Chap 18: Safety and Health in the Workplace

Anita Sego

Spring, 2005

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Chapter Objectives

• Describe the scope of the occupational safety and health problems in the United States and its importance to the community.

• Identify some of the pioneers in the prevention of occupational injuries and disease.

• Provide a short history of state and federal legislation on occupational safety and health.

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Chapter Objectives

• 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 regards to person, place, and time.

• Briefly describe broad strategies for preventing injuries in the workplace.

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Chapter Objectives

• Identify the different types of occupational illnesses and disorders and list some of the causative agents.

• Outline some general strategies for controlling these diseases.

• List several occupational safety and health professions and describe what the professionals in each of these do.

• List and briefly describe several occupational safety and health programs for the workplace.

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Definitions

• Occupational disease– an abnormal condition, other than an

occupational injury, caused by an exposure to environmental factors associated with employment

• Occupational injury– an injury that results from exposure to a

single incident in the work environment

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Occupational Injuries, Diseases, & Deaths• Scope of the Problem

– estimated cost of $123 billion annually– 5.7 million injuries and illness during 1999– 9,000 US workers sustain disabling injuries– 17 die from work related injuries– 137 die from work related diseases

• Impact is beyond the workplace

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

History of Occupational Safety and Health Problems• 1561 De Re Metallica

• Industrial Revolution

• State Legislation– workers’ compensation laws

• Federal Legislation– Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970– National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health

Chap 18: Workplace SafetyHighlights of Federal Occupational Highlights of Federal Occupational Safety & Health LegislationSafety & Health Legislation

Highlights of Federal Occupational Highlights of Federal Occupational Safety & Health LegislationSafety & Health Legislation

Year Legislation

1908 Federal Workmen’s Compensation Act - limited coverage1916 Federal Highway Aid Act1926 Federal Workmen’s Compensation Act- include workers1927 Federal Longshoremen’s & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act1936 Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act1952 Coal Mine Safety Act1959 Radiation Standards Act1960 Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act1966 National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Child Protection Act - banned hazardous household substances1967 National Commission on Product Safety created1968 Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act1969 Construction Safety Act

Coal Mine Health & Safety Act1970 Occupational Safety & Health Act

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Prevalence of Occupational Injuries, Disease, and Deaths• Recent trends

– Since 1990 decline in number of injuries and illnesses

– Goods-producing sector highest incidence– Workplace injury and illness rates cycle up

and down

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Unintentional Injuries

• Fatal Work-related Injuries– 17 fatal work-related injuries/day

• Nonfatal Work-related Injuries– 3.6 million occupational injuries and illnesses were

treated in emergency rooms in 1996

• Characteristics of Works– Age

• injuries highest for 18 - 19 year old• death rates highest for 65+ year old

– Gender– Poverty and Race

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Workplace Fatalities 1999

Others

Falls

Homicides

Struck by Object

Air, water, & rail

Struck by vehicle

Transportation (non-highway)

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Unintentional Injuries

• Geographic Differences– Alaska and Wyoming highest rates– Connecticut lowest rate

• Temporal Variations– 81% decline in injuries death between 1912 -

1999

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Workplace Injuries by Industry and Occupation• Fatal injuries by industry

– mining– agriculture– construction– transportation

• Nonfatal occupational injuries– goods-producing – service-producing

Chap 18: Workplace SafetyPrevention and Control of Unintentional Injuries in the Workplace• Reduction of injuries by:

– eliminating or modifying the job – changing the work environment– making machinery safer– improving the selection, training, and

education of workers

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Workplace Violence

• Categories– Criminal intent– Customer/client– Worker-on-worker– Personal relationship

• Risk Factors– location– time– type of work

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Workplace Violence

• Prevention Strategies

• Environmental Design– separate worker– better lighting– security system

• Administrative Controls– policies– procedures

• Behavior Strategies– training

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Occupational Illnesses and Disorders• Musculoskeletal Conditions

– repeated trauma

• Skin Disease & Disorders– allergic and irritant dermatitis

• Noise-induced Hearing Loss

• Respiratory Disorders– chronic nature– difficulty to recognize

• Other Work-Related Diseases and Disorders– poisoning and infections– anxiety, stress, or neurotic disorders

Chap 18: Workplace SafetyPrevention and Control of Occupational Diseases and Disorders• Agent-host-

environment model– Identification and

evaluation of agents– Procedures– Engineering controls– Protective devices– Surveillance

Agent Environment

Host

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Resources for PreventionSafety & Health

Professionals• Safety Engineers and

certified safety professional

• Health Physicists

• Industrial Hygienists

• Occupational Physicians

• Occupational Health Nurse

Occupational Safety and Health Programs

• Disease Prevention Programs

• Safety Programs

• Health Promotion Programs

• Employee Assistance Programs

Chap 18: Workplace Safety

Chapter 18

Safety and Healthin the Workplace