Occupational Safety & Liability - Case Study Example

CASE STUDY #2, HRD 394 Occupational Safety & Liability, April 11, Based on the facts of the case, a safe workplace was described as conformingto an injury free workplace. Workplace safety was defined as “the working environment at a company and encompasses all factors that impact the safety, health, and well-being of employees. This can include environmental hazards, unsafe working conditions or processes, drug and alcohol abuse, and workplace violence” (US Legal, Inc., 2014, par. 1). As such, one is convinced that the comprehensive definition of a safe workplace should extend beyond focusing on it being injury free – which is only one facet in adhereing to the standards of safety as prescribed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Concurrently, it has been revealed that employers were required by OSHA for the provision of a safe workplace that conforms to the following description: “one that is free of dangers that could physically harm those who work there… requiring employers to inform employees about potential hazards, to train them in how to deal with hazards, and to keep records of workplace injuries” (Repa, 2014, par. 2). Overall, other facets of safety and conformity to health standards must be adhered; not only focusing on an injury free definition.

Actually, it was emphasized that a safe workplace should consider communicating explicitly to all personnel sources of potential risks and hazards, identifying machinery that could endanger the employees’ lives, preventing illnesses, making sure that lighting, ventilation, emergency exits and fire protective strategies are in place, providing vaccination as deemed necessary, and “even tracking the effects of workplace conditions on employees’ health through periodic medical examinations” (Repa, 2014, par. 7). Thus, the information confirms that workplace safety does not merely mean being injury-free.

All aspects of hazards and risks in the work place that could endanger the health of employees must be properly and appropriately addressed. References Repa, B. (2014). Employee Rights Under OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Act). Retrieved from Nolo Law for All: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/employee-rights-book/chapter6-2.html US Legal, Inc. (2014). Additional Definitions: Workplace Safety. Retrieved from uslegal.com: http://definitions.uslegal.com/w/workplace-safety/