Safety and Health

Why Safety and Health Are Important The numbers are staggering Toll can be greater than the numbers

suggest considering lives are at stake

OSHA The Occupational Safety and Health Act /

Consideration Assures safe and healthful work places Created the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA) Defines occupational illness

Responsibilities of Employers and Employees

Employers Provide hazard-free workplace Can seek consulting help and identification Can’t punish employee

Employees Comply with standards Report problems to supervisors Can demand safety

Dealing With Employee Resistance

Failure to wear hardhats or ear protectors demonstrate problem

Employers limit liability by: Get union OK to discharge Use formal arbitration Use positive reinforcement and training

The Changing Nature of OSHA

Moving toward cooperation Greater use of technology

Safety is NO accident

Management commitment is key to safety: Institutionalize commitment Analyze accidents, incidents Set specific achievable safety goals

What Causes Accidents

Chance occurrences Unsafe conditions Unsafe employee acts

Unsafe conditions include: Improperly guarded equipment Defective equipment Hazardous procedures Unsafe storage Improper illumination Improper ventilation

Unsafe Conditions

How to Prevent Accidents

Reduce unsafe conditions:Design jobs to remove, reduce physical

hazardsUse checklistsComputerized tools

Job Stress and Burnout

Substance abuse can result from job stress

Personality affects reaction to stress

Reducing Job Stress

Relationships Your relationship with your boss Realistic deadlines Lead time Detachment and relaxation

Reducing Job Stress

Take a walk Reduce unnecessary noise Reduce trivia in your job - delegate Limit interruptions Distasteful problems Make a “worry list” – include solutions

Reducing Job Stress

Good supervisor skills are important: Reduce personal conflicts Open communication Support employees’ efforts Ensure job–person fit More job control

Burnout

Burnout – the total depletion of physical and mental resources caused by excessive striving to reach an unrealistic work-related goal

Burnout – Read the Signs

Inability to relax Identification with your activities Meaningless advancement goals Workaholic

What Can a Burnout Candidate Do?

Break your patterns Get away from it all periodically Reassess your goals in terms of their

intrinsic worth Think about your work