Unit 5 Safety & Governmental Regulations (OSHA)

Health ScienceMs. Thieman

2012-2013

Rationale

• OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was established in 1970 as one of the agencies of the Department of Labor. OSHA establishes standards for safety in the workplace and enforces those standards.

Engage

• The Story of OSHA– http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H6wRRWi6i0c

Purpose of OSHA

• Establish standards for safety in the workplace.

• Enforce the standards.

Responsibility

• Employer– Furnish a place of employment which is free from hazards– Comply with OSHA standards– Keep records

• Employee– Comply with OSHA standards, rules, and regulations– No person may be fired or treated with

discrimination for filing a complaint

Inspections, Investigations, and Reporting

• Should take place at reasonable times• May require attendance and testimony of

witnesses under oath• Investigate records• An employee that knows or believes a

violation of a safety or health standard exists may request an inspection

Citations

• If a violation of a standard is made, a citation will be issued, and it should:– Be written– Describe the nature of the violation– Give reasonable time for response/compliance

Procedure for Enforcement

• Notification, by certified mail, of penalty• Employer has 15 days to notify that they wish

to contest the citation/penalty• Reasonable amount of time will be allowed for

compliance• If compliance is not made by a set date,

another penalty/citation may be issued

Final Thoughts

• Judicial review- hearing to review the citation/penalty

• State jurisdiction and State plans- assume responsibility for development and enforcement of OSHA standards after complying with steps taken under the Federal Department of Labor

• Federal agency and State program responsibilities- establish and maintain an effective and comprehensive occupational safety and health program

So… why is this important to YOU?

True Stories

• 18-year-old Sylvia caught her hand in an electric cabbage shredder at a fast food restaurant. Her hand is permanently disfigured and she'll never have full use of it again…

• 17-year-old Joe lost his life while working as a construction helper. An electric shock killed him when he climbed a metal ladder to hand an electric drill to another worker…

• 16-year-old Donna was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at a sandwich shop. She was working alone after 11 p.m. …

Overview

• Every year nearly 70 teens under 18 die from work injuries in the United States. Another 84,000 get hurt badly enough that they go to a hospital emergency room.

• Why do injuries like these occur? Teens are often injured on the job due to unsafe equipment, stressful conditions, and speed-up. Also they may not receive adequate safety training and supervision.

• Teens are much more likely to be injured when they work on jobs they are not allowed to do by law.

Statistical Analysis

• Younger workers (defined as those aged 15-24 years):– Represent 14% of the U.S. labor force – Overrepresented in dangerous jobs:

construction, transportation, agriculture, and mining.

– 2009: there were 343 fatalities among this group

• Workers under 25 years old were twice as likely to end up in the emergency room when compared to those aged 25 and older

Sharing Work-Related Experiences• How many of you have ever had a job?

• Where did you work?

• What did you do?

• Have you ever been hurt at work, or do you know someone who was?

• Have you ever been uncomfortable with a task you’ve been asked to do at work?

Hazard BreakdownYoung workers get injured or sick on the job for many reasons, including:• Unsafe equipment• Inadequate safety training• Inadequate supervision• Dangerous work that is illegal or inappropriate for youth under 18• Pressure to work faster• Stressful conditions

Workplace hazards associated with specific jobs are another major cause of injuries and illnesses. Employers must work to reduce or minimize hazards in the workplace and train employees how to work safely on the job.

Hazard Catgories• Safety hazards: can cause immediate

accidents and injuries. (Examples: knives, hot grease, etc.)

• Chemical hazards: are gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts that can harm your body. (Examples: cleaning products or pesticides.) Discuss how chemicals can get into the body.

• Biological hazards: are living things that can cause sickness or disease. (Ex: bacteria, viruses, or insects.)

Other Hazard Categories• Other health hazards: are harmful things,

not in other categories, that can injure you or make you sick. They are sometimes less obvious because they may not cause health problems right away. (Examples: noise, radiation, repetitive movements, heat, cold)

• “Pressure Cooker or Unspoken” hazards:– unsafe equipment or procedures– emergency situations: fires, explosions, severe

injury, violence– stressful conditions– inadequate training– inadequate supervision– deadlines, production requirements, etc.

Prevention Strategies

Remove the Hazard orBuild a Barrier

Improve Work Policies & Procedures

Use Protective Clothing & Equipment

Youth Rules!

• Child Labor Laws are designed to protect teens under 18 from:–Working long or late hours– From doing certain dangerous tasks on the job

• Federal regulations updated on July 19, 2010• Where to go for more information: – Youth Rules! Website : http://youthrules.dol.gov/ –Wage and Hour Division of Department of Labor :

http://www.dol.gov/whd/

AGE JOB TYPES WORKING HOURS

18+ Any job, hazardous or not No limits

16 and 17

Any non-hazardous job No limits on times or hours

14 and 15

Outside school hours in non-manufacturing, non-mining, and non-hazardous jobs

7AM – 7PM Labor Day to June 1(can’t miss school for work)Max. hours during school: 3 hours/day, 18 hours/week7AM – 9PM June 1 to Labor DayMax. working hours non-school: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week

Under 14

Can work in business owned by parents, perform babysitting or minor chores around private home, deliver newspapers, perform in radio, television, etc.

Minimum working age is 14

What Are My Safety Responsibilities on the Job?

To work safely you should: • Follow all safety rules and instructions; use safety

equipment and protective clothing when needed • Look out for co-workers • Keep work areas clean and neat • Know what to do in an emergency • Report any health and safety hazard to your

supervisor • Ask questions if you don’t understand

Handling Workplace Safety Problems

Steps in Problem Solving:• Define the problem• Get advice • Choose your goals• Know your rights• Decide the best way to talk to the

supervisor• If necessary, contact an outside agency

for help.

FYI Workers’ Compensation: Did You Know?

You can receive benefits: • Even if you are under 18. • Even if you are a temporary or part-time worker (in

most cases). • You receive benefits no matter who was at fault for

your job injury. • You don’t have to be a legal resident of the U.S. to

receive benefits. • You can’t sue your employer for a job injury (in most

cases).

http://www.youngworkers.org/psacontest/2010psawinners.html

ANY QUESTIONS???

Assignment 1: Using your notes from “The Story of OSHA”, the textbook, and this powerpoint; construct a 10 question multiple choice test. You must have a-d choices (3 may be true/false), and you need to highlight the correct answer.

Assignment 2: Elena’s Story (Role Play)