WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Course
Practicum in
LPSCS
Unit IV
Workplace
Health and
Safety
Essential
Question
What are the
requirements for
workplace
health and
safety?
TEKS
§130.301(c)
(1)(G)
Prior Student
Learning
Previous CTE
courses in the
LPSCS cluster
Estimated Time
3 hours
Rationale
An understanding of health and safety in the workplace is essential in order
to reduce injuries and illnesses. Such familiarity with policies and procedures
can boost employee morale and productivity.
Objectives
The students will be able to:
1. Identify common health and safety hazards on the job
2. Describe how to respond to workplace emergencies
3. Discuss the procedures to follow regarding workplace hazards and
safety
4. Explain legal rights and protections regarding health and safety in the
workplace
5. Evaluate responsibilities of the employer and employee
Engage
Watch the video on Talking Safety: Teaching Young Workers About Job
Safety and Health http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/video.html (20
minutes). As a class, discuss the pre-test item-by-item. Then ask the
students the following questions:
 How many of you have ever had a job? Where?
 What were/are your duties?
 Have you or someone you know ever been hurt at work? What
happened?
 Have you ever been concerned about your safety at work? When?
Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.
Key Points
I. Safety
A. Safety – the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing
hurt, injury, or loss
B. Workplace safety – the policies and procedures put in place by an
employer to promote the safety and health of employees
C. Hazard – a source of danger
1. Identify
2. Remove
3. Control
4. Types of hazards
a) Safety – includes floors, surfaces, equipment, and electrical
b) Chemical – includes substances, air, and gases
c) Biological – includes plants, animals, diseases, and objects
d) Other health hazards – include environment, physical
position, and stress
D. Report unsafe activity immediately
E. Act professionally in the work setting to avoid safety concerns
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F. Statistics – 4,609 workers were killed on the job in 2011 (13 each
day) (OSHA, 2011)
II. Possible Causes of Workplace Accidents and Injuries
A. Improper training
B. Health or physical limitations
C. Failure to identify hazardous conditions
D. Substance abuse
III. Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA)
A. Occupational Safety and Health Act passed in 1970
1. Requires employers to follow OSHA standards
2. Workplaces must be free from recognized hazards
3. Protects workers by enforcing OSHA standards
B. Provides information
C. Trains workers and employers
D. Assists workers and employers
E. 1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov
IV. Employer Duties under OSHA
A. Must provide safety training
B. Must provide a workplace that is free from hazards
C. Must provide personal protective equipment, if needed
D. Must comply with all of the OSHA standards, rules, and regulations
E. Must keep records
V. Employee Responsibilities under OSHA
A. Must know employer’s policies and procedures
B. Must comply with the OSHA standards and regulations
C. Must know to whom safety issues must be reported
VI. Employee’s Rights
A. Labor Laws (http://www.osha.gov/workers.html)
1. Minimum age for some duties
2. Regulations on the number of hours and time of day minors can
work
B. Cannot be fired or punished for reporting a safety violation
VII. Handling Workplace Health and Safety Problems
A. Identify the problem
B. Report the problem to a supervisor
C. If nothing is done, contact an outside agency
VIII. Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
A. What is an emergency at work?
1. A sudden, urgent, usually unexpected event
2. Requires immediate attention
3. Could harm employees, customers, or the public
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4. Might shut down business operations
B. What should EAP cover?
1. What to do in different types of emergencies
a) Weather emergency
b) Fire emergency
c) Evacuation emergency
2. Where to go
a) Shelters
b) Meeting places
3. Evacuation routes
4. Who is the designated “person in charge”
5. Proper procedures in case of injury
C. Practice Drills
D. Employee training regarding EAP
Activities
1. Create a “Find the Hazards” Workplace Safety Poster. Divide the class
into groups of 3-5 students. Have each group work together to create a
poster for a specified LPSCS work environment (courtroom, correction
facility, patrol car, firehouse, office, dispatch room, etc.). Have the
students draw a scenario, depicting intentional health and safety hazards.
Have the students present the poster to the class and list the hazards
depicted in it. Use the Presentation Rubric for assessment.
2. Develop an EAP. Have students research emergency action plans on the
Internet. Have each student choose five disastrous events and write a
hypothetical EAP addressing each type of event for the workplace. The
EAPs should include what the employer should do to keep employees
safe, what the employees should be asked to do, and what the
evacuation plans would be (examples of events could include weather,
medical, evacuation due to a bomb threat, intruders, fire, power outages,
etc.). EAPs should include maps. Use the Individual Work Rubric for
assessment.
Assessments
Workplace Health and Safety Exam and Key
Discussion Rubric
Individual Work Rubric
Presentation Rubric
Research Rubric
Materials
Workplace Health and Safety computer-based presentation
Workplace Health and Safety Key Terms
Poster board
Markers/colors
Computers with Internet access
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Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
http://www.osha.gov/
Do an Internet search of definitions
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, the student will define and illustrate key terms in a
journal. Use the Individual Work Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, the student will write a research paper about OSHA. The
information should include the history of OSHA, specific employment areas
of concern, statistics regarding injuries and accidents, and recent cases of
OSHA violations. Use the Research Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.301. Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security (Two
to Three Credits).
