Occupational Health And Safety

Course Description and Outline

By Saed Ibrahim Mohamed
Togdheer University
HRM- SEM 9
 Course Description
• Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope
involving many specialised fields.
• It encompasses the social, mental and physical well-being of
workers that is the “whole person”.
• This unit aims at providing students with general background
information on OHS, and on the magnitude and variety of health
and safety problems worldwide.
• It would help develop an understanding of the ergonomic, physical,
chemical, biological, psychological and social determinants of OHS
 Course Objectives
After completing this unit, you should be familiar with the
following concepts and issues:
• Key principles and aim of occupational health and safety (OHS)
programmes
• Occupational health scenario in India
• Different types of occupational hazards
• Science of ergonomics and its relevance to occupational health
 Course Outline
We will cover following Chapters
– Chapter 1: Introduction To Occupational Health And Safety
– Chapter 2: Your Body At Work
– Chapter 3: Controlling Workplace Hazard
– Chapter 4: Noise At Workplace
– Chapter 5: Occupational Diseases
– Chapter 6: Ergonomics
 Course Assessment
• Final Exam 60%
• First Case Study 10%
• Second Case Study 10%
• Individual Assignment 10%
• Attendance 10%
 Chapter 1:
INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY
SAED IBRAHIM DARWIISH

