Strategic Importance of Occupational Safety and Health - Term Paper Example

(HR) 28 May 2007 Strategic Importance of Occupational Safety and Health Occupational health and safety are far more than simply physical aspects of an organization. In the present economy, the subject covers a wide spectrum, from leadership to management to employees and to customers, as well as the strategies needed to implement successful safety features and overall wellness throughout the modern world. The traditional view of occupational safety and health has in the past been focused on workplace hazards-chemical, physical, and biological. Although these hazards still exist, a broader view has come into the picture, including stress-related conditions, cardiovascular, psychological and musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, depression, substance abuse, and violence (Schute 273). Much is known about the causes of many traditional occupational diseases, but according to Schute, "what is needed are better ways to apply what is known" (273). The workplace is changing, with new methods of organization, non-traditional work schedules, and economic pressure from globalization, and it is up to the business community to be aware of changes and address them. Emergence of Nanotechnology With technology a major part of today's business, the latest research brings nanotechnology into play. Nanotechnology is "the control and manipulation of matter at near-atomic scale to produce new materials, structures, and devices" (NIOSH: Strategy, par. 1). This new focus in business creates a variety of risks not previously part of the workplace. With the development of new applications, it is necessary to give high priority to societal implications, human health, and environmental issues related to nanotechnology in addition to other workplace risks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for studying work-related injury, illness, and death. NIOSH's past experience equips them for research into the possible risks of working with engineered nanoparticles. Exposure to noxious fumes such as diesel, welding, smelter and fire smoke particles are known to affect health, and research is being done to see if engineered nanoparticles have similar risks. Chemical and physical properties of engineered nanomaterials can vary greatly from bulk forms of the same materials. These new substances require research, analysis, and testing to determine their risks and how to manage them (Bartis and Landree ix). The projects initiated by NIOSH are focused on safe materials handling, exposure handling, exposure assessment and mitigation, and further toxicity testing. Their strategy includes all facets of the corporate structure from input to outcome and from strategic goals to management objectives. Critical occupational safety and health issues possibly arising from nanotechnology are: Exposure and dose Toxicity Epidemiology and Surveillance (NIOSH: Strategy) These potential dangers lead to the need for risk assessment, measurement methods, controls, safety, communication and education, and finally recommendations. The Institute's projected timeline for addressing critical issues covers the period from 2005 to 2009. It will be necessary to update the Material Safety Data Sheet system to incorporate relevant classifications, toxicity data, and safety and health recommendations for working with nanomaterials. Societal Implications of the Technological Advances of the 21st Century In the global community, several organizations are studying the issues brought about by new technology, for instance the European Commission's New OSH Era project initiated on 1 April 2006 (New and Emerging). It is their goal to identify new and emerging risks in the area of occupational health and safety through cooperation and coordination in the national and regional arena. The scheme is called ERA-NET and is made up of four phases: information exchange, strategies for future cooperation, implementation of joint activities, and finally joint calls for project proposals. Coordinator of the consortium is the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health with partners in Germany, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Hungary, Spain, and Greece. However, the global interconnectedness of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) calls for partnership not just within Europe, but also throughout the world. The OSH field would "benefit by more connections between researchers and decision makers. Both would gain by these connections" (Schulte 275). Further efforts are needed to share information on a global scale. With the great number of production companies throughout the world, specific products create unique risks, for instance in the coal industry, which is being upgraded to meet safety challenges, and fire-safety issues in non-industrial sectors. It has become evident in recent years that one of the most important factors in a mining accident is communication. In the past, the underground coal mining industry has been behind in implementing advances, but recent tragic events in the industry have brought about NIOSH's demand for reliable communications between workers inside a mine and those outside (Schiffbauer and Brune). With the wireless capabilities now available in communication systems, there is less danger of explosions caused by electric sparks, and a portable wireless system worn by a person offers a good chance of establishing contact. Recent advanced communication technology utilizes computer-based data networks employing a large variety of data transmission protocols. Research is being done on using wi-fi cell phones that give several options for communication (Schiffbauer and Brune). Human Health Even as international efforts are being made to study and prevent health risks in a wide variety of the population, the issue of human health and the productivity of the individual must be the focus in the long run. In the present society, work and non-work are no longer separate entities. In a technological world, employees are no longer confined to one small cubicle in an organization. When they leave the office, they continue to be connected by computerized technology such as a Blackberry. They travel internationally and are just as apt to communicate with the office through text messaging or other technology from their homes or on the road. The 8-hour day is becoming a thing of the past. This inability to leave work behind within the corporate environment has expanded the health field concerns. It is Schulte's contention that there is a causal relationship between work-home interference and health impairment. The sedentary aspects of today's workplace are known to be related to cardiovascular disease and obesity. In addition, the incidence of depression in the work-home relationship is