Impact of the Law（77页）.pptVIP

Impact of the Law CHAPTER OVERVIEW This chapter introduces the legislation that regulates safety and health in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 sets up government to conduct research regarding occupational health and safety, set health and safety standards, inspect workplaces, and penalize employers that do not meet standards. The supervisor must be familiar with the kinds of practices required to preserve health and safety in their department. They also must keep formal records of occupational injuries and illnesses, and be sure that employees have information about chemical hazards, as required by OSHA’s right-to-know rule. Hazards in the workplace may be physical, chemical, biological, or stress-inducing. Safety hazards include personal behavior and unsafe conditions of the physical environment. Some of the common safety and health concerns of employers include cigarette smoke, abuse of alcohol and other drugs, extended use of video display terminals, repetitive-motion disorders, and AIDS. Employers are taking actions to control these conditions because they are costly to the organization and reduce employee morale when they are left unattended. Rules and policies enforced by employers include limiting smoking in the workplace, rotating employees on tasks that increase risk of injury, applying ergonomics to the design of jobs and workstations, and training employees. Benefits to organizations from well-designed and executed safety and health programs are reduced number and severity of work-related injuries and illness that cut associated costs. In addition, concern for employees’ safety and health motivates employees, reduces turnover, and avoids the pain and suffering of employees. A safety and health program is effective when it minimizes the likelihood that people will be injured or ill as a result of conditions in the workplace. This is most likely when all levels of management demonstrate a strong commitm