Introduction Environmental health and safety management is an important component of a safe work environment because it protects human health and safety in the workplace. In regard to this, environmental health and safety regulations remain the hallmark that provides protection for American workers. Such regulation has helped maintain the wide-ranging safety standards as required by law. It has enabled companies in the United States to aggressively pursue accident prevention initiatives at all levels of their operation. The policy has empowered senior management to provide an alternative technique of protection for its employees, thus preventing workplace accidents. Historical review of OSH Act In recent history health and safety management has been found as a central part of our day to day activities because it enhances our moral ability to protect and enjoy a health as well as workplace setting which strengthens our security in the global community. Safety management assures, provides and motivates employees to work in dangerous environments knowing that their welfare is taken care of through the implementation of a concept of a comprehensive safety management actions. As complex as this is, safety management has undergone a tremendous reform to protect human society, while on the other hand, it is known to be the pillar that strengthens the gap between employers and employees in the corporate world. Therefore it is the obligation of government to create and promote
Employers, managers and supervisors should all ensure that workplace practices reflect the risk assessment and safety statement. Behavior, the way in which everyone works, must reflect the safe working practices laid down in these documents. Supervisory checks and audits should be carried out to determine how well the aims set down are being achieved. Corrective action should be taken when required. Additionally, if a workplace is provided for use by others. The safety statement must also set out the safe work practices that are relevant to them. Hence, it is
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
The human resources process has to accompany both the employee and employer in regard to safety issues. An employee wants the assurance of safe and healthy working conditions; anything less exposes danger to their own wellbeing. In addition employees must take heed to precautions design by the organization. However an employer wants to avoid expenditures in overhead by cutting cost or corners often putting their employees at harmful risk. In addition, organizations also have a lawful obligation in which they have to provide a safe workplace by preventing accidents, hazards, serious injuries or accident-related deaths. Negligence on either behalf can result in determination, fines, citations, work-related
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.
The fundamental objectives of the OSHA is to ensure “so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and preserve our human resources”
Due to the high rate of illnesses, accidents and injuries in the industry, the organization further developed a hazard recognition program. This was greatly supported by the directives and the standards the organization drafted. The organization also set a safety and health program. This mainly depended on the credibility of management’s involvement in the program. This program provided for the inclusion of the employees in the program. The program also provided for the inclusion of the employees in the different decision making processes such as the safety and health decisions. The employees were also to be included in the decisions that involved change in the work site practices and conditions. The program addressed hazards despite failure by the government standard to regulate it (Brain Mass, 2010).
Safety is an important function of our daily lives and requires the same attention we give other functions and processes within our daily job routines. Over the years as we continue to do our jobs and the same processes we can become less safe by using short cuts to make a process easier for ourselves. Also, the equipment we use begins to age and breakdown and cause unsafe conditions. Safety professionals use many different types of safety programs to combat safety related issues or problems one may encounter on a job site. Employee involvement is the most important part of any safety program. Without employee involvement safety programs are not as successful, because employees are sometimes not aware of the process and steps in place to protect them.
Employers MUST provide their employees with a workplace that does not have serious hazards and follow all relevant OSHA safety and health standards. Employers must find and correct safety and health problems. OSHA further requires employers to try to eliminate or reduce hazards first by making changes in working conditions rather than just relying on masks, gloves, ear plugs or other types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Switching to safer chemicals, enclosing processes to trap harmful fumes, or using ventilation systems to clean the air are examples of effective ways to get rid of or minimize risks (OSHA 3302 - 09R,
OSHA refers to the Occupational Safety and Health Act enacted by the United States Congress in 1970. It was signed into law by Richard Nixon, the then United States President in December of that same year. It is a federal law that oversees the adherence to and enforcement of health and safety within the workplace in both the federal government and the privates sector.
This responsibility motivates the HR department and managers to implement stringent policies to prevent work-related injuries to avoid paying for higher workers’ compensation insurance. Moreover, it inspires the company to promote safety by organizing a safety committee to address hazards in the workplace to prevent injuries or deaths. The committee solicits employee suggestions and participation to increase compliance to company policies. It also develops various safety programs to promote employee wellness to improve their quality of life (Gomez-Mejia, et al, 2010).
Effective health and safety policies have a set direction for every organisation to follow.They share all different aspects of a business to see their performance and to look at the business and see if it’s going to make any improvements. There are cost effective paths to perpetuate and develop the physical and human resources, which will then lower the financial losses and liabilities.
As an organisation that manages health and safety we recognise that the relationship between controlling risks and general health is at the very centre of the business itself. The starting point for managing health and safety in the workplace which:
Workplace Safety – 7/21/2014 - 9/14/2014 – Developed an Accident / Incident process that included addressing near-miss conditions in an effort to make the workplace safer for all employees. The program emphasized the importance of bringing potentially dangerous conditions to management’s attention and provided procedures to correct the condition. An accident /incident reporting process was established and a designated industrial medical facility to provide worker’s compensation care was identified. Employees, supervisors and managers were trained on the importance of workplace safety and the procedures to follow when a potential unsafe condition existed, or when a workplace incident or injury occurred.
Accidents in the workplace is a serious issue, and you pay dearly if an employee is injured or killed due to an unsafe or dangerous working environment, especially when it's caused by company negligence. You and your management team must understand the laws surrounding the safety of the workplace, and put education training in place for "what if" situations that protects your employees and
It is important it have a written work Health and Safety Policy for the organizations and businesses which have management systems. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 addresses Major Hazard Facilities in Regulation 558 and Schedule 17(1.2) and requires that the Safety Management System includes a Safety Policy, including the operator’s broad aims in relation to the safe operation of the major hazard facility, and that the safety policy must include and express commitment to ongoing improvement of all aspects of the safety management system. A Work Health and Safety Policy is an explicit statement of business commitment to work health and safety. It will include a statement outlining the importance which is placed on work health and safety and how it is to be implemented.