Occupational Health and Safety - PDF

Running Head: Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational Health And Safety
Stress at Work

Occupational Health and Safety
Executive Summary
This report focuses on the health hazards that takes place in the workplace and how it affects
other people as well as the firm. Coates Hire’s image came down when one of their
employees was drink and driving. Similarly, there are firms which required a management
action plan so that they can prevent the hazards to occur at their workplace. The challenges
that the company and the employees have to face due to drug and alcohol are also discussed
in this report.
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Occupational Health and Safety
Table of Contents
Executive Summary............................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................3
Company Overview..........................................................................................................3
Identification of Occupational Health Hazard.................................................................4
Problem of the drug and alcohol use at workplace....................................................................5
Organizational Stress Hazards...................................................................................................5
Risks involved in Alcohol Usage.................................................................................................6
Legal Requirement and Ethical Considerations........................................................................6
Steps to Minimize Stress at Work...............................................................................................7
Stress management Program............................................................................................8
Establishment of the action plan.................................................................................................9
Implementation of the plan.........................................................................................................9
Monitoring and evaluation.................................................................................................9
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................10
References.......................................................................................................................11
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Occupational Health and Safety
Introduction
Occupational health and safety which is also known as OSH is usually known as the safety of
the workplace or occupational health. It is a field of multi disciplines which are concerned
with the safety, health and welfare of the people when the workplace is considered. The
objective of the occupational health and safety programs are to involve a safe and healthy
work environment (B., Bauder , & Trauth , 2014). OSH might also protect the family
members, colleagues, customers and other people who are affected by the workplace
ambience. In the law, employers always have a common-law duty for taking care of the
employees in terms of safety. The statute law might impose other usual duties, create
government bodies with the power for regulating workplace safety issues. The report
focusses on the type of health and hazards which occurs in the workplace. The biggest of all
is drug and alcohol hazard. Even if a single person is caught in this type of hazard, it can
cause a great harm to that particular person as well as to the whole workplace and its
employees. The case study that is chosen is of the organization named Coates Hire which
came into picture in the year 2015 because of the alcohol content found in one of the
employees of their organization (Alli, 2008).
Company Overview
Coates Hire is based in Australia and is very well known for equipment hire company. It is
established in the market for 130 years. They supply to a variety of markets such as
engineering, construction and maintenance, mining, manufacturing, events and Government
etc. (CoatesHire, 2018).
The network of Coates hire is of above 2000 branches all across the nation, remote areas and
metropolitan. The company offers people with this surety that it does not matter where the
individual is, they have committed product specialist and a branch nearby.
Coates Hire being the largest company with respect to the equipment hiring, it globally has
over $ 1 billion investors invested in the company till now in the last 5 years of span. It has
approximately 1000 to 5000 employees overall. The usual socio economic background of
most of the employees are of lower middle class level that is they manage to have a good life
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but not the luxurious one. The organization is very much dedicated to this belief that any
accident can be prevented (Coateshire, 2017).
The Company commits for achieving the safety culture with no harm by improving their
practices continuously in the journey of achieving generative, safety, and environment culture
with in the industry. The strategic focus areas of Coates Hire are: -
1) Safety Leadership in which leaders becomes the role model for developing and
promoting a healthy HSE culture via safe attitudes
2) Engaged Employees: The staff of the company is the greatest resource available when
it comes to participation in recognizing HSE initiatives. These initiatives are
important in decreasing the injuries and accidents (Hire, 2018).
3) HSE and Management Systems: The review and development of health and safety
systems gives the basis to the company for continues elimination and minimization of
HSE risks for the employees and stakeholders
Identification of Occupational Health Hazard
There have been cases when the bosses put the obligations on the members of the staff when
anyone is suspected of the usage of the drugs and alcohol at the work because of the stress.
