA, n.d.).

Human resources are one of the most important features of many businesses. A business’ success relies heavily on the effectiveness to which this resource is managed. Policies and practices used by the firm, set out the standards to which they seek to aspire. They are designed to govern the operation of the business; especially in today’s economy where there is such a rise in service industries (Biz/ed, 2010). This topic is of importance to us because it has proven to be a neglected field in today’s corporate world; especially in Grenada. In this regard, this paper seek to highlight the importance of Workplace Health and safety to the business, to develop an understanding of how its effective management can affect the performance of a business, outline how this can be effectively carried out with the interest of the company in mind.

It is often said that, “the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation” (Fraser, 2004), the same concept applies to business. The health and safety of a company’s human resource is an enormous contributor to the success of that business. Human resources account for a large proportion of many company’s’ costs; it is the people that invariably drive a business (Biz/ed, 2010)

According to the Bureau Veritas, Workplace Health and Safety refers to, the evaluation of risks relating to the health and safety of an organization’s workers and others (including the public) who may be affected by its activities (Bureau Veritas, 2007). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Who establish workplace health and safety?

The health and safety of a workplace is established through different sources. Firstly, on a national level occupational health and safety is instituted in accordance with legal regulations that were created by legislative decisions and is enforced and monitored by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for the U.S., and the Ministry of Labour in Grenada. OSHA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labour, has the responsibility of assuring the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging (OSHA, n.d.).

On a national and/or on a company level there are also instances of regular inspections by a safety representative. This can be self requested or legally mandated. This is done to ensure that companies follow the stipulated guidelines that are set to govern the safety and health of the workplace. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay. Also, from a corporate standpoint, the health and safety standards of the company can be establish by the declaration of it in the Company’s general worker manual and/or in the separate manual set aside for clearly laying out, the standards by which the company seek to keep its work environment and the people that use it safe and healthy. A more informal, but still an effective method is employee observation. This is simply employees reporting hazards that go unnoticed to the inspection representative and/or management.

These options are in place to ensure accordance of a company to monitor and control the health and safety of the workplace, and to maintain it. In-adherence of regulations set by the above regulatory bodies can result in an employer being fined or sentenced to jail time (Cascio, 1998).

Reasons for Maintaining Workplace Health and Safety

There are reasons why a business should maintain a safe and healthy workplace. It purges the environment of possible risks to everyone that uses the facility. An organization’s productivity is directly related to the health and safety of its workforce. Therefore, proper health and safety practices safeguard the productivity of its employees. When the workforce is unhealthy it affects productivity; quantity and quality. Proper practices maintain the health of the workers and it protects human rights; the human right to a safe and healthy environment and the human right to a safe and healthy workplace (PDHRE, n.d.)

A major reason for maintaining health and safety in the workplace is that failure to do so cost too much. The consequences of not up keeping proper health and safety practices can range from having expensive monetary payouts, to death (users of the workplace). Other repercussions are

Lower productivity levels – sick or injured worker do not produce the same quality and quantity as do health workers.

Poor quality products and services – the direct relation between quality of workforce and quality of products or service they produce.

High levels of complaints from customers – lower quality of products or services delivered to customers would make them unhappy. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Loss of customers and subsequently lower revenues – if the quality of the production isn’t addressed it can result in a loss in the customer base and later loss in revenues because of lower sales.

Higher costs – this increase in cost can come from different sources including: payment of insurance claims for damages, cost of substitution for sick or injured workers (training and wages), and benefits for sick or injured workers.

Higher staff turnover – as persons get sick or injured on the job they tend to leave. If the health and safety practices of the workplace are dreadful employees would not stay therefore higher turnover.

Poor industrial relations – poor health and safety practices would attract attention from unions who fight for the rights of employees.

