The document discusses employee safety and health issues including OSHA regulations and guidelines for workplace inspections. It covers common causes of workplace accidents like unsafe conditions and employee acts. Topics include controlling workers' compensation costs, dealing with substance abuse, reducing workplace violence, and creating evacuation plans for emergencies. The chapter aims to explain supervisor's roles in safety, minimizing unsafe acts, and addressing important occupational health problems.

1. © 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc.© 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc.
All rights reserved.All rights reserved.
PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie CookPowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook
The University of West AlabamaThe University of West Alabama
1
Human ResourceHuman 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
ChapterChapter
1616
Part 5 | Employee RelationsPart 5 | Employee Relations

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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 healthExplain how to deal with important occupational health
problems.problems.

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Occupational Safety LawOccupational Safety Law
• Occupational Safety and Health ActOccupational Safety and Health Act
 The law passed by Congress in 1970 “to assure soThe law passed by Congress in 1970 “to assure so
far as possible every working man and woman in thefar as possible every working man and woman in the
nation safe and healthful working conditions and tonation safe and healthful working conditions and to
preserve our human resources.”preserve our human resources.”
• Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationOccupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)(OSHA)
 The agency created within the Department of LaborThe agency created within the Department of Labor
to set safety and health standards for almost allto set safety and health standards for almost all
workers in the United States.workers in the United States.

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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 theAsk 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 areIf the inspection stems from a complaint, you are
entitled to know whether the person is a currententitled 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.

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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 inShow inspector that you have safety programs in
place. He or she may not go to the work floor ifplace. 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.

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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 copiesAsk for duplicates of all physical samples and copies
of all test results.of all test results.
 Be helpful and cooperative, but don’t volunteerBe helpful and cooperative, but don’t volunteer
information.information.
 To the extent possible, immediately correct anyTo the extent possible, immediately correct any
violation the inspector identifies.violation the inspector identifies.

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What Causes Accidents?What Causes Accidents?
Chance
Occurrences
Employees’
Unsafe Acts
Basic
Causes of
Accidents
Unsafe
Conditions

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What Causes Accidents? (cont’d)What Causes Accidents? (cont’d)
Improperly
Guarded
Equipment
Defective
Equipment
Improper
Ventilation
Improper
Illumination
Hazardous
Procedures
Unsafe
Storage
Unsafe
Conditions

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Controlling Workers’ Compensation CostsControlling Workers’ Compensation Costs
• Before the AccidentBefore the Accident
 Communicate written safety and substance abuseCommunicate 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 theBe 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 injuredMake 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.

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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 normallyBiohazards including those that are normally
occurring and manmade.occurring and manmade.
• Ergonomic hazards of poorly designedErgonomic hazards of poorly designed
equipment that forces workers to do jobs whileequipment 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.

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Dealing with Substance AbuseDealing with Substance Abuse
When an
Employee Tests
Positive
In-house
Counseling
Referral to an
Outside Agency
Discharge
Disciplining

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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 employeePay 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 reducingUnderstand the legal constraints on reducing
workplace violenceworkplace violence

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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 emergencyMethods for communicating the emergency
externally.externally.
 Communications plans for initiating an evacuation.Communications plans for initiating an evacuation.
 Communications plans for those the employer wantsCommunications plans for those the employer wants
to evacuate that provide specific information aboutto evacuate that provide specific information about
the emergency, and let them know what action theythe emergency, and let them know what action they
should take next.should take next.

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K 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