Health, Wellness, and Safe Workplace

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key concepts related to workplace health, safety, and wellness.

Due Diligence

The requirement for employers to take every reasonable precaution to prevent workplace accidents, incidents, or illness.

Compliance Processes

Methods used by regulators to enforce safety regulations, including workplace inspections, investigations of accidents, and issuing fines.

Management Responsibilities

Duties of management to ensure compliance with health and safety laws, maintain safety policies, and provide a hazard-free environment.

Employee Rights

Entitlements including the right to know about hazards, the right to participate in safety programs, and the right to refuse unsafe work.

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

A system that provides information about hazardous materials in the workplace, including handling, storage, and disposal.

Eustress

Positive stress that is usually accompanied by excitement and boosts productivity.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Injuries caused by repetitive strain, often linked to improper ergonomic practices.

Psychosocial Hazards

Stressors in the workplace that can impact mental health, such as unclear job responsibilities and interpersonal conflicts.

Occupational Illnesses

Health conditions or disorders caused due to working conditions, such as exposures to harmful chemicals or stress.

Safety Training

Mandatory education for employees on safety rules, employer and worker responsibilities, and emergency procedures.

Supervisor responsibilities

Advising employees about potential workplace hazards, ensuring workers user safety equipment and devices. Provide written instructions and comply with due diligence protocols.

Health and safety committee

Supporting safety collaboration, inspections, work refusals, investigation of accidents and respond to concerns. Committees include union, management and employee representatives.

Workers compensation

No fault insurance, employers pay all premiums. Provide workers with compensation when they are unable to work.

Workers compensation formula

Premium owning = industry rating x employer experience rating x size of payroll.

Causes of hazard

Human factors, environmental factors and situational factors

Analytical tree

Positive tree shows the proper way of doing a job. Fault tree shows things that can go wrong.

Risk assessments consider

Frequency, severity, and probability.

Methods of controlling hazards include

Elimination - the best

Engineering controls - guards shields

Administrators control - proper processes instruction and training

Personal protective equipment- masks gloves etc

Safety performance

= ability + motivation + opportunity

Safety awareness

Visible reminders company booklets and safety messages. Most importance - safety crew talks - regular communication is best!

Employee commitment to safety increased when they are involved in

Setting safety standards, designing development of special safety training programs, participating in safety training, establishing safety incentives and rewards, investigating accidents.

Accident investigation

Is required by law.

Standard safety tracking formulas include

Frequency track record= # injuries x 200,00/ total hours worked

Severity track record = days lost to injuries x200,000/ total hours worked

sound pressure level meter

measures gross noise levels in decibels

octave brand analyser

measures noise frequency range

dosimeter

measure employee exposure as a percentage of work time

audiometer

measures employee hearing sensitivity

Types of vibration

segmental vibration - affecting only a particular body part and whole body vibration

vibration evaluated based on

frequency, intensity and duration

Exposure to heat can occur through

conduction - touching. convection - standing close, and radiation

Exposure to radiation

ionizing - e rats,gamma rays. non ionizing - ultraviolet, visible, microwave, radio..etc.

Pictogram Examples

Cumulative Traume Disorders - repetitive strains injuries (RPI

caused by repeated motion or awkward positions over time, affecting hinge joints. Pre existing conditions are amplified. Ergonomics is a good preventative measure. 

workplace violence: Type I

random - usually associated with a criminal act.

workplace violence: Type II

committed by clients or customers

workplace violence: Type III

committee by co-workers

workplace violence: Type IV

committed by a family member

psychosocial hazards - include stressors

acute stress (short term) chronic stress (long term) daily (regular) catastrophic (significant event)

Employee assistance programs (EAPs)

helping employees with personal and work-related problems. Access to specialists. strictly confidential. 

Substance abuse

employers liable for ensuring safe work environment, acts of intoxicated employee, duty to accommodate.

Disability Management

a proactive approach to managing employee health issues, facilitating early return to work and accommodations. (Temp part timeworn, rehabilitation programs, physical aids, holding job open.. etc)

Return to work programs

light duties, gradual return to work, work trial, supported work, sheltered work. These programs assist employees in transitioning back to work after illness or injury by providing modified duties and support.