Thus, addressing safety and health issues in the workplace saves the employer money and adds value to the business (OSHA, n.d.). When workers remain safe and healthy, the direct cost-savings to businesses include:

lower workers’ compensation insurance costs

reduced medical expenditures

smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs

fewer faulty products

lower costs for job accommodations for injured workers

less money spent for overtime benefits

Safety and health also result in substantial decreases in indirect cost (OSHA, n.d.). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay. This is as a result of:

increased productivity

higher quality products

increased morale

better labour/management relations

reduced turnover

better use of human resources

Employees and their families benefit from safety and health because (OSHA, n.d.):

their incomes are protected; no financial shock because of illness or injury

their family lives are not hampered by injury; no loss of income destabilization because of illness and injury

they have less stress; because of a com

Workplace health and safety extend way beyond the boundaries of the worksite. The families of workers and other users of the worksite can also be impacted by health and safety in the workplace (OSHA, n.d.).

It is of a misconception that health and safety in the workplace only entails ensuring that there aren’t any hazards on the worksite however it should be noted that the hazard can be the employees themselves. Employees who are sick (communicable/non communicable), who have a drug or alcohol problem, who have psychological problems can also pose great threat to the health and safety of others in the workplace. Violent employees can also be classified as a hazard (Cascio, 1998). In this regard testing of the individual together with the worksite is necessary; drug and alcohol testing, psychological tests etc.

Whose responsibility is it?

The health and safety of a workplace should be part of the business’ HR strategy. It should be an initiative that is deeply rooted into the culture of a business. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay. No one person should be responsible for it. Given this, all employees, supervisors and managers should undergo training in this area to suit their position. Managers especially should possess an attitude that support good health and safety practices because it is usually mirrored by employees; if the manager care about health and safety, the employees will do too (OSHA, n.d.).

Both the employer and the employee are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is healthy and safe for all users. Employers are legally obligated to maintain and provide a working environment that is conducive for comfortable operations. They also have to provide safe systems of work and facilities that would sustain the welfare of its employees. They are also responsible for providing employees with any information, instruction, training and/or supervision that is needed to ensure that workers are safe during operations no matter the job. As a result of this responsibility to ensure employees are safe at work, an employer may institute regulations and policies that would call for the attention from and compliance of employees (Directgov, 2010).

Employees are also expected to play a part in ensuring proper health and safety of the workplace. They are to make certain their own personal health and safety and that of other persons in the workplace; whether colleague, customer, supplier, etc. Importantly, workers are expected to adhere to the directions given by management to guarantee health and safety. If workers are to ignore these directives it creates a hazard in the workplace not only for themselves but also for others (Directgov, 2010). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Effective management of the resource

Each workplace is different and dynamic. Therefore the strategy used to effectively manage the human resource should also be different and dynamic. This strategy should include clear and concise plans for the addressing the types of accidents that and exposing the health and safety hazards that could occur at the worksite (OSHA, n.d.).

An effective plan, as based upon the safety and health program management guidelines given by OSHA in January 1989 is the Four Point workplace Program.

The Four Point Workplace Program as its name suggests, it is a program that contains four elements in approaching optimum effective health and safety standards. These elements

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Commitment and Employee Involvement

The manager or management team leads the way, by setting policy, assigning and supporting responsibility, setting an example and involving employees.

Worksite Analysis

The worksite is continually analyzed to identify all existing and potential hazards.

Hazard Prevention and Control

Methods to prevent or control existing or potential hazards are put in place and maintained.

Training for Employees, Supervisors and Managers

Managers, supervisors and employees are trained to understand and deal with worksite hazards. Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.

Conclusion:

The success of a business rests to a large degree on the quality of the workforce – successful management of this crucial resource is critical (Biz/ed, 2010)

The Employer has a responsibility to ensure that his/her employees are safe at work, and so may institute regulations and policies to ensure this. It is now the responsibility of the employee to make certain that they follow these rules. As an employee, one has rights and responsibilities for their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues and by extension the public (customers) (OSHA, n.d.).” The key to the success of a safety and health plan is to see it as a part of the business operation and to see it reflected in the day-to-day operations. As the implemented plan is incorporated into the business culture, health and safety consciousness will become engrained into the psyche of everyone. (OSHA, n.d.). Protecting people on the job is in everyone’s best interest – our economy, our communities, our fellow workers and our families. Safety and health add value to businesses, workplaces and lives (OSHA, n.d.). Safety and Health Evaluation Essay.