Workplace Safety In conjunction with National Safety Month

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Workplace SafetyIn conjunction with National
Safety Month

• Washington Jefferson College
• Human Resources
• Fiscal 2006-2007

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Employee Safety
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Employee Safety

• Safe working conditions are of primary importance
  to the College.
• WJ makes every effort to comply with relevant
  federal and state occupational health and safety
  laws.
• Employees are expected to work diligently to
  maintain safe and healthful working conditions.
• Observe conscientiously all safety rules and
  regulations.

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Employee Safety Responsibilities

• Exercise maximum care and good judgment at all
  times to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Report to supervisors and seek first aid for all
  injuries.
• Report unsafe conditions, equipment, or practices
  to supervisory personnel or a safety committee
  member. Membership is as follows
• George Kissell, Safety Director - Protection
  Services - Committee Chairman
•     Donna Gruhalla, Office Specialist-
  Protection Services - Committee Secretary
•     Robert Dodge, Professor of History
•     Patricia Brletic, Professor of Chemistry
•     Dennis McMaster, Associate VP for Business
•     Katy Pelton, Resident Area Coordinator
•     Lisa Chilcote, Director of Human Resources

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Safety Tips

• See to your safety first!
• Walk confidently around campus.
• If you feel threatened, make noise and yell to
  draw attention.
• Know where the emergency phones are located on
  campus.
• If you think youre being followed, change
  direction and head for the nearest well-lit
  populated area.
• Lock your car doors and close your windows when
  leaving.

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Safety Tips

• Park in a well-lit area.
• Always look into the front back seats of your
  car before entering. Also look under your car
  when approaching it.
• Have your keys in hand ready to open the car
  door. Keys can be used as a weapon.
• Check your mirrors when driving. If you think
  youre being followed head to the nearest police
  department or well lit occupied area. If
  approached, keep your door locked, windows up.
  Honk your horn/flash your lights to attract
  attention. Call 911 if you have a phone.

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Safety Tips

• If you have car trouble and dont have a phone,
  do not accept help from a stranger. Remain in
  your vehicle, with your window up and doors
  locked. Only crack the window if approached and
  ask them to call the police for help. Remain in
  the vehicle until the police arrive.
• Be extremely cautious about stopping to render
  assistance in what appears to be an emergency
  situation.

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Safety Tips

• If you walk or jog, try to do it during the
  daylight hours and not alone.
• Pick a well-lit route.
• Carry a cell phone with you.
• Dont restrict your hearing when jogging.

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Ergonomics

• What is Ergonomics?
• The Science of adapting equipment, procedures and
  surroundings to people.
• Applying ergonomics assists in preventing
  injuries and improving efficiency.
• The science involves people, tasks and the
  environment.

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Ergonomics

• Why should I learn about ergonomics?
• Can make job safer by preventing injuries and
  illness.
• Can Make job easier by adjusting to your job.
• More pleasant by reducing physical and mental
  stress.

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Ergonomics

• Tasks it applies to
• Bending, lifting, pushing and pulling
• Finger and hand movements
• Twisting and squeezing
• Sitting and Standing
• Refer to Chaning-Bete Booklet for additional
  information.

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Workplace Violence
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Workplace Violence

• What is Workplace Violence?
• Any act of violence including threats, placing a
  person in fear, or intimidation, which occurs in
  a place of business or organization.
• Types of Workplace Violence
• Internal insider/employee of organization office
  causes harm/violence.
• External-outsider to organization causes
  harm/violence.
• Domestic-occurs when a family member, partner or
  ex-partner attempts to physically or
  psychologically dominate or harm the other.

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Workplace Violence

• Growth of Occupational Violence
• Virtually unheard of until the 1970s
• Has steadily increased
• Instances of workplace violence
• NIOSH (National Institute Occupational Safety
  Health)
• Homicide is the 2 cause of death in the
  workplace 1 for women
• 1 out of 4 employees was attacked, threatened or
  harassed at work in the last year
• Cost businesses over 4 billion dollars annually
  not including pain and suffering.

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Workplace Violence

• WJ is committed to the prevention of workplace
  violence.
• The College reaffirms the basic right of
  employees to a safe and humane working
  environment.

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Workplace Violence

• Types of Violence
• Homicide
• Hitting
• Shoving
• Pushing
• Kicking
• Sexual assaults
• Usually directed to an employee, supervisor or
  customer

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Workplace Violence

• Verbal Violence
• Threats
• Harassment
• Abuse
• Intimidation
• Often signals more serious violence to come

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Workplace Violence

• Possible Internal Causes of Workplace Violence
• Unstable economy
• Job layoffs
• Labor Management disputes
• Job stress
• Pressure for increased productivity
• Psychological instability
• Lack of individual responsibility
• Marital or family problems
• Alcohol/drug problems

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Workplace Violence Prevention

• Know the Warning Signs
• Direct threats
• Veiled threats
• Conditional threats

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Workplace Violence Prevention

• Other signs usually accompany a threat. A
  potentially violent person
• Is unusually argumentative
• Has a problem with authority figures
• Frequently blames others for his or her problems
• Displays marked changes in work patterns like
  tardiness or absenteeism
• Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs
• History of violence
• Explosive outbursts of anger or rage without
  provocation

• Resistance and over-reaction to changes in
  procedures
• Repeated violations of company policies
• Increase of unsolicited comments about firearms
  and other dangerous weapons
• Escalation of domestic problems

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Workplace Violence Prevention

• You can take steps to prevent workplace violence!
• Know the warning signs
• Report any violent or potentially violent
  behavior
• Learn to effectively deal with stress conflicts

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Prevention

• Conflict Resolution
• Conflicts can be discussed and diffused before
  harassing or abusive behavior develops.
• Several ways to solve conflicts
• Compromise
• Collaboration
• Avoidance

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Workplace Violence Prevention

• Keep in Mind..
• A person may not exhibit all of these signs
• Do not make hasty judgments
• Use common sense and avoid stereotyping

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College Practice

• Violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, and
  other disruptive behavior in our workplace will
  not be tolerated. This includes
• Written statements
• Gestures
• Expressions that communicate a direct or indirect
  threat of physical harm

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College Practice

• Enforcement
• Violations of the workplace violence policy will
  be met with the appropriate disciplinary action,
  up to and including dismissal from the College,
  removal from the premises, reporting to the civil
  authorities and criminal penalties.

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College Practice

• Reporting Procedures
• DO NOT ignore violent, threatening, harassing,
  intimidating, or other disruptive behavior.
• Employees are responsible for notifying the
  appropriate supervisor or Human Resources of any
  behavior witnessed, received or told that another
  person witnessed or received.

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College Practice

• Threats or assaults that require immediate
  attention by security or police should be
  reported to the security office at x6032 or to
  police at 911.
• Reports of incidents warranting confidentiality
  will be handled appropriately and information
  will be disclosed to others only on a
  need-to-know basis.

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Resources Available

• Immediate Supervisor
• Human Resources
• Safety Committee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Protection Services
• Safety Pointers
• Ergonomic Literature

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Summary

• Workplace violence can happen anywhere Be alert
  and know the signs of possible workplace
  violence.
• Report ANY violent or potentially violent
  behavior.
• Your safety on campus counts!

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Questions

• Feel free to ask

Questions???