Safety Is Everybodys Business OSU Environmental Health Safety

Safety Is Everybody's Business OSU Environmental Health & Safety

Course Objectives § Help you decide that safety IS everybody’s business, and why § Provide you with an understanding of accident causes § Explain safety responsibilities § For both employees and employers § Introduce you to specific safety topics § Fire safety, lab safety, office safety

Why Worry about Safety? l Why do you need to be concerned about safety?

Why Worry: Common Reasons 1. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!! Not All Pain is Gain Nobody likes getting hurt Healthy employees are more productive employees

Why Worry: Common Reasons 1. 2. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!! Cost of Accidents

Cost of Accidents l Direct Costs – Medical Costs (including worker’s comp) – Indemnity Payments l Indirect Costs – – – Time Lost (by worker and supervisor) Schedule delays Training new employees Cleanup time / equipment repairs Legal fees

Cost of Accidents: The Iceberg Effect On average, the indirect costs of accidents exceed the direct costs by a 4: 1 ratio

Cost of Accidents l What does that mean for OSU? – FY 1997: 499 claims for $1, 485, 068 – FY 1999: 579 claims for $1, 902, 688 – FY 2000: 550 claims for $1, 582, 169 (Direct costs in Worker’s Compensation) Multiply by four to estimate indirect costs to the University

Why Worry: Common Reasons 1. 2. 3. Getting hurt isn’t fun!!! Cost of Accidents Legal Issues and Liability

Legal Issues and Liability l As a result of safety violations: – You can be named in a lawsuit – Criminal charges may be filed against you – You can be cited by an enforcement agency – You can be fined by an enforcement agency – Your lab/workplace can be shut down by an enforcement agency

Legal Issues and Liability l Because of personal liability, and you can be named as a defendant in a lawsuit – Working for the University does not protect you.

Legal Issues and Liability l You can have criminal charges filed against you. – Negligent supervisors and employers have been charged with manslaughter

Legal Issues and Liability l You can be cited by an enforcement agency – State Department of Labor (DOL) l DOL is currently inspecting departments on campus – EPA l They’ve already been here, and they’re coming back! – Federal OSHA has authority to get involved l GM plant in OKC

Legal Issues and Liability l You can be fined by an enforcement agency – State DOL will issue citations first – EPA will levy fines… Boston University was fined $750, 000 in 1997 l Brown University was fined $500, 000 in 2000 l University of Hawaii was fined $1. 7 million in December l

Legal Issues and Liability l Cease and desist orders: if the violations are serious enough, agencies such as DOL, OSHA, and the EPA can (and will) shut down the job site until the problems are corrected. l EHS has issued cease and desist orders on OSU projects, as well.

So how do you protect yourself? ? ? ? ?

Understanding Accident Causes l Accidents are caused by: – Unsafe conditions – Unsafe acts

Accident Causes l Unsafe Conditions – Easiest to correct (and very cost effective) – Easiest to prevent Safety audits l Safety inspections l Maintenance schedules for equipment l Encouraging employee reporting l Good housekeeping l

Accident Causes l Unsafe Acts – Most difficult to address l Changing behavior isn’t easy – Best prevented by developing a “safety culture”

Safety Cultures l Establish accountability for safety l Define safety responsibilities

Establishing Accountability: Performance Evaluations l Employees should be evaluated on their safety performance – Doing a job correctly includes doing it safely l OSU job description revisions may include generic job descriptions with: – “Must follow all general and safety policies and procedures as established by the department, college/division, and university. ”

Establishing Accountability l l Charge back systems Safety goals – Accident costs l l Equipment damage Lost time – Accident rates l l First aid #s Workers comp #s – Loss ratios (including automobile rates) l Safety Activities – Safety meetings, inspections, using PPE

Defining Responsibilities l Employee responsibilities include: – Recognizing safety hazards – Reporting safety hazards – Maintaining good housekeeping – Working safely – Using personal protective equipment (PPE) – Making the most of safety training

Defining Responsibilities l Employer responsibilities include: – Providing access to information l Haz Com - MSDSs, written program l Bloodborne Pathogens – written program l Lab Safety – chemical hygiene plan

Defining Responsibilities l Employer responsibilities (cont. ) – Providing personal protective equipment l From OSHA 1910. 132: “Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. ”

Defining Responsibilities l Employer responsibilities (cont. ) – Providing training l Hazard Communications – Annual & within first 30 days of employment, also when new hazards are introduced Quarterly safety training (required by state) l Special programs l – – Laboratory Bloodborne pathogens Respirators Forklifts

Defining Responsibilities l Employer responsibilities (cont. ) – OSHA General Duty Clause: “Each employer l Has the general duty to furnish each employee with employment and places of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. l The specific duty of complying with safety and health standards promulgated under the act. ”

So what does all this mean? It means that safety is everybody’s business. From the moral aspect to the legal aspect, we all benefit from a safe work environment.

For more information: l Check out the EHS website: – http: //www. pp. okstate. edu/ehs/ l Call EHS at 4 -7241 l Email me at: – hogan@pp. okstate. edu