The Importance Of An Individual Health And Safety Within Their Work Environment?

The importance of an individual(s) health and safety within their work environment is of high concern as we progressed within the 21st century affecting individuals health and performances blamed against employers. This is portrayed as a reported number of over 4.1 million employees having job-related injuries and illnesses. Due to this reported number with official documentation in file within every work organization – the cost of job injuries and illnesses is enormous – estimated at $159 billion to $318 billion a year for direct and indirect costs of disabling injuries (AFL-CIO 2011) An individual is at a daily risk of their own health and safety within organizations due to decisions regarding employers level of responsibilities towards the Occupational Safety and Health Act, personal health conditions and decisions, & workplace environment conditions.

Discussion:

Supervisors and employers have a legal responsibility of reporting job-related injuries and illnesses by documenting detailed information to submit to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA 2013) Through OSHA, the legislation provides a comprehensive and specific health standards approved inspections to assure that standards are met, and to police organizations compliance to keep records of illnesses and injuries and to calculate accident ratios. One past discussion with former supervisor, Tiffany Reed, of Houston Galleria Abercrombie & Fitch, discussed with me the seriousness of reporting all “on the clock” injuries and illnesses. As mentioned, “On the clock” injuries referred to employees who encountered an injury while on the clock inside the store which have consisted of: falling from the extended staircase, slipping on wet floors, stabbings from...

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...mportant, particularly in the area of home or workplace air quality following flooding or even undetected water leaks.” (Thorlakson 2007)

Overall, the concern of an individual’s health and safety within organization are taken into considerations by all firms by recognizing the problems and potential negative long-term effects. As we progress forward within the 21st century, affected individual’s health and performances are blamed against employers. In order to minimize an employee’s risk towards their health and safety firms have: I) reviewed their legal responsibilities in reporting all job-related injuries to OSHA (in a timely manner.) - II) recognized stress as a health indicator and smoking as a decision made by individuals - III) recognized the possibility of creating long-term health problems upon employees by considering the workplace environment conditions.