Chapter 1. Occupational Health and Safety Info
Employee
Assistance Program/ EAP
Employee assistance programs are
programs employers put into place to help workers and their immediate families
in dealing with personal, emotional, mental health and substance abuse programs
for three main reasons:
1.) To make themselves look like
a benevolent company which cares about its workers.
2.) To save money by keeping
workers who they have a vested interest in after having trained them plus all
the experience these workers have.
3.) To protect themselves from
possible negligence or unsafe workplace lawsuits.
An employee assistance program,
EAP, also known as an employee and family assistance program, EFAP, is geared
to help employees with personal problems that affect their work performance by
providing a confidential counselling service both for employees who want to use
it on their own and employers who order
problem employees to use it.
EAPs are simply part of the
business model that strives to take care of workers with the presumption that
healthy, well-adjusted workers are more productive and relaxed in the
workplace.
People can have problems both at
work or in their personal lives. The
cause is irrelevant. When it affects
work, it's the company's business. EAPs
were started to help with the resolution of problems that are affecting work,
whatever their cause.
Some EAPs go beyond the mental
health counselling basics to encompass services to help employees in their
lives such as retirement planning, career counselling for laid off workers,
healthy lifestyle education, nutrition education, financial planning, etc.
The way EAPs work in general is
that the telephone number is made available to all workers by either having it
posted on the wall or included with the employee's paycheck or something like
that.
If a worker feels like he needs
service, he calls the confidential number and is connected to a referral agent,
generally a health professional, human resources employee or a counsellor.
This person defines the exact
nature of the problem and decides how to proceed from there, where to refer the
person.
Big companies might have their
own counsellors on staff. Smaller
companies contract with a mental health counselling company who do their Eap
work for them.
They say the record is
confidential meaning your boss or the personnel department of your company will
not get it but I tend to be suspicious of this claim since it's the company
who's paying all the bills.
Beyond the self-referral route,
a supervisor can give an informal referral where he recommends the worker
enroll in the Eap to try to shape up or a formal referral where the employee is
put on disciplinary action and participation in the Eap is part of the
requirement.
The Eap information may or may
not appear in the individual's personnel file depending on the company and the
situation.
The main services offered by
EAPs are as follows:
Personal problems.
Relationship issues.
Family issues.
Substance abuse.
Stress.
Balance in life.
Depression, anxiety, mental
illness.
Anger/ violence management.
Harassment.
Grief due to loss.
Financial problems.
Legal problems.
What makes an EAP successful is
the fact that it's there to help employees and not to spy on them or certify
them as crazy and not suitable for work at the company. Everything is supposedly kept confidential.
The quality of Eap providers
varies immensely. As a company, do your
homework before hiring an Eap provider.
Find somebody with proven experience who handles virtually the entire
spectrum of services generally defined by the concept of Eaps.
What type of fee structure would
you use; a monthly flat fee regardless of usage, a flat fee per session or
regular billing for every service rendered?
The way it usually works is that
the company publicizes their EAP so that all employees know it's there if they
want to go on their own voluntarily without telling the boss about it or the
boss might talk to an employee, tell them they look down, not like their usual
selves and suggest (not order because that's illegal) that they might consider
talking to a counselor at the EAP.
Before you formally order
someone to the EAP, their work and/ or demeanor has to be slipping real bad and
you should talk to your lawyer before you do it because by referring an
employee, you are defining him as disabled therefore protected by the ADA and
you are also potentially invading his privacy so tread lighty. Offer a recommendation but don't order visits
to the EAP.
EAPs have the power to give
employees leave of absences from work while being treated.
ncadi.samhsa.gov/workplace/fedagencies/employee_assistance_programs.aspx
eapweb.com/stress.html, employee
assistance resources center
southerneap.com, southern
employee assistance programs, inc.
act-eap.com/default.asp
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/cs/work/a/blesap030929.htm, how effective are current eaps?
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/od/tx_ky/qt/ky206.htm, henderson, ky.
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/od/tx_ky/qt/ky279.htm, owensboro, ky.
