Assignment: Health and Safety in the Workplace

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THE IMPORTANT OF OSH IN WORKPLACE
INTRODUCTION
Human resources are one of the most important features of many businesses. A
business’ success relies heavily on the effectiveness to which this resource is managed.
Policies and practices used by the firm, set out the standards to which they seek to
aspire. They are designed to govern the operation of the business; especially in today’s
economy where there is such a rise in service This topic is of importance to us because
it has proven to be a neglected field in today’s corporate world; especially in Grenada.
In this regard, this paper seeks to highlight the importance of Workplace Health and
safety to the business, to develop an understanding of how its effective management
can affect the performance of a business, outline how this can be effectively carried
out with the interest of the company in mind.
It is often said that, “the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation” (Fraser, 2004), the
same concept applies to business. The health and safety of a company’s human
resource is an enormous contributor to the success of that business. Human resources
account for a large proportion of many company’s’ costs; it is the people that invariably
drive a business.
WHO ESTABLISH WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY?
The health and safety of a workplace is established through different sources. Firstly,
on a national level occupational health and safety is instituted in accordance with legal
regulations that were created by legislative decisions and is enforced and monitored
by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
On a national and/or on a company level there are also instances of regular inspections
by a safety representative. This can be self-requested or legally mandated. This is done
to ensure that companies follow the stipulated guidelines that are set to govern the
safety and health of the workplace. Also, from a corporate standpoint, the health and
safety standards of the company can be established by the declaration of it in the
Company’s general worker manual and/or in the separate manual set aside for clearly
laying out, the standards by which the company seek to keep its work environment
and the people that use it safe and healthy. A more informal, but still an effective
method is employee observation. This is simply employees reporting hazards that go
unnoticed to the inspection representative and/or management.
These options are in place to ensure accordance of a company to monitor and control
the health and safety of the workplace, and to maintain it. In-adherence of regulations

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set by the above regulatory bodies can result in an employer being fined or sentenced
to jail time.
REASONS FOR MAINTAINING WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
There are reasons why a business should maintain a safe and healthy workplace. It
purges the environment of possible risks to everyone that uses the facility. An
organization’s productivity is directly related to the health and safety of its workforce.
Therefore, proper health and safety practices safeguard the productivity of its
employees. When the workforce is unhealthy it affects productivity; quantity and
quality. Proper practices maintain the health of the workers and it protects human
rights; the human right to a safe and healthy environment and the human right to a
safe and healthy workplace.
A major reason for maintaining health and safety in the workplace is that failure to do
so cost too much. The consequences of not up keeping proper health and safety
practices can range from having expensive monetary pay-outs, to death (users of the
workplace). Other repercussions are
Lower productivity levels – sick or injured worker do not produce the same quality and
quantity as do health workers.
Poor quality products and services – the direct relation between quality of workforce
and quality of products or service they produce.
High levels of complaints from customers – lower quality of products or services
delivered to customers would make them unhappy.
Loss of customers and subsequently lower revenues – if the quality of the production
isn’t addressed it can result in a loss in the customer base and later loss in revenues
because of lower sales.
Higher costs – this increase in cost can come from different sources including: payment
of insurance claims for damages, cost of substitution for sick or injured workers
(training and wages), and benefits for sick or injured workers.
Higher staff turnover – as persons get sick or injured on the job they tend to leave. If
the health and safety practices of the workplace are dreadful employees would not
stay therefore higher turnover.
Poor industrial relations – poor health and safety practices would attract attention from
unions who fight for the rights of employees.

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Thus, addressing safety and health issues in the workplace saves the employer money
and adds value to the business (OSHA). When workers remain safe and healthy, the
direct cost-savings to businesses include:
• lower workers’ compensation insurance costs
• reduced medical expenditures
• smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs
• fewer faulty products
• lower costs for job accommodations for injured workers
• less money spent for overtime benefits
Safety and health also result in substantial decreases in indirect cost (OSHA)
This is as a result of:
• increased productivity
• higher quality products
• increased morale
• better labour/management relations
• reduced turnover
• better use of human resources
Employees and their families benefit from safety and health because (OSHA) :
• their incomes are protected; no financial shock because of illness or injury
• their family lives are not hampered by injury; no loss of income destabilization
because of illness and injury
• they have less stress; because of a com
Workplace health and safety extend way beyond the boundaries of the worksite. The
families of workers and other users of the worksite can also be impacted by health and
safety in the workplace (OSHA).
It is of a misconception that health and safety in the workplace only entails ensuring
that there aren’t any hazards on the worksite however it should be noted that the
hazard can be the employees themselves. Employees who are sick (communicable/non
communicable), who have a drug or alcohol problem, who have psychological
problems can also pose great threat to the health and safety of others in the workplace.
Violent employees can also be classified as a hazard. In this regard testing of the
individual together with the worksite is necessary; drug.

