WHE721S

1. Employee Wellness, Health & Ergonomics Vacation School 20th August 2018 Donald Hlahla WHE721S

2. Upon completion of this course you should be able to: • discuss methods for creatively addressing a company’s specific needs in Wellness, health and ergonomics • design and implement plans to create and maintain wellness, health and ergonomics in the workplace • evaluate and apply different techniques and programmes aimed at accident prevention • analyse the different types of occupational injuries and illnesses • manage different wellness, health and ergonomics issues in the workplace including security, violence and environmental issues • explain how each facet of developing a wellness, health and ergonomics programme works • analyse the impact of and institute prevention programmes related to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the workplace • evaluate the critical issues in organisational ergonomics including management commitment, employee participation, hazard recognition, loss control, and return to work policies Learning Outcomes

3. Benefits of a Healthy and Safe Workforce: • Develop positive attitude in employees • Higher productivity • Increased efficiency and quality • Reduced medical and insurance costs • Reduce time lost through accidents or illness • Lower workers’ compensation rates and payments • Improved reputation as an employer of choice Strategic Importance of Employee Wellness, Health and Ergonomics in the Workplace

4. Accidents, Injury and Disease • Back injuries are most prevalent • Exposure to Chemicals • Undetected effects, possible long-term risk • Work related Illnesses • Mental Health/depression • Psychological symptoms can affect productivity and life away from work • Deaths and Violence at work • Job dissatisfaction • Economic Costs • Business failure See p15-Study Guide Consequences of an Unhealthy and Unsafe Work Environment

5. Workplace Safety and Health in an Integrated HRM System

6. Global Consideration • There are substantial differences in national standards regarding workplace safety and health. • Global Organizations • International Labour Organization (ILO) • World Health Organization (WHO) • Strengthen international and national policies. • Develop practices for improving employee wellness and health at work. • Promote employee wellness and health at work through technical assistance/support. • Develop human resources for the field of employee wellness (occupational health). • Establish relevant and useful registration and data systems. • Raise public awareness. • Strengthen research on employee wellness/occupational health. The External Environment

7. The Labour Act Chapter 4 • Regulations relating to Health and Safety in Namibia • National HIV and AIDS Policy • Draft/Sample HIV and AIDS Workplace programmes. Employee Wellness Health and Ergonomics Legislation

8. Categories of Workplace accidents • Employee error • Equipment insufficiency • Procedure insufficiency • Factors that cause workplace accidents • Behavior • Working conditions • Tools and technology available to the job (see working conditions) Workplace Safety and Health Hazards/Risk Assessment

9. Characteristics that make people more susceptible to accidents: • Emotionally “low” • Stressed • Over enthusiasm • Resulting errors • Misjudgment • Distracting others • Using defective equipment Individual Qualities: The Unsafe Employee

10. Disease-Causing Hazards: • Arsenic, asbestos, benzene, bichloromethylether • Coal dust, coke-oven emissions, cotton dust • Lead, radiation, vinyl chloride • Workers most likely to be exposed: • Chemical and oil refinery workers, miners, textile workers, construction workers • Steelworkers, lead smelters • Medical technicians, painters, shoemakers, plastics industry workers Occupational Diseases

11. Cancer • Liver, lung, brain, kidney • Lung/Respiratory-Bronchitis • Blood diseases-Leukimia/anemia • Stress • Central nervous system damage • Reproductive Disorders • Skin Diseases • Repetitive Motion Disorders • Lower back disorders Diseases Linked to Workplace Hazards

12. Design a safe work environment • Guards, handrails • Safety goggles, helmets • Warning lights • Self-correcting mechanisms • Automatic shutoffs • Ergonomics • Change job environment to match capabilities limitations of employees Accident Prevention

13. Health and Safety Committees • At the department level, do implementation and administration • At the organization level, formulate policies • Behavior Modification • Small percentage of workforce responsible for majority of health insurance claims • Measure, communicate, monitor, and reinforce desired behavior • Workplace programmes • Assessing Intervention Effectiveness Accident Prevention (cont’d)

14. Reducing the Incidence of Diseases • Record keeping • Monitoring exposure • Genetic screening Disease Prevention

15. Safety Motivation and Knowledge Safety Awareness Programs Enforcement of Safety Rules Accident Investigations and Records Elements in Creating a Safe Work Environment Creating a Safe Work Environment

16. Promoting Safety Awareness • The Key Role of the Supervisor • Communicating the need to work safely. • Proactive Safety Training Program • First aid, defensive driving, accident prevention techniques, hazardous materials, and emergency procedures. • Information Technology and Safety Awareness and Training Creating a Safe Work Environment (cont’d)

17. Provide notice and training for employees. • Conduct pre-injury hazard assessment. • Involve employees. • File injury reports. • Plan and execute. • Evaluate and assess the ergonomics program. Key Elements for a Successful Ergonomics Program

18. Alternative Approaches Wellness Programs Focus on Nutrition Health Services Building Better Employee Wellness & Health

19. Ergonomics discipline areas

20. Please refer to the Study Guide, Prescribed and recommended Texts for details. • dhlahla@gmail.com Thank You and best wishes