Presented by:
Togdheer University
 Session Objectives
• Define the concept of occupational safety and health (OSH)
• Explain the history of OSH
• Explain the importance of safety in workplace
• Describe the major safety terminologies
• Classify types of accident and diseases
 Introduction to Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH)
• Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being
protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political,
emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other
types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents,
harm or any other event which could be considered non-
desirable.
• Health can be defines as "a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity".
 Introduction to Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH)
• It is very important for the employers to manage occupational
safety and health (OSH) at their workplaces because a lack of
management control often leads to the existence of causes of
accidents and allows for the unsafe practices among the
workers.
• Managing OSH at workplaces is vital as accidents have direct
and indirect costs on the organizations.
• Direct costs include lost of time, damage to work equipment
and premises, lost of productivity and costs of replacement
goods and services.
 Introduction to Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH)
• Indirect costs may include costs of replacement for injured
workers and costs arising from loss of commitment and
motivation of workers involved in the accidents.
• If a safe and conducive environment is created by
implementing safety and health at work, there will be an
indirect cost saving as the workers efficiency and productivity
will be enhanced under such favorable environment.
 Introduction to Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH)
• As far as the legislation that regulates activities in industry is
concerned, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA)
and Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA) are the primary
legislation that govern safety and health of all employees in industry.
• The structure of legistration is as follow :
- Act (Duties of care, Committees)
Officers, Improvement and Prohibition Notices)
- Regulation (To detail specific requirements)
- Code of practice (Guidance in complying with the
Act, Evidence that legal requirements contravened)
 Major Safety Terminologies
• SAFE
– The condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury or loss.
• HAZARD
– A hazard introduces the potential for an unsafe condition, possibly leading
to an accident.
• RISK
– The probability or likelihood of a Hazard resulting in an accident.
• INCIDENT
– Undesired situation that produces the potential for an ACCIDENT
• ACCIDENT
– An accident is an unplanned event, which could result in injury to persons,
or in damage to plant and equipment or both. (James, D.W.B., 1983,5)
 Major Safety Terminologies
• ACCIDENT COST
– Accident cost includes medical Payments, Compensation, overtime
for replacement workers, production delays, product or material
damage, training of replacements, accidents investigation cost,
building or complex damages, equipment damages and business
interruptions.
 History of OSH
• The role of occupational safety and health has been in
existence 120 years ago, in the end of the 19 century.
• Starting with the safety of the boiler and then into for
machinery safety.
• Followed by security industrial, industrial safety and health,
and finally covering safety and health covering all sectors.
• History, role and development department can explained in
five ages.
 History of OSH
• Interest in occupational safety and health started with the beginning of
civilization, the researchers found that Hammurabi, king of Babylon in
the 18th century BC, issued laws to protect the safety of workers,
including the following:
• If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it
properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, then that
builder shall be put to death.
• Punishment of the supervisors who cause damage as a result of failure
to perform their work in a proper manner, for example, if a worker loses
his arm as a result of the error or negligence of the supervisor, the
supervisor’s arm has to be cut likewise.
 History of OSH
• Ancient Egyptians recorded laws regarding the number of working
hours and the rest periods for the workers in building the pyramids and
providing hot meals for them.
• They also defined some diseases arising from certain industries and laid
down a comprehensive description of the diseases.
• In 400 BC, Hippocrates observed in ancient Greece for the first time that
workers in mercury sulfide were suffering from illness.
• In the 1540s, Barracelios, in Austria, gave a description of pulmonary
disease among mining workers.
 History of OSH
• In Bohemia in 1556, Agricola wrote (De Re Metallica) describing the
diseases spread among the mining workers as well as the use of
ventilation and the protective equipment for the respiratory system to
control exposure to gases and dust.
• John Stanhaos presented in1858 the first mask impregnated with coal
to control exposure to gases and vapors.
• In the United Kingdom, labor and safety laws have begun to be issued
since 1802, and in 1833 an entity was formed to inspect the factories in
order to inspect factories and ensure the prevention of occupational
accidents of child laborers in textile sector.
 History of OSH
• In 1840, the Royal Commission published a report on the status of the
workers in the mining industry, which documented the high ratio of
horrific accidents in this sector, as well as the hazardous and non-secure
work environment, that infuriated the wide public and paved the way
for the issuance of the Law of Mines in 1844.
• In Germany, Bismarck (Otto von Bismarck) launched the first social
insurance legislation in 1883 and the Workers’ Compensation Act in
1884 in response to the demands of workers for the first time in Europe,
and was followed by other European countries.
 History of OSH
• During World War I (1914-1918) the urgent need to work in
ammunition plants led to the deterioration of working conditions, and
as a result a committee for the health of labors in ammunition factories
was formed and laid down the basis for many of the following practices
in the science of human engineering, psychology, welfare, and working
systems by shifts.
• In the United States, in 1910, Allen Hamilton had been allocated as the
first scientist in industrial toxins, and she was a leader in the field of
toxicology and occupational health.
 History of OSH
• The industrial renaissance occurred between 1920 and 1930 and was
accompanied by the development and growth of industrial health in
both public health and large private companies, which led to the
formation of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) in 1938 and the American Industrial Hygiene
Association (AIHA) in 1939, and they both included industrial/
occupational hygiene experts. Number of industrial health organizations
increased in the United States during World War II to support the war
effort.
 History of OSH
• In 1953, the British Occupational Health Society (BOHS) was founded
and began to publish annual periodics on occupational health in 1958.
• In 1970 President Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act
as the Congress created Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA)
under the Ministry of Labor in order to ensure the safety and health of
the working conditions for both men and women workers, through
setting and applying standards and providing training, awareness-
raising, education, and assistance. The Agency has developed since its
foundation a number of training, assistance for compliance, and
defining health and safety programs.
 Goals of OHS
– 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 departures from 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 the worker in an occupational
environment adapted to his physiological and psychological
equipment and to summarize – the adaptation of work to man and
each man to his job.
 Importance of Safety in Workplace
• Works plays a central role in people’s lives.
• Most workers spend at least 8 hours a day in workplace.
• Therefore, work environment should be safe and health.
• Every day workers all over the world are faced with multitude of health
hazard, such as :
– Dust
– Noise
– Extreme temperatures
– Gases
– vibration
 Importance of Safety in Workplace
• Some employers assume little responsibility for the protection of
worker’s health and safety.
• As a result of the hazards and a lack of attention given to health
and safety, work-related accidents and diseases are common in all
parts of the world.
• Employees can work with minimal risk to their health.
• It protects employees and the employer from death or injury.
• It teaches workers how to work in a safe environment.
• It keeps everyone feel safe and happy.
• It teaches the workers to pay attention to their surroundings.
• It prevents companies from law suits.
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• Fitness to work
– Job Placement
Placing people in suitable work. This is the aim of a pre-placement
examination – to assess medical fitness, ascertain that an employee is in a
good physical condition and that the requirement of the job is suited to his
physical make up.
– Maintaining people in suitable work
Identifying people who as a result of illness or injury cannot continue to
function effectively at present jobs and need to be relocated to a more
suitable job.
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• Health promotion in the workplace
– Smoking cessation
– weight control
– stress management

