Abstract
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) operates as part of the United States Department of Labor and was founded under the OSHA Act in 1970. In proportion to OSHA, organizations have to practice secure work endeavors, offer safety gadgets, and ensure that every worker is trained regarding safety and hazards strategies and progressions. Some organizations that apply OSHA standards undertake aggressive campaigns in an effort of bettering organizational culture through observing safety measures. Nonconformity and poor observance of OSHA standards has an unfavorable influence on the functions within a business. All the features that are swayed by the leadership approaches are critical in the establishment of the OSHA principles within an organization. OSHA demands organizations to present safe and healthy working situations for all the workers. In most cases, OSHA embarks on inspections devoid of issuing notices beforeha
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Introduction
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) operates as an organization of the United States Department of Labor and was established by the Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act that was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970. OSHA also has the responsibility of executing a diversity of whistleblower rules and guidelines; the agency is presently led by David Michaels who is the Assistant Secretary of Labor (Zimmerman, 2005). Federal agencies uphold about 2,200 assessors to safeguard the health and well-being of roughly 130 million workers. The majority of private sector organizations and their employees are covered under the OSHA Act (Zimmerman, 2005). Managers ought to have adequate training, the capacity to oversee and implement safety guidelines, and comprehend the manner in which emergency concurrencies ought to be tackled. In line with OSHA, organizations have to pursue secure work practices, offer protective gadgets, and ensure that all workers are trained concerning safety and hazards strategies and processes.
Importance or Benefits of OSHA
Towards the end of 1970, Congress enforced the OSHA Act with the intention of safeguarding employees from dangers in the place of work (Zimmerman, 2005). The Act demands organizations to put into operation strategies and plans with the purpose of safeguarding the employees. Observing the requirements of the OSHA Act does not just result in a safer place of work, but as well leads to enhanced output and productivity for businesses. The OSHA standards have had considerable impacts on safety in organizations. Even though the United States employment has nearly doubled, fatalities in organizations have reduced by over 65% from the time OSHA started. For instance, there were approximately 40 cases of death each day in 1970 when judged against about 15 instances everyday in 2011 (Zimmerman, 2005).
In 1973, the labor force reported around 11 cases of illnesses or injuries for every 100 workers while there were roughly 3 incidences out of 100 employees in 2010 (Hollander, 2011). Observing the OSHA guidelines in conjunction with the execution of well-designed safety plans could save organizations huge amounts of money. Injuries and calamities happening at the place of work could lead to crucial health and legal expenditures (Hollander, 2011). Training workers and establishing plans could help in the prevention of expensive occurrences from happening. Sustaining a safe setting for employees offers organizations enhanced output and facilitates the motivation of workers (Hollander, 2011).
Organizations ought to train their workers in advance on the best manner of handling OSHA assessments (Coniglio, 2010). Managers could have inquiries concerning safety approaches and seek a selected point-of-contact for their resolution. Therefore, there is a need to make the workers aware of what to anticipate if an occurrence happens with the aim of preventing confusion in the course of a fundamentally vital condition. OSHA undertook over 40,000 federal assessments in 2011 and more than 50,000 state examinations the same year. Such inspections encompass assessment of the real organizational sites and safety guidelines, in addition to recording known or possible hazards following their identification (Coniglio, 2010). Occupational safety and health administration has to evaluate every injury and sickness as it arises since this has the potential of decreasing future occurrences, with studies establishing that organizations where inspection happened encountered a smaller amount of employees’ compensation issues.
OSHA undertakes its operations through the application of punishment and citation in its restrictions (Clarke, 2006). Organizations that are proved to act contrary to the OSHA standards are offered some days to pay or plead their citation. The ones that still fail to comply are subjected to strict penalties or costly repercussions. Once an organization obtains a citation on its record, it could sway its capacity to apply for tenders and contracts offered by the government. To steer clear of the penalties, organizations are advised to comply with OSHA standards by first understanding the safety concerns that are applicable to their operations and execute strategies and practices to guarantee conformity (Clarke, 2006). Organizations also ought to assess safety strategies regularly for success; they ought to train workers properly, position safety guidelines and directives in visible locations, and update the regulations as required (Clarke, 2006).
Compliance with OSHA standards documents approaches in which training guides the creation of excellent places of work and provision of safety infrastructure (Hollander, 2011). The gains of preventing sicknesses and injuries accrue not just to employees and their bosses, but the insurers and taxpayers as well. Training assists in the establishment and maintenance of an environment of advanced workplace health and safety (Hollander, 2011). Some organizations that implement OSHA standards undertake aggressive campaigns that attempt to transform organizational culture through instigating safety measures. Such tasks are impossible if an organization fails to sufficiently train its employees or offer them the chance to embark on an active task. In line with OSHA regulations, the enhancement of health and safety has the most significant influence on the lessening of accidents at any point in time (Hollander, 2011).
A considerable perception of the need for training in a setting that facilitates advancements in the place of work hails from the nonpublic segment (Blake, 2011). Training and development ought to be offered to every person within an organization. It is evident that most accidents, mainly in the construction industry, arise from the lack of adequate training to employees. The significance of training for the welfare of employees, and the bottom line, presents a mounting realization amid organizations (Blake, 2011). In this regard, training has become fundamental in the construction sector and it is currently an obligation for organizations in the United States. Additionally, most of the organizations in the US have set training demands, which act as conditions for working in them. Any sickness, injury, or negative incident thwarted from happening saves organizations a lot of money. Moreover, studies affirm that excellent OSHA compliance by organizations is associated with enhanced profitability and success (Blake, 2011).
In harsh economic occurrences, it is vital to recall that poor organizational health and safety could be influenced by shortage of monetary resources (Leading OSHA, 2006). Every person from an ordinary employee to national medical schemes misses some benefits when OSHA standards are ignored. This indicates that any individual may gain from improved strategies and procedures (Leading OSHA, 2006). States that have poor health and safety values in their organizations utilize precious resources while addressing preventable injuries and sicknesses. A powerful national policy results in countless gains that encompass the improvement of productivity through reduced illnesses and absenteeism, reduction of medical expenses, retention of older employees in employment, and stirring more effective operating approaches and expertise. Another benefit is in the reduction of the number of individuals who have to spend a lot of time looking after an ailing member of the family. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is beneficial for organizations in addition to this being a legal and social responsibility. Organizations are pleased about OSHA’s prevention of employees from being hurt or ill-treated in their workplace although this is a fundamental task of every thriving business (Leading OSHA, 2006).
OSHA is Crucial for Organizational Success
OSHA assists in the demonstration that organizations are socially accountable, safeguards and facilitates brand reputation and excellence, facilitates the maximization of the efficiency of employees, and enhances workers’ dedication to the improvement of their performance (Blake, 2011). It also results in the creation of more competent and healthy labor force, decreases organizational outlays and disruption, facilitates businesses to satisfy the expectations of customers in terms of OSHA implementation, and promotes the maintenance of employees in active life for a long period. Any organization can realize considerable gains by just executing OSHA. Effortless advancements have the capacity of boosting competitiveness, productivity, and the enthusiasm of workers. The execution of OSHA standards offers a successful structure for the prevention and minimization of accidents and sicknesses amid workers. Though the values of excellent OSHA are applicable to all organizations, the viability drivers could be extremely dissimilar for small and big businesses (Blake, 2011).
Large Organizations
Successful businesses suitably understand the significance of enhanced reputation and positive image (Leading OSHA, 2006). Organizations that are concerned about the triple-bottom-line outshine the less reluctant ones. The successful, large companies are anticipated to illustrate ever-increasing values of corporate governance and enhanced precision in reporting exercises. The incorporation of market-driven economic operations in a society that is more aware of risks signifies that most organizations establish the major benefits that could be achieved from combining the implementation of OSHA standards into their broader business practices. This encompasses the enhancement of image, brand value, and reputation of the organization, being dedicated to corporate social responsibility principles, sustaining and promoting the assurance of financiers, and the development of constructive involvement of stakeholders (Leading OSHA, 2006).
Many successful organizations in the US admit that their corporate performance and standards are reinforced by adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration values (Blake, 2011). In this regard, such organizations demand the directors and every worker to express a positive approach to matters of health and safety. Corporate social responsibility by organizations that implement OSHA standards demonstrates the manner in which businesses could embrace effective social, economic, and environmental aspects in their means of operation. OSHA plays a crucial task in the way such strategies are implemented (Blake, 2011). Of crucial relevance is the inclusion of OSHA in broad corporate governance schemes, making sure that OSHA risks are sufficiently tackled, and encouraging organizations to ensure effective execution of OSHA standards (Blake, 2011).
Productivity and Competence
A major commitment of successful organizations with regard to OSHA standards is the provision of equal opportunities to employment and reward for the enhancement of competitiveness (Leading OSHA, 2006). The outlays of accidents in the place of work and other occupational hazards in the US take about 3% to 4% of gross national product (Leading OSHA, 2006). In addition to the reduction of accidents and ailing health, production and efficiency gains are realized attributable to the facilitation of the rate of motivation, collaboration, and confidence in the labor force, increment in the number of productive employees, and more successful working approaches. Other aspects could be the reduction of unplanned outlays through efficient organization continuity planning, betterment of the excellence of quality hiring and retention of workers, lessened insurance premiums, and reduction of the possible occurrences of criminal and civil proceedings. High returns on investment could be realized through conforming to the standards of OSHA (Leading OSHA, 2006). There is an evident and direct association involving the social conducts of an organization and its reputation, image, products, services, and overall significance. Such a connection (and sometimes consequences) becomes strengthened with the increase of both the size of the business and the worth of the brand.
Small and Medium-sized Organizations
The majority of small and medium-sized organizations are starting to identify the negative effects of nonconformity to OSHA principles and the gains of adherence (Hollander, 2011). Such concerns are noticeable with respect to the satisfaction of OSHA demands by organizations with the purpose of winning and maintaining contracts, shunning business commotion and losing key staff members, inspiring personnel and upholding their dedication, and ensuring that insurance coverage is accessible and affordable. Emerging and developing businesses that are endeavoring to obtain continued business success and stability are recognizing the manner in which their OSHA performance makes them thrive (Hollander, 2011). The application of OSHA standards does not just guarantee increased morale amid staff members but reduces illnesses and considerably benefits the retention of existing clients and employees, which creates an evident differentiator while winning new organizations and assisting the business to blossom. The demand for organizations to act sensibly also results in major requirements on the suppliers. Investment in key OSHA standards enhances the competitiveness of organizations, which in turn augments the possibility of retaining customers and ensures continued success (Hollander, 2011).
Productivity and Performance
Nonconformity and poor adherence to OSHA standards has a detrimental influence on the operations within a business (Hollander, 2011). The human and operation outlays in terms of fatality in the place of work, major losses, and high-profile suits are apparent. More than 20% of organizations that fail to thrive due to nonconformity to OSHA standards go out of business in less than ten years since their establishment (Hollander, 2011). Nonetheless, the organizations which implement the OSHA standards perform well and attain high profitability and success through such things as having safe operation approaches that enable tasks to be done fast and by fewer individuals. Such organizations also succeed from decreased cases of injuries, sicknesses, and accidents, which result in decreased issues of absenteeism and maximization of the rates of retention, motivation, and the pool of talent (Hollander, 2011).
Health Leadership Related to Workers Safety
Managers are powerful people in the operations of organizations as they seek to plan and improve working conditions that have a great impact on the health of the employees (Clarke, 2006). The managers design, lead, direct, and issue orders with respect to the tasks at hand and organizational endeavors. They have a tremendous influence on the working demands, management, and social backing of the employees, which are known to influence considerably the well-being of the workers (Clarke, 2006). Consequently, managers play a crucial role in primarily influencing the working conditions and making choices concerning changes in the place of work and work conditions. All the operations of the managers in the operations within an organization are essential in the determination of the rate of safety and health of the employees (Clarke, 2006).
There are dissimilar sections where the significance of the organizational leadership turns particularly apparent in terms of occupational safety and health factors (Zimmerman, 2005). For instance, the leadership ought to make sure that an excellent and operational management strategy is in operation and incorporates the possible OSHA standards in a methodical manner. Management strategies are highly beneficial if they are followed and applied within the organization (Zimmerman, 2005). The effectiveness of occupational safety and health administration is also anchored in the conducts of the leaders in terms of the development and structuring of visions and policies based on OSHA standards. The operations of employees in the practice of actively encompassing OSHA stipulations in the organization’s visions and policies are of major value (Zimmerman, 2005). The consultation of employees and encouragement of their contribution are not just demanded in the law and stipulations of OSHA but are also significant aspects in guaranteeing effective communication and application of safety and health concerns within an organization.
The operations of organizational leaders ought to define safety climate within the organization evidently by encouraging the collective perceptions of management and organizational safety associated strategies, guidelines, and processes. Health leadership reflects the employees’ insights of the proper values of safety in the place of work (Clarke, 2006). The concepts associated with the conduct of the leadership within an organization and decisions concerning the health and safety of the workers include proper management safety precedence and capability with respect to the capacity and tasks of the managers in prioritizing OSHA standards. Management safety and health empowerment concerns the roles of organizational leaders in making sure that every essential task is undertaken to tackle matters of OSHA values at the place of work successfully (Clarke, 2006). In this regard, management safety and health integrity ensures the fairness of management approaches with respect to prevention of possible accidents and negative incidences. All the aspects that are influenced by the leadership approaches are vital in the establishment of the OSHA standards within an organization (Clarke, 2006). Such aspects are influenced by the operations of the leaders and take into consideration the organizational concerns of risk management and avoidance of accidents, safety and health of the workers that demands the execution of a health and safety culture, and psychosocial risks, as well as resources, at the place of work.
Current Issue
The current statistics in the United States show that the health industry presents amid the most dangerous workplaces (Zimmerman, 2005). For instance, it has been established that hospitals in the United States report approximately 253,000 work-associated accidents and negative incidences every year, which leads to a level of about 7 work-connected injuries for each 100 full-time workers. The levels of OSHA nonconformity injuries and accidents are considerably reducing in all sectors in the US, encompassing the health industry (Zimmerman, 2005). Nevertheless, the rate of injuries and sicknesses in health facilities is almost twofold that of the private sector all together and it is as well more than the level in the construction industry, which was earlier thought to present the most dangerous workplace. Though this was not the situation two decades ago, advancements in workplace health and safety in the manufacturing and construction industries have outshone the ones in the health sector (Zimmerman, 2005).
Severe harm may result in employees being absent from work or taking part in restricted and customized schedules (Blake, 2011). In this regard, workers could become overwhelmed by excessive workload, which could result in injuries, illnesses, or accidents. Such negative incidences lead to the affected employees being absent from work for some days; that is, they are not able to report to work. Statistics establish that in 2011, private health facilities reported more than 58,000 instances of illnesses, injuries, or accidents that led to employees being away from work for some days. Many other hospital workers keep on working through modified schedules, which call for excessively long working hours, irrespective of whether the employee is sick or injured. The distinctive culture of the healthcare sector creates room for such problems. For example, most caregivers have a feeling that it is their ethical responsibility of caring for the patients and are usually obliged to place the safety of the patients above that of any other person. Certainly, most of the health professionals end up risking their health and safety in an effort of helping as many patients as possible (Blake, 2011).
Devoid of a sufficient safeguard for employees, an enhanced stress on the safety of patients may potentially increase risks for caregivers, for instance, decreasing pressure ulcers demands turning the patient severally where workers may feel coerced to risk their bodies in an attempt of preventing the patient from falling. Over 90% of health facilities in the United States affirm that they have implemented programs or strategies for the management of the safety and health of the workers (Zimmerman, 2005). Certainly, programs and strategies on paper offer an excellent stride towards safeguarding the wellbeing and safety of workers. Nevertheless, it calls for valuable execution and dedication to safeguard employees and decrease illnesses and injuries at the workplace (Zimmerman, 2005). Current statistics still portray the healthcare sector as a hazardous place of work, which has many areas on which to make improvements.
OSHA has provided a factbook to assist health and safety managers and all stakeholders in the healthcare industry comprehend the existing problems of the safety of employees in the hospitals, identify the countless gains of ensuring safety in the place of work, and realize practical resolutions for all the challenges. In line with OSHA standards, most of the safe health facilities are strong believers in continued improvement, hence they are establishing successful means of perfecting their systems and avoiding more injuries and accidents from happening (Zimmerman, 2005). One of the best means of improving the safety and health of employees is ensuring that health facilities are collecting and keeping the required data (Zimmerman, 2005).
