Chapter 15 - Safety, health, and employee assistance programs. In this chapter, the following content will be discussed: Occupational safety & health act, government agencies enforcing the occupational safety and health act, costs incurred by accidents on the job, successful approaches to job safety,. | Chapter 15 Safety, Health, and Employee Assistance Programs Occupational Safety & Health Act Purpose – to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths Coverage – the law extends to any business (regardless of size) that affects interstate commerce Since almost any business affects interstate commerce, about million . workplaces and 105 million workers are included Exceptions – federal, state, and local government workers - the government cannot easily proceed against itself in the event of violations Government Agencies Enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes and enforces the necessary safety and health standards; emphasis more on prevention and cooperation rather than on confrontation The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (a three-member board appointed by the president) rules on the appropriateness of OSHA’s enforcement actions when they are contested by employers, employees, | Chapter 15 Safety, Health, and Employee Assistance Programs Occupational Safety & Health Act Purpose – to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths Coverage – the law extends to any business (regardless of size) that affects interstate commerce Since almost any business affects interstate commerce, about million . workplaces and 105 million workers are included Exceptions – federal, state, and local government workers - the government cannot easily proceed against itself in the event of violations Government Agencies Enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes and enforces the necessary safety and health standards; emphasis more on prevention and cooperation rather than on confrontation The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (a three-member board appointed by the president) rules on the appropriateness of OSHA’s enforcement actions when they are contested by employers, employees, or unions The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research on the causes and prevention of occupational injury and illness, recommends new standards (based on this research) to the secretary of labor, and develops educational programs Costs Incurred by Accidents on the Job Costs of an accident Direct costs – worker’s compensation Indirect costs of an accident Wages paid for time lost Damage to material or equipment Overtime work required due to the accident Wages paid to supervisors while their time is required for activities resulting from the accident Decreased output of the injured worker after return to work The time it takes for a new worker to learn the job Uninsured medical costs borne by the company Time spent by higher management and clerical workers to investigate or to process workers’ compensation forms Successful Approaches to Job Safety Formulate a safety policy Implement and sustain the safety policy through a loss-control program Four
