OSH PROGRAMMING

Development of OSH Programming

INTRODUCTION

The field of occupational health and safety (OHS) has become a topic of

increasing importance over the last 30 years. The establishment of the Occupational

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1970 reflected the recognition that safety in

the workplace is a basic expectation for all employees. Originally addressing concerns in

industry and hazards associated with mechanical injury, the field of occupational health

and safety has expanded to almost every workplace environment, from the office to the

airplane, as well as to the laboratory and the vivarium.

Once the hazards are identified, the same safety-driven approaches that are used to

reduce employee risk in other fields of animal care and use, as well as in other workplace

settings, are likewise applicable to people working with nonhuman primates.

a. OSH POLICY

Organizations and companies consist of employees, management, and other

personnel. Therefore, it’s imperative to have an occupational health and safety (OHS)

policy in place.

An OHS policy statement is an internal company/organization document that

shows how committed the company/organization is in ensuring the overall health and

safety of its workforce, while maintaining good relationships between employees and

executives.
 Consequently, a safety and health policy is a document stating the top

management’s safety objectives, the level of safety that can be performed by the

organization, and the responsibility of the organization’s members for executing the

policy and ensuring safety. For example, if the company policy states that safety and

health is primordial in its operations, then this becomes the impetus for OSH programs

and activities to be implemented. The policy is the basis for planning and budgeting of

OSH-related activities of the company.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OSH POLICY

1. Specific to the organization, concise, clearly written, dated, and signed.

2. Indicates management commitment, support and accountability.

3. Includes principle and objectives of protecting SH of all members of the organization.

4. States compliance with OSHS and related laws.

5. States objectives to continually improve the OSH MS.

6. Employees are aware of the Policy (communicated/posted).

7. Covers all workers and community.

b.) SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM DEFINED

 A safety and health management system, or safety program, can help you focus

your efforts at improving your work environment. Whatever you call it, your plan

describes what the people in your organization do to prevent injuries and illnesses at your

workplace. A Safety and Health program contains an organized set of ideas, principles

and procedures designed to be followed to achieve safety and health excellence. It is a

detailed blueprint of standards and procedures reflecting workplace-specific accepted

industry practices which is supported by both the management and the workers.

It has been found out that effective management of worker safety and health

programs:

a) Reduces the extent and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses – the safety and

health programs that are in place and followed by all concerned employees would include

implementation of appropriate control measures to reduce workplace accidents and

illnesses. Hence, if these are operational the cases of accidents and illnesses will be

minimized.

b) Improves employee morale and productivity – knowing that you are working in a

company that values your overall wellness gives you security and peace of mind. This

will result to greater productivity and efficiency among workers.

c) Reduces workers’ compensation costs – if accidents and illnesses are prevented then

the costs for paying worker’s compensation will be reduced.

Safety and health criteria

• A safety and health management system, sometimes known as a safety program,

can direct your efforts toward bettering the workplace. Whichever name you

choose it, your strategy outlines the steps your business takes to prevent illnesses

and injuries at work.

• Its objective is to stop accidents and injury caused by work-related activities.

How to have successful safety and health program?

1. Make a commitment

2. Involve and train employees

3. Identify and control hazards

4. Comply regulations

5. Support a culture of safety

6. Maintain and continually improve your system

Benefits of health and safety program

 Improves productivity through less sickness absence

 Keeping older workers in employment

 Stimulating more efficient working methods and technologies

Core elements of a workplace safety and health program

  Management leadership

 Worker participation

 Find and fix hazards

Safety and health committee

• It enables and assists consultation and cooperation between employer and

employees on safety and health matters.

• It also helps to develop, implement, and start safety and health measures.

What is the purpose of safety and health committee?

• It will take part in the creation, execution, and oversight of the company's health

and safety policies and practices.

• It will conduct training, take workers' safety concerns, and work to investigate

and address them.

Principal duties of health and safety committee

 Plans and develops accident prevention programs for the establishment.

 Directs the accident prevention efforts of the establishments

 Conducts safety meetings at least once a month.

 Reviews reports of inspection, accident investigations and implementation of

program.

 Initiates and supervises safety training for employees.

  Develops and maintains a disaster contingency plan and organizes such

emergency service

Functions of the safety and health committee

• -Review all safety and health policies and procedures established by the agency

pertaining to hazards management.

• Review incidents involving work-related fatalities, injuries, illnesses or near

misses related to hazards management.

Committee member and their duties:

Chairperson- preparing agenda for next meeting

Secretary- reporting status of recommendations

Members- reporting unsafe conditions and practices

Sample safety committee functions and duties

 Management commitment to workplace safety and health

 Accountability

 Accident/

 Incident investigations

 Safety/

 Health training for committee members

 Safety and health planning

  Conduct workplace inspections quarterly

COMPONENTS OF AN OSH POLICY

The OSH policy can now be translated into various program interventions. It

should cover a holistic approach and package of programs and activities.

The OSHC adopts a framework in defining the components of an OSH policy.

The same framework is used by the Center in selecting winners of its biennial Gawad

Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) awards.

Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) Award - is a biennial award awarded by the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to recognize excellent success by

businesses and individuals in meeting the safety and health needs of employees,

workplaces, and communities.

Objectives of the GKK

 To encourage institutions / companies to implement their own safety, health and

environment programs and in the process achieve improved quality, productivity

and zero accident / illness occurrence in the workplace.

 To recognize outstanding institutions / companies and individuals who have

implemented successful safety and health policies and programs.

 To promote OSH innovations / improvements / initiatives in micro-enterprises

and informal sectors.

The OSH Policy Framework identifies the following components:

1. Safety Control and Emergency Preparedness.

2. Industrial Hygiene Program

3. Occupational Health Program

4. Environmental Protection and Community Relations

5. Social Accountability Programs

6. Capability Building on OSH

1. Safety Control and Emergency Preparedness – these include policies and programs

to mitigate exposures of workers to direct physical hazards in the organization.

Examples of these are programs relating to:

a) Housekeeping - It refers to the act of putting everything in its proper place to

ensure safety and health since it aids in lessening accidents, hazards, risks, and

injuries.

b) Material handling and storage - It is a technique that includes lifting, placing,

storing, or moving materials with the utilization of one’s physical strength or

employment of appropriate handling apparatuses

c) Electrical safety - This includes identifying and addressing potential hazards

associated with the use, maintenance, and repair of electrical equipment.

d) Machine guarding - It involves implementing measures to prevent injuries

caused by contact with moving machinery parts, including rotating gears, belts,

chains, and other moving parts that could cause harm to workers.
e) Personal protective equipment - refers to clothing, helmets, goggles, gloves, or

other equipment designed to protect workers from workplace hazards that can

cause injury or illness.

f) Fire safety orientations and exit drills - Designed to educate workers on fire

safety procedures and emergency evacuation plans, while exit drills are designed

to provide workers with hands-on training on how to evacuate the workplace

safely in the event of a fire.

g) Maintenance of firefighting facilities - It focuses on ensuring that firefighting

equipment and systems are maintained and operational to help prevent and

respond to fires in the workplace.

h) Incident/accident investigation analysis, recording and reporting - It focus on

identifying and addressing the underlying causes of workplace incidents and

accidents, and taking appropriate corrective actions to prevent similar incidents

from occurring in the future.

i) Safety inspections - It refers to the process of examining and evaluating

workplaces, processes, equipment, and tools to identify and eliminate potential

hazards that may cause harm to workers, visitors, or the environment.

j) Emergency preparedness plans and related training - The process of preparing

and training workers to respond appropriately to emergencies or disasters that

may occur in the workplace.

The policy on Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness encompasses all activities that are necessary to prepare

people and organizations to respond to emergencies and disasters which include

typhoons, floods, industrial fire, chemical leaks, earthquakes and oil spills, among others.

Proper planning for emergencies includes areas on:

 Declaring an emergency

 Evacuating workers

 Obtaining internal emergency resources

 Obtaining help from external resources

 Initiating emergency rescues · tending to casualties

Elements of an Emergency Preparedness Program:

• Review the hazards - identify the hazards and risks that can happen in the

organization or community

• Evaluate resources - assess the available resources you have including the

presence of trained manpower to respond to emergencies

• Develop emergency plan and procedure - develop plans and procedures that

should be observed before, during and after the emergency

• Conduct training - train the right people who will respond to emergencies.

• Conduct drills and exercises - simulation of possible emergency scenarios

through drills and exercise will prepare the employees in the event disasters and

calamities will happen.

 • Educate public - conduct awareness programs for the general public so that they

too will be prepared and will be a source of your support system.

• Integrate in community plan - it is important that the company keeps close

coordination with the locality/community in order to have a synchronized

response.

2. Industrial Hygiene Program - focuses on identifying, assessing, and controlling

workplace hazards that may cause illness, injury, or other adverse health effects to

workers.

This includes programs of the company that covers

• Inventory of chemicals - A method for keeping track of chemicals and other

potentially dangerous materials

• Emergency contingency plan - It is a pre-determined course of action that

outlines the steps to be taken in the event of an unexpected event or emergency

situation.

• Capability building program for chemical users - A structured training

program designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of workers

who handle, use, store or transport chemicals in the workplace.

• Materials handling and storage procedures - Refer to the safe practices and

protocols that workers should follow when handling and storing chemicals in the

workplace.
 • Abatement of physical hazards - Refers to the process of eliminating or

reducing physical hazards associated with the handling, use, storage, or transport

of chemicals in the workplace.

The company has to define the guidelines on how it will conduct its industrial hygiene

program –

 who should be involved in terms of the IH activities,

 how these will be done, and

 what and to whom are the capability building interventions that will be conducted,

etc.

3. Occupational Health Program - is a comprehensive approach to managing the health

and well-being of employees in the workplace

This includes programs on:

 Employment or hiring of medical staff

 Availability of clinical, dental and medical equipment

 Preparation and submission of Annual Medical Report

 Compilation of medical records of employees, including analysis of the data

 HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or in-house health services or both

 Medical services and other programs implemented

Medical Equipment in Occupational Health Programs:

  First aid kit

 Oxygen equipment

 Eye wash station

 Hearing protection

 Splinting and immobilization equipment (splints, backboards, and cervical

collars)

 Resuscitation equipment (bag-valve masks and airway adjuncts)

Medical Staffs in Occupational Health Programs:

1. Occupational Health Physicians: These are licensed medical doctors who

conduct medical examinations, diagnose and treat work-related illnesses and

injuries, and provide medical advice to workers and employers.

2. Occupational Health Nurses: These are registered nurses who provide health

assessments, screenings, and vaccinations to workers, as well as provide

education and counseling on health-related issues.

3. Industrial Hygienists: These are professionals who specialize in identifying and

assessing workplace hazards, such as chemical exposure or noise levels.

4. Ergonomists: These are professionals who specialize in evaluating and

improving the ergonomics of work environments to prevent musculoskeletal

disorders and other injuries.

5. Occupational Therapists: These are healthcare professionals who provide

rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and ergonomic modifications to help

workers return to work as safely and quickly as possible.

 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) - In occupational safety and health

(OSH), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are a type of managed care

organization that provides health insurance coverage to employees and their families.

4. Environmental Protection and Community Relations - concerned with ensuring

that a company's operations do not harm the environment and the communities where

they operate.

Aside from safety and health, the company programs should also cover the following:

 Data on classification and volume of waste generated

 Pollution prevention facilities (e.g. Air pollution control systems, wastewater

treatment systems, and Hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities)

 Employment of a Pollution Control Officer (PCO)

A Pollution Control Officer (PCO) is a professional who is responsible for

ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations related to pollution

control.

 List of outreach programs and description

5. Social Accountability Programs - initiatives implemented by companies to ensure

that their operations are conducted in an ethical and socially responsible manner.

These programs take into account the involvement of the company on issues such as

 Policy on gender

Policies related to gender in OSH:

  Gender-specific hazards - Some occupations may have hazards that are

gender-specific, such as pregnancy-related risks for women.

 Workplace Violence – Women may be at a higher risk of workplace

violence than men.

 Sexual harassment - Sexual harassment is a common workplace hazard

that can affect both men and women, but women are more likely to

experience it.

 Work-life balance- Women are more likely than men to have caregiving

responsibilities, such as caring for children or elderly parents.

 Policy on Child Labor

The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines child labor as

work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity,

and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

International Labor Organization (ILO) - It is specialized agency of

the United Nations (UN) dedicated to improving labor conditions and living

standards throughout the world.

In terms of OSH, child labor can have severe consequences, as children

are often more vulnerable to workplace accidents and injuries than adults.

 Policy on PWDs

Policies related to PWDs in OSH:

1. Accessibility and accommodation - Employers should provide reasonable

accommodations to ensure that the workplace is accessible to employees with

 disabilities. This can include ramps, accessible restrooms, and assistive

technology.

2. Training and Education - Employers should provide information in

accessible formats, such as braille, large print, or audio, and ensure that

workers with disabilities have access to all safety-related materials.

3. Anti-discrimination policies - Employers should have policies in place that

prohibit discrimination against workers with disabilities, and ensure that all

workers are treated fairly and with respect.

 Other corporate social responsibility programs

 Wellness programs

 Ergonomics programs

 Environmental sustainability

 Community engagement

6. Capability Building on OSH - the process of developing the knowledge, skills, and

attitudes of individuals and organizations to effectively identify and manage OSH risks in

the workplace.

It involves compliance by the company to mandated/specialized OSH training courses

and conduct of activities to promote OSH. This includes:

  List of required orientations/ trainings on OSH provided (BOSH, CST, Drugs,

HIV/AIDS, Gender/S&H, Anti-Sexual Harassment, Family Welfare, OSH-MS

and others)

 Training calendar of the company; other staff development activities · Plans on

communicating OSH

 Information program, materials and dissemination strategies

 Monitoring and evaluation

Ways to Communicate OSH:

 Safety Meetings - conducted regularly to remind workers on OSH

 Safety Contests – can include injury rate contest, non-injury rate contest e.g.,

safety slogan, poster, housekeeping

 Use of posters, bulletin boards, displays to publicize safety - These visual aids

can help raise awareness of potential hazards and encourage safe behaviors in the

workplace.

 Other activities like safety campaigns, safety courses and demonstrations,

public address systems, publications, suggestion system - By using a variety of

tools and methods to promote safety, companies can create a culture of safety in

the workplace and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

MONITORING
 Monitoring in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) refers to the process of

regularly checking and evaluating workplace conditions and practices to identify

potential hazards and ensure compliance with safety regulations and best practices.

Why is it necessary to monitor the Effectiveness of Control Measures?

Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of safety and health programs is necessary

to:

 Ensure that workplace safety and health objectives are met

 Identify areas for improvement

 Enhance accountability

 Demonstrate return on investment

 Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Through Monitoring the company will be able to:

 Improve the performance of the program.

 Know if changes or revisions/improvements are necessary.

 Check areas that have to be prioritized.

 Assess program effectiveness

o Number of accidents and injuries are trending downward

o Cost of accidents and injuries is trending downward

o Time lost due to work-related injuries or illnesses is reduced

Ways in Monitoring of compliance and effectiveness of the OSH programs:

 A. Safety inspections/assessments - conducted to identify potential hazards and

risks in the workplace and to ensure that safety controls and procedures are in

place and effective.

B. Work Environment Measurement - refers to the process of evaluating and

measuring the physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic factors present in the

workplace to identify potential hazards and risks to worker health and safety. It

can include monitoring of air quality, temperature, humidity, noise levels,

lighting, and exposure to hazardous chemicals or biological agents.

C. Annual Medical Check-up. - is a program implemented by employers to

evaluate the health of their employees on a yearly basis. The purpose of this

program is to prevent occupational diseases and promote a healthy work

environment.

“The greatest responsibility a person can have during his lifetime is to be accountable

for another person’s safety and health and for the protection of the environment”.

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