• Provision of treatment services

– Nurse GP, OH Physician
– On site / Off site
– First aid/ Basic medical services/ Comprehensive health services
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• First aid, emergency preparedness and response
– First aid boxes
– Arrangements for emergency services; fire, police, ambulance
• Identification of hazards
Factory visits to observe work processes can help to identify
possible hazards at work.
• Control of hazards
Measures to protect workers from effect of hazards.
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• Periodic examination
– Screening for evidence of early signs of non-occupational
disease such as hypertension and heart disease.
Screening for early detection of occupational disease such as
noise- induced deafness and lead poisoning.
• Health education and safety training
– To prevent undue exposure to known hazards, and to
encourage good personal hygiene and safe work practices.
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• Counselling
– For both work related and non-work related psychosocial
problems.
• Environmental control outside work premises
– Adequate disposal of industrial waste should be ensured to
avoid posing a risk to public health. Other emissions from
work premises like dust and noise should be controlled with
the aim of reducing the risk to the health of the public.
 Functions Of An Occupational Health Service
• Record keeping
– Health records
– Exposure records
• Rehabilitation
– Medical
– Psychological
• Provision of information and advice on Health and Safety
– Leaflets, exposure issues
 Occupational health problems
• Agriculture
– Zoonotic infections,
– parasitic infestations
– injuries
• Sales and service
– Ergonomic hazards and postural problems
– Musculoskeletal disorders
• Skilled manual trades
– Musculoskeletal disorders
– Injuries
– Hand dermatitis
 Occupational health problems
• Ignorance about harmful effects of work exposures
• Poor work practices-eating with unwashed hands, non use of
protective devices
• Fear of job loss
• Ignorance among trade unions
• Employers do not provide adequate Health and safety
coverage
 Occupational diseases
• Conjunctivitis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Dermatitis
• Occupational asthma
• Musculo skeletal disorders
• Injuries
• Poisoning
 Types of Accidents
• The most frequent accidents in the workplace.
– Fall and crushing
• Wet or contaminated conditions
• Result in head injuries, broken bones and major fractures to limbs
and even death where the fall is from height.
– Manual handling
• Activity that includes lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying,
moving, holding or restraining an object, animal or person.
• Musculoskeletal disorders to backs, strains to hands, arms, feet,
tendons and heart.
 Types of Accidents
– Workplace traffic accidents
• Warehouse depot with heavy goods vehicles and any place of
work where people can come and go in motorized vehicles.
• Struck by a moving vehicle, falling from, or materials falling from, a
vehicle and the collapse or overturning of a vehicle.
• Others areas:
– Struck by object in motion.
– Drowned, buried, enveloped in gas or airborne particles.
– Fire
– Plant and heavy machinery
Impact of industrial activities on Public health
• Poor health status of workers
• Hazardous waste
– Poor disposal facilities
– Environmental pollution- air, water, soil
• Ill health among residents living close to industrial activities
 OH needs
• Research in small scale industries:
– More data on range of small scale industries
– specific exposures – research involving evaluation of workers and
assessment of work environment
– Long term health effects of occupational exposures
– Interventions; health education and other workplace interventions