Chapter 12 Flashcards
What was the attitude of employers in 1900 when it come to health and safety?
In the 1900s, the thinking and attitudes of employers and employees toward accident prevention were quite different from today
**Assumption of risk **was a legal expression used by the courts meaning workers accepted all the customary risks associated with the job.
- Workers were instructed to protect themselves from special hazards (e.g., extreme heat, sharp metal)
- Scars were accepted as badges of honour
What is a careless worker model and a shared responsibility model?
Careless Worker Model: Early approach to safety in the workplace which assumed accidents were due to workers’ carelessness
Shared Responsibility Model: A newer approach to workplace safety that relies on the cooperation of the employer and employees
What are some of the costs of workplace accidents?
Workplace accidents and occupation-related illnesses:
- $8B annually in direct compensation
- More than $19B including indirect expenses
Direct cost of injuries:
- Lost wages, medical treatment, rehabilitation, etc.
Indirect costs:
- Lost production, recruiting, training, etc.
On average, 2.5 employees die each day of the year from workplace accidents (925 each year)
What are the three categories of health hazards?
Physical Agents: Exposure to physical elements (ex, noise, temperature)
Biological Agents: Exposure to natural organisms (ex: viruses)
Ergonomic Related: Cause by the work environment or the study of the relationship between people and their jobs. (ex: repetitive strain)
Why is there now more emphasis on the health and safety of younger workers in the workplace?
- 1 in 7 young workers is injured on the job.
- One-fourth of all workplace injuries involve workers aged 15 – 29 years.
- Among injured workers under 25, 50% of injuries occurred in first 6 months on the job, and 20% of injuries and fatalities were in the first month.
- Most common types of injuries are electrocution and machine injuries.
What are your three fundamental rights as an employee?
3 Fundamental Employee Rights
- The right to know about hazards in the workplace
- The right to participate in correcting hazards
- The right to refuse dangerous work
What is the Hazardous Products Act?
Protects consumers by regulating the sale of dangerous products
What is WHMIS?
Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS)
- Requires that employers provide training to enable employees to understand and recognize hazards
- Now includes Hazardous Products Act
