Occupational Safety and Health Literacy

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OSHliteracy or Occupational Safety and Health Literacy is the degree to which individuals have the functional capacity to access, process and utilize the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) information and services needed to eliminate or reduce risk. [1]

Contents

Overview

OSH is an acronym for Occupational Safety and Health. It is sometimes also referred to as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), Environment Safety & Health (EHS) as well as other terms. [1] [2]

OSH uses a unique system of different shapes, colors, symbols and specialized terminology to communicate information to prevent accidents. [3] This communication system has been standardized by the International Standards Organization (ISO). [3]

Examples

In addition to traditional workplaces, OSH literacy can be found in public places too. ISO Standard 7010:2019 prescribes safety signs for the purposes of accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information and emergency evacuation. It is applicable to all locations where safety issues related to people need to be addressed. [4] Examples can also be observed at home on the packaging of everyday domestic goods, for instance: cleaning chemicals and beauty products, food and electrical appliances. [5] [6]

Effects of lack of OSH literacy and high-risk groups

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that about 2.3 million women and men around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year; this corresponds to over 6000 deaths every single day. Worldwide, there are around 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually. The ILO updates these estimates at intervals, and the updates indicate an increase of accidents and ill health. [7]

Data analysis shows that poor communications and human factors are a root-causal factor in a significantly high number of all recorded OSH incidents globally. [8]

The highest-risk group are those within their first twelve months of employment. Some estimates suggest that more than 50% of all recorded global OSH incidents occur within this demographic. Particularly vulnerable groups include young workers, [9] older workers (aged over 45), [10] migrant workers, [11] persons with both visible and invisible disabilities, [12] people with low or no (illiterate) levels of literacy, [13] individuals who are speakers of English as a second language (English is the lingua-franca of OSH and the global workplace). [14]

There is no data currently available to show the amounts of deaths, diseases, injuries and losses which occur in the home or in public places due to a lack of OSH literacy skills. Nevertheless, the available statistical-data suggests that there is a strong correlation between the amount of people entering into new workplaces with little or no OSH literacy skills and the occurrence of OSH related incidents within the first twelve months of their employment. [15] [16] [17] [18]

OSH literacy in education

For many years international organizations involved with OSH education such as: ENETOSH, [19] OSH-Africa, [20] OSHA-EU, [21] OSHA [22] and IOSH [23] have been advocating for OSH to be integrated into mainstreamed education.

These institutions highlight the life-long socio-economic and health benefits that this can bring and that it can act as a foundation for life-long learning. It can be taught as a stand-alone subject or integrated into other subjects. Whole school approaches are also advocated. [24] [25]

Research has shown that that pre-teaching basic OSH literacy skills greatly increases a person’s ability to understand, engage and comply with OSH information and training. Thus, decreasing the likelihood that they will have an accident due to poor communications. In addition, teaching OSH literacy in the safety of a classroom allows for individuals, who may have difficulty with this literacy, to be identified early so that remedial actions can be taken to safeguard them and others from potential harm and losses. Additionally, those who have gained OSH literacy skills can cascade their new skills and knowledge within their families and communities. [26]

OSH literacy is linked to the United Nations’ Social Development Goals (UN SDGs) 2030, in particular SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 16 & 17. [27]

In June 2023, The International Standards Organization released Part one (1) of its much anticipated Plain Language Standard (ISO 24495-1:2023 - Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines). The ISO Plain Language Standard provides all industry sectors with a set of guidelines and strategies to make information more accessible and effective. The ISO are also responsible for the design and application of OSH signage.

In June 2022, the International Labor Conference added Safety and Health to its Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. As a result of this decision, all ILO member states will be required to commit to respect and promote the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment, whether or not they have ratified the relevant conventions. [28]

Related Research Articles

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a large regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established the agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to "assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance." The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of whistleblower statutes and regulations. OSHA's workplace safety inspections have been shown to reduce injury rates and injury costs without adverse effects on employment, sales, credit ratings, or firm survival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Work accident</span> Occurrence during work that leads to physical or mental harm

A work accident, workplace accident, occupational accident, or accident at work is a "discrete occurrence in the course of work" leading to physical or mental occupational injury. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 337 million accidents happen on the job each year, resulting, together with occupational diseases, in more than 2.3 million deaths annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational injury</span> Bodily damage resulting from working

An occupational injury is bodily damage resulting from working. The most common organs involved are the spine, hands, the head, lungs, eyes, skeleton, and skin. Occupational injuries can result from exposure to occupational hazards, such as temperature, noise, insect or animal bites, blood-borne pathogens, aerosols, hazardous chemicals, radiation, and occupational burnout.

