Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health at CSU Widget Factory

by | Jul 15, 2024 | Nursing

As you are the new Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) manager for the CSU Widget Factory, your superior has asked you to review a prior year’s OSHA record, as well as William Smiths OSHA 301 form, and suggest improvements for a more thorough investigation. Lastly, you are to make recommendations for reducing workplace injuries based on your review of the past 12 months.
Part 1
Your boss has asked you to review the accident information for the CSU Widget Factory. He sent you the OSHA Forms 300 and 300A.Using the provided CSU Widget Factory OSHA 300A log, calculate the total recordable incidence rate (TRIR); the days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rate; the lost workday injury and illness rate (LWDII); and the severity rate (SR). Be sure to show your calculations in a Word document.
Part 2
Your boss wants more information on one of the accidents listed on the CSU Widget Factory OSHA 300 log. He has sent you the OSHA Form 301, Injury and Illness Incident Report, for the accident involving William Smith. Mr. Smith’s supervisor filled out the form, but it only includes basic information. To prepare to conduct a more thorough investigation, do the following:Develop a list of five questions to ask Mr. Smiths supervisor about the circumstances surrounding the incident. Explain the importance of each question you create.Select two theories of accident causation, and explain how you would use them to help in the accident investigation.
Part 3
As the new Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) manager for the CSU Widget Factory, you recently completed a study of the injuries entered on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 300 form over the past 12 months. Your findings revealed the following:
Eight employees were treated for various levels of heat strain during the summer months. Six were working indoors in the warehouse, and two were working outdoors doing grounds maintenance. All were first aid injuries.There were six forklift accidents that resulted in injuries:Three dropped loads struck nearby workers. All received first aid.One forklift flipped over going around a corner, ejecting the operator. The operator lost 10 days of work and was on restricted duty for 30 days.Two employees working in the warehouse aisles were struck by forklifts. Both were medical treatment injuries.Five electrical shocks were reported in the machine shop. All occurred during routine equipment maintenance. All were medical treatment injuries, but none resulted in days away from work.There were nine eye injuries in the machine shop. Five were foreign particles in the eye, and four were machine oil splashes. All were reported as first aid injuries.Six employees in the plating shop were treated for inhalation of solvent vapors. Two resulted in lost workdays, and the others were medical treatment injuries.To reduce workplace injuries, select two program areas from the analysis above that should receive immediate attention. Select two OSH programs from the following: Heat Stress, Powered Industrial Vehicles, Material Handling and Storage, Hazardous Energy Control (Lockout / Tagout), Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Respiratory Protection Program.
Complete the following:
Discuss why the specific OSH program area was selected.Explain how you would identify and assess the hazards related to this program area.
Discuss some possible hazard control measures that could be used to reduce risk.
Identify training requirements for the program area.Propose methods for ensuring employees comply with safety procedures.
Length: Your submission must be in APA Style and at least four pages in length, not counting title and reference pages.References: At least two reference sources must be used to support your discussion.

 

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health at CSU Widget Factory

Part 1: OSHA Record Review and Calculations

Upon reviewing the OSHA Forms 300 and 300A for the CSU Widget Factory, I calculated the following rates:

– Total Recordable Incidence Rate (TRIR): Number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees per year.
– Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate: Number of cases that involve days away from work, job transfer, or restriction per 100 full-time employees.
– Lost Workday Injury and Illness Rate (LWDII): Number of lost workday cases per 100 full-time employees.
– Severity Rate (SR): Number of lost workdays per 100 full-time employees.

The calculations will be presented in a Word document for further analysis.

Part 2: Accident Investigation Enhancements

To conduct a more thorough investigation into William Smith’s accident, I would develop a set of questions for Mr. Smith’s supervisor:

1. What specific tasks was Mr. Smith performing before the accident occurred? This question aims to identify the immediate activities leading to the incident.
2. Were there any safety procedures or protocols in place for the task Mr. Smith was performing? Understanding the existing safety measures can pinpoint potential gaps.
3. Did Mr. Smith receive adequate training for the task? Training adequacy is crucial in ensuring employees are equipped to handle tasks safely.
4. Were there any previous incidents or near misses related to the same task? Examining past occurrences can reveal recurring issues.
5. Have any changes been made to prevent a similar incident in the future? Learning about implemented changes can indicate proactive safety measures.

Regarding accident causation theories, I would utilize the Domino Theory to trace back the incident’s root causes systematically and the Human Factors Theory to explore how human actions and errors contributed to the accident.

Part 3: Workplace Injury Analysis and Recommendations

Based on the analysis of injuries over the past 12 months, two OSH program areas that require immediate attention are:

1. Powered Industrial Vehicles Program: This program area should be prioritized due to the high number of forklift accidents reported. Hazards related to forklift operations need thorough assessment.

– Hazard Identification: Conducting detailed risk assessments during forklift operations, focusing on factors leading to accidents.
– Hazard Controls: Implementing stricter maintenance schedules, providing training on safe operating procedures, and establishing designated traffic lanes.
– Training Requirements: Comprehensive training on forklift operation, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
– Safety Compliance: Regular audits, refresher training sessions, and disciplinary actions for non-compliance.

2. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Program: Given the various types of injuries reported across different areas like eye injuries in the machine shop and heat strain incidents, enhancing the PPE program is crucial.

– Hazard Identification: Identifying specific PPE needs for different work areas based on injury trends.
– Hazard Controls: Providing appropriate PPE such as safety glasses, face shields, heat-resistant gear, etc., and ensuring proper fit and usage.
– Training Requirements: Training sessions on PPE selection, usage, maintenance, and limitations.
– Safety Compliance: Regular checks for PPE availability, condition, and employee adherence through monitoring mechanisms.

By focusing on these OSH program areas with tailored hazard assessments, controls, training initiatives, and compliance monitoring, CSU Widget Factory can proactively mitigate workplace risks and enhance overall safety standards.

References:

– Reference 1: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
– Reference 2: Best Practices in Occupational Safety Programs literature.

 

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