high and "one of the most prevalent and costly issues affecting the American workforce" (Schulte 274). Another increasingly difficult situation is the number of Spanish-speaking workers and high rate of injuries and fatalities in areas such as agriculture, construction, and food processing. A focus on communication with these workers who have a limited understanding of English is imperative to prevent injury and illness among this population. This is a problem that exists on a worldwide scale with the numbers of immigrants from the Middle East and Asia as well as South America. There is also a chasm between research and user communities, and more interaction between researchers and decision makers would be beneficial. Environmental Issues Environmental issues in either a corporate or small business setting call for updates in fire prevention, environmental codes, and evacuation plans. With terrorism an active threat in the 21st century, large corporations need an evacuation plan that can be followed easily, moving personnel to a safe area away from the main business setting. Also, a number of small businesses might be housed in a large building such as the World Trade Center, and certainly that tragedy has changed the way occupational safety and health are viewed. Far more serious considerations must be addressed in building construction, taking into consideration these new dangers. In studying the safety factors involved in fire prevention and safety, the computer has become a major factor, with evacuation software being used to cover all aspects of any plan being put into place (Chow). In recognizing the hazards faced in construction with complexity in multi-employer worksites or large, complex, industrial type projects, OSHA, and AMEC Construction Management, Inc., have formed a partnership to insure a safe and healthful environment for all personnel in the construction industry. Their strategic plan to develop a contractor/government relationship in order to eliminate the four major construction hazards (falls, electrical, caught in/between, and struck by), which account for a majority of fatalities and injuries in this industry will be re-evaluated at three-year intervals, beginning in 2003. The partners include the following groups: AMEC Construction Management, Inc. (AMEC) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Compliance Safety Advocates (where assigned to projects) Subcontractors performing work at AMEC projects (Strategic Partnerships Sec. 2) Another area of environmental concern that has become a modern issue is acknowledging the presence of environmental chemical pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which General Electric has been ordered to remove from the Hudson River in New York State, from the GE site in Rome, GA, and the Housatonic River as well as five other areas recently included (General Electric 2006, 60). Strategic Importance of OSHA in a Global Society A safe and healthy environment has become a major factor in the success of a business. Whether it is mold-related problems existing within the workplace or ergonomic solutions in a computer workstation, whether new risks arising from nanotechnology need further study or the pressures of higher demands for employees create a wide variety of possible health risks, OSHA's solutions have far more to do with the overall economic health of a company than it ever has in the past. It is up to organizations to work closely with OSHA and with each other to develop a strategy that meets specifications. Partnerships are key to success and the United States would benefit from the strategies adopted in Europe. The International Labor Office in Geneva, Switzerland, has presented a promotional framework for occupational safety and health that has global implications. The three most important factors are to stay involved, look ahead, and provide necessary resources. The United States is part of this framework and has adopted OSHA's Strategic Management Plan for the period 2003-2008 (Guidelines). The program is based on the five-fold challenge to the continuing improvement of OSH: 1) Large and diverse population of employees and workers. 2) Changes in characteristics of the workforce and the changing nature of work. 3) New occupational and safety issues that need to be addressed. 4) Emerging issues in health, safety, and emergency preparedness that need to be addressed. 5) The need to understand the effectiveness of program strategies. (Promotional Framework 46) The events of September 11, 2001, completely changed the face of occupational safety and health, and created a whole new set of risks in the corporate and business world. Because of the international aspects of the existing challenges, an international plan is the best way to meet these challenges. Works Cited Bartis, J.T., and Landree, E. "Nanomaterials in the Workplace." 2006. Rand Corporation. 23 May 2007. http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2006/RAND_CF227.sum.pdf Chow, W.K. "Fire Safety Provisions for Workplaces in Non-Industrial Sectors: Executive Summary." (OSH Research Paper). July 2006. 22 May 2007. (3) http://www.oshc.org.hk/download/research/43/2/finalReportEng.pdf Committee on Occupational Health. "Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (ILO-OSH 2001)." December 2003. International Labour Office. 22 May 2007. (4) http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/health/session13/working_paper_2.pdf General Electric Annual Report 2006, Invest and Deliver, pp. 3-120. 25 May 2007. http://www.ge.com/ar2006/pdf/ge_ar2006_full_book.pdf "New and Emerging Risks in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)-Anticipating and Dealing with Change in the Workplace through Coordination of OSH Risk Research." 1 April 2006. New OSH Era. http://osha.europa.eu/newoshera/leaflet.pdf. NIOSH. "Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research: Filling the Knowledge Gaps." 2007. 22 May 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/strat_planA.html. (1) "Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health." 2005. International Labour Office, Geneva. 23 May 2007. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc93/pdf/rep-iv-1.pdf Schiffbauer, W.H. and Brune, J.F. "Coal Mining Communications." 24-25 August 2006. Am. Longwall Magazine. 24 May 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/cmc.pdf Schute, P.A. "Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health." Int J Occup Environ; Vol. 12, No. 3-July/Sep 2006, 273-277. 23 May 2007. http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1203_Schulte.pdf "Strategic Partnership Between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and AMEC Construction Management, Inc. (AMEC)." 3 November 2003. U.S. Department of Labor. 22 May 2007. (5) http://www.osha.gov/doc/natlagreement.html Read More