Question

OSHA; • OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor. • OSHA’s responsibility is to improve worker safety and health protection.

OSHA’s MISSION; • The mission of OSHA is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

HAZARD COMMUNICATION; • Employers must have a written, complete hazard communication program that includes information on: 1- Container labeling, 2- Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and 3- Worker training. 4- The training must include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals and how workers can protect themselves.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT; • OSHA issues workplace health and safety regulations. Regarding PPE, employers must: – Provide appropriate PPE for employees – Ensure that PPE is disposed or reusable PPE is cleaned, laundered, repaired and stored after use • OSHA also specifies circumstances for which PPE is indicated • CDC recommends when, what and how to use PPE.

THE REALITY OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE; According to The Society for Human Resources Management: 1- Workplace Violence is a result of domestic issues 70% of the time. 2- Annual cost to businesses is as high as $3 billion. 3- Rated “High” as a security problem in 94% of workplaces.

OSHA categorizes certain levels of workplace violence:

Type I Workplace Violence – Stranger Violence; The offender has no legitimate relationship to the workplace or victim and enters the workplace to commit a criminal act (robbery, theft, truck or aircraft hi jacking). Usual victims are late night retail, restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, taxi drivers etc. 60% of all Workplace Violence Homicides are Type I.

Type II Workplace Violence – Customer / Client The person who commits the act of workplace violence is either the recipient or object of service provided by the affected workplace or victim (current or former client, patient, customer, welfare or social service recipient, criminal suspect or prisoner. 30% of all Work Place Violence is Type II.

Type III Workplace Violence – Employee Violence Term “employee” can include temporaries and sub contractors located within the affected workplace. Also included are domestic violence incidents which “travel” into the workplace. Type III incidents involve an act of WPV by current or former employee, manager or executive. Incidents may be committed by a current or former lover, spouse, significant other, relative or friend or some other person who has a dispute with an employee in the workplace. 10% of all Work Place Violence is Type III.

Question; suppose an employee comes to you and reports they have a restraining order out on their spouse or partner. What, as HR, do you do?

Answer 1

As an HR I will have a discussion with the management executives and make provisions for allowing extra monitoring of such an employee. Whereas, if such a provision is not possible then I will make it clear to the other employees in the organization not to discriminate and engage with such an employee. Furthermore, a monthly assessment will be conducted on the individual in order to find out the performance of the employee.

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