(1)
The student demonstrates professional standards as required
by business and industry. The student is expected to:
(G) comply with practicum setting safety rules and
regulations to maintain safe and healthful working
conditions and environments.
College and Career Readiness Standards
English/Language Arts Standards
I. Writing
A. Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate clear focus, the logical
development of ideas in well-organized paragraphs, and the use of
appropriate language that advances the author’s purpose.
1. Determine effective approaches, forms, and rhetorical
techniques that demonstrate understanding of the writer’s
purpose and audience.
2. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and
purpose, keeping careful records of outside sources.
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WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY KEY TERMS
1. Safety – the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
2. Hazard – a source of danger
3. Occupational and Safety Health Administration – “OSHA” provides information, trains
workers/employers, and assists workers/employers on workplace health and safety
conditions
4. Occupational Safety and Health Act – passed in 1970 to govern workplace health and
safety in the private sector
5. Employee’s Rights – laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in place to protect
employees
6. Emergency – a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected event which requires immediate
attention
7. Emergency Action Plan – must be in writing, kept at the workplace, and available for
employees to review. The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize what actions
should take place among employees and employers during an emergency at work
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WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXAM
Name:
_____1.
Date:
_____
____
When was the Occupational Safety and Health Act passed?
a. 1960
b. 1970
c. Neither a or b
d. None of the above
_____2. The Occupational Safety and Health Act does all of the following except
a. Protect the employers from safety hazards
b. Protect the workers by enforcing OSHA standards
c. Require the employers to follow OSHA standards
d. Require that workplaces be free from recognized hazards
_____3. A hazard is
a. The condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
b. A law regarding employer responsibilities at work
c. A source of danger
d. An OSHA regulation
_____4. Causes of workplace accidents and injuries include
a. Substance abuse
b. Improper training
c. Physical limitations
d. All of the above
_____5. Employees should report safety violations to their supervisors. If a report is ignored,
the employee can do the following without fear of retaliation:
a. Report to an outside agency
b. Contact the local news
c. Yell at the supervisor
d. None of the above
_____6. OSHA
a. Trains employers and employees about workplace health and safety
b. Provides information about workplace health and safety to employers
c. Assists employers and employees regarding OSHA violations
d. All of the above
_____7. Labor laws include regulations regarding
a. The minimum age of an employee for certain duties
b. The maximum number of hours a minor may work
c. Both a and b
d. The parental permission for employment of an employee under the age of 18
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_____8. An employer’s duties under OSHA include
a. Taking no action regarding safety hazards
b. Providing minors with the maximum amount of work hours
c. Keeping records of employee training and safety violation reports
d. Firing employees who make reports regarding safety violations
_____9. An employee’s duties under OSHA include all the following except
a. Complying with OSHA standards and regulations
b. Knowing the employer’s policies and procedures
c. Knowing to whom safety issues must be reported
d. Providing his or her own personal protective equipment, if needed
_____10. An emergency at work
a. Could shut down business operations
b. Should be ignored
c. Is usually an expected event
d. Never requires immediate attention
_____11. An emergency action plan should include
a. An evacuation route
b. Where to go for shelter during a tornado warning
c. Proper procedures if an injury occurs at work
d. All of the above
_____12. At work, it is important to perform
a. Practice drills as established by the EAP
b. Tornado warnings
c. Biological hazards
d. Disease reduction
_____13. It is a violation of OSHA standards if workplaces are not free from
a. Sick employees
b. Young children
c. Recognizable hazards
d. Supervisors
_____14. Weather emergencies include
a. Fog
b. Freezing rain
c. Wind
d. Tornado
_____15. Biological hazards include
a. Natural gas leak
b. Poison ivy
c. Wet floor
d. Faulty equipment
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WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXAM KEY
1. b
2. a
3. c
4. d
5. a
6. d
7. c
8. c
9. d
10. a
11. d
12. a
13. c
14. d
15. b
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
9
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Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Individual Work Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Follows directions
Student completed the work as directed,
following the directions given, in order and to the
level of quality indicated
Time management
Student used time wisely and remained on task
100% of the time
Organization
Student kept notes and materials in a neat,
legible, and organized manner. Information was
readily retrieved
Evidence of learning
Student documented information in his or her
own words and can accurately answer questions
related to the information retrieved
*Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
10
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Presentation Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Topic/Content
 Topic discussed completely and in-depth
 Includes properly cited sources (if used)
Creativity/Neatness
 Integrates a variety of multimedia effects to
create a professional presentation (transition
and graphics) or appropriate visual aid used
 Title slide, table of contents, bibliography are
included, using acceptable format
Mechanics
 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization are correct
 Image and font size are legible to the entire
audience
Oral Presentation
 Communicates with enthusiasm and eye
contact
 Voice delivery and projection are dynamic
and audible
Audience Interaction
 Presentation holds audience’s attention and
relates a clear message
 Clearly and effectively communicates the
content throughout the presentation
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
11
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Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
12
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