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Chapter 9
Health and Safety
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter shows that workers have a right to a safe and healthy workplace and that
employers have a moral and, in many cases, a legal obligation to secure this right. The
controversial questions concern two matters: What is the morally required level of health
and safety, and how can this level be best achieved? Increasing the level of health and
safety usually involves trade-offs with other goods, including higher wages for employees
and greater profits for employers. The commonly accepted standard for making such trade-
offs is cost–benefit analysis, in which the benefits of increased workplace protection are
balanced against the costs. In general, employees, employers, and society at large are best
served when cost-effective decisions are made. However, the rights to know about and
refuse hazardous work and the problem of reproductive hazards raise the different issue of
the extent to which employees should be involved in protecting themselves. Not only may a
right to employee involvement in matters of health and safety be morally justified, but such
involvement may also be an effective means for achieving workplace health and safety that
9.1: Explain the nature of ethical issues regarding occupational health and safety,
employers’ obligations to protect their employees, and the arguments over the extent
of employers’ responsibilities for injury or harm
9.2: Analyze the rights of employees to be informed about potential health and safety
hazards and to refuse hazardous work, the justifications for these rights, and the
difficulties they create for employers
9.3: Assess the risks posed by reproductive hazards in the workplace and the problems
with fetal protection policies, including issues of discrimination, choice, and legal
liability
9.4: Identify the responsibilities of manufacturers and consumers regarding harmful
products, the ethical basis for three main theories defining these responsibilities,
and problems with applying each theory
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SUGGESTED DISCUSSION PROMPTS
2.
Should employers be held responsible for all and any workplace hazards, and are
3.
Do you think that employees who accept hazardous jobs could be said to be coerced
5.
What is the difficult dilemma faced by companies whose working conditions pose
1.
The distinction between safety and health is based on the distinction between
.
A.
intention and accident
B.
accidents and illness
C.
disease and wellness
D.
ethics and law
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
2.
Utilitarian reasoning in approaching workplace hazards might be based on .
A.
legal precedent
B.
the rights of workers
C.
employers’ responsibilities
D.
cost-benefit analysis
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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Skill Level: Analyze
3.
Employers can defend themselves from responsibility for a workplace accident by
claiming that .
A.
the accident was preventable
B.
the worker knew the risks
C.
the worker was negligent
D.
the accident was unavoidable
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
4.
Part of the reason that employees can be said to voluntarily assume risk for
hazardous jobs is that .
A.
the jobs require special skills
B.
the pay is higher
C.
information is always available about the jobs
D.
many people are willing to do the jobs
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
5.
In determining whether workers assumed a risk by choice, a case not finding evidence
of
coercion means that ________.
A.
workers were not forced to accept jobs
B.
other jobs may have been more hazardous
C.
there may have been other people willing to accept the jobs
D.
not all jobs were hazardous
Difficulty Level: Moderate
50
Skill Level: Analyze
6.
To be able to work in a hazardous environment, employees must .
A.
have the right to refuse hazardous conditions
B.
be able to sue their employers
C.
be able to quit their jobs
D.
have the right to share information
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
7.
In product safety, manufacturers have to exercise due care or else they ________.
A.
could be outcompeted by another manufacturer
B.
would have to find new customers
C.
would have to present an expert analysis
D.
could be fined or sued
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Evaluate
8.
The drawback for the subjective standard of hazard assessment on the part of the
employee is that .
A.
the employee may not be the one in most danger
B.
the employee may not have expert judgment
C.
employees will be looking after their own interests
D.
employers cannot be counted on to look after their employees’ interests
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
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9.
If employers maintain that they can protect employees from hazards better than
employees can, this is incompatible with employees’ .
A.
dignity
B.
right to work
C.
autonomy
D.
safety
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
10.
Sex discrimination may apply to jobs that pose fetal health risks because .
A.
women in certain jobs may be subject to sexual harassment
B.
pregnant women may have certain skills that others lack
C.
pregnant women may decide to take less-hazardous jobs
D.
employers may bar women from holding certain jobs
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Evaluate
Essay Questions
1.
Explain the concept of a direct cause as applied to workplace safety. How
9.1: Explain the nature of ethical issues regarding occupational health and safety,
employers’ obligations to protect their employees, and the arguments over the
extent of employers’ responsibilities for injury or harm
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze
2.
Explain the argument that workers assume the risk of hazardous jobs, and describe
safety hazards and to refuse hazardous work, the justifications for these rights, and
the difficulties they create for employers.
Topic/Concept: Hazardous Work
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Evaluate
3.
Describe how the issue of sex discrimination applies to jobs that pose health risks to
developing fetuses.
9.3: Assess the risks posed by reproductive hazards in the workplace and the
problems with fetal protection policies, including issues of discrimination, choice,
and legal liability
Topic/Concept: Reproductive Hazards
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Evaluate
4. Identify the responsibilities manufacturers and consumers bear regarding harmful
products.
9.4: Identify the responsibilities of manufacturers and consumers regarding harmful
products, the ethical basis for three main theories defining these responsibilities,
and problems with applying each theory
Topic/Concept: Product Safety
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding