Occupational health and safety legislation (OHS)
Based on principle of joint responsibility between workers and employers, intended to minimize
... [Show More] work-related accidents and illnesses
What are the three categories the laws of the OHS fall into?
General health and safety rules, rules for specific industries and rules related to specific hazards
Employer responsibilities based on the OHS
take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of workers (due diligence)
What are specific duties employers need to tend to for due diligence
filing government accident reports, maintaining records, ensuring that safety rules are enforced, posting safety notices and legislative information
employee responsibilities according to the OHS
take reasonable care to protect their own health and safety, and that of co-workers. This includes wearing protective clothing and equipment, and reporting contravention of law
Employee rights according to the OHS
to know about workplace safety hazards, to participate in OHS process, to refuse unsafe work
Joint health and safety committees
2 to 12 members, management and labour can work together to ensure a safe and healthy workplace in a non-adversarial atmosphere
What is the supervisor's role in safety?
ensure workers comply with regulations, advise and instruct workers about safety, must instill desire to work safely
How are OHS law enforced?
Periodic government inspections, penalties include fines and jail terms
Define corporate killing
a criminal offence, failure to ensure an appropriate level of safety in workplace
What does WHMIS stand for?
Workplace hazardous materials information system
WHMIS is in charge of controlling the ______ in workplaces
toxic substances
What are the three components of WHMIS?
labelling of hazardous material containers, material safety data sheets (MSDS), employee training
What do other legislations cover?
human rights, labour relations, employment standards
What causes accidents in the workplace?
chance occurrences, unsafe conditions, unsafe acts
Define chance occurrences
beyond management control
Define unsafe conditions in the workplace
equipment procedures, storage illumination and ventilation, job itself, work schedule, psychological climate
Define unsafe acts in the workplace
carrying/lifting, operating speed, avoiding safety devices/equipment, horseplay, quarrelling, etc
What characteristics cause a person to be more "accident prone"?
poor vision, low literacy, younger age, low perceptual or motor skills
How do you prevent workplace accidents?
reduce unsafe conditions and reduce unsafe acts
How do you improve unsafe conditions?
improve job design, remove physical hazards, ensure safety precautions are taken
How do you reduce unsafe acts in the workplace?
Selection testing, training and education, top-management commitment, positive reinforcement
How much are indirect worker's compensation costs in relation to direct costs?
4 times higher
what do indirect costs for worker's compensation cover?
Incident costs, investigation cost, damage cost, replacement cost, productivity cost
What are challenges the OHS faces in Canada
substance abuse, job-related stress, repetitive strain injuries, workplace toxins, workplace smoking, viral pandemic, violence at work
what does OHS stand for?
Occupational health and safety
Substance testing is only legal if it is:
connected to job performance, adopted n honest and good-faith that it is necessary for the job and if it is reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of the job
In terms of substance abuse testing, employers have the right to
forbid drugs and alcohol in workplace, require testing for safety-sensitive jobs, require testing for cause or post-incident
What are some techniques in dealing with substance abuse
Discipline, discharge, in-house counselling and referred to outside agency
What are some environmental factors that can contribute to job-related stress?
high demand job, high development and physical effort
What are some personal factors that can contribute to job-related stress?
Type A personalities, patience, tolerance for ambiguity, self-esteem, health and exercise, work and sleep patterns, non-related problems
What are some ways to reduce job stress for the employee?
more sleep, eat better, take vacations, meditate, find more suitable job, permit employee to have more control
What are some ways to reduce job stress for the employer?
offer employee assistant programs, ensure fair treatment, identify symptoms of stress, permit employee to have more control
Define burnout
total depletion caused by excessive striving to reach unrealistic work-related goals
How do you avoid burning out
break patterns, get away from it all, rea [Show Less]