MODULE 2

OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND
HEALTH
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Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, the student will able to:

1. Define and discuss occupational health and safety

2. Understand the key principles and aim of occupational health and safety (OHS)
programmes,
3. Know the importance of safety in a workplace
4. Identify safety sign and symbols.

Introduction
In 1970 President Richard Nixon signing into law the Occupational Health and Safety
Act (OHSA)reflected the recognition that safety in the workplace is a basic expectation for all
employees. Originally addressing concerns in industry and hazards associated with
mechanical injury, the field of occupational health and safety has expanded to almost every
workplace environment.
As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) “occupational health deals with
all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary
prevention of hazards.”
Occupational Health And Safety (OHS) also commonly referred to a Occupational
safety and health (OSH) or workplace health and safety (WHS) is an area concerned with
the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment.
The goals of occupational safety and health programs include to foster a safe and
healthy work environment.
In common-law Jurisdictions, employers have a common law duty to take reasonable
care of the safety of their employees

Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope involving many
specialised fields. It encompasses the social, mental and physical well-being of workers that
is the “whole person”. This unit aims at providing students with general background
information on OHS and on the magnitude and variety of health and safety problems
worldwide.

Definitions
Occupational health and safety is the discipline concerned with preserving and
protecting human resources in the workplace.
 Promotion and maitenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and
social well being of workers in all occupations;
 Prevention among workers of departures from health caused by their working
conditions;
 Protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors
adverse to health;and
 Placing and maintenance of a worker in an occupational environment adapted
to his physiological and psychological equipment.

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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Core Occupational Health and Safety Principles

Occupational health and safety is an extensive multidisciplinary field, invariably
touching on issues related to, among other things, medicine and other scientific fields, law,
technology, economics and concerns specific to various industries. Despite this variety of
concerns and interests, certain basic principles can be identified, including the following:
 All workers have rights. Workers, as well as employers and governments, must
ensure that these rights are protected and foster decent conditions of labour. As the
International Labour Conference stated in 1984:
a. work should take place in a safe and healthy working environment; (b
b. conditions of work should be consistent with workersí well-being and human
dignity;
c. work should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, selffulfilment
and service to society.
 Occupational health and safety policies must be established. Such policies must
be implemented at both the governmental and enterprise levels. They must be
effectively communicated to all parties concerned.
 There is need for consultation with the social partners (that is, employers and
workers) and other stakeholders. This should be done during formulation,
implementation and review of such policies.
 Prevention and protection must be the aim of occupational health and safety
programmes and policies. Efforts must be focused on primary prevention at the
workplace level. Workplaces and working environments should be planned and
designed to be safe and healthy
 Information is vital for the development and implementation of effective
programmes and policies. The collection and dissemination of accurate information
on hazards and hazardous materials, surveillance of workplaces, monitoring of
compliance with policies and good practices, and other related activities are central
to the establishment and enforcement of effective policies.
 Health promotion is a central element of occupational health practice. Efforts
must be made to enhance workersí physical, mental and social well-being
 Occupational health services covering all workers should be established.
Ideally, all workers in all categories of economic activity should have access to such
services, which aim to protect and promote workersí health and improve working
conditions.
 Compensation, rehabilitation and curative services must be made available to
workers who suffer occupational injuries, accidents and work-related diseases.
Action must be taken to minimize the consequences of occupational hazards.
 Education and training are vital components of safe, healthy working
environments. Workers and employers must be made aware of the importance and
the means of establishing safe working procedures. Trainers must be trained in areas
of special relevance to different industries, which have specific occupational health
and safety concerns.
 Workers, employers and competent authorities have certain responsibilities,
duties and obligations. For example, workers must follow established safety
procedures; employers must provide safe workplaces and ensure access to first aid;
and the competent authorities must devise, communicate and periodically review and
update occupational health and safety policies.
 Policies must be enforced. A system of inspection must be in place to secure
compliance with occupational health and safety and other labour legislation.

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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Importance of Workplace Safety

Safe work is one of the fundamental rigths of the workers.

These days, workplace health and safety procedures are important for the well- being
of both employees and employers because human loss is immeasurable and intolerable. As,
such loss or injuries can employ major loss to the families.