Similarly when Coates Hire authorities after this incident took a survey in their company,
there were 100 people who were surveyed. Our of which more than 60% people felt that they
work under stress and because of that stress, they started taking drugs and alcohol just to
release that stress (Authority, 2017). Many people were in stress because of their household
situation as well as stress at work. By taking this survey, Coates Hire could know that stress
could cause so many issues at the workplace. Some people were also found having Cardio
vascular diseases and Asthma because when they are stressed, they feel that they cannot
breathe properly.
For Example: Mark was stressed because of the nature of his work. He was a software
engineer and had no work life balance. Because of this he was not even able to focus on
work. He started drinking to release his stress on weekends. Later, it became a habit and
because of that he started taking so many leaves that his job came to a stake. The office
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culture became strict because of this one incident. All the other employees had to also bear
with all this. This is how alcohol can impact a person’s life and his surroundings.
According to the policies of the company, the employee was required to have no blood
alcohol concentration at the time of driving the firm’s vehicle. If this would not have been the
case, the employee will be sued as the company policy was breached. The employee was
suspended as there were flaws in the proof submitted by the employee. Later, the employee
was terminated after being interviewed by the company itself (Ward, 2016).
The FWC (The Fare Work Commission), found that the termination of the employee was fair
because the employee was drunk and driving and breeched the WHS (World Health and
Safety) policies of the company (Diugwu, 2008).
Problem of the drug and alcohol use at workplace
Organizational Stress Hazards
There are a few risks which are associated with the risks caused due to stress at workplace.
1. Demands at Work: Everyone has a capability and the capacity to work. This capacity
depends on person to person. If this capacity is increased then a person might feel
stressed due to work.
2. Low Level of Control: This factor of control addresses the influence which a person
feels when they do not know the way to meet the demands at the workplace.
3. Lack of clarity in someone’s role. For example: poor guidance from the management.
4. There are unreasonable work demands. Example: the unrealistic deadlines are set and
tasks which a worker is not able to perform.
5. When there is lower recognition or rewards are not given to the employee, it can
cause stress and this might lead to demotivation.
6. When the situations are challenging where an employee is put out of his comfort
zone.
7. Overtime
8. Where there is no job security, a person will always work under stress thinking about
the future in that particular company.
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9. When relations are tense in the workplace, the atmosphere is not healthy to work in.
All such problems lied in Coates Hire too as there were long working hours and the
employees used to stay stressed all the time according to the survey done (Tuc, 2010).
There was a main issue which came into picture, it was drug and alcohol.
Risks involved in Alcohol Usage
The risks that are involved in stress at work are:
 Usage of alcohol might occur due to work related stress.
 Drug and alcohol usage can hamper the performance, judgement and concentration
towards work even if it is used in a small amount (WHO, 2001). The social
interactions are hampered due to the usage of this.
 The usage of alcohol and also drugs could lead to the accidents in the workplace and
might be harmful and damage the workplace equipment as well.
 It can cause absenteeism and deterioration in the workplace relations.
 Decreased productivity is also one of the major concerns.
 It can lead to the problems of health which can be long term and mental, physical and
social problems too.
 The behaviour is one of the major concerns as people who suffer have to suffer with
critical behavioural changes in a person. Changing behaviour is really harmful.
 Diseases like cardiovascular attacks and Asthma can be caused.
 Headaches and Diabetes are the major problems that occur when a person is stressed.
 Premature Deaths can be a major problem.
Legal Requirement and Ethical Considerations
Following are the aspects of ADA act of 1973 that relates to the employee with alcohol and
drug issues as well as stress:
 The employer team can straight away say no to the usage of alcohol and drugs as it is
illegal in itself.
 However, the testing of the drugs cannot violate the ADA policies.
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 Testing of the individuals with respect to the usage of the alcohol and drugs is usually
not considered a good idea but all the candidates should be considered equal and that
is why none of them should be left behind for testing.
 There are so many states which apply strict rules in testing the usage in the employees
continuously as they want the employee should be very proactive and the work is not
compromised (Bluff, 2015).
 The employers can say no to discharge for the people who presently are engaged in
illegal use of drugs.