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/od/tx_ny/qt/ny495.htm, new york.
alcoholism. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/od/tx_wa/qt/wa246.htm, washington.
allbusiness.com
alternativefutures.com/s_employeeprograms.shtm
alternativepaths.com
amazon.com/alcoholism-drug-abuse-workplace-assistance/dp/0275936767
bemw-careers.com/eap.html
caregiverresourcecenter.com/employee_assistance_programs
careplussolutions.com/request_information.asp
cascadecenter.com
compsych.com
davcorp.com.au/content.asp?newsid=93858
dhrm.virginia.gov/genlbenefits/employeeassistanceprogram
clemson.edu/humanres/pandp/s/sempserv.htm
dhugoandassoc.com
doer.state.mn.us/eap/eap.htm
eannc.com
eap-association.com
eapconsultants.com
eap.fsu.edu/guidelines.html
eapintl.com
eapquotes.com/employee-assistance-programs.htm
eapsystems.com
ebs-eap.com
employeeassistance.biz-resources.com
employee-assistance-programs.com
employee.program.alltheservices.com
employeeresourcesystems.com
eap.com
eapassn.org
eaplist.com, list of active,
nationwide, employee assistance programs.
eapquotes.com, get quotes from
the nations leading employee assistance programs.
eap-sap.com, employee assistance
program directory.
ensuringsolutions.org
familiesfirst.org/employeeassistance_contact.php
fee-eap.com
feinet.com/services/employeeassistance.asp
fgiworldmembers.com,
800-268-5211, employee assistance program.
find-a-therapist.com/forms/eap.htm
foh.dhhs.gov/public/whatwedo/eap/eap.asp
genesiseap.com
grantassociates.com,
chattanooga, tn.
health.org/workplace/fedagencies/employee_assistance_programs
healthresourcescorp.com
hhrc.com
hnweb.com, help net.
hrshopper.com
hr.state.tx.us/advisory/eap.html
humandev.com
ieap.com
k3c.org/empa.htm
kcwell.com/eap.html
maccsite.com/employee_assistance_program.htm
magellanhealth.com/products/eap/
managementhelp.org/emp_well/eap_prog.htm
mentalhealth. dead website, try
dotdash.com, thebalance.com and thoughtco.com
/od/corporatemntlhlth/index.html
minesandassociates.com, eap
provider, colorado.
mobilementalhealth.com/employee_assistance.htm
neas.com
newoppeap.com
norfolkgrp.com/international/plans/assistance.
opm.gov/ehs/eappage.asp
opm.gov/ehs/eappage.htm
peopleresourceseap.com,
missouri.
reachline.com
regions.com/careers/employee_assistance.shtml
rti.org/listpubs.cfm
stueckerandassoc.com,
woman-owned international provider of employee assistance programs.
fcsok.org/how_we_help/corp_assist_programs.html
shrm.org
theemployeeassistanceprogram.com
trinityworkcare.com/employee.htm
umn.edu/ohr/eap
upperbay.org/employee_assistance_programs.htm
uteap.org
trinitashospital.org/departments_and_services.htm
trinityworkcare.com/employee.htm
uschamber.com/sb/business/p05/p05_5275.asp
uthouston.edu/worklife/eap.html
worklifeinstitute.com/employee.html
Employee Assistance Professional
Assn.
4601 N. Fairfax Dr.
#1001
Arlington, Va 22203
703-522-6272
eap-association.com
Employee Assistance Quarterly
Magazine
Haworth Press
10 Alice St.
Binghamton, Ny 13904-1580
800-342-9678
haworth.com
Employee Assistance Society of
North America
435 N. Michigan Ave.
#1717
Chicago, Il 60611-4067
312-644-0828
Fax: 312-644-8557
Hazeldon Educational Materials
Box 176
Center City, Mn 55012
800-462-7700
Performance Resource Press
#F
1270 Rankin Dr.
Troy, Mi 48083
810-588-7733
EAP Digest, employee assistance
programs.
