1. Safety and Health in the Workplace
Chapter 16
Safety and Health in the Workplace

2. Chapter Objectives (1 of 2)
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
Describe the scope of the occupational safety and health problem in the United States and its importance to the community.
Identify some pioneers in the prevention of occupational injuries and disease.
Provide a short history of state and federal legislation on occupational safety and health.
Explain the difference between occupational injuries and occupational diseases and give several examples of each.
Discuss the types of injuries that frequently occur in the workplace and describe their occurrence with regard to person, place, and time.
Briefly describe broad strategies for preventing injuries in the workplace.

3. Chapter Objectives (2 of 2)
Outline the causes of, and risk factors for, violence in the workplace and describe prevention strategies.
Identify the different types of occupational illnesses and disorders and list some of the causative agents.
Outline some general strategies for preventing and controlling these disorders and illnesses.
List several occupational safety and health professions and describe what the professionals in each of these do.
List and describe several kinds of workplace safety and health programs.
Explain the purpose of worksite health and wellness promotion programs and describe some of their features.
Explain the concept behind Total Worker Health.

4. Introduction Globally, each year:
~317 million nonfatal occupational injuries
321,000 fatal injuries
After home, Americans spend most time at work
Occupational disease
Occupational illness
Occupational injury

5. Scope of the Problem
Fewer than 11 workers die each day in U.S. from injury sustained at work
Fatalities have declined significantly over past 85 years
Reporting of illness versus injury
Economic impact

6. Importance of Occupational Safety and Health to the Community
Industry is a subset of the larger community
Affects workplace and those outside the worksite
Workers themselves are a community

7. History of Occupational Safety and Health Problems
Before 1970
Industrial revolution
State legislation
Workers’ compensation laws
Federal legislation
Bureau of Labor: 1884
Many laws from
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

8. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct)
To ensure employers in private sector furnish each employee a workplace free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established to enforce OSHAct
NIOSH

9. Prevalence of Occupational Injuries, Diseases, and Deaths (1 of 2)
Recent trends in workplace injuries and illness
Decline in number of workplace injuries and illnesses reported in private industry since 1992
Goods-producing industries higher rate of nonfatal injury than service-producing
Highest – agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting
Highest service-producing – health care and social assistance

10. Prevalence of Occupational Injuries, Diseases, and Deaths (2 of 2)
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). “2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries & Illness Summary Estimates Charts Package.” Available at
Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by private industry sector, 2014.

11. Unintentional Injuries in the Workplace
Minor injuries – cuts, bruises, abrasions, minor burns
Major injuries – amputations, fractures, severe lacerations, eye losses, acute poisonings, severe burns
Reported by many sources

12. Fatal Work-Related Injuries (1 of 2)
Transportation incidents leading cause
Industries with highest rates of fatal occupational injuries
Agriculture
Forestry
Fishing and hunting
Mining
Construction
Transportation and warehousing

13. Fatal Work-Related Injuries (2 of 2)
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). ““Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2014.” (Chart Package)”. Available at
Fatal occupational injuries by major event, 2014.

14. Characteristics of Workers Involved in Fatal Work-Related Injuries
Age
Gender
Minority status

15. Nonfatal Work-Related Injuries
In 2014, nearly 3 million injuries and illnesses in private industry; 722,300 injuries reported in state and local government workers
Disabling injuries and illnesses

16. Characteristics of Workers Involved in Work-Related Injuries (1 of 3)
Age
Gender
Poverty and minority status

17. Characteristics of Workers Involved in Work-Related Injuries (2 of 3)
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). ““Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2014.” (Chart Package)”. Available at
Fatal work injuries and hours worked by
gender of worker, 2014.

18. Characteristics of Workers Involved in Work-Related Injuries (3 of 3)
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). “2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries & Illness Summary Estimates Charts Package.” Available at
State nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates compared to the
national rate, private industry, 2014.

19. Temporal Variations in Workplace Injuries
, injury death rates declined 79%
Seasonality to work-related deaths
Summer:
Injury death rates from machinery, falling objects, electric current, and explosions are highest

20. Workplace Injuries by Industry and Occupation
Fatal occupational injuries by industry
Logging single most dangerous occupation
Mining second highest fatality rate
Nonfatal occupational injuries by industry

21. Agricultural Safety and Health
Farming particularly hazardous
Farm machinery major contribution to injury
Rollover protective structures (ROPS)
Tractors still leading cause of farm injuries and deaths despite safety improvements
Families and workers exposed to same risks
Migrant workers

22. Prevention and Control of Unintentional Injuries in the Workplace
Four fundamental tasks
Anticipation
Recognition
Evaluation
Control

23. Workplace Violence: Intentional Workplace Injuries
1.7 million victims each year
Homicides fourth leading cause of workplace fatalities
Categories of workplace violence
Criminal intent (Type I)
Customer/client (Type II)
Worker-on-worker (Type III)
Personal relationship (Type IV)

24. Risk Factors Working with the public Working around money or valuables
Working alone
Working late at night
Jobs with higher risk
Taxicab drivers
Jobs in liquor stores
Detective and protective services

25. Prevention Strategies
Environmental designs
Administrative controls
Behavior strategies

26. Occupational Illnesses and Disorders
Illness more difficult to acquire data on than injury
Difficult to link occupational exposure
Some conditions slow to develop and difficult to associate with the workplace

27. Types of Occupational Illnesses
Musculoskeletal disorders
Skin diseases and disorders
Noise-induced hearing loss
Respiratory disorders
Pneumoconiosis
Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis
Asbestosis
Silicosis
Byssinosis

28. Other Work-Related Diseases and Disorders
Poisonings
Agricultural workers
Infections
Health care industry
Exposure to hazardous drugs

29. Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases and Disorders
Requires vigilance of employer and employee
Agent-host-environment model
Examples of activities
Identification and evaluation of agents
Standard setting for the handling of and exposure to causative agents
Engineering controls
Environmental monitoring
Medical screenings

30. Resources for the Prevention of Workplace Injuries and Diseases
Occupational safety and health professionals
Safety engineers
Certified safety professionals
Health physicists
Industrial hygienists
Occupational physicians
Occupational health nurses

31. Workplace Safety, Health, and Wellness Promotion Programs
Preplacement examinations
Disease prevention programs
Safety programs
Worksite health and wellness promotion programs
Total worker health
Employee assistance programs

32. Discussion Questions How can employees advocate for safer workplaces?
What occupational injury prevention strategies can prove to be most effective in the coming decades?