Recording
and Reporting
Recognition
An injury or illness occurs that is attributable to an event or process
within the work environment may be an occupational illness or injury.
Reporting
Report exposure to workplace hazards or injury immediately to the supervisor
and the person responsible for employee health and safety.
Recording
A permanent written record of the date, event and symptoms should be
made. The recording form should be the OSHA 101 form or a Massachusetts
Department of Industrial Accident injury form. (Always keep a copy of
any written report for your records.)
OSHA
Recordable Incidents
Incidents that result in medical treatment, loss of consciousness, lost
time from work or a job change are OSHA recordable.
Many incidents
are not OSHA recordable but still require a written report to establish
that an incident occurred.
An Occupational
Injury
is any injury which results from a work accident or from a single instantaneous
exposure in the work environment.
An Occupational
Illness
is any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from
an occupational injury, caused by exposure to environmental factors
associated with employment. It includes acute and chronic illnesses
or diseases which may be caused by inhalation, absorption, ingestion,
direct contact or repeated trauma.
Recognizing
Workplace Hazards
Types
Biological:
Bloodborne Pathogens - HIV, Hepatitis B, C, D, E Airborne Pathogens
- TB, surgical smoke
Chemical:
Disinfectants, sterilizing agents, cleansers, housekeeping products,
latex proteins, lab chemicals and chemotherapeutic agents.
Mechanical:
Pinch points and sharp injuries.
Physical:
Noise, radiation, lasers, heat and cold.
Psychological:
Shiftwork, workplace violence, job stress, downsizing.
Ergonomic:
Lifting, bending, pushing, pulling and static pressure.
Measuring
Workplace Hazards
Dose
What quantity of a hazardous substance is the worker exposed to?
Duration/Frequency
How often and for what amount of time is the person exposed?
Toxicity
How toxic is the hazardous substance?
Personal
Characteristics
What is the sensitivity, age, sex and health of the person working with
the hazardous substance?
Contact
vs. Exposure
Are adequate hazard control measures in place to prevent exposure?
Contact
with hazardous materials occurs when the product is used in a manner
that protects the health and the safety of the worker - adequate hazards
control measures are in place.
Exposure
occurs when the use of a material or product results in an adverse health
effect. Hazard controls are not in place or are not followed.
Controlling
Workplace Hazards
Methods
to control hazards include:
An example
of biological hazard control includes handwashing, and universal precautions.
Sources
of Information in the Workplace
- Department
Supervisors
- Safety
Directors
- Safety
Committees
- Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
- Product
Information
- Professional
Journals
Worker
Protection
OSHA
General Duty Clause:
The Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970, Section 5 (a) (1) states,
employers must furnish to employees, employment and a place of employment
free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause
death or serious harm to employees. Employers must comply with occupational
safety and health standards issued under the Act.
Policies/Protocols
Policies are formulated by the employer, often with input from the workers
directly involved with using that policy in their work. It is the employers
responsibility to review, update and promulgate policies as they are
created, as well as to provide the training, safety equipment, information
required by the policy. It is the employees responsibility to work according
to the policy and to notify appropriate supervisory personnel when the
policy cannot be followed or applied. They can change your job or working
conditions and are thus a mandatory subject of bargaining. It is the
employees right to know about workplace hazards to have appropriate
training, equipment and resources to do their jobs safely. Employees
covered by collective bargaining agreements should notify their union
committee as soon as policy changes are talked about or become known.
Americans
with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General
Laws, Chapter 151 B (MGL-151B) 51 B) are both written to protect an
individual with disability who meets the skill, experience, education
and other job related requirements of a position held or desired, and
who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential
functions of the job. Discrimination against the handicapped is prohibited
in all aspects of the employment process including application, testing,
hiring, assignments, evaluation, disciplinary actions, training, promotion,
medical examinations, lay-off/recall, termination, compensation, leaves
of absence, and benefits among others. Reasonable accommodation is required
unless it would impose undue hardship on the employer. The Federal law
is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),
800.669.3362 or 617.565.3200. The Massachusetts counterpart is enforced
by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), 617.727.3990.
Workers’
Compensation
Workers’ Compensation is an insurance system that subsidizes part of
your wages if you are injured on the job or contract a work-related
illness. It is a no-fault system, which means that you do not have to
prove negligence to collect wage and medical benefits. However, the
burden is on you to prove that your disability is work-related. You
must file a first report of injury as soon as you are aware of being
injured, whether or not you are able to continue working. Since the
regulations concerning Workers’ Compensation are complex and subject
to change, you may consider hiring an attorney familiar with this area
of the law to represent you through the various phases. Information
is available to you from the Massachusetts Department of Industrial
Accident. Regional offices are in Boston, 617.727.4900, Lawrence, 978.683.6420
Fall River, 508.676.3406 Worcester, 508.753.2072 Springfield, 413.784.1133
and for the hearing impaired, 800.224.6196.
Reporting
Hazardous Conditions to OSHA
Employees may report uncorrected workplace hazards to OSHA (See government
listings U.S. Department of Labor in telephone directory). Notify the
union also. OSHA will investigate claims of unsafe conditions and require
correction. Penalties may be assessed against the employer.
Whistleblower
Protection
The Federal Government provides whistleblower protection to those employed
by U.S. governmental facilities and in those businesses with federal
government contracts. Some states have comparable laws and regulations.
In Massachusetts, call the Attorney General’s Office, 617.727.2200.
Resources
Federal
Agencies
- U.S.
Department of Labor
- Occupational
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
- U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services
- Centers
for Disease Control (CDC)
- National
Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- U.S.
Federal Information Number 800.688.9889
Federal, State and Local Agencies
Consult the government listings in the telephone directory under:
•
Labor
• Health
• Environment Protection
• Consumer Protection
In Massachusetts
- Department
of Public Health:
- 617.624.6000
or 617.624.5621
- Department
of Labor and Occupational Safety:
- Department
of Environmental Protection:
- Massachusetts
Nurses Association:
- Massachusetts
Committee on Occupational Safety
- MassCOSH:
617.524.6686
- Western
MassCOSH: 413.731.0760