Mine Safety Info
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/coal_mine_safety_and_health_act_of_1969
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mine_safety_and_health_act_of_1977
fmshrc.gov, mine safety.
outside.cdc.gov/ciss/welcome.html,
mining safety and health research.
Industrial
Disease Info
The term "industrial
disease" has two meanings:
1.) It's a legitimate form of
disease caused in the workplace usually by the presence of toxic chemicals
which hurts people who work in their presence over time.
2.) It's a general term for the
effects of the modern world on people in general with all the toxins,
chemicals, noise, light, etc. we're exposed to routinely everyday.
accidentclaimaid.com/industrialdisease.php
accidentclaimcentre.co.uk/industrial_disease.html
accidentclaims.com/industrial_disease.html
advice4unow.com/asbestosnews/879/industrial-disease-and-how-it-affects-workers/
answers.com/topic/industrial-disease
bt.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/cesium.asp
cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/formaldehyde
china-cancer-villages-industrial-pollution
claimingforindustrialdisease.com
claims4free.co.uk/claim/industrial_diseases.php
clearanswers.co.uk/industrial-diseases/industrial-disease-compensation-claims-index.htm
easyclaim.net/industrial_disease_claims.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/environmental_disease
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/industrial_disease
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/industrial_hygiene
first4lawyers.com/accident-at-work
first4lawyers.com/industrial-disease/
industrial-disease.co.uk
industrialdiseaselawyers.co.uk
injury-uk.co.uk/industrial-disease.html
legal-claim.co.uk/industrial_disease_claim.html
osha.gov
saferenvironment.wordpress.com
simpsonmillar.co.uk/services/disease_illness/industrial-disease-illness-compensation.aspx
work-accident.co.uk
workplaceclaim.co.uk/industrial-illness
Occupational
Medicine Info
aafp.org/online/en/home/aboutus/specialty/rpsolutions/eduguide/occupational.html
abdn.ac.uk/deom, the department
of environmental and occupational medicine.
acoem.org, american college of
occupational and environmental medicine.
afom.racp.edu.au, occupational
medicine in australasia.
anzsom.org.au, occupational
medicine australia and new zealand.
aoec.org, the association of
occupational and environmental clinics
bgfa.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/e,
research institute of occupational medicine.
carle.com/clinic/occmed/default.htm,
carle clinic association.
cobbmed.com, occupational
medicine and urgent care clinic, marietta, ga.
cobbmed.com, occupational
medicine and urgent care clinic, marietta, ga.
coeh.berkeley.edu, california
center for occupational and environmental health.
comoccmed.com, community
occupational medicine.
emedicine.com/pmr/occupational_medicine.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/occupational_medicine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/occupational_medicine_specialists_of_canada
facoccmed.ac.uk, faculty of
occupational medicine.
frhs.org/rehab_occmed.html,
faith regional health services, northeast nebraska.
iaff.org
icoh.org.sg, international
commission on occupational health.
imp.lodz.pl, nofer institute of
occupational medicine.
iom-world.org, institute of
occupational medicine.
iom-world.org, the institute of
occupational medicine.
joem.org, journal of
occupational and environmental medicine.
mc.duke.edu/oem, duke
occupational and environmental medicine.
med.yale.edu/intmed/occmed, yale
occupational and environmental medicine.
medbioworld.com/med/assocdb/occupational.html,
links to occupational medicine and environmental medicine.
neoma.com, neurology,
environmental and occupational medicine associates.
occmed.oupjournals.org
occmed.oxfordjournals.org,
occupational medicine journal.
occupationalmed.net
occupational-medicine.co.uk
occupationalmedicine.com
occupationalmedicine.net,
illinois occupational medicine practice.
occup-med.com, journal of
occupational medicine and toxicology.
oem.bmj.com, occupational and
environmental medicine journal.
oempress.com, occupational
medicine books.
opsf.org, occupational
physicians scholarship fund.
osha.gov
racp.edu.au/afom, australasian
faculty of occupational medicine.
rmlibrary.com/lib/medicine/occupationalmedicine.php
som.org.uk, the society of
occupational medicine.
uib.no/isf/guide/occu.htm,
occupational and environmental medicine.
utmb.edu/pmr/om.intmed.htm, the
combined occupational and internal medicine residency program.
