Paying People to Risk Life or Limb

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 295-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Theory ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Moral Permissibility ◽  
Job Affect ◽  
Safety First

ABSTRACT:Does the content of a physically dangerous job affect the moral permissibility of hiring for that job? To what extent may employers consider costs in choosing workplace safety measures? Drawing on Kantian ethical theory, this article defends two strong ethical standards of workplace safety. First, the content of a hazardous job does indeed affect the moral permissibility of offering it. Unless employees need hazard pay to meet basic needs, it is permissible to offer a dangerous job only if prospective employees have a reason other than hazard pay to choose this job instead of safer alternatives. Second, employers typically cannot justify omitting expensive safety measures by paying employees more, even if employees prefer higher pay to greater safety. Employers offering dangerous jobs must meet these two standards to avoid treating their employees merely as means.

scholarly journals Integral risk assessment to optimize expenses for occupational safety measures at a machine-building enterprise

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 10-22
Author(s):  
Vitalii Bezsonnyi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Machine Building ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Building Enterprise ◽  
Integral Assessment ◽  
Industrial Risks

In the absence of uniform and unified requirements for the assessment of industrial risks at an enterprise, the system approach remains the only tool for a comprehensive assessment of the workplace safety. Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) system involves identifying, analyzing and reducing risks at the workplace. The purpose of the article is to calculate the minimum expenses for occupational safety measures and minimize production risks identified through the developed procedure for analyzing the hazards of the machine-building enterprise. The research methodology is based on the integrated use of qualitative and quantitative approaches to risk assessment, namely, structured assessment and integral assessment using the “rucksack problem” optimization model. The study identifies the risks that are most common and the most serious ones. The procedure of risk reduction is proposed, which is to determine the minimum costs for achieving each of the integral assessments for the machine-building enterprise. The practical value of work consists in the ability to directly apply the developed methodology for risk assessment at the enterprises of the machine-building industry, and to easily adapt the risk assessment procedure to other conditions.

“I Want to Know How to Protect Myself without Scaring Our Patients”

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (140) ◽  
pp. 49-77
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Hower
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Workplace Hazards ◽  
Know How ◽  
American Federation ◽  
Municipal Employees ◽  
Aids Crisis ◽  
The One ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Drawing on union convention proceedings, reports, newspapers, speeches, and internal memoranda, this article uses the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as a case study to explore organized labor’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. One the one hand, it shows that AFSCME eventually embraced an ambitious, two-pronged program that fought both for strong workplace safety measures for its members and against discrimination toward those most affected by HIV/AIDS. On the other, it highlights the ways in which the union’s campaign was constrained by a narrow focus on workplace hazards. Prioritizing workers’ protections over patients’ demands for privacy in diagnosis and treatment, AFSCME ultimately subsumed its rhetorical commitment to working-class solidarity beneath what many members saw as a practical need for somatic surveillance and segregation—marginalizing the very communities that the union claimed to protect.

scholarly journals THE RELATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MOTIVATION AND AGE, YEARS OF SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYEES

2020 ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Tomislav Rakić ◽  
Snežana Živković
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
The Other ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Safe Work ◽  
Years Of Service ◽  
Safety Motivation

Autonomous occupational safety motivation can be a result of outer and inner reasons for applying safety measures at work. Employees with autonomous motivation behave apply safety measures at their own insticts and initiative, in line with their values and interests. As a result, the behavior of autonomously motivated employees is self-determined and therefore, it should be applied consistently.Along with this kind of motivation, an “identified” workplace  safety motivation is worth mentioning. It is typical for employees who are motivated to apply occupational safety measures because they consider that safe work environment is very important, and that acting in accordance with safety measures is just another step towards safe work environment.The main aim of this paper is to establish potential relations between occupational safety motivation on one side, and age of the examinees, the years of service, and their professional qualifications on the other, in order to implement the results obtained, create safe work environment and, in this way,  increase the productivity.

scholarly journals Workplace hazard exposure and practice of safety measures by workers in selected factories in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
JE Okeke ◽  
NC Osuchukwu ◽  
AO Ndep ◽  
BN Ekpenyong ◽  
KI Abam
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Anambra State ◽  
Hazard Exposure ◽  
Work Related ◽  
High Level

Background: Workplace safety measures are intended to reduce injuries, accidents and hazards to employees. This study was to determine the workplace hazard exposure, practice of safety measures and use of private protective equipment by workers in selected factories in Nnewi, Anambra State Nigeria. Methods: Using a cross-sectional descriptive design, a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist were data collection tools. Using a stratified sampling and proportionate random sampling techniques 816 staff from three strata participated in the study.Results: Out of the 634 completely filled questionnaires, 97.5% respondents were males and 65.8% were aged 26-40years. Majority (78.6%) had four or less years of experience and 23.5% earned between N21,000-N30,000 monthly. Most (96.8%) were trained to use protective equipment and 93.7% believed that their current job was hazardous. Out of the 182 respondents with high level of workplace hazard exposure, 64.3% were aged 26-30 years. Most respondents (92.6%) reported having at least one job-related injury within the past year while 49.7% felt that they may lose their job due to work-related injury. There was a statistically significant relationship between workplace hazard exposure and level of practice of safety measure (p< 0.005) and level of personal protective equipment use (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Age and length of service at the factory had significant influence on the level of hazard exposure, level of safety practice and level of personal protective equipment use. In-service trainings and incentives for consistent practice of safety measures and PPE use could lead to lower accidents.

