This document discusses why safety is important for everyone. It notes that accidents can be costly due to medical costs, lost time, and legal issues. Accidents are caused by unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. To improve safety, organizations should establish accountability for safety through performance evaluations, define safety responsibilities for both employees and employers, and develop a strong safety culture.

1. SSaaffeettyy IIss EEvveerryybbooddyy''ss
BBuussiinneessss
OSU
Environmental Health & Safety

2. CCoouurrssee OObbjjeeccttiivveess
 Help you decide that safety IS
everybody’s business, and why
 Provide you with an understanding of
accident causes
 Explain safety responsibilities
 For both employees and employers
 Introduce you to specific safety topics
 Fire safety, lab safety, office safety

3. WWhhyy WWoorrrryy aabboouutt SSaaffeettyy??
Why do you need to be concerned
about safety?
EPA
Hur
t DOL
$$$
$
Lost
time
WC
Pain!
Loss

4. WWhhyy WWoorrrryy:: CCoommmmoonn RReeaassoonnss
1. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!!
Not All Pain is Gain
Nobody likes getting hurt
Healthy employees are more
productive employees

5. WWhhyy WWoorrrryy:: CCoommmmoonn RReeaassoonnss
1. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!!
2. Cost of Accidents

6. CCoosstt ooff AAcccciiddeennttss
 Direct Costs
– Medical Costs (including worker’s comp)
– Indemnity Payments
 Indirect Costs
– Time Lost (by worker and supervisor)
– Schedule delays
– Training new employees
– Cleanup time / equipment repairs
– Legal fees

7. CCoosstt ooff AAcccciiddeennttss::
TThhee IIcceebbeerrgg EEffffeecctt
On average, the
indirect costs of
accidents exceed the
direct costs by a 4:1
ratio

8. CCoosstt ooff AAcccciiddeennttss
 What does that mean for OSU?
– FY 1997: 499 claims for $1,485,068
– FY 1999: 579 claims for $1,902,688
– FY 2000: 550 claims for $1,582,169
(Direct costs in Worker’s Compensation)
Multiply by four to estimate indirect
costs to the University

9. WWhhyy WWoorrrryy:: CCoommmmoonn RReeaassoonnss
1. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!!
2. Cost of Accidents
3. Legal Issues and Liability

10. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
As a result of safety violations:
– You can be named in a lawsuit
– Criminal charges may be filed against you
– You can be cited by an enforcement
agency
– You can be fined by an enforcement
agency
– Your lab/workplace can be shut down by
an enforcement agency

11. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
 Because of personal liability, and you can be
named as a defendant in a lawsuit
– Working for the University does not protect you.

12. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
 You can have
criminal charges
filed against you.
– Negligent
supervisors and
employers have
been charged with
manslaughter

13. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
 You can be cited by an enforcement agency
– State Department of Labor (DOL)
 DOL is currently inspecting departments on campus
– EPA
 They’ve already been here, and they’re coming back!
– Federal OSHA has authority to get involved
 GM plant in OKC

14. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
You can be fined by an enforcement
agency
– State DOL will issue citations first
– EPA will levy fines…
Boston University was fined $750,000 in 1997
Brown University was fined $500,000 in 2000
University of Hawaii was fined $1.7 million in
December

15. LLeeggaall IIssssuueess aanndd LLiiaabbiilliittyy
Cease and desist orders: if the
violations are serious enough,
agencies such as DOL, OSHA, and
the EPA can (and will) shut down the
job site until the problems are
corrected.
EHS has issued cease and desist
orders on OSU projects, as well.

16. SSoo hhooww ddoo yyoouu pprrootteecctt
yyoouurrsseellff?
????????

17. UUnnddeerrssttaannddiinngg AAcccciiddeenntt
CCaauusseess
Accidents are caused by:
– Unsafe conditions
– Unsafe acts

18. AAcccciiddeenntt CCaauusseess
Unsafe Conditions
– Easiest to correct (and very cost effective)
– Easiest to prevent
Safety audits
Safety inspections
Maintenance schedules for equipment
Encouraging employee reporting
Good housekeeping

19. AAcccciiddeenntt CCaauusseess
Unsafe Acts
– Most difficult to address
Changing behavior isn’t easy
– Best prevented by developing a “safety
culture”

20. SSaaffeettyy CCuullttuurreess
Establish accountability for safety
Define safety responsibilities

21. EEssttaabblliisshhiinngg AAccccoouunnttaabbiilliittyy::
PPeerrffoorrmmaannccee EEvvaalluuaattiioonnss
 Employees should be evaluated on their
safety performance
– Doing a job correctly includes doing it safely
 OSU job description revisions may include
generic job descriptions with:
– “Must follow all general and safety policies and
procedures as established by the department,
college/division, and university.”

22. EEssttaabblliisshhiinngg AAccccoouunnttaabbiilliittyy
 Charge back systems
 Safety goals
– Accident costs
 Equipment damage
 Lost time
– Accident rates
 First aid #s
 Workers comp #s
– Loss ratios (including automobile rates)
 Safety Activities
– Safety meetings, inspections, using PPE

23. DDeeffiinniinngg RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittiieess
Employee responsibilities include:
– Recognizing safety hazards
– Reporting safety hazards
– Maintaining good housekeeping
– Working safely
– Using personal protective equipment
(PPE)
– Making the most of safety training

24. DDeeffiinniinngg RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittiieess
Employer responsibilities include:
– Providing access to information
Haz Com - MSDSs, written program
Bloodborne Pathogens – written program
Lab Safety – chemical hygiene plan

25. DDeeffiinniinngg RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittiieess
 Employer responsibilities (cont.)
– Providing personal protective equipment
 From OSHA 1910.132: “Protective equipment,
including personal protective equipment for eyes, face,
head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory
devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be
provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and
reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of
hazards of processes or environment, chemical
hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants
encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or
impairment in the function of any part of the body
through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.”

26. DDeeffiinniinngg RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittiieess
Employer responsibilities (cont.)
– Providing training
Hazard Communications
– Annual & within first 30 days of employment, also
when new hazards are introduced
Quarterly safety training (required by state)
Special programs
– Laboratory
– Bloodborne pathogens
– Respirators
– Forklifts

27. DDeeffiinniinngg RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittiieess
Employer responsibilities (cont.)
– OSHA General Duty Clause: “Each
employer
Has the general duty to furnish each
employee with employment and places of
employment free from recognized hazards
causing or likely to cause death or serious
physical harm.
The specific duty of complying with safety and
health standards promulgated under the act.”

28. SSoo wwhhaatt ddooeess aallll tthhiiss mmeeaann??
It means that safety is everybody’s
business.
From the moral aspect to the legal
aspect, we all benefit from a safe work
environment.

29. FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn::
Check out the EHS website:
– http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/
Call EHS at 4-7241
Email me at:
– hogan@pp.okstate.edu