TOPIC 6 - SAFETY & HEALTH AT WORK PDF

MGT340 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOPIC 6: SAFETY & HEALTH AT WORK After completing this chapter, students should be able to: Explain the importance of encouraging safe work practices and healthy lifestyles amongst employees. Examine programmed and activities...

MGT340 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOPIC 6: SAFETY & HEALTH AT WORK After completing this chapter, students should be able to: Explain the importance of encouraging safe work practices and healthy lifestyles amongst employees. Examine programmed and activities which can improve the health and wellness of employees. SAFETY AND HEALTH DEFINITION Safety A condition in which the physical well-being of people is protected Health A general state of physical, mental, and emotional well- being. THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (OSHA) It is an act that provide the legislative framework to secure the safety, health and welfare among all Malaysian workforce and to protect others against risk of safety or health in relation of the activities of person at work.  DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS Ensure the safety of all employees and any other person at the workplace Draft and disseminate a safety policy (if employee more than 5) Appoint safety committee (if more than 40 employees) Appoint a dedicated, qualified safety and health officer Provide appropriate training, supervision and information to employees Report serious accidents to DOSH  DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES To use all the safety equipment being provided eg. Safety helmets, safety boots, vest etc – section 24(1) To attend safety training whenever required Reasonable duty of care in ensuring safety at work  APPOINTMENT OF A SAFETY OFFICER Employers in designated industries are required under OSHA to employ a qualified safety officer. A qualified safety officer is one who is registered with DOSH. To be eligible for registration, the applicant must have: A recognized diploma in OSH, or A minimum of 10 years’ experience in OSH, or Have completed a training programme in OSH recognized by the Ministry of Human Resources. Importance of encouraging safe work practice and healthy lifestyle among employees Moral Aspects It is morally right to safeguard a worker from any harm and it is the duty of every company to provide the best care to their employees. Legal Aspects- OSH require all organizations to ensure safety, health and welfare of their employees. Organization need to avoid facing many legal issues that can arise from a workplace injury. Economic Aspects Poor health and diseases related to work can result in many days absence from work. Organization needs to avoid accidents from happening which will cause the production to be suspended while an investigation is carried out.  CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS Chances Occurrences Unsafe Conditions Employees' Unsafe Acts If there is a chance of The faulty mechanical or Faulty attitudes something happening, it is physical conditions Low attention span possible that it will happen. Improperly or inadequately Faulty judgement of speed and such as walking past a tree just guarded equipment. distance when a branch falls Defective equipment. Impulsiveness Deficiencies in tools. Irresponsibility Deficiencies in plant. Nervousness and fear Unsafely designed tools, Worry and depression machines, etc. Unsafe storage, overloading, congestion, etc. Poor house-keeping. Lack of automatic quick stoppage devices. Defective electrical fitting.  HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS Reducing unsafe conditions Conducting job hazards analysis a systematic approach to identify and eliminate workplace hazards before they occur Operational safety reviews reviews conducted by agencies to ascertain whether units under their jurisdiction are complying with all the applicable safety laws, regulations, orders and rules. Example: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-airlines-gets-iatas- operational-safety-audit-recertification Getting employees to wear personal protective equipment(PPE) Reducing Unsafe Acts Reduce potential distraction such as noise, heat and stress. Carefully screening the employees such as conducted physical abilities to determine if the person can do the job. Safety training reduces unsafe acts especially for new employees. Establishing a safety policy 14  Programmes and activities which can improve the health and wellness of employees. Fitness or exercise class Causes of stress at work Risk assessment Regular talks -nutrition, stress Job insecurity Dissemination of a company policy management etc Job strain/burnout on drug and alcohol abuse Regular medical check-up Poor supervision level Information and education at the Health campaign - Stop Smoking Excessive long hours workplace campaign Shift work Training of supervisors to identify subordinates with drug or alcohol problems Assistance to employees for rehabilitation Reducing drug and Wellness Stress alcohol related programmes management problems  OSHA has stated that it is a requirement for employers to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and health of their employees. SUMMARY Accidents are caused by a wide variety of factors and therefore any programmes designed to reduce the number of accidents must take a multi-pronged approach. REFERENCE Maimunah Aminuddin (2008).Human Resource Management: Principles and Practices. 3rd edition. Oxford University : Press Malaysia. Maimunah Aminuddin (2013). Malaysian Industrial Relations & Employment Law. 8th edition. Mc-Graw Hill Education.