Safety
at Work Info
Beyond trying to promote a
positive attitude through a workplace health program, every workplace has some
potential dangers in it within its physical structure. Common safety hazards are steps which people
can fall on, wet floors, dangerous machinery, fire hazard, noise pollution, air
quality, chemical toxicity, etc.
There are many safety laws in
place and a government inspector is required to come around every once awhile,
check the place out and pass or fail it based on a checklist of standards he or
she must follow.
The inspector is looking for
hazards, workplace conditions and practices that have the potential to cause
accidents, injuries, or death.
A definition of workplace safety
is to have a workplace that is free from the risk of accident, injury and
illness which is virtually impossible but nevertheless a worthy ideal to aspire
to.
When looking for hazard potential
in your workplace, ask the following question:
Where, how and why do accidents,
illnesses and injuries happen here?
The highest hazard risks in the
workplace are generally perceived to be the following:
working with electricity
working at heights
physically handling things like
boxes, containers, etc.
repetitive movements
lifting things
working near dangerous machinery
working near heavy equipment
working around toxic chemicals,
biological hazards (mold, fungi, viruses, germs, infectious diseases)
uncomfortable heat outdoors and
indoors
poor indoor air quality, poor
ventilation
using vibrating, hand-held tools
driving farm tractors
driving heavy vehicles,
especially on rough terrain
working near furnaces
working outdoors in cold weather
working in cold storage
commercial diving, underwater
welding
welding in general
working near x-ray and other
radiation machines
handling radioactive materials
uranium mining
working in power plants
working with lasers
working on radio and TV
transmission towers and wires
working around electro-magnetic
fields/ EMFs
working with machines and tools
cutting things
working with power tools
working in a high noise area
working around flammable and
combustible liquids like gasoline
The general safety rules of
common sense are as follows:
Use common sense. Don't take risks.
Wear protective equipment when
required.
Follow safety protocols.
Don'r run on stairways.
Be aware of the hazards of
whatever you're working with.
If your work requires an awkward
position, look for an alternative way to do it.
If you smell something burning
or a particularly offensive odor that seems to cause headaches, check it out.
When dealing with hazardous
chemicals, the main entry is through inhalation although it can get in through
the pores of the skin. Most toxic
chemicals cause damage over time. They
are breathed in bit by bit, day by day until they destroy the lungs and probably
the liver.
Once a toxic chemical is in the
body either through inhalation, skin contact or eating contaminated food, it
enters the bloodstream and from there travels through the entire body often
accumulating at any or all of the vital organs.
Some chemicals can kill quickly
if inhaled. If you're ever in a fire,
try to get away as quickly as possible to avoid breathing what could be toxc
fumes.
A common, controversial safety
hazard these days is poor indoor air quality also known as Sick Building
Syndrome which is difficult to prove because often there's no smoking gun.
The employees say they feel
sick, an inspector comes in, does his inspection and says the building is fine
but the employees still insist the building is making them sick so it's a very
subjective area as I discuss more extensively in another chapter in my medical
book.
If walls, ceilings, furniture
and other building materials get wet then don't dry properly, mold, fungi and
other substances could grow there that are both deadly and could result in the
building being condemned by health authorities.
Invisible gases like carbon
monoxide and vapour fumes can leak into the air causing problems.
A Job Safety Analysis/ JSA is
simply a thorough study of the specific activities of any job, identifying the
hazards of each step and coming up with preventive measures for them.
Safety
Equipment/ Safety Gear/ Safety Products
The following sell a mixture of
security, first aid and occupational safety products.
