Notes

Outline

Safety Is Everybody's Business OSU Environmental Health and 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? Why do you need to be concerned about safety?

Why Worry: Common Reasons Getting hurt isn’t fun!!!

Not All Pain is Gain Nobody likes getting hurt. Healthy employees are more productive employees.

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

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

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

Cost of Accidents 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 Getting hurt isn’t fun!!! Cost of Accidents Legal Issues and Liability

Legal Issues and Liability As a result of safety violations: You can be named in a law suit 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 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 You can have criminal charges filed against you. Negligent supervisors and employers have been charged with manslaughter

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

Legal Issues and Liability 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 Brown  University was fined $500,000 in 2000 University of Hawaii was fined $1.7 million in December

Legal Issues and Liability 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. EHS has issued cease and desist orders on OSU projects, as well.

So how do you protect yourself? ????????

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

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

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

Safety Cultures Establish accountability for safety Define safety responsibilities

Establishing Accountability: Performance Evaluations Employees should be evaluated on their safety performance Doing a job correctly includes doing it safely 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 Charge back systems Safety goals Accident costs Equipment damage Lost time Accident rates First aid #s Workers comp #s Loss ratios (including automobile rates) Safety Activities Safety meetings, inspections, using PPE

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

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

Defining Responsibilities Employer responsibilities (cont.) OSHA General Duty Clause: “Each employer 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. 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: Check out the EHS website: http://www.ehs.okstate.edu/ Call EHS at 4-7241 Email me at: hogan@pp.okstate.edu