Traumatic Injuries - Case Study Example

? Traumatic Injuries Question 1a: How you would prevent traumatic injuries from slips and falls at the company. Firstly, risk assessments of tasks and associated workplace should be conducted so that safe work policies and procedures can be developed. Risk assessments identify potential safety problems for each task performed. Slips and falls are common when there are liquid chemicals involved in the production (Workplace Safe, 2008). In case of microchip plants, chemicals used in the processing go through conduits (Intel, 2008). Spillage may thus occur if there are defective tubes that can lead to fluid leaks. This can be prevented by doing a regular check-up on these lines. In addition, Aside from these pipelines, there should also be a regular check-up of the machines’ function and safety, so that problems can be provided with quick and effective solutions. In addition, wires can also cause falls if not properly kept. A specific group of employees, the maintenance personnel, should be tasked to oversee such physical aspects of the factory. Aside from providing safe physical work area, employees should be educated on how they can maintain a safe environment in the workplace. Knowledge and training regarding the proper use of machines should be provided. Since personnel work for at least eight hours inside the factory, the company can also have routine stretching exercises to prevent worsening of injuries from falls (Intel, 2008). Employees should also undergo regular physical health examination to determine tendencies to fall. For example, employees with vertigo, asthma, physical disability, hypertension, heart problems, or visual disturbances should be looked after more closely than the healthier population. In addition, a conducive working environment, which includes proper ventilation (either circulating air in humid areas of the factory (in the air handlers, for example) or warm clothing in the colder portions (in the assembly area, for example)) and food cafeteria, should be present to avoid instances of hypothermia or hypoglycemia, resulting to symptoms of dizziness, weakness and loss of consciousness, which make one prone to falls. Personal protective equipment and clothing should also be provided. Any loose clothing or hair should be avoided. In case of slippery floors, auto-scrubbers, barricades and non-slip footwear are some of the ways accidents can be avoided. During slips or falls, we may hit or fall onto objects, causing crush injuries, lacerations, bruising, sprains and strains (Workplace Safe, 2008). These can be avoided by abstaining from stacking products or cartons too high, overloading trolleys, racks or pallets. We can also hit unguarded nip points, causing crush injuries, lacerations and amputations. Thus, nip points should be guarded, and safety cut-out switches should be available. Pedestrian traffic should also be distinguished from vehicle traffic so that worsening of slips or falls by getting hit by moving machineries can be avoided. In addition, such machineries like forklift should be operated at a slow speed (Workplace Safe, 2008). In case of slips or falls, an emergency response team should be at hand in the factory to provide immediate intervention, preventing worsening of injuries. A clinic should be open 24 hours, 7 days a week, or as long as employees are within the vicinity, so that symptoms of dizziness or fatigue can be attended to. Question 1b: How you would address violence in the workplace. Just like in addressing potential risks of injuries from slips or falls, risk assessment is an important initial step in planning to prevent and to address acts of violence in the microchip factory. Occurrence of violence increases with substance use. Before hiring any new personnel, employers should be wary of hiring any applicant with a previous history of substance dependence, especially if he or she did not receive any intervention such as rehabilitation. A significant amount of workplace violence can be prevented by screening employees through the main entry door. Among the employees, alcohol or drug-induced violent behavior should be avoided by preventing employees who have taken alcohol and drugs from going to the premises of the factory (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012). Bringing of guns or other weapons within the vicinity should also be strictly disallowed. These policies will be futile if there is no zero-tolerance and investigation for all violence cases done every time violence has occurred. A formal anti-violence policy should, thus, be set forth and strictly implemented. Once inside the factory, a safe and peaceful work environment lessens the risk of violence. To do that, each employee or at least designated supervisors should be taught of basic safety precautions, which include being mindful of a possible violent assault. Signs such as a feeling of anger and frustration, signs of substance use, or presence of weapon should be noted immediately (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012). Usually, a 6-months program presenting with patterns of minor threatening and intimidating tactics occurs before the actual assault. Particular personnel (the human resource head, for example) should be designated as the person to talk with in case of a violent behavior report. In addition, they should be encouraged to provide a calm, non-aggressive environment without threats and resentment. If there are moments of argument or disagreement in the workplace, the human resources office or the overseeing supervisor should be ready to intervene if the relationship has the signs to turn violent (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012). Aside from empowering the employees against situations of impending violence, a safe workplace should also be provided. Access to any sharp materials or any others that can be used as makeshift weapons should be limited to those assigned to it. An open pathway for exiting should also be available. Modes of communication, such as intercoms, radios or mobile phones should be within the vicinity, so that calling for help can be facilitated. In addition, the contact details of relevant government agencies should be at hand always (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012). Those who have been noted to have violent tendencies should be given help immediately before violence is actually enacted. Initially, they should undergo counseling from a resident physician or psychiatrist of the facility. The goal of this early intervention is to prevent the realization of an act of violence. However, employees that will show violent behavior despite counseling should be reprimanded by a stiff penalty or even dismissal (Fisher, 2008). This will prevent other employees from showing similar behaviors. References Fisher, A. (2008). How to Prevent violence at work. Fortune Magazine. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2008/02/21/8251768/index.htm Intel (Producer). (2008). Get inside an Intel 45nm chip factory. [video]. Santa Clara, California: Intel. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2012). How to prevent violence on the job. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/niosh/ Workplace Safe. (2008). Workplace health and safety basics for processing factory workers: rights, responsibilities, problems, and solutions. Retrieved from www.wst.tas.gov.au Read More