Research on Welding Operation and Safety Measures

2014 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 712-715
Author(s):  
Li Juan Wen
Keyword(s):  
Welding Process ◽  
Accident Risk ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Welding Operation ◽  
Safety First

In this paper, adhering to the "safety first, prevention first" concept, analyze the reason for the accident risk may occur during welding operations, and puts forward the safety prevention measures. To ensure the welding process of construction personnel and property safety.

Assessment of the level of adherence of health care workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu state university teaching hospital Enugu, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 001-006
Author(s):  
Onoh Linus UM
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
State University ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Enugu State

Aim: To assess the level of adherence of healthcare workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria. Method: A total of 350 health care workers of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH) were used for the cross-sectional study which took place between February and August 2019. Basic information like age, sex and duration of work in the hospital were taken. Finally their levels of adherence to the safety measures provided in the hospital were assessed. Results: The greatest number of respondents fell within the age group 26-35years (40.9%) and the gender distribution showed that 54.6% were female workers. The greatest proportion of the respondents indicated that they have worked in the hospital between 1 -5years (31.1%). Lastly assessment of adherence indicated 67.2% comply with the instructions on hand-washing.70.3% use gloves when making physical contact with patients. 50.6% claimed that they have an occupational/environmental health policy in their departments. 80.9% use bleach/disinfectants to clean up spillages and other hazardous substances. 52% have knowledge of segregation of healthcare waste. 60.3% engage in routine screening for blood-borne diseases e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B and C. while 57.3% said that they undergo routine medical checkup annually. Conclusion: Most of the respondents were young adults 26-35years who had worked in the hospital between 1- 5years due to the fact that the teaching hospital had not been in existence for too long. Majority of the respondents (>50% in each case) have a good adherence to the safety measures i.e. hand-washing, use of disinfectants, segregation of hospital waste, and routine screening and regular medical checkups. This situation has been responsible for the maintenance of a very low rate of hospital transmitted (Nosocomial) infections in ESUT Teaching Hospital Enugu.

scholarly journals Development of the human resource audit system elements based on international experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 28-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliia Bieliaieva
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Audit System ◽  
Current State ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
A Company

Іntroductіon. Enterprises regularly review business processes and procedures to increase productivity and efficiency. Sіmіlar to a fіnancіal or tax audіt, an HR audіt gіves busіnesses the opportunіty to іdentіfy any potentіal human resources complіance іssues and establіsh HR best practіces. The results of the economіc actіvіty of the enterprіse depend on the effіcіency of the use of lіvіng labor – the most crucіal factor of productіon, because the enterprіse was created by the person hіmself to meet hіs needs. Aіm and tasks. The purpose of the research іs to develop the human resource audіt system elements based on іnternatіonal experіence. Results. The problem of controllіng the formal aspects of staffіng and documentatіon arіses because of the rapіd tendency for human resources to be prіorіtіzed by any structure that carrіes out socіo-economіc actіvіtіes. Such control іs the prerogatіve of the state and іs punіtіve and admіnіstratіve іn nature. Lack of staff documentatіon, vіolatіon of labor law leads to fіnancіal losses due to fіnes and also loss of reputatіon of the busіness structures. At the same tіme, buіldіng a human resources management system for busіnesses іs an іndіvіdual rіght and aіms to maxіmіze theіr employees potentіal. There exist some steps for conductіng HR audіt: determіne the scope; create a plan; gather and analyze the data; utіlіze benchmarks and best practіces; make a report; present it to senіor leadershіp; create an actіon plan; evaluate the progress. Elements of a personnel audit system are proposed: monіtor employee record keepіng processes; revіew organіzatіon’s recruіtment and selectіon processes; examіne workplace safety measures and rіsk management practіces; evaluate traіnіng and employee development opportunіtіes; revіew employee relatіons processes; compіle compensatіon and benefіts іnformatіon. Conclusіons. An HR audіt іs a tool to help a company  determіne that the HR department іs functіonіng the way іt іs supposed to and coverіng everythіng іt іs chartered to cover. Іt іs a specіfіc look at the current state of HR and whether іts specіfіc practіces are protectіng the company and provіdіng for the best use of theіr ‘human’ resources.

Mobilizing for Mass Action

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Lorence
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Mass Action ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Workplace Accidents ◽  
Safety Committee ◽  
Ultimate Result ◽  
The Right ◽  
Ongoing Concern

This chapter examines how an important feature of Jencks' encouragement of rank-and-file engagement in union affairs was an ongoing concern about both worker health issues and workplace safety measures. Under Jencks' leadership the union persistently called upon mining management to meet their obligations to men who had “given their entire working lives” to the corporations. Even more important to Jencks and Local 890 leaders was the issue of safety on the job. He and his comrades were scrupulous about monitoring workplace accidents, which occurred all too frequently. The ultimate result was the creation of a permanent Union Safety Committee, which insisted on the right to have their voices heard and the inclusion of Jencks in all future inspection tours.

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