978-0134739724 Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

EMPLOYEE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

13.1 Explain the nature and role of safety, health, and wellness

13.2 Discuss workplace safety programs

13.3 Summarize the problems associated with workplace bullying and violence

13.4 Discuss the negative effects of employee stress and burnout

13.5 Explain substance abuse, substance abuse-free workplaces, and how to implement

a drug-testing program

13.6 Describe employee wellness programs and employee assistance programs

KEY TERMS

Safety: Protection of employees from injuries caused by work-related accidents.

Health: Employee’s freedom from physical or emotional illness.

General duty clause: As used by OSHA, employers are required to furnish, to each

and job or task demands.

Workplace bullying: Acts of continual hostile conduct that deliberately hurt another

person emotionally, verbally, or physically.

Workplace violence: Physical assault, threatening behavior, verbal abuse, hostility, or

harassment directed toward employees at work or on duty.

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Alcoholism: Medical disease characterized by uncontrolled and compulsive drinking that

interferes with normal living patterns.

LECTURE OUTLINE

NATURE AND ROLE OF SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS

Safety involves the protection of employees from injuries caused by work-related

accidents. Health refers to employees’ freedom from physical or emotional illness.

OSHA AND WHISTLE-BLOWERS

OSHA enforces the whistleblower protection provisions of 21 statutes, covering not just

workplace safety, but also the environment, consumer products, the financial system, and

other areas.

● UNSAFE EMPLOYEE ACTIONS—First approach in a safety program is to

create a psychological environment and employee attitudes that promote safety.

● UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS—Second approach to safety program

design is to develop and maintain a safe physical working environment.

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● DEVELOPING SAFETY PROGRAMS—Organizational safety programs

require planning for prevention of workplace accidents.

● Job hazard analysis: Multi-step process designed to study and analyze a

task or job and then break down that task into steps that provide a means

of eliminating associated hazards.

● Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA), Title III:

SARA requires businesses to communicate more openly about the hazards

associated with the materials they use and produce and the wastes they

generate.

● Employee involvement: One way to strengthen a safety program is to

include employee input, which provides workers with a sense of

accomplishment.

● Safety engineer: In many companies, one staff member coordinates the

overall safety program.

● ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION—Safety engineer and the line manager jointly

investigate accidents—why, how, and where they occur, and who is involved.

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that affect the body’s muscles, joints,

tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Work-related MSDs including tendonitis, carpal tunnel

syndrome (CTS), and back pain cost American businesses $61.2 billion annually just to

cover the lost productivity costs associated with these ailments. A major musculoskeletal

disorder is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) caused by pressure on the median nerve that

occurs as a result of a narrowing of the passageway that houses the nerve.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Physical assault, threatening behavior, verbal abuse, hostility, or harassment directed

toward employees at work or on duty.

● VULNERABLE EMPLOYEES—Employees at gas stations and liquor stores,

taxi drivers, and police officers working overnight shifts face the greatest danger

● PREVENTIVE ACTION—There are two parts to violence prevention. First,

there must be a process in place to help with early detection of worker anger.

Second, supervisors and HR staff need to be trained in how to skillfully handle

difficult employment issues.

EMPLOYEE STRESS AND BURNOUT

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purpose and fulfillment of their work. Burnout results in reduced productivity,

higher turnover, and generally lousy performance. Individuals in the helping

professions, such as teachers and counselors, seem to be susceptible to burnout

because of their jobs, whereas others may be vulnerable because of their

upbringing, expectations, or personalities.

grantees to agree that they will provide drug-free workplaces as a condition of receiving a

contract or grant from a federal agency.

The third step in establishing a substance-abuse-free workplace is to implement a drug-

testing program. A drug-free workplace program should: balance the rights of employees

and the rights of employers, balance the need to know and rights to privacy, balance

detection and rehabilitation, and balance the respect for employees and the safety of all.

The difficulty is not in formulating the policy, but rather in implementing it.

13-1. Define safety and health.

13-2. What is the purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act?

13-3. What relationship does OSHA have with small businesses?

13-4. What are the primary ways in which safety programs are designed? Discuss.

13-5. What is the purpose of job hazard analysis?

13-6. Why are companies concerned with musculoskeletal disorders? What is carpal

tunnel syndrome?

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Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that affect the body’s muscles, joints,

tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Work-related MSDs including tendonitis, carpal tunnel

syndrome (CTS), and back pain cost American businesses $61.2 billion annually just to

cover the lost productivity costs associated with these ailments. They are the leading

cause of nonfatal workplace injuries nationwide, accounting for 28 percent of all such

incidences requiring days away from work.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve that occurs as a

result of a narrowing of the passageway that houses the nerve.

13-7. Define ergonomics. What is the purpose of ergonomics?

13-8. Define workplace bullying. What are the basic forms of workplace bullying?

13-9. What effect does workplace and domestic violence have on an organization?

13-10. What laws were passed because of domestic violence?

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13-11. Define stress. Why should a firm attempt to identify stressful jobs?

13-12. What is the purpose of substance-abuse-free workplaces in organizations?

13-13. What are the steps for establishing a substance-abuse-free workplace?

13-14. Why are firms adopting social networking to strengthen the success of their

wellness programs?

13-15. What are employee assistance programs and wellness programs?

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Employee assistance program (EAP) is a comprehensive approach that many

organizations have taken to deal with numerous problem areas such as burnout, alcohol

and drug abuse, and other emotional disturbances.

Wellness programs are designed to promote the mental and physical well being of

employees and family members.

DISCUSSION OF CHAPTER 13 INCIDENTS

HRM Incident 1: Something Isn’t Quite Right

Liam Murphy was a model employee. He never missed a day of work, he always arrived

on time, his performance exceeded expectations, and Liam always gave a helping hand to

coworkers. In fact, Liam received the Employee of the Year award five times in the last

six years.

Liam’s coworkers have noticed that he has not been himself lately. Liam often comes to

work late, he hasn’t been getting all his work completed, and what he completes is filled

with errors. Liam has also been withdrawn. In the past, he cheerfully greeted his

coworkers. Now, he barely talks to anyone. Upon arriving at work, Liam goes directly to

his office and closes the door. He rarely responds to emails, which is unlike him.

Two coworkers, Belinda and Marcus, discussed the changes they have seen in Liam.

Belinda asked Marcus, “Have you noticed that Liam seems unhappy and keeps his

distance from us?” She added, “That simply is not the Liam we have come to know and

love.”

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“No, Liam. You are not fine,” Marcus asserted. He added, “Please, let us help you.”

Uncharacteristic of Liam, he screamed, “Get out of my office! Get out of my office right

now!” Belinda and Marcus were startled and immediately left Liam’s office.

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QUESTIONS

13-23. What do you think is likely to be Liam’s problem? Discuss.

13-24. What should Belinda’s and Marcus’ next steps be??

13-25. How might use of an employee assistance program help in this situation?

HRM Incident 2: A Commitment to Safety

Wanda Zackery was extremely excited a year ago when she joined Landon Electronics as

its first safety engineer. She had graduated from Florida State University with a degree in

electrical engineering and had a strong desire to enter business. Wanda had selected her

job at Landon Electronics over several other offers. She believed that it would provide

her with a broad range of experiences that she could not receive in a strictly engineering

job. Also, when the company president, Martha Lincoln, interviewed her, she promised

her that the firm’s resources would be at her disposal to correct any safety-related

problems.

Lincoln cordially received her presentation. She said that she would like to think it over

and get back to her.

But that was six months ago! Every time Wanda attempted to get some action on her

proposal, Ms. Lincoln was friendly but still wanted some more time to consider it. In the

meantime, Wanda had become increasingly anxious. Recently, a worker had barely

avoided a serious injury. Some workers had also become concerned. She heard through

the grapevine that someone had telephoned the regional office of OSHA.

QUESTIONS

13-26. Discuss Ms. Lincoln’s level of commitment to occupational safety.

13-27. Is there a necessary tradeoff between Landon’s need for low expenses and the

workers’ need for safe working conditions? Explain.

13-28. Safety programs may accomplish their purposes in two primary ways: one

focusing on unsafe employee actions and the other on unsafe working conditions.

Which areas of Wanda’s proposal was she directing her efforts? Discuss.

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Wanda’s initial proposal focused on overcoming unsafe working conditions. Here,

altering the environment becomes the focus for preventing accidents. Even if a person has

been awake all night with a sick child and can barely keep his eyes open, the safety

devices on his machine will help protect him. Management should create a physical

environment in which accidents cannot occur. It is in this area that OSHA has had its

greatest influence.