Why some workplace hazards and conditions are more readily recognized than other is?
Arguably, employers in every company are responsible in protecting workers against safety and health hazards at the workplace. On the other hand, it is the right of the employees to be acquainted with potential hazards, as well as refusing to work in those places that are dangerous. Probably, the good is that most of these workplace hazards are preventable if proper precautions are taken into consideration. In some workplace, conditions and hazards can easily be recognized than others. Actually, an unparalleled workplace should always free of hazardous conditions (Barry, 2006).
Perhaps, identification and recognitions of hazards in the workplace is intensely critical. However, its recognitions vary because of diverse reasons. In most cases, hazards in the workplace have different consequential triggering mechanism. The mechanisms lead to variation in hazard recognition (Storey, 2001). Additionally, there are various types of hazard, namely physical, chemical, and electrical/mechanical. Hence, the characteristics of these hazards are remarkably different. For example, the physical hazards are visible, making them readily recognizable as compared to chemical and electrical hazards (Barry, 2006).
The level of information on hazards varies in the workplace. For example, individuals in the workplace may be well informed on the physical hazards, and has no information on the chemical hazards. In this case, recognizing physical hazards will be much easier because of already established knowledge and information. Additionally, recognition of hazards differs because of ignorance (Barry, 2006). Some hazards in the workplace are viewed to be less dangerous than others. Hence, people will ignore the lesser hazardous things in the work place. The government too establishes varying levels of laws and regulations controlling hazards in the workplace. Therefore, some hazards are overlooked by the law; making it difficult to realize its presence (Storey, 2001).
Discuss the issues of women in the workplace and workplace pollution.
In the workplace, women are more affected in various ways, especially on safety and health issues. Their health and safety is mainly ignored or comprised at the expense of work. For example, companies fail to accommodate pregnant women. Working in a lab full of lead oxide is extremely dangerous for pregnant women. In cases, which women have complained to the concern stakeholder, none of them is helpful. They include the ministers, managers, as well as the doctors (Karsten, 2006).
Studies show that children who are born to women who were exposed to pollutants in the workplace during pregnancy are at a high risk of being asthmatic. Many harmful substances in the workplace go through the placenta thus affecting the innocent unborn baby. In addition, chemical hazards lead to diabetes, birth defects, babies with low-weight, childhood morbidity, as well as various health issues (Kenen, 1993).
Certainly, situations where women pull out of their jobs due to safety and health issues, they are unpaid. Those who receive salaries are underpaid as compared to men (Storey, 2001). Hence, they are unable to support met their medical costs in treating illness caused by pollution. