Part 5: Employee Relations
Chapter 13: Health, Safety,
and Security
Prepared by Linda Eligh, University of Western Ontario
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–1
Learning Objectives
After you have read this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Define health, safety, and security and the young
workers program.
2. Identify the basic provisions of occupational health and
safety legislation, recordkeeping, and inspection
requirements.
3. Discuss the issues surrounding hazard control
including WHMIS and ergonomics.
4. Explain workplace violence as a security issue and
describe some components of an effective security
program.
5. Discuss the activities that constitute effective safety
management.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–2
Learning Objectives
6. Describe three workplace health issues and how
employers are responding to them.
7. Specify several global health, safety, and security
concerns.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–3
Health, Safety, and Security
• Health
 A general state of physical, mental, and emotional
well-being.
• Safety
 A condition in which the physical well-being of people
is protected.
• Security
 The protection of employees and organizational
facilities.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–4
Typical Division of HR Responsibilities:
Health, Safety, and Security Fig. 13-1
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–5
Occupational Safety and Health Legislation
• Occupational Safety and Health Acts
 All employees have three fundamental rights

Right to know

Right to participate

Right to refuse work
• Duty of Employers, Owners and Contractors
 Due diligence: Employers shall take all reasonable
precautions under the particular circumstances to
prevent injuries or accidents in the workplace.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–6
Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
• Duties of Supervisors
 Advising workers of possible hazards
 Providing training and written instruction
 Ensuring worker compliance with OH&S Act and use
or wearing of safety equipment, devices or clothing
 Imposing discipline for continuous safety infractions
when necessary
• Duties of Workers
 Compliance with the OH&S Act and regulations. Use
safety equipment and clothes properly, follow all
safety procedures, report hazards and accidents, etc.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–7
Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
• Duties of Joint Health and Safety Committee
 Required in nine jurisdictions in Canada
 Role is to provide a neutral environment where labour
and management can work together to create a safe
and healthy workplace
 Require equal employee/employer representation
 Required to meet regularly to deal with worker health
and safety concerns, identify risks, perform routine
workplace inspections and resolve work refusals
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–8
Proportion of all Occupational Injuries by Province, Territory
2000 Fig. 13-4
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–9
Workers’ Compensation
First Aid Requirements
And
Reporting to WCB
Social Goals
Workers’
Compensation
Compensation
Rates and Methods
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Controlling Costs
13–10
Proportion of Fatal Injuries by Industry Sectors Under
Federal Jurisdiction in Canada from 1998 to 2002 Fig. 13-5
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–11
Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
• Workplace Inspections
 No warrant/notice required
 Thorough examination of the physical condition of the workplace
by the inspector, usually accompanied by both employer and
worker representatives
• Child Labour and Health and Safety
 Concern for health and safety of young workers is real
• Penalties for Violation of OH&S Law
 Federally, person fines range between $100,000 to $1,000,000
and/or two years’ jail term on indictment
 Corporation fine > $500,000
 Bill C-45 will increase incidents of jail time
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–12
Hazard Control
• Safety Hazards
 Any force strong enough to cause injury in an
accident. An injury caused by a safety hazard is
usually obvious.
• Occupational Health Hazard
 Any material or condition that may cause
occupational injuries and/or illness. Includes
chemicals (addressed by WHMIS training), physical
agents, ergonomic hazards, and other stress agents.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–13
Occupational Health Hazards
Eliminate hazards
Control the hazard
Protect workers from the hazard
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–14
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS)
LABELS
MATERIAL AFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)
TRAINING
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–15
Hazard Control
Ergonomics
Study and design of the work environment
to address physiological and physical
demands on individuals.
Cumulative Stress
Disorders (CTDs)
Protection from muscle and skeletal
injuries from repetitive tasks.
Lockout/tagout
Requirement that locks and tags be used to
make equipment inoperative for repair or
adjustment.
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
Clothing or equipment worn to minimize a
hazard.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–16
Workstation Design
Fig. 13-7
Source: Information on this page was compiled by the DEA651 class of 2000 – Bethany Johnson; Emily Kuperstein; Mari Mitchell; Heidi Tinnes; with Garrick Goh (TA)
and Professor Alan Hedge, Cornell University Ergonomics Website, November 2, 2002. Reprinted by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–17
Security
• Top Security Concerns at Work:
Workplace violence
Internet/intranet security
Business interruption/disaster recovery
Fraud/white collar crime
Employee selection/screening concerns
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–18
Security Concerns at Work
Domestic
Causes
Management
Responses
Workplace
Violence
Issues
Training in Detection
and Prevention
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–19
Profile of a Potentially Violent Employee
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-8
13–20
Security Management
Security
Audit
Controlled
Access
Workplace
Security
Computer
Security
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–21
Safety Management
Safety Policies,
Discipline,
Record Keeping
Participation
(Safety
Committees)
Organizational
Commitment and
a Safety Culture
Inspection,
Investigation and
Evaluation
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Training
and
Communication
13–22
Approaches to Effective Safety Management
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-9
13–23
Phases of Accident Investigation
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-10
13–24
Employee Health and Wellness
Emotional/
Mental Health
Stress
Workplace
Health
Issues
Job Stressors
Reactions to
Stress
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–25
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Fig. 13-12
Source: Adapted from Hans Selye, The Stress of Life, McGraw-Hill, 1976. Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Reprinted by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–26
Substance Abuse
• Substance abuse
 Use of illicit substances or misuse of controlled
substances, alcohol, or other drugs
• Substance Abuse, Testing and Legislation
 “strong reasonable cause”
 safety sensitive positions
 “accommodate the needs”
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–27
Common Signs of Substance Abuse
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-14
13–28
Direct and Indirect Costs as a Result of Stress
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-15
13–29
Employee Health and Wellness
• Stress Management
 Encompasses techniques to equip a person with
effective coping mechanisms for dealing with
psychological stress.
• Workplace Air Quality
 “Sealed” buildings, reduced airflow, inadequate
ventilation, airborne contamination, presence of
chemicals and substances.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–30
Employee Health and Wellness
• Health Promotion
 A supportive approach of facilitating and encouraging
healthy actions and lifestyles among employees.
• Wellness Programs
 Programs designed to maintain or improve employee
health before problems arise.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
 Program that provides counseling and other help to
employees having emotional, physical, or other
personal problems.
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
13–31
Health Promotion Levels
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Fig. 13-16
13–32
Global Health, Safety, and Security
International Emergency
Health Services
International Security
and Terrorism
Employer
Concerns
Kidnapping and Ransom
Insurance
Copyright © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited.
Pandemics
13–33