Excellent keeping of records will assist hospitals to identify their points of strength and weakness with the purpose of establishing successful solutions (Blake, 2011). Effective solutions rely on the form of risks that ought to be managed. For instance, one of the approaches that have created particularly immense gains for many health facilities is the development and execution of a program for handling the concerns of the patients adequately while considering the welfare of the caregivers. Such a worker-patient solution should be followed to facilitate quality care for patients and safety of the workers (Blake, 2011). Successful solutions will in the long-term yield a net cost saving approach when implemented through safety and health management approaches, which offer an organized structure for the protection of employees and guarantee the protection of all (Blake, 2011).
Safety Rules
OSHA demands employers to offer safe and healthy working conditions for all the workers (Zimmerman, 2005). In addition, most of the states have created their workplace safety guidelines. To adhere to OSHA standards, employers have to learn their obligations and make determination of whether to pursue the federal or state rules. When OSHA was established, it outlawed every other safety and health directive. The states were required to submit their guidelines for endorsement or rejection by the Secretary of Labor (Zimmerman, 2005). The guidelines that were found acceptable were allowed to continue operating. OSHA calls for workers in all organizations in the US, irrespective of their rank or status, to follow the set rules. In this regard, the law covers directors, supervisors, employees, and other stakeholders in all organizations (Zimmerman, 2005).
OSHA demands the covered employers to create working conditions that are free of the identified dangers, and ones that have a low or no likelihood of resulting in injuries or fatalities (Blake, 2011). Dangers in the place of work could encompass unsafe conditions (for instance, toxic substances and broken tools) or insecure practices (such as pushing tractors to start or working on rotating electrical saws with a single hand rather than both). OSHA states that if employees identify danger in the place of work (for instance, through smelling or observing); they ought to flee or report to the relevant authorities. The employers are required to utilize reasonable approaches to discover and eradicate any harm (Blake, 2011). The sections in which the managers demand the employees to operate have to be safe.
Another safety rule presented by OSHA is the provision of tools to employees after confirming that they are in safe working conditions (Coniglio, 2010). The employers should sufficiently train and supervise the workers while offering specific protective gears where needed. Though some of the safety rules of OSHA are general and apply to all organizations, other regulations are applicable to particular sectors, for instance, construction, agriculture, and marine. The requirements of organizations under OSHA do not stop with ensuring safe and secure settings (Coniglio, 2010). Employers are also required to satisfy some reporting objectives, post guidelines, and keep records while submitting to all the OSHA inspections. For instance, the employers have to report the occurrence of accidents and fatal occurrences within eight hours of their happening. Employers have to post OSHA guidelines that inform employees of their rights and responsibilities under the law and maintain records of their efforts to adhere to the regulations in an effort of preventing injuries, illnesses, and accidents (Coniglio, 2010).
OSHA offers workers some rights and approaches they can follow to ensure that the place of work is safe (Coniglio, 2010). For instance, employees might forward their grievances with OSHA concerning unsafe working stipulations and other OSHA violations. In such situations, OSHA official could take legal measures against the employers for nonconformity to the set regulations. Employees have a right of refusing to work in case they identify a looming hazard at the place of work, and the employers cannot react against them in such circumstances (Coniglio, 2010). In fact, it is vital for the employers not to try to repress the rights of the workers in any manner; otherwise, they could attract penalties, fines, and other worse legal actions. In most instances, OSHA carries out inspections devoid of issuing notices in advance (Coniglio, 2010). Organizations have the right to require OSHA officials to show an inspection warrant prior to going into the worksite for assessment. Moreover, an official representative of the workers, if need be, has the right to keenly follow the inspection.
Conclusion
The mission of OSHA is to guarantee safe and healthy working situations for women and men through designing and implementing standards and offering training, outreach, aid, and learning. The OSHA Act seeks to cover a number of public sector organizations and employees in the fifty states and many territories and legal powers under federal authority. The formation of OSHA provided safety standards for organizations across the US. Consistent with OSHA guidelines, employers have to ensure the provision of safe working conditions, issue protective gear, and make sure that every employee is adequately trained with respect to safety and dangers, strategies, and approaches. Sicknesses and injuries at the workplace have decreased considerably since the inception of OSHA. Some of the social and economic gains of OSHA encompass the provision of training that helps in avoiding losses from injuries and other calamities. This is evident from primary and statistical data of the lives saved, sicknesses and fatalities avoided, and unanticipated finances emanating from training on fundamental health and safety insights.
References
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