31 Jan Accidents on the job do

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 1 discussion

Introduce yourself to your classmates with your name, location, current employment, and what you hope to gain from taking this course.

The Olympics happen every few years. You watch the athletes perform and marvel at their power, endurance, and finesse. How do they do it? With very few exceptions, they start early in life and set long-range goals. Their parents and coaches develop a plan, which often includes proper nutrition, physical and mental training, and competition. Their coaches analyze their performance in competitions and make revisions to their training plans when necessary to improve performance. They repeat this step again and again until they reach the big goal of standing on the podium at the medal ceremony. Think about that. They made a plan, executed it, checked their progress, and improved incrementally. Sound familiar?

Discuss how you can you use the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology to accomplish a long-range goal you have set for yourself (e.g., completing your degree, finding a new job, losing weight). Do you believe this methodology is a benefit or hindrance? Explain your rationale.

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 2 discussion

Assess how safety is managed at your current (or former) employer. Would you classify your company’s approach to safety management as traditional (safety programs), or is it taking a systems approach? Which do you think is better, the traditional or systems approach? Give one reason why. Discuss a particular parts of each plan and which part you think will work, and what do you not like or you think will not work.

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 3 discussion

The development of a written safety policy is one way to demonstrate management’s attitude toward the safety of its employees. Part of a successful policy is making sure that all employees are aware of it. Discuss ways in which a company’s safety policy can be communicated to employees. How do you believe management can integrate the policy into the employee’s daily work activities?

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 4 discussion

Many organizations use safety as a management metric and offer incentives and recognition programs to promote safety in the workplace. For example, employers may offer prizes or bonuses if no injuries have been reported in the past 90 days. Although safety incentives may be well-intentioned, do you feel they really achieve the intended outcome, which is injury reduction? Please justify your response. In addition, what do you see as Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) view regarding the use of incentive programs?

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 5 discussion

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires a written certification that a hazard assessment has been performed. However, there is no requirement for the hazard assessment itself to be in writing. Most professionals would suggest that written documentation of the actual assessment, although not literally required, would be a best practice.

As a safety professional, please address your thoughts on written documentation of the hazard assessment. If you were audited by OSHA, how would you prove the assessment has been performed if you did not have anything in writing? Do you believe justification of the hazard assessment proves the point?

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 6 discussion

Look at the hazard controls utilized in your workplace. Reflect on some specific examples of engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) in your workplace. Do you believe they are effective controls or does more need to be done? If you are not currently employed, your response can be based on a previous employer. Your response should be based on a current or previous employer. If you do not have a current or previous employer, research a company to respond about their hazard controls.

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 7 discussion

Accidents on the job do not just happen. They are caused generally by the actions or inactions of one or more people. Imagine an employee falls down a flight of stairs and breaks his or her leg at your workplace. What could you formulate to be the basic, direct, and indirect cause of the incident? Was the floor wet or stairs dimly lit? What would you recommend as corrective actions in response to this incident? How do you believe this will help to prevent future accidents?

MOS 5525 Integrated Safety Management Systems

Unit 8 discussion

Please discuss the metrics your company uses to measure your facilities’ safety performance. Also, discuss whether you feel lagging or leading indicators are better measures of safety performance. Why?