Safety Management Magazine
24 Rope Ferry Rd.
Waterford, Ct 06386
bbpnews.com
safetyequipment.org, international
safety equipment association seinet.org, safety equipment institute, a private,
non-profit organization established to administer non-governmental, third-party
certification programs to test and certify a broad range of safety and
protective products. safetyresources.com
discountsafetygear.com
masterytech.com, mastery
technologies
kamindustrial.com, safety
products
kinecor.com, safety products
canada
omarksafety.com, safety products
online
indiamart.com/saboocotspin,
leather safety gloves
conney.com, conney safety
products access-safety.net
cdalloz.com, personal safety
protection products.
childproofing.com
discountsafetygear.com, discount
safety gear. firensafety.com, fire and safety equipment. firstalert.com, smoke
alarms, etc.
gallsinc.com
genfire.com, fire extinguishers.
labsafety.com/store/safety_supplies
leonardsafety.com
mace.com, pepper spray for
security.
medtox.com
nesrentals.com, industrial and
construction equipment rentals, specializing in renting specialty and general
equipment to industrial and construction end-user nightgear.com
rescueresponse.com
safeguard-safety.com
safetycentral.org, safety
central.
safetycompany.com
safetyglassesinc.com
safetyonline.com
worksafebc.com/portals/smallbusiness/equipmentsafety.asp, small business safety
equipment, british columbia.
champion-america.com
800-521-7000
Enviro-Safety
800-637-6606
envirosafetyproducts.com
lifehammer.com
888-343-8688
Car safety equipment.
northernsafety.com
800-631-1246
prostop.com
800-Bollard
Seto Identification Products
800-243-6624
seton.com
survivalcenter.com
800-321-2900
Survival Technologies Group
6418 Us Hwy
41 North
#266
Apollo Beach, Fl 33572
800-525-2747
3m 800-3m-Helps
3m.com
tallysecurity.com
800-211-0615
Workplace
Health Info
These days, the concept of
workplace health goes hand in hand with the adage, "A healthy workplace
makes a happy, low-stress, productive workplace" and besides that, it's
the law with many health and safety regulations put out by the government
regarding the workplace.
Overall, healthy employees miss
less work for illness, are less prone to accidents, more able to manage stress
and are better workers so the strategy for many companies is to put a workplace
health program in place.
A workplace health program can
often be simply an offer to provide basic educational materials and seminars
about the basic health topics you will find in any health book, of which there
are hundreds at #611 to #613 at the library.
Some of these topics are:
Nutrition.
Exercise.
Sunlight andits effects.
Aging.
Winter blues.
Blood Pressure Screening.
Healthy eating/ cooking.
Inspired lifestyle.
Life of balance.
Relaxed lifestyle.
How to deal with stress.
Substance abuse.
Smoking.
Workplace safety.
Cooperation between people at
work.
Some companies get a deal on gym
memberships and offer it to employees for either a few bucks or for free. Some even have onsite fitness centers. Some offer free medical check-ups. Some offer incentives like monetary rewards
for weight loss or participation in community runs wearing the company t-shirt
and things like that.
A company generally invests in a
workplace health program because it feels that contributing to the health of
its employees results in a better morale among the workers therefore a more
productive workplace.
If it's a high-stress workplace,
something is needed to help the workers relax.
Lectures on workplace safety
could help prevent a few accidents here and there.
If you plan to start a workplace
health program, hold a meeting and ask the employees specifically what they
would like to see as part of it. You may
want to start on a small scale and add features as you go along.
In some Japanese corporations,
they conduct a half-hour compulsory exercise program at some point in the
day. Imagine something like that in
America. Overall, it's a good thing for
both employees and the company but there will be many naysayers saying it's not
part of their employment contract.
One company devotes every month
to a different major disease, having seminars and brings in educational
materials.
The success of a workplace
health program depends on promotion. Use
posters, handouts, seminars, demonstrations, counselling, book library, videos,
website, etc.
