1. Ensuring Health and Safety at the Workplace13 .
C H A P T E R
T H I R T E E N
Ensuring Health and Safety at the Workplace

2. Assumption of Risk
An obsolete attitude toward accident prevention where the worker accepted all the customary risks and unsafe practices

3. Safety in the Workplace Models
Early approach to safety in the workplace assuming accidents were due to workers’ carelessness
Careless Worker
An approach to workplace safety that relies on the cooperation of employer and employees
Shared Responsibility

4. Health & Safety in the Workplace
Growing emphasis on health and safety in the workplace
Strong union pressure
Increased public interest in greater corporate responsibility
Better and more comprehensive federal and provincial legislation and health and safety measures

5. Workplace Injuries
Workplace accidents and occupationa- related illnesses cost about $5 billion in direct compensation (more than $10 billion including indirect expenses)
Work accidents are caused by a combination of unsafe employee behaviour and unsafe working conditions

6. Health Hazards Physical agents Exposure to physical elements eg. noise
Biological
agents
Exposure to
natural
organisms
eg. viruses
Chemical
agents
Exposure to chemicals or other toxic substances
Ergonomically
related
Caused by the work environment eg. repetitive strain

7. Younger Workers
Growing emphasis on the health and safety of young workers
1 in 7 young workers is injured on the job
One-fourth of all workplace injuries involve workers aged 15-29

8. Federal and Provincial Regulations
Each province and the Federal jurisdiction have legislation addressing health and safety
3 Fundamental Employee Rights
The right to know
The right to participate
The right to refuse

9. Joint OHS Committee Key element of health and safety laws
Broad range of responsibilities:
e.g. investigate & resolve complaints, monitor health & safety programs, etc.
Usually required in every workplace with 20 or more employees

10. Federal Laws Hazardous Products Act (1985)
Protects consumers by regulating the sale of dangerous products
Workplace Hazardous Material Information System - WHMIS (1988)
Requires labels on all hazardous products
Requires use of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

11. Responsibility for Health & Safety
Top
Management
Responsibility
for Health and
Safety
Employees
Supervisors

12. Implications for HRM Consistent reinforcement Due diligence
Human resource managers should ensure consistent enforcement of all safety and health rules
Due diligence
Organizations are responsible for ensuring all reasonable steps were taken to avoid a particular health and safety offence

13. Workplace Stress Workplace stress Stress management
Harmful physical and emotional responses
Stress management
Ways of dealing with the problem of stress
Conference Board of Canada
Estimated financial cost associated with stress in the Canadian workplace exceeds $12 billion per year

14. Symptoms of Stress Symptoms of Stress Nervousness, chronic worry
Easily provoked to anger
Unable to relax
Physical ailments
Cardiovascular disease
Injuries, suicide, cancer, ulcers
Symptoms
of Stress

15. Major Causes of Workplace Stress
Factors unique to job
Workload, work pace, autonomy, shift work, physical environment, isolation
Role in the organization
Role conflict/role ambiguity, level of responsibility
Career development
Under or over-promotion, job security, career opportunities, overall job satisfaction
more

16. Major Causes of Workplace Stress
Relationships at work
Supervisors/co-workers and/or subordinates, threat of violence or harassment
Organizational climate
Level of participation in decision-making, management style, communication patterns

17. Burnout Burnout Human Resource department needs to be proactive
Condition of mental, emotional, and sometimes physical exhaustion that results form substantial and prolonged stress
Human Resource department needs to be proactive
Example: Train supervisors to recognize stress, re-design jobs, provide counselling

18. Stress Management Curative measures Preventive measures Stress audit
Try to correct the outcome of stress e.g. availability of exercise, counselling services
Preventive measures
Attempt to change the cause of stress e.g. stress management training sessions, improving working conditions
Stress audit
Identifies the causes of stress

19. HR Actions to Reduce Stress
Compatible
workload
Human Resource
Actions to Reduce
Stress
Establish
policy
Job design
Provide
training
Define roles
Work
schedules
Participate in
decisions
Improve
communication

20. Fitness & Employee Wellness
These programs:
Improve employee health
Decrease health-care costs
Improve employee satisfaction
Decrease absenteeism and turnover
Improve corporate image

21. Other Contemporary Safety Issues
Workplace Security
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Workplace Violence
Ergonomics
AIDS

22. Ensuring Health and Safety at the Workplace13 .
C H A P T E R
T H I R T E E N
Ensuring Health and Safety at the Workplace