Health and Safety Movement
Goetsch 1
Safety & Health
Safety
injury-producing events
hazards to humans from severe conditions
Health
disease causing
conditions as a result of prolonged exposure
Environmental Technology
Knowledge & skills required to:
manage
work with
control hazardous materials
Goal reduce risks to human health and the ecology
Health & Safety Movement
1900s industrial accidents commonplace
Legislation, precedent, and public opinion favored management
Little concern for the worker
Reasons for change
Current
Legislative pressure
Costs of accidents & injuries
Professionalization of the field
Future
Cost effectiveness
Competitiveness
A little history
Industrial revolution produced changes
Replaced people & animal power with prime movers
Replaced people with machines
New conversion methods
Specialization of work
Milestones
Health and Morals of Apprentices Act, 1802, England
Government response to child labor abuses
Factory inspections in 1867
Mine safety laws, 1869
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Milestones
Employer’s Liability Law, 1877
Taylor linked lost time & management procedures
Worker’s compensation, 1908
compensation for on the job injuries
National Safety Council, 1913/15
History
Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970
important legislation
Labor’s help
Who are the stakeholders in health and safety?
What interests do they have in promoting health and safety?
Who is responsible if…?
Fellow servant rule
Employers not responsible for injuries resulting from negligence of other employees
Contributory negligence
Company not responsible if employee contributed to the accident
Assumption of risk
People who accept the job, assume the risks
Employer-biased laws
Most accidents can be explained by negligence of others
Employers had little to worry about
Organized labor helped change these
Specific health problems
When should legislation be enacted?
After a problem occurs.
Before a problem occurs.
1968 Virginia mine accident
Mercury poisoning
Asbestos
Development of programs
Accident prevention programs
World War II
Shortage of skilled labor
Injured workers could not be replaced
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
- Engineering could prevent accidents
- Employees want to learn & accept safety rules
- Safety rules could be established & enforced
- Financial savings could be reaped
Three E’s of safety
Engineering - designed for safety
Education - employees know how to work safely, why it is important, & it is expected
Enforcement - follow safety policies, rules, regs., etc..
Safety Organizations
National Safety Council
Nongovernmental, not-for-profit, public service organization
Prevent losses from accidents or exposure to unhealthy environments
OSHA
Safety organizations
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH
Part of Center for Disease Control
Publishes list of known toxins
Integrated approach to H & S
Learn more through sharing of information
Provide greater expertise
Provide a broad database
Encourage accident prevention
Make employee health and safety a high priority