Workplace
Health Websites
Try #658.382 at the library.
awhp.org, association for
worksite health promotion online.
bessaworkplacehealth.com
business.com, workplace safety.
cdc.gov/workplace
cnn.com/health/9811/29/medical.screening,
doggonesafe.com/doggonesmartatwork.htm,
dog bite prevention education.
dol.gov/dol/topic/safety-health/
employers' use of medical tests
raising fairness concerns.
enwhp.org, prevention and health
promotion in europe.
erd.dli.state.mt.us/safety/sbhome.htm,
department of labor and industry, employment relations division, safety and
health bureau
hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/index_e.html,
environmental and workplace health.
healthetips.com
healthology.com/workplace-health
healthunit.org/workplace, why is
workplace health so important?
hse.gov.uk/workplacehealth
hw.ac.uk/cohs/wh.htm, an online
course for those involved in health and safety, workplace health promotion,
occupational health.
intelihealth.com, go to
workplace health.
livesafeworksmart.net
malehealthchannel.healthology.com/workplace-health/focusareasub.htm
me.tut.fi/~tuusital/ohslinks.html,
workplace safety.
medcor.com, workplace health
management specialists.
occusafe.org
occusafe.org/workplace_health_and_safety/1.php
osha.gov/publications/osha2209.pdf,
the osha handbook for small businesses, 800 321 osha.
professionalsafetyrx.com/lsfa.htm,
life saving first aid (lsfa) training, occupational health and industrial
first-aid suppliers, 800-272-3008.
whs.qld.gov.au/index.htm, workplace health and safety legislation.
salutogenic.se, book for success
in workplace health promotion.
sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/workplace_health/
sciencedaily.healthology.com/focus_index.asp?f=working_well
wearwork.co.uk, information and
resources for employers and employees wishing to promote health and safety in
the workplace.
whss.govt.nz, workplace health
and safety strategy.
worklifecollaboration.org,
create and promote supportive, healthy work-life environments for their
employees
workplace.calm.to, mental health
consultants with expertise in identifying and managing conflict and potential
violence in the workplace.
workplace.samhsa.gov, the
prevention and treatment of drug abuse in the workplace.
workplacehealth.ie, workplace
health partnership, ireland.
workplacehealth.mainegeneral.org
workplacehealthchallenge.com, workplace
health challenge defeating australia's overweight and obesity.
workplacehealthconnect.co.uk
workplacemedical.com,
professional on-site med. services
workplacemedical.com, workplace
medical products.
American Occupational Therapy
Assn.
4720 Montgomery Ln.
Pob 31220
Bethesda, Md 20824
800-Say-Aota
800-729-2682
800-377-8555, Tdd.
301-652-2682
Fax: 301-652-7711
aota.org
Professional organization of
therapists who help people rehabilitate back into regular life.
Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health and Safety CCOHS
905-570-8094
800-668-4284 Fax: 905-572-2206
clientservices@ccohs.ca
ccohs.ca
ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt
if you want to start a Workplace
Health Program, they have a good book called Wellness in the Workplace.
Clearinghouse for Occupational
Safety and Health Information
4676 Columbia Pkwy.
Cincinnati, Oh 45226
800-35-Niosh
513-533-8326
Fax: 513-533-8573
cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
National Resource Center On
Worksite Health Promotion
777 N. Capitol St. Ne #800
Washington, Dc 20002
202-408-9320
National Safety Council
1121 Spring Lake Dr.
Itasca, Il 60143-3201
800-621-7619
630-285-1121
Fax: 630-285-1315
nsc.org
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave. Nw
Washington, Dc 20210
202-219-8148
osha.gov
Society for Occupational and
Environmental Health
2914 M St. Nw
Washington, Dc 20007
202-965-6633
Work
Satisfaction Info
In surveys, workers identify the
feeling that they're helping people or making an impact as the greatest
determinant in work satisfaction. Next
comes a boss who appreciates them.
After that, it's all about how
they're treated. Most employees want a
window in the workplace that they can see out of.
They obviously want a relaxed,
stress-free, friendly workplace.
They don't like arrogant bosses
who belittle them in front of others.
Google has been showcased as a
pillar of work satisfaction with lines of people applying for jobs because of
the perks. They have gourmet restaurants
onsite with the food being all free.
They have a fitness center, games room, volleyball court, etc. their ideology is that happy workers make
great workers.
They have a dentist, doctor,
daycare and more.
If you give people the simple things like meaningful work and respect, most will like their jobs.
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