Construction site safety is an aspect of construction-related activities concerned with protecting construction site workers and others from death, injury, disease or other health-related risks. Construction is an often hazardous, predominantly land-based activity where site workers may be exposed to various risks, some of which remain unrecognized. Site risks can include working at height, moving machinery and materials, power tools and electrical equipment, hazardous substances, plus the effects of excessive noise, dust and vibration. The leading causes of construction site fatalities are falls, electrocutions, crush injuries, and caught-between injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational hygiene</span> Management of workplace health hazards

Occupational hygiene is the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation (ARECC) of protection from risks associated with exposures to hazards in, or arising from, the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well-being of workers and members of the community. These hazards or stressors are typically divided into the categories biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial. The risk of a health effect from a given stressor is a function of the hazard multiplied by the exposure to the individual or group. For chemicals, the hazard can be understood by the dose response profile most often based on toxicological studies or models. Occupational hygienists work closely with toxicologists for understanding chemical hazards, physicists for physical hazards, and physicians and microbiologists for biological hazards. Environmental and occupational hygienists are considered experts in exposure science and exposure risk management. Depending on an individual's type of job, a hygienist will apply their exposure science expertise for the protection of workers, consumers and/or communities.

An occupational disease or industrial disease is any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of work or occupational activity. It is an aspect of occupational safety and health. An occupational disease is typically identified when it is shown that it is more prevalent in a given body of workers than in the general population, or in other worker populations. The first such disease to be recognised, squamous-cell carcinoma of the scrotum, was identified in chimney sweep boys by Sir Percival Pott in 1775. Occupational hazards that are of a traumatic nature are not considered to be occupational diseases.

Environment, health and safety (EHS) is the set that studies and implements the practical aspects of protecting the environment and maintaining health and safety at occupation. In simple terms it is what organizations must do to make sure that their activities do not cause harm to anyone. Commonly, quality - quality assurance and quality control - is adjoined to form the company division known as HSQE.

Workers' Memorial Day, also known as International Workers' Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured, takes place annually around the world on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured, or made unwell by their work. In Canada, it is commemorated as the National Day of Mourning.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is a global organisation for health and safety professionals, based in the UK.

American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), formerly known as American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) until June 2018, is a global organization of more than 37,000 occupational safety and health (OSH) professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on work-related OSH concerns in all industries, government and education. The Society's members use risk-based approaches to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is an annual celebration that happens during the first full week of May. The aim of the event is to raise awareness about occupational safety, health, and the environment (OSH&E) in order to avoid workplace injuries and illnesses.

Workplace health surveillance or occupational health surveillance (U.S.) is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of exposure and health data on groups of workers. The Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health at its 12th Session in 1995 defined an occupational health surveillance system as "a system which includes a functional capacity for data collection, analysis and dissemination linked to occupational health programmes".

A safety management system (SMS) is designed to manage safety risk in the workplace, occupational safety being defined as the reduction of risk to a level that is as low as is reasonably practicable (ALARP) to prevent people getting hurt.

An occupational fatality is a death that occurs while a person is at work or performing work related tasks. Occupational fatalities are also commonly called "occupational deaths" or "work-related deaths/fatalities" and can occur in any industry or occupation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Physical hazard</span> Hazard due to a physical agent

A physical hazard is an agent, factor or circumstance that can cause harm with contact. They can be classified as type of occupational hazard or environmental hazard. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress, vibration hazards, and noise hazards. Engineering controls are often used to mitigate physical hazards.

ANSI Z535 is an American standard that sets forth a system for presenting safety and accident prevention information. It corresponds to the international ISO 3864 standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational safety and health</span> Field concerned with the safety, health and welfare of people at work

Occupational safety and health (OSH) or occupational health and safety (OHS), also known simply as occupational health or occupational safety, is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work. These terms also refer to the goals of this field, so their use in the sense of this article was originally an abbreviation of occupational safety and health program/department etc. OSH is related to the fields of occupational medicine and occupational hygiene.

