OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

• INTRODUCTION
1. To explore the concept of occupational safety and health
2. To understand the importance of OSH in everyday life of employees
3. To focus on why OSH is attracting the attention of all stakeholders in the world
of work.
A workplace has a multitude of hazards. Emphasis should be laid on the fact that
the workplace can,
besides employees, have customers, visitors, contractors and young people.
Young people are
generally inexperienced, vulnerable and often not aware and conscious of the
safety and health
hazards present in their environment
OBJECTIVES
• To be able to define the term Occupational Safety and Health
• To be able to explain the importance of Occupational Safety and Health
• To be able to understand the causes and costs of occupational accidents
and diseases
Definition
OS&H is a field of public health that focuses on improving mental and
physical conditions at work and controlling recognized hazards.
What is occupational health and safety?
Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope involving many
specialized fields. In its broadest sense, it should aim at:
• the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental
and social well-being of workers in all occupations;
• the prevention among workers of adverse effects on health caused by their
working conditions;
• the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from
factors adverse to health;
• the placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment
adapted to physical and mental needs;
• the adaptation of work to humans.
• In other words, occupational health and safety encompasses the social,
mental and physical well-being of workers, that is the “whole person”.
CONCEPT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
• Occupational safety and health refers to conditions and factors that affect
or could affect the safety and health of employees or other persons in the
workplace.
 • It is a cross disciplinary area concerned with the safety, health and welfare
of people engaged in work.
• It involves the interrelationship between people and work. It includes
- materials, equipment and machinery
- the environment
- economic considerations such as productivity
Poor occupational safety and health management leads to increased cases of
occupational accidents including serious and fatal cases and also occupational
diseases.
Accidents and ill-health at work impact on the lives of workers and their families.
Productivity and profitability of enterprises are affected causing the welfare of
society to be affected.

IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

• There are 3 fundamental reasons for managing safety and health
- humanitarian reason
- economic reason
- legal reason
Humanitarian reason
- It is the duty of any man to ensure the general well-being of his fellow men.
Economic reason
- Accidents cost money and also cause a decrease in productivity, therefore
being the economic reason for managing safety and health.
Legal reason
 - Any breach of the statutory duties can result in the employer being
prosecuted including penalties and the loss of company image which may lead
to economic disadvantages.

Work plays a central role in people's lives, since most workers spend at least
eight hours a day in the workplace, whether it is on a plantation, in an office,
factory, etc. Therefore, work environments should be safe and healthy. Every
day workers all over the world are faced with a multitude of health hazards,
such as:

-dusts;
-gases;
-noise;
-vibration;
-extreme temperatures.

How much does an occupational disease or accident cost?

 • Work-related accidents or diseases are very costly and can have many
serious direct and indirect effects on the lives of workers and their
families. For workers some of the direct costs of an injury or illness are:
-the pain and suffering of the injury or illness;
-the loss of income;
-the possible loss of a job;
-health-care costs.
The indirect costs of an accident or illness can be four to ten times greater than
the direct costs, or even more. One of the most obvious indirect costs is the
human suffering caused to workers' families, which cannot be compensated
with money.

• For employers, some of the direct costs are:

-payment for work not performed;
-medical and compensation payments;
-repair or replacement of damaged machinery and equipment;
-reduction or a temporary halt in production;
-increased training expenses and administration costs;
-possible reduction in the quality of work;
-negative effect on morale in other workers.

Some of the indirect costs for employers are:

-the injured/ill worker has to be replaced;
-a new worker has to be trained and given time to adjust;
-it takes time before the new worker is producing at the rate of the original
worker;
-time must be devoted to obligatory investigations, to the writing of reports and
filling out of forms;
-accidents often arouse the concern of fellow workers and influence labour
relations in a negative way;
-poor health and safety conditions in the workplace can also result in poor
public relations.

• It is therefore crucial that employers, workers and unions are committed

to health and safety and that:
-workplace hazards are controlled - at the source whenever possible;
-records of any exposure are maintained for many years;
-both workers and employers are informed about health and safety risks in the
workplace;
-there is an active and effective health and safety committee that includes both
workers and management;
-worker health and safety efforts are ongoing.

CHALLENGES TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

. Compliance with Legislations
Keeping up with constantly evolving safety legislations and ensuring compliance
with diverse standards can be complex. Different industries often have their
own set of rules and compliance requirements, making it challenging making
organisations to stay updated and aligned.
2. Workplace Hazards
Identifying and mitigating workplace hazards such as chemical exposures,
physical risks, ergonomic issues and psychological stressors remains a significant
challenge . Each hazard requires specific risk assessments and preventive
measures.
3. Employee Training and Awareness
Ensuring that employees are well trained in safety protocols and are aware of
potential hazards is crucial. However, maintaining consistent training programs
and cultivating a culture of safety can be difficult, especially in large or diverse
work environments.
4.Workplace Stress and Mental Health
Addressing mental health concerns and stress related issues in the workplace
has gained significant importance. However, recognizing, managing and
providing support for mental health challenges at work remains a complex area,
often requiring specialized strategies.

5. Emerging Technologies
With the introduction of new technologies, workplaces are constantly evolving.
While these advancements bring efficiency, they also introduce new risks that
needs to be identified and managed effectively.
6. Small Business Challenges
Small businesses often struggle with limited resources to implement
comprehensive safety and health programs. They might face difficulties in
investing in safety measures due to financial constraints or lack of awareness
about the importance of these measures.
7. High-Risk Industries
Certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing inherently pose
higher risks to worker safety due to the nature of the work involved. Managing
safety in these environments requires specialized knowledge and robust safety
protocols.
Questions
 Define Occupational Safety and Health.
 List any 5 objectives of Occupational Safety and Health
 List any 5 Direct costs of an accident at work
 List any 5 indirect costs of an accident at work
 Name and discuss any 5 challenges of Occupational Safety and
Health
 Name the 3 fundamental reasons for managing Safety and Health