 No discrimination from the employers can be done in between the people who have
history of drug and alcohol and those who are presently suffering.
 There should always be reasonable time given from the company to the sufferers for
the medical care or self-help programs so that the employee can again back to his feet.
 Alcoholic people are considered as the people with disability for ADA.
 The employees who use drugs should also be able to have the same behaviours as
other people in workplace.
 ADA is not for protecting the casual drug users. The act only covers those who are
addicted to alcohol and drugs.
 Healthy Communications are encouraged in between the managers and employees so
that they can communicate about their stress.
 There are medical facilities laws by which many companies abide to.
 Relaxation and motivational Sessions should be organized with company. Some
company policies call it Fun time.
Steps to Minimize Stress at Work
There are several ways by which the health hazard can be minimized. They are:
 The company should provide healthy choices of eating to it s employees so that they
do not jump upon the alcohol and drugs or even on the junk food because of stress.
 The boundaries should be made for work life balance. With the digitization, work can
be done in flexible hours as well.
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 The companies can give every employee some hours to recharge themselves. For
example: there can be play rooms where employees can play, they should be given
holidays for a family travel or so.
 Communication programs should be established sp that each employee can talk to
their supervisors about their issues.
 EAP (Employee Assistance Program) gives support to the employees who feel that
they are stressed (Foundation, 2014).
Stress management Program
The program which could be helpful in the prevention of stress is stress management
program. Occupational Health and safety programs are not only helpful in preventing the
problem but also to make people responsible about their duties towards these types of
activities.
The responsibilities of the employers include:
 To establish a health and safety program.
 To conduct the yearly review of the employees.
 The supervisors are trained for such activities.
 The work environment should be safe and healthy ( Jilcha & Kitaw ).
The responsibilities of supervisors are:
 The health and safety orientation should be given to the workers.
 The training should keep on going with in the organization.
 To participate in the supervisions.
 Reporting of the health hazard should be done immediately.
 To prevent the unsafe acts.
The responsibility of the workers is:
 Learn and follow the process taught in trainings.
 To inform about the hazards to the supervisors.
 Personal active equipment’s for own safety should be used.
 To participate in the trainings and investigations ( WEINSTOCK & SLATIN, 2012).
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Occupational Health and Safety
Establishment of the action plan
The action which include in the establishment of the health and safety plan involves:
 The goals and the objective of the plan should be identified.
 To put those goals and objective in action, there should be some strategies which
should be handy and used at the time of implementing it.
 For implementing there should be some people who will be needed. Hence, the
resources and the facilities should be identified.
Implementation of the plan
There should be some points which should be kept in mind while implementing the plan.
 The company should first do the assessment of all the employees and monitor all the
figures.
 Then the Team who will implement the program should encourage all the employees
to be a part of it.
 Organizational Strategies should be applied like creating a collaborative work
environment etc.
 Multiple approaches like Thinking out of the box, setting up support groups etc
should be addressed and worked upon.
 Work life balance should be instituted in the program.
 Individual stress management should be encouraged.
Monitoring and evaluation
This is very important while implementing the program. The steps include:
 The strategies which are implemented are satisfying the company’s needs or not
should be monitored.
 After the evaluation of the strategies, the impact should also be monitored.
 The progress of the program should be monitored and evaluated as to how it would be
helpful in the long term (Dpac, 2018).
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Conclusion
This report focusses on the case study of Coates Hire company which faced problems of the
health and safety hazard i.e. stress at work. Also, the major emphasis of the report is on the
health and safety risks as well as the issues which are created in the workplace due to some
people who are addicted to the usage of the alcohol and drugs. Also, stress management
program and its implementation steps are discussed in this report. This is helpful in
minimizing the hazards at the workplace and will make the place better to work in.
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References
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SAFETY AND HEALTH PRACTICE & ACCIDENTS SEVERITY. International
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WEINSTOCK, D., & SLATIN, C. (2012). LEARNING TO TAKE ACTION: THE GOALS
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http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/@publ/documents/
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