MGMT-6088 Employee Relations

LAWERENCE KINLIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
MGMT-6088

CASE STUDY 5

Submitted By:

Jijoy Varghese
Sreehari Devakumar
Mathew Baby

Submitted to:
Prof. Carolina Andrade

Submission Date: 01/04/2023

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MGMT-6088 Employee Relations

MGMT6088 Case Study 5

Question 1

1. Physical hazards: Physical hazards are well-known risks that involve energy transfer from an
object, such as injury from a falling box. They include contact with machinery, working at heights,
slipping, and other factors such as vibration, atmospheric conditions, noise, temperature,
electricity, and radiation, which can be harmful in some circumstances (Palmer, C, 2022).
2. Ergonomic hazards: Ergonomic hazards are caused by the way work is designed and how it
interacts with the human body. They include factors such as the layout of workstations, repetitive
tasks, and manual handling of materials. Although they are classified as physical hazards, it is
important to distinguish them in hazard assessment because they may be less obvious than other
types of physical hazards (Palmer, C, 2022).
3. Chemical hazards: Chemical hazards can damage human tissue, disrupt physiological functions,
cause burns and disorientation in the short term, and illnesses like cancer or lead poisoning in the
long term. Even typically safe substances can become hazardous under certain conditions, such as
excessive amounts of oxygen (Palmer, C, 2022).
4. Biological hazards: Living things that can harm human health, such as bacteria, fungi, or molds,
as well as things made from living things, like tissue, blood, or feces, are considered biological
hazards (Palmer, C, 2022).
5. Psycho-social hazards: A combination of psychological, social & environmental factors that may
affect people's safety and well-being are referred to as psycho-social hazards. These risks include
problems like stress, mental exhaustion, and mental health disorders in addition to harassment and
violence (Palmer, C, 2022).

Question 2.

Risk assessment is a prevalent method used to prioritize hazards, with risk referring to the chance of
injury or illness resulting from a hazard. This process involves evaluating the probability,
consequences, and exposure associated with the hazard to determine the likelihood of harm:

 Probability - Probability refers to the likelihood of an incident occurring due to the hazard.

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 Consequences - Consequences pertain to the severity of injury or illness resulting from the
incident.
 Exposure - Exposure relates to the frequency or regularity with which workers come into
contact with the hazard.
After quantification, a mathematical formula can be constructed to determine the level of risk.
The formula for the risk = Probability*Consequences*Exposure
Measuring the risk level of a hazard enables the comparison of risks among various hazards. A higher
final number indicates a greater level of risk associated with the hazard (Palmer, C, 2022).

Question 3.

 Elimination - The elimination approach aims to eliminate hazards from the workplace entirely.
For example, relocating work that involves working at a height to ground level removes the risk
of falling. This control method is most effectively implemented during the design phase,
preventing the introduction of the hazard into the workplace altogether (Palmer, C, 2022).
 Substitution - Substitution refers to the act of replacing a hazardous object or process with a non-
hazardous alternative. For example, replacing chemical-based solvents with plant oil-based ones.
While similar to the elimination approach, substitution may not entirely remove the hazard and
may introduce new risks (Palmer, C, 2022).
 Engineering - Engineering controls involve altering the workplace, equipment, materials, or work
procedures to decrease workers' exposure to hazards. Examples of engineering controls include
installing machinery guards or ventilation systems. While these measures may isolate workers
from hazards, they do not entirely eliminate them. Nonetheless, their effectiveness may be
compromised by incomplete installation, lack of maintenance, or human error (Palmer, C, 2022).
 Administrative controls - Administrative controls refer to adjustments made to work procedures,
guidelines, training, or regulations with the goal of minimizing workers' exposure to hazards.
These measures can include policies that restrict workers' contact with hazardous materials,
mandatory training, and permit systems. Unlike other control measures, administrative controls do
not directly manage the hazard, but rather aim to lessen exposure by implementing rules and
processes (Palmer, C, 2022).
 Personal protective equipment (PPE) - Workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE),
which includes items like helmets, goggles, gloves, and fall protection systems, to safeguard

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against hazards. PPE, however, is considered the least effective means of control, as it does not
limit workers' exposure to hazards and depends on their proper usage.. The effectiveness of PPE
depends on workers consistently wearing it, but this can be problematic if workers choose not to
wear it or are pressured not to (Palmer, C, 2022).

Question 4.

The steps that should implement to prevent the situation from recurring are:
 Control at the source - Control at the source is a type of control that targets the hazard at its
origin, preventing it from entering the workplace by using methods such as elimination,
substitution, or certain engineering controls (Palmer, C, 2022).
 Control along the path - Control along the path is a type of control that address the hazard
between its source and the worker. This control prevents the hazard from reaching the worker and
can be achieved through certain engineering controls such as machine guards and local ventilation
(Palmer, C, 2022).
 Control at the worker - The concept of controlling worker safety involves implementing
measures to prevent or lessen the impact of workplace hazards on employees, once they have been
exposed. This can be achieved through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and
administrative controls, which require the active involvement of workers in their implementation
and upkeep (Palmer, C, 2022).

Conclusion

Andrew James, fifteen, an employee of Interlake Paving in Stony Mountain perished beneath a mound
of hot asphalt because his employer failed to detect, recognize, and handle occupational dangers.
Although the likelihood of decreasing life-threatening dangers to people on the job is reduced when
using the HRAC strategy, it greatly decreases the hazards. Considering the circumstances of the
company's working environment, it should have implemented the HRAC-recommended rules and
regulations to manage the dangers, which may have saved Andrew's life.

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References

Palmer, C. (2022, June 14). Human Resources for Operations Managers. Retrieved from
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/hrforoperationsmanagers/

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