Occupational Health and Safety: Importance, Changes, and Recommendations

HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
IMPORTANCE OF OHS................................................................................................................4
CHANGES IN THE POLICIES OF OHS.......................................................................................5
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. ................................................................................................7
RECOMMENDATION...................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Occupational health and safety also commonly known as occupational health and
occupational safety is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the health, safety and welfare of
people at work or people at occupation. The main aim of occupational health and safety program
is to foster an environment which is healthy as well as safe to work for the employees of the
company. Occupational health and safety also protect the public who may be affected by
environment of the occupation. It helps in dealing with the health and safety in the place of work
and primarily strongly focuses on the prevention of hazards which can happen in the workplace
any day and at anytime. Occupational health and safety is defined as field of healthcare
concerned with enabling an individual to undertake their job/occupation in a way which causes
no harm to their health standards. It is based on three objectives such as promotion and
maintenance of workers health and there working capacity, regular improvement in environment
and working standards to make aware of health and safety measures to be taken while working in
the organization, and lastly focuses on development of culture which focuses on directions that
supports health and safety during course of work to enhance smooth flow of operations and
ensures productivity in the operations. Present report will address to various reviews of experts
on occupational health and safety. It will brief on how OHS is important in the workplace and
will brief on changes that took place in the policies due to COVID-19 and will also brief on
finding and conclusion based out of OHS and recommendations to the same.

LITERATURE REVIEW
As per the view of Badri(2018), it is stated that occupational health and safety helps in
improved staff relationship and morale to perform task effectively and efficiently as employees
derive job satisfaction in terms that the company takes steps in providing security to prevent
them from accidents and from hazardous situation.
According to the view of Gul, Ak(2018), OHS helps in increased & improved business
efficiency as it reduces the chance where the employees of the company fall sick and take leaves
which affects the performance of the company and helps the company in retaining the employees
and reducing the cost of training for new and temporary hires.
As stated by the Amponsah-Tawiah, Mensah(2016), occupational health and safety
helps the company in building the brand image as the customers are satisfied that company
adapts to norms related to safety and health which helps in gaining new customers. It is also
being stated that customers far less likely to trust companies which does not consider their
employees safety& health.
In accordance with the view point of da Silva, Amaral(2019), OHS management system
helps in building confidence as employees feel safe at the workplace as companies with OHS
certification makes ensure business/ company in committed in the workplace towards the
employees welfare which is in terms of safety and health.
Contradicting to the points above the Silaparasetti, Rao, Khan(2017),has stated that
work related illness/ injury can put employees out of work and may impact their quality of life
which may also lead to damage the productivity of the business leading to decline in the image
of the company.
The Darabont (2019), has stated that when proper occupational health& and safety
measures are not taken it may lead to legal repercussions as it is the legal responsibility on the
part of employer but when it neglects to take the same it leads company to pay high fines and
possibility to jail of employer.