A psychosocial hazard or work stressor is any occupational hazard related to the way work is designed, organized and managed, as well as the economic and social contexts of work. Unlike the other three categories of occupational hazard, they do not arise from a physical substance, object, or hazardous energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workplace robotics safety</span>

Workplace robotics safety is an aspect of occupational safety and health when robots are used in the workplace. This includes traditional industrial robots as well as emerging technologies such as drone aircraft and wearable robotic exoskeletons. Types of accidents include collisions, crushing, and injuries from mechanical parts. Hazard controls include physical barriers, good work practices, and proper maintenance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workplace impact of artificial intelligence</span> Impact of artificial intelligence on workers

The impact of artificial intelligence on workers includes both applications to improve worker safety and health, and potential hazards that must be controlled.

References

  1. 1 2 Ehmann, Anna T.; Ög, Eylem; Rieger, Monika A.; Siegel, Achim (2021-09-22). "Work-Related Health Literacy: A Scoping Review to Clarify the Concept". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (19): 9945. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18199945 . ISSN   1661-7827. PMC   8507793 . PMID   34639262.
  2. ↑ "About IOSH". IOSH. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  3. 1 2 "International Standard for safety signs updated". ISO. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. ↑ "ISO 7010:2011". ISO. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  5. ↑ "ISO/IEC Guide 41:2018(en)". www.iso.org. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  6. ↑ Nordin, Shahrina Md; Rizal, Ammar Redza Ahmad; Rashid, Rafidah Abd; Che Omar, Rohayu; Priyadi, Unggul (January 2021). "Incidents and Disaster Avoidance: The Role of Communication Management and the Organizational Communication Climate in High-Risk Environments". Sustainability. 13 (18): 10138. doi: 10.3390/su131810138 . ISSN   2071-1050.
  7. ↑ "World Statistic". www.ilo.org. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  8. ↑ "Occupational Hazards in Organisations: A study on the Role of Communication in Stress Prevention".
  9. ↑ "Young Worker Safety and Health | NIOSH | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  10. ↑ Peng, Lu; Chan, Alan H. S. (2019-02-01). "A meta-analysis of the relationship between ageing and occupational safety and health". Safety Science. 112: 162–172. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2018.10.030. ISSN   0925-7535. S2CID   116142338.
  11. ↑ "Protecting Migrant Workers" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "StackPath". www.ehstoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  13. ↑ "Language, literacy and their role in workplace accidents".
  14. ↑ De Jesus-Rivas, Mayra; Conlon, Helen Acree; Burns, Candace (January 2016). "The Impact of Language and Culture Diversity in Occupational Safety". Workplace Health & Safety. 64 (1): 24–27. doi:10.1177/2165079915607872. ISSN   2165-0799. PMID   26800895. S2CID   12476103.
  15. ↑ Rauscher, Kimberly J.; Myers, Douglas J. (2014). "Occupational health literacy and work-related injury among U.S. adolescents". International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion. 21 (1): 81–89. doi:10.1080/17457300.2013.792288. ISSN   1745-7319. PMID   23679156. S2CID   3016134.
  16. ↑ "What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: Literacy's Impact on Workplace Health and Safety". LINCS | Adult Education and Literacy | U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  17. ↑ Ehmann, Anna T.; Ög, Eylem; Rieger, Monika A.; Siegel, Achim (January 2021). "Work-Related Health Literacy: A Scoping Review to Clarify the Concept". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (19): 9945. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18199945 . ISSN   1660-4601. PMC   8507793 . PMID   34639262.
  18. ↑ Rauscher, Kimberly J.; Myers, Douglas J. (2014-03-01). "Occupational health literacy and work-related injury among US adolescents". International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion. 21 (1): 81–89. doi:10.1080/17457300.2013.792288. ISSN   1745-7300. PMID   23679156. S2CID   3016134.
  19. ↑ "Who We Are - Enetosh". enetosh.net. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  20. ↑ "OSHAfrica Scientific Committee | OSHAfrica" . Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Mainstreaming OSH into education | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA". osha.europa.eu. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  22. ↑ "Young Workers - Parents and Educators Can Keep Young Workers Safe | Occupational Safety and Health Administration". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  23. ↑ "IOSH OSH education policy position". IOSH. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  24. ↑ "Occupational safety and health and education: a whole school approach" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "Occupational safety and health and education: a whole-school approach | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA". osha.europa.eu. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  26. ↑ "OSH Literacy – A life skill" . Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  27. ↑ "THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development". sdgs.un.org. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  28. ↑ "International Labour Conference adds safety and health to Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work". www.ilo.org. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
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