Case Analysis: Sick Building Syndrome
By [Your Name Here]
This case analysis is based on case study #28 of the Multisector Casebook in Health Administration, Leadership, and Management entitled “Sick Building Syndrome” (Musch, 2013, pp. 88-89). This case study concerns an occurrence of the phenomenon of sick building syndrome, a medical diagnosis that occurs when a patient displays a set of symptoms which cannot be attributed to a single readily identifiable cause but which nevertheless appear to display a significant correlation with extended periods of time spent inside of a particular building. This case study discusses a complaint of sick building syndrome made to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health which lead to the filing of a Health Hazard Evaluation much to the displeasure of the supervisor of the building in question. This case study raises questions about the ethical and legal responsibilities of management figures in ensuring that employees have a safe environment in which to work in addition to questions about how employees in such an environment should go about voicing their concerns over possible health hazards to be associated with it.
Major Facts
An anonymous complaint has been filed with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health by an unidentified employee working for the company Triade Billing Services which is headquartered in a major office building located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Originally built in the middle of
There are many other jobs that need to ensure Health and Safety is important and some of these are: landlords, contractors, emergency services, trade union representatives and consultants. They have to make sure Health and Safety is an important role whilst doing their job as they don’t just have to think about themselves and the people who work for them, they also have to consider the people who are putting their trust in them to help them.
All healthcare workers are required to report anything that effects the environment. For example speaking to a senior staff member or manager straight away, explaining the problem so it can be dealt with properly. Reportable incidents: deaths, major injuries, some work-related diseases; dangerous occurrences – where something happens that does not result in an injury, but could have done; registered gas fitters must also report dangerous gas fittings they find, and gas conveyors/suppliers must report some flammable gas incidents. RIDDOR applies to all work activities but not all incidents are reportable
health and safety procedures and practises should be under continual scrutiny and areas for improvement should be monitored and dealt with. A good method of monitoring & improving are health, safety and security procedures are visually. Check visitors have signed in the visitor’s book, look for items blocking fire exits or hallways, wet signs are in place during cleaning, COSHH cupboards are kept locked, medication trolleys are secure, hoists are clean and stored in a correct storage place. Policies and procedures need to be reviewed regularly to ensure they are still relevant, circumstances in workplace can change and new risk assessments will need to be put in place or old ones reviewed. Policies and procedures may need evaluating and developing
|of work premises has a responsibility under RIDDOR to report any work related accidents or disease which result in | | | |
Reporting of Injuries,Diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations of 1995 requires the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. The Act applies to all work related activities, but not to all work related incidents. The objective of the regulations is to enable the enforcing authorities to identify where and how risks arise and to investigate serious accidents so as to prevent them from occurring in the future and thus providing a safer work environment. The enforcing authorities can then help and advise you on preventive action to reduce injury, ill health and accidental loss,the main points of our own policy that relate to this are:
Clean / clear things as you go / good house keeping will prevent health and safety issues arising
In this task I will be describing how health and safety legislation, policies and procedures promotes the safety of individuals in a Hospital. Quality care is an important issue for both health care workers and their partners. Government continue to work on implementing staffing law that will upgrade the medical systems. Hospitals are required to provide security for patients and staff. Mechanical equipment, housekeeping, administrative and food staff play important roles in preventing all environmental hazards. Safety concerns surrounding these hazards include injury, illness, disease exposure, disaster
“Employees or their representatives have a right to request an inspection of a workplace if they believe there is a violation of a safety or health standard, or if there is any danger that threatens physical harm, or if an "imminent danger" exists. In addition, anyone who knows about a
Task 4Ensuring health and safety is an important responsibility not only for the Managers but all associated with the premises. Evaluate your organisation’s health and safety policy and procedures in line with legislative requirements and propose recommendations on how health and safety should be managed
Specific health problems associated with the workplace have contributed to the development of Particular health issues connected with the work environment have added to the advancement of the cutting edge safety and health development. These issues incorporate lung infections in diggers, mercury harming, and lung tumor attached to asbestos. Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals have an above normal extent of all day employments. For Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals working all day, normal week by week hours are 42.3 and profit are high - in the ninth decile. Unemployment for Health Professionals is underneath normal. H&S Professionals have an expansive extent of specialists amongst individuals in the 25-34 age section, making it an energetic and dynamic workplace. The unavoidable consequence of the expanded consideration given to safety and health is that bigger organizations are utilizing safety and health professionals and all organizations big or small are relegating these obligations to existing representatives.
As an employer, you have a duty to look after the health and safety of your employees whilst they are at work, as set out in the Health and Safety Act in 1974. If you are managing a company, you’re responsible for the health and safety in all particular parts of the business. You must ensure that the business has access to suitable health and safety advice. Under the Health and Safety Act 1974 employers are responsible for health and safety management. Here is a direct quote taken from the HSE web site:
Section 3-8 SEA and Section 12(a) OHS outlines the general duties of an employer. Section 3-8(a) explains the employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe place of work for all employees (SEA). The employer, Tosi Industries, is not diligent in promoting a safe work environment. An example is shown by the pay-for-performance structure, which encourages productivity over safety (Tucker, 2008). This has a negative effect on workplace safety as employees are rewarded with team bonuses for high production levels, regardless of the safety costs. Tosi’s workplace environment encourages unsafe shortcuts and working conditions, an underreporting of injuries, and use of dangerous machines to meet high production levels. As a result, the employer is not ensuring the health, safety and welfare of employees in the workplace.
Can lead to a failure to meet statutory requirements relating to providing a safe and healthy working environment
The employer also has to comply with all standards, rules, and regulations that are set forth by OSHA and the OSH Act. Employers are required to inspect the workplace to insure they are up to OSHA standards. Insure that employees are only using safe tools and equipment that are in their proper condition. It should be easy for the employees to be aware of potential hazards by the employer posting signs, using color codes, labels, or signs to convey warning. Employees must be trained in a language that they understand. Operating procedures must be in place and properly communicated to the employees to assure the employees follow safety and health standards. Employers that house or use hazardous chemicals will be required to have hazardous communication program and for that all the employees to be trained on exposure and precautions. Employers are to fund medical exams if required by OSHA standards. The OSHA poster must placed in a prominent location at the workplace. Records need to be kept of work-related injuries and illnesses. The log of these injuries and illnesses need to made available on February 1st for three months. Assure employees have access to medical and exposure records. Provide a workplace free of discrimination. OSHA citations must be posted at or near the work area where the infraction occurred. The citation must be in place for three working days or until the
This assignment will focus on one of the extremely important topics of the many hazards in the healthcare work place that may pose as a threat to my health and safety in the Care Industry.