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WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT?
The health and safety of a workplace should be part of the business’ HR strategy. It
should be an initiative that is deeply rooted into the culture of a business. No one
person should be responsible for it. Given this, all employees, supervisors and
managers should undergo training in this area to suit their position. Managers
especially should possess an attitude that support good health and safety practices
because it is usually mirrored by employees; if the manager care about health and
safety, the employees will do too (OSHA)
Both the employer and the employee are responsible for ensuring that the workplace
is healthy and safe for all users. Employers are legally obligated to maintain and
provide a working environment that is conducive for comfortable operations. They
also have to provide safe systems of work and facilities that would sustain the welfare
of its employees. They are also responsible for providing employees with any
information, instruction, training and/or supervision that is needed to ensure that
workers are safe during operations no matter the job. As a result of this responsibility
to ensure employees are safe at work, an employer may institute regulations and
policies that would call for the attention from and compliance of employees.
Employees are also expected to play a part in ensuring proper health and safety of
the workplace. They are to make certain their own personal health and safety and
that of other persons in the workplace; whether colleague, customer, supplier, etc.
Importantly, workers are expected to adhere to the directions given by management
to guarantee health and safety. If workers are to ignore these directives it creates a
hazard in the workplace not only for themselves but also for others.
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCE
Each workplace is different and dynamic. Therefore, the strategy used to effectively
manage the human resource should also be different and dynamic. This strategy
should include clear and concise plans for the addressing the types of accidents that
and exposing the health and safety hazards that could occur at the worksite (OSHA).
An effective plan, as based upon the safety and health program management
guidelines given by OSHA in January 1989 is the Four Point workplace Program.
The Four Point Workplace Program as its name suggests, it is a program that
contains four elements in approaching optimum effective health and safety
standards. These elements

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COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT
The manager or management team leads the way, by setting policy, assigning and
supporting responsibility, setting an example and involving employees.
WORKSITE ANALYSIS
The worksite is continually analysed to identify all existing and potential hazards.
• Hazard Prevention and Control
• Methods to prevent or control existing or potential hazards are put in place and
maintained.
• Training for Employees, Supervisors and Managers
• Managers, supervisors and employees are trained to understand and deal with
worksite hazards.
HOW CAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH BE MANAGED?
Managing safety and health is an integral part of managing a business. Businesses need to do a risk
assessment to find out about the hazards and risks in their workplace(s) and put measures in place to
effectively control them to ensure these hazards and risks cannot cause harm to workers.
Occupational safety and health, including compliance with the OSH requirements
pursuant to national laws and regulations, is the responsibility and duty of the
employer. The employer should show strong leadership and commitment to OSH
activities in the organization, and make appropriate arrangements for the
establishment of an OSH management system. The system should contain the main
elements of policy, organizing, planning and implementation, evaluation and action

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for improvement, as shown in figure 1.
Figure 1. Main elements of the OSH management system
This section provides information on what employers need to consider when
managing health and safety and assessing the risks in their workplace. It shows how
they can follow the continual improvement approach as shown above.
In this section:
• Policy
• Organizing
• Planning and implementation
• Evaluation
• Action for Improvement
• Controlling the risks
• Accidents and Investigations
• Multi-employer workspaces
• Deciding who can help employers with their duties
• Consulting workers

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• Providing training and information
• Providing supervision
• First aid
• Safety signs
POLICY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH POLICY
The employer, in consultation with workers and their representatives, should set out in
writing an OSH policy to which they are committed and which is communicated to all
workers.
WORKER PARTICIPATION
Worker participation is an essential element of the OSH management system in
the organization.
The employer should ensure that workers and their safety and health representatives
are consulted, informed and trained on all aspects of OSH, including emergency
arrangements, associated with their work.
The employer should make arrangements for workers and their safety and health
representatives to have the time and resources to participate actively in the processes
of organizing, planning and implementation, evaluation and action for improvement
of the OSH management system.
The employer should ensure, as appropriate, the establishment and efficient
functioning of a safety and health committee and the recognition of workers’ safety
and health representatives, in accordance with national laws and practice.
ORGANIZING
RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The employer should have overall responsibility for the protection of workers’ safety
and health, and provide leadership for OSH activities in the organization.
The employer and senior management should allocate responsibility, accountability
and authority for the development, implementation and performance of the OSH

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management system and the achievement of the relevant OSH objectives.
COMPETENCE AND TRAINING
The necessary OSH competence (includes education, work experience and training, or
a combination of these) requirements should be defined by the employer, and
arrangements established and maintained to ensure that all persons, in particular new
and young workers have been trained and are competent to carry out the safety and
health aspects of their duties and responsibilities.
The employer should have, or should have access to, sufficient OSH competence to
identify and eliminate or control work-related hazards and risks, and to implement the
OSH management system.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
DOCUMENTATION
According to the size and nature of activity of the organization, the OSH management
system documentation should be established and provided to all members of the
organization so that management and workers fully comprehend their respective
duties and responsibilities and how OSH is managed in the organization.
COMMUNICATION
Arrangements and procedures should be established and maintained for:
receiving, documenting and responding appropriately to internal and external
communications related to OSH;
ensuring the internal communication of OSH information between relevant levels and
functions of the organization; and
ensuring that the concerns, ideas and inputs of workers and their representatives on
OSH matters are received, considered and responded to.
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
INITIAL REVIEW
The organization’s existing OSH management system and relevant arrangements
should be evaluated by an initial review, as appropriate. In the case where no OSH