Company Overview
You are required to develop an occupational health management plan for an identified occupational health hazard in one identified workplace.
OSH also known as Occupational Health and Safety is referred to the safety of the work place health. This field consists of the multi disciplines which address the safety, health and welfare of the individuals with respect to the firm or the workplace. The aim of the OSH is to include the safe and healthy atmosphere of work(B., Bauder , & Trauth , 2014). Occupational health and safety may also protect the members of the family, friends at work and other individuals who can get impacted by the atmosphere in the workplace. In terms of the law, staff can have a cliché law of duty for care taking of the employees with respect to the safety. The statute law may enforce other normal duties, creation of the government bodies with the power for the regulating workplace safety issues. This report emphasizes on the types of health and hazards which can occur in the firms. The biggest and the most common of all the hazards is work stress and anxiety. This stress can cause a single person too much of the problem as well as the atmosphere of the workplace can also become bad due to this. HCL, a company of India deals with the stress at the workplace as it is an IT company. A case study of this company’s example is also given.
HCL technologies are the next generation firm which is global and helps the other enterprises in reimagining their business for the age of digitization. The products of HCL and the services are usually built on 40 years of innovation with the help of the world-renowned management philosophy, tough culture of inventions and by taking risks. The focus on the customers is also relentless. HCL has the network with the R&D worldwide, innovation labs and centres of delivery. It has 120,000+ ideapreneurs who work in 39 countries across the world. It serves the enterprises who are leading in the industry which included 250 of the Fortune 500 and 650 of the Global 2000. The revenues which are generated on the whole is of $ 7.8 billion in the 12 months which ended on March 31st of this year.
Every type of job has targets and the staff tends to become stressed because of their work when he or she is given unachievable targets and when they are unable to manage the situation at the workplace. When there was, survey done in HCL with 100 people who were chosen randomly in the sampling method at HCL, the employees were asked as to how they feel about the work stress. 98 people out of those 100 revealed that they felt stressed at work both physically and emotionally.
Identification of Occupational Health Hazard
In the given sample of survey of 100 employees, 16% of the staff used to work for 4-6 hours a day, 32% for 6-8 hours and remaining 22% for 10-12 hours a day. When they were asked about over time they have to perform, 28% of the employees from the group of ages from 20-29. 54% of the employees said that often and 18% said that they worked overtime very seldom (HCL, 2018).
There are many cases when the bosses put the obligations on the staff when anyone is suspected of the usage of the drugs and alcohol at the workplace due to stress. Similarly, people are HCL are stressed at the workplace due to the targets given to them. When the employees were given with the survey mentioned above, there were so many people who came out and said that they were feeling stressed due to the work load they have. The reason which was out because of which this was the situation is:
Work atmosphere, Supervision, work targets, injustice socially, the culture of the company, fear of losing the job, operational style etc.(Kumari, Joshi, & Pandey, 2014).
For Example: Mark was stressed because of the nature of his work. He was a software engineer and had no work life balance. Because of this he was unable to focus on work and his performance. He started drinking to release his stress on weekends. Later, it became a habit and because of that he started taking so many leaves that his job came to a stake. The office culture became strict because of this one incident. All the other employees had to also bear with all this. This is how alcohol can impact a person’s life and his surroundings
Organizational Stress Hazards
There are several risks which are linked with the risks which are caused because of stress at work.
- Workplace Demands: Each person has different capacities and capabilities to work. They cannot be compared with other people. If this capacity goes beyond the ability of a person to work, this might cause stress to the person.
- Low control level: This factor refers to the influence in a person when he feels stressful due to not meeting the demands at the workplace.
- Overtime issues.
- If a person will not have clarity in the role of what exactly is to be done, then also stress can be caused.
- If there are unreasonable deadlines to be provided at the workplace then a person will always be able to work in panic and hence, stress develops.
- When a person works and performs nicely yet he is not recognized or rewarded, it leads to demotivation and at last stress.
- When the circumstances are demanding where a worker is put out of his comfort zone.
- No job security, no employee is going to work and perform better. He will always work under stress.
- When relations are edgy in the workplace, the ambience is not strong to work in.
Risks involved in when Stress Occurs
The risks that are involved in stress at work are:
- Practice of alcohol and drugs may become a habit because work related stress.
- Drug and alcohol use can obstruct the capabilities, judgement and concentration towards work even if it is used in a small amount(WHO, 2001). The social interactions are hampered due to the usage of this.
- The use of alcohol and also drugs can go ahead to the accidents in the workplace and might be harmful and damage the workplace equipment as well.
- It can cause absenteeism and worsening in the workplace relations.
- Reduced efficiency is one of the major concerns.
- It can lead to the problems of health which can be long term and mental, physical and social problems too.
- The behaviour is one of the major concerns as people who suffer have to suffer with critical behavioural changes in a person. Changing behaviour is really harmful.
- Diseases like cardiovascular attacks and Asthma can be caused.
- Headaches and Diabetes are the major problems that occur when a person is stressed.
- Premature Deaths can be a major problem.
Legal Requirement and Ethical Considerations
Below are the characteristics of ADA act of 1973 which links with the employees to reduce stress and drug and alcohol uses.
- Employers can ban Drug and alcohol in workplace without anyone concerning.
- Though, testing of the drugs is not any type of violation according to ADA policies.
- There are many nations that relate to severe policy in testing the use in the employees incessantly as they want the staff to be very positive and the work is not hampered(Bluff, 2015).
- There should always be reasonable time given from the company to the sufferers for the medical care or self-help programs so that the employee can again back to his feet.
- ADA is not for protecting the casual drug users. The act only covers those who are addicted to alcohol and drugs.
- Good communication should be motivated between managers and the staff. There are medical amenities laws by which many companies stands by.
- Relaxation and motivational Sessions must be prepared with business.
Steps to Minimize Stress at Work
There are few methods by which the health hazard can be reduced. They are:
- Healthy options should be provided by the firm so as to give the employee something better as because of stress they can opt for alcohol or junk food.
- There should be limitations between work and private life. Flexible hours should be given to the employees.
- Some recharging hours could be given to the employees so that they can take their time off from work for some time.
- Communication programs should be recognized so that every individual can communicate with their managers about their stress issues.
- EAP (Employee Assistance Program) gives support to the employees who feel that they are stressed(Foundation, 2014).
Stress management Program
Stress Management Program helps in minimizing the risks of the stress at the workplace.
The responsibilities of the employers include:
- Establishing health & safety program.
- Conducting a yearly re-examine of the staff.
- The manager should be trained for such performance.
- The work atmosphere should be safe and healthy ( Jilcha & Kitaw ).
The responsibilities of supervisors are:
- Health & safety course should be provided to the staff.
- Training must keep on going in the firm.
- To contribute in the supervisions.
- Exposure of the health hazard must be done right away.
- To stop the dangerous steps
Risks due to Stress
The responsibility of the workers is:
- Study and go after the procedure trained in trainings.
- To tell about the hazards to the higher authority.
- Individual active equipments for self security must be used.
- To contribute in the trainings and examinations ( WEINSTOCK & SLATIN, 2012)
Establishment of the action plan
The action which include in establishing of the health & safety plan includes
- The future aim and the goal of the plan must be known.
- Putting those goals and aims in action, there must be few methods which must be usable and used right away of implementing it.
- For implementing there must be few people who will be required. Therefore, the resources and the facilities must be already known.
Implementation of the plan
There must be several points that must be kept in mind when implementation of the plan is concerned.
- First, the assessment of employees is required.
- All the employees irrespective of the issues should be encouraged to become the part of the program.
- Strategies related to the firm must be applied such as group work creation etc.
- Several Approaches such as out of box thinking, support group setting etc must be referred and work on.
- Flexible working hours must be implemented and allowed in the firms.
- Self management relief from the stress must be encouraged.
This is vital after the implementation of the program. The steps are:
- The strategies that are put into practice are pleasing the company’s requirements or not must be evaluated.
- When the evaluation is done of the strategies, the effects must also be evaluated.
- The evolution of the program must be evaluated and monitored as to how it will be beneficial for the long term (Dpac, 2018).
Conclusion
The report emphasizes on the case of HCL, Bangalore, India where 100 people were surveyed out of which maximum number of people were stressed and were not able to perform nicely due to work load. Stress is the health hazard due to which people start taking alcohol as well sometimes just to release stress. The major part of the report covers the risks, causes of stress at work and the implementation program of stress management is done.
References
Jilcha , K., & Kitaw , D. A LITERATURE REVIEW ON GLOBAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PRACTICE & ACCIDENTS SEVERITY. International Journal for Quality Research , 10 (2), 279-310.
WEINSTOCK, D., & SLATIN, C. (2012). LEARNING TO TAKE ACTION: THE GOALS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING. NEW SOLUTIONS , 22 (3), 255-267.
Alli, B. O. (2008). FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from ilo.org: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/@publ/documents/publication/wcms_093550.pdf
Authority, P. P. (2017). OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALH MANAGEMENT PLAN. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from pilbaraports.com.au: https://www.pilbaraports.com.au/PilbaraPortsAuthority/media/Documents/Safety%20and%20Security/Occupational-Safety-and-Health-Management-Plan.pdf
B., J. S., B. K., & T. B. (2014). Reassessing Medical Emergency Preparedness in an office-BASF Hong Kong’s experience in 2012. Journal of Occupational Safety and Health , 11 (1), 1-4.
Bluff, E. (2015). The regulation of work health and safety. Industrial Law Journal , 36 (2), 163-87.
Diugwu. (2008). A framework to evaluate critically the health and safety strategies in supply chains in the UK. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from curve.coventry.ac.uk/: https://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/file/b45289ac-aa13-b64c-fb20-f155ed0de66b/1/diugwucomb.pdf
Dpac. (2018). Implementing a Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program. . Retrieved May 26, 2018, from dpac.tas.gov.au: https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/123855/Ministerial_Direction_23_Guidelines.pdf
Foundation, T. A. (2014). Effective workplace alcohol strategies . Retrieved May 26, 2018, from adf.org.au: https://adf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Effective-workplace-alcohol-strategies-Sheet.pdf
HCL. (2018). About US. Retrieved May 31, 2018, from Hcltech.com: https://www.hcltech.com/about-us
Kumari, G., Joshi, G., & Pandey, M. K. (2014). Job Stress in Software Companies: A Case Study of HCL Bangalore, India. Global Journal of Computer Science and Technology: C Software & Data Engineering , 14 (7).
Tuc. (2010). Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from Tuc.org.uk: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/drugsalcoholinworkplace.pdf
Ward, C. G. (2016). Lessons from recent cases involving breach of drug and alcohol policies. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from exology.com: https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b4d79b25-3a2a-48ba-9b39-124c586b7539
WHO. (2001). Occupational health A manual for primary health care workers. Retrieved May 26, 2018, from Who.int: https://www.who.int/occupational_health/regions/en/oehemhealthcareworkers.pd
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