REASONS-WHY WORKPLACE SAFETY IS IMPORTANCE

 Well-maintained occupational safety saves money

 Occupational safety affects company reputation and productivity
 Occupational safety creates new opportunities
 Employees are more productive.
 Use tools appropriately and mechanical assistance.
 Keep crisis exits which are easily accessible
 Reduce Workplace Environment Stress
 Wear the right safety equipment’s
 Sit in a proper posture which increase work power  Wear the right safety
equipment’s
 A clean and healthy working environment reduces absenteeism
 It’s safer, cleaner and looks more professional
 There is a decrease in insurance claims caused by workplace accidents.
 The organization will be able to retain more customers.

Managing Health and Safety

An OSH programmed will protect the organization’s employees. After all, they are the
most valuable assets to the company. In general, occupational safety and health (OSH)
management system are composed of the following elements.

1. Appointing one or more management members in charge of the operational and

technical aspects of health and safety
2. Communicating to ensure everyone plays his/her part in protecting health and safety
3. Establishing a procedure to receive feedback on OSH
4. Establishing a Safety Committee
5. Adopting health and safety policy and procedures.
6. Clarifying supervisors responsibilities to ensure health and safety
7. Identifying hazards regularly, assessing them and taking actions tocontrol the risks
8. Accidents and diseases: investigating them and taking corresponding preventive
actions
9. Providing regular information and training 10.
10. Management of licenses, certificates, tests and other OSH records
• Building: structural safety must be certified
• Fire License
• Certificate for the electrical system

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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• Drinking water certificate

• Health check for workers who perform dangerous operations
• Lifting machinery, pressure plant
11. Setting up an emergency response system in case things go wrong
12. Reviewing the performance of the system by top management

SAMPLE OF COMPANY OSH POLICY

The OSH Guideline required according to Schedule IV (2) BLR is composed of: The company
OSH Policy The sample of an OSH Policy are

 Used is a factory, which has a Safety Officer. –

 The Safety Committee needs to discuss the health and safety of all persons employed
within the facility and those visiting the facility are considered to be of utmost importance.
 The top management of <Name of the Company> is committed to:
 Improve continuously to establish a healthy and safe
workplace •
 Prevent injuries and illnesses

RESPONSIBILITIES OF WORKERS

 Read and comply with all safety regulations and procedures

 Follow reasonable instruction the employer gives on health and safety
 Ask question whenever one is unsure about the procedure to follow
 Use the correct tools and equipment for the job; keep it in good condition
 Use machine equipment provided to protect health and safety as well as the personal
protective equipment provided
 Do not use alcohol or drugs while at work
 Announce any hazards they identify immediately to management
 Report any arrangement intended to protect health which is not effective (not just
ignore the problem and carry on working in unsafe conditions)

SAFETY SIGN AND SYMBOLS

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require
employers to provide and maintain safety signs where there is significant risk to health and
safety that has not been avoided or controlled by other means (e.g. safe systems of work)
provided that the use of a sign can help reduce the risk.

WHAT IS A SAFETY SIGN?

A safety and/or health signs and symbols is defined as ‘information or instruction

about health and safety at work on a signboard, a Colour, an illuminated sign or acoustic
signal, a verbal communication or hand signal.’

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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Why safety singe and symbols used?

 May show and help to explain the hazards quickly.

 Can be understood by both readers and non-readers
 May be multilingual and usually translate directly into all languages.

And remember that safety signs only work if everyone understands them. Conduct
regular refresher training to ensure that every worker is familiar with the symbols and their
meanings.

A signboard is a combination of shape, Colour and symbol or pictogram made visible

by adequate lighting and which may have supplementary text. See the table below to
understand the purpose of different safety signs and their properties.

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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IDENTIFYING HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

A user’s workstation furniture should minimize the risk of injuries. Posture also plays a vital
role in preventing upper limb disorders.

ACTIVITY 1: ESSAY- Write your answer on a paper

1. Define and discuss occupational health and safety

2. Enumerate the key principles and aim of occupational health and safety (OHS)
programmes
3. Discuss the importance of safety in a workplace

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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ACTIVITY 2: Match the signs with what such signs typically indicate:

Feedback

Hello there, my dear students! How are you coping with the lessons? Do you
still have some difficulty understanding the lessons? If yes, then go back to page 1
and start reading again.

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD
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References

Occupational Safety and Health (As Amended 1989)

DOLE s. 2016

Fundamental Principle of Occupational Health and Safety,

Benjamin O. Alli, 2nd Ed, 2008

Fundamental of Occupational Safety and Health (2018)

Mark A. Friend, 7th Edition, 2018

Construction Occupational Safety and Health

Engr. MARILOU D. NAVAL/Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD