What Does
Occupational Health And Safety Mean?
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a practice and a field of study aimed at improving health and safety standards in the workplace.
As a practice and a profession, OHS aims at protecting workers from workplace hazards, preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, and ensuring the well-being of all employees within an organization.
As a field of study, OHS is concerned with tracking work-related injuries and illnesses in the worker population, testing the effectiveness of risk mitigation measures, and assessing emerging safety risks.
Safeopedia Explains Occupational Health And Safety
Occupational health and safety as it is practiced in the United States can be traced back to the OSH Act of 1970, signed into law by President Nixon with the backing of Congress. The Act provided a legal impetus for safety that would be applicable to all U.S. workplaces, replacing the assortment of state and federal safety legislations that provided varying levels of protection for workers.
The OSH Act also established two federal agencies that remain significant in OHS to this day: OSHA and NIOSH.
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees the application of OHS in workplace settings. It is tasked with enforcing the OSH Act, enacting health and safety regulations, inspecting workplaces, and issuing fines and penalties for safety violations.
OSHA is a division of the US Department of Labor (DOL).
NIOSH
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is concerned with OHS as a scientific discipline. It conducts empirical research on workplace safety, tests the effectiveness of hazard control methods, and provides evidence-based recommendations for reducing safety risks.
NIOSH is not a regulatory agency and does not enact legislation. However, its findings and recommendations are highly influential on OSHA and other regulators, often serving as the basis for health and safety standards.
NIOSH is a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
OHS Agencies in the UK and Canada
Other countries have agencies comparable to OSHA with similar power to enact and enforce health and safety regulations.
In the United Kingdom, for instance, employers are subject to guidelines established by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), an agency established by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act of 1974.
In Canada, health and safety standards are overseen by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), established in 1978.
The Importance of Occupational Health and Safety
Employer Responsibilities for Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational health and safety plays an important and prominent role in every workplace, even those that are deemed low-risk. Every employer has a legal responsibility to provide their employees with a safe working environment and to adhere to all applicable health and safety regulations.
Depending on the industry, the type of workplace, and the specific hazards found in it, fulfilling this responsibility might involve:
- Exercising due diligence in identifying workplace hazards
- Supplying the personal protective equipment (PPE) every worker needs to do their job safely
- Establishing safe working procedures (and reviewing them regularly)
- Conducting regular workplace inspections and equipment maintenance
- Ensuring proper housekeeping on the worksite
- Using signs and warning labels to signal the presence of hazards
- Providing all workers with adequate safety training (including refresher training)
- Monitoring the concentration of hazardous substances in the atmosphere
- Establishing emergency response procedures, including an evacuation plan suitable for the size of the facility
- Investigating workplace incidents and implementing corrective measures on the basis of those incidents
- Recording, tracking, and reporting work-related injuries, illnesses, and other incidents
- Updating safety policies and procedures in keeping with changes in safety regulations
In addition to following regulations that cover specific hazards, employers are also subject to OSHA’s General Duty Clause. This clause states that every employer must ensure that the workplace is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” Meeting this broad and wide-ranging requirement is practically impossible without implementing a comprehensive OHS program.
Occupational Health and Safety Programs and Incident Rates
Occupational health and safety programs have a demonstrable record of improving workplace safety and reducing rates of workplace incidents.
OSHA boasts that there has been a 63% reduction in fatal workplace incidents since the establishment of the OSH Act in 1970.
Rates of occupational illness and injury have also been trending downward over the years, which can be attributed to advances in OHS research and stricter workplace safety regulations.
There is also evidence that investing more resources in OHS results in further improvements to incident rates. The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) is an OSHA initiative that recognizes worksites with exemplary health and safety programs (known as “Star Sites”). OSHA claims that sites that successfully participate in the VPP have a DART rate that is 52% below the average for their industry.
Types of Occupational Health and Safety Issues
The safety issues an organization faces will depend on the industry and the specifics of the workplace. Oil rigs, for example, will expose workers to risks related to flammable gas and working at heights. Warehouse workers, on the other hand, are unlikely to deal with those hazards, although they will have to worry about lift trucks, heavy lifting, and a variety of other risk factors.
Although every workplace is unique, some hazard categories are prevalent across a variety of industries. These common OHS issues include:
- Physical hazards are features of the working environment that have the potential to cause harm. This includes excessive noise, ionizing radiation, working at heights, extreme heat or cold, and weather conditions.
- Mechanical hazards are potentially harmful features of machinery and equipment. This includes pinch points, shear points, blades and sharp edges, and the various moving parts of a machine.
- Chemical hazards are various types of hazardous materials, whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. This includes toxic chemicals, corrosive substances, irritants, asphyxiants, sensitizers, and the exhaust from vehicles and generators.
- Biological hazards are biological agents that can cause illness or spread disease. This includes viruses, bacteria, molds, insect stings, and COVID-19.
- Ergonomic hazards are job tasks and work environments that can put excessive strain on the body. This includes repetitive motion, poor posture, heavy lifting, vibrating equipment, and tasks that require the application of force.
- Psychosocial hazards are work stressors and interpersonal dynamics that can affect employee wellbeing. This includes hostile work environments, unresolved conflict, workplace bullying, overwork, job insecurity, and poor work-life balance.
- Safety hazards is a catch-all category for various other unsafe working conditions. This includes slippery surfaces, wires and cords that create a tripping hazard, and frayed electrical cords.
Best Practices for Implementing an OHS Program
At a bare minimum, occupational health and safety programs must be compliant with all applicable standards, regulations, and legal requirements. More effective safety programs, however, follow a set of OHS best practices to get better results, create a safer working environment, and foster a stronger safety culture.
These best practices include the following.
Management Leadership
Safety programs that are simply imposed from the top down will often struggle to secure buy-in from employees. In those cases, employees can see safe work procedures, PPE, and other safety policies as inconveniences or pointless rules that get in their way.
Employers can overcome this problem by ensuring that management demonstrates a commitment to worker safety. This can be done by developing safety policy statements, participating in safety awareness and education campaigns, and leading by example by following all safety policies and procedures to the letter.
Employee Participation and Engagement
It is the employer’s responsibility to implement an effective safety program. However, the organization’s safety performance will depend partly on the workers who are expected to follow their workplace’s policies and procedures.
Worker participation can improve the safety program in a number of ways, including:
- Identifying hazards that may have been overlooked by the formal hazard identification process
- Recommending changes to workstation design or workflow that would make it easier to follow safe working procedures
- Reporting all incidents, including near misses and minor injuries
- Conducting regular inspections of their working area, PPE, and other equipment
- Training new hires or participating in safety mentorship programs
Employers can encourage this participation by soliciting feedback, making safety a central company value, and ensuring that there is no retaliation against employees who raise concerns about safety issues.
A Systematic Process for Identifying and Controlling Hazards
Fixing problems after an incident has occurred is a great step, but it’s not ideal. A proactive approach to identifying and controlling hazards before they can cause harm is preferable.
This requires a formal hazard identification process that is carried out regularly, including whenever new hazards might be introduced (e.g. changes to the design of the workplace, the the addition of new equipment, new environmental factors). Once hazards are identified, effective controls should be implemented in keeping with the hierarchy of hazard controls. Those controls should then be reevaluated at regular intervals to ensure their continued effectiveness and to determine whether better alternatives have become available.
Occupational Health and Safety Jobs
Occupational health and safety has a number of subdisciplines. While many safety professionals take on the general role of safety manager or safety officer, especially in smaller organizations, there are a variety of specialized career paths in safety.
OHS jobs include:
- Occupational Health and Safety Manager – Responsible for overseeing an organization’s health and safety program and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist – Similar to a safety manager but with a greater emphasis on preventing environmental harm, waste management, sustainability, and adherence to environmental regulations.
- Safety Engineer – Responsible for designing and implementing engineering controls and safety systems, monitoring and maintaining equipment, and incorporating safety features into the design of the workplace.
- Industrial Hygienist – Responsible for identifying and controlling hazards in high-risk environments, including chemical exposure, radiation, noise, and airborne contaminants.
- Ergonomist – A safety professional specialized in assessing ergonomic risk factors and preventing musculoskeletal disorders.
- Health and Safety Consultant – A safety professional who either works independently or part of a consulting firm, specialized in conducting audits, developing safety programs, providing training, and assisting with regulatory compliance.
OHS Degrees and Certifications
Pursuing a career in OHS may require completing a safety-focused degree or acquiring safety certifications.
Degree programs include:
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Occupational Health and Safety
- Master of Science (MS) in Occupational Health and Safety
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Health and Safety
Safety certifications include:
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
- Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC)
- Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
- Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT)
How Occupational Health and Safety Impacts Employers and Workers
Impact on Employers
- Compliance with OHS regulations helps employers avoid fines, penalties, and lawsuits
- Reduced incident rates mean fewer production delays and greater productivity
- Stronger safety programs reduce costs associated with workers compensation, insurance premiums, medical expenses, and hiring and training replacement workers
- Companies with a reputation for creating a safe working environment and supporting worker wellbeing are able to attract higher quality candidates
- High incident rates, safety violations, and catastrophic incidents can harm the organization’s reputation and lose favor with investors and shareholders
Impact on Employees
- An effective safety program will reduce the likelihood of an employee being injured, developing a work-related health condition, or being killed on the job
- A safer work environment reduces stress levels and improves job satisfaction
- Employees who feel protected and safe on the job can be more engaged in their work
- Workplace policies that follow OHS best practices make employees feel like they can speak up and raise concerns without fear of retaliation or reprimand
- Comprehensive safety training can impart skills that help with professional development
OHS, EHS, and HSEQ
OHS is one of three prominent safety acronyms, along with EHS and HSEQ.
These three have significant overlap and mainly differ in terms of scope:
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is concerned with the health and safety of the workers.
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is concerned with the health and safety of the workers, as well as environmental management and sustainability.
- Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) is concerned with the health and safety of the workers, environmental management, and quality assurance (the quality and integrity of the company’s product).
There are also regional differences in safety acronyms. For instance, Australia’s safety regulations fall under the Work Health and Safety Act, which uses the terminology of workplace health and safety (WHS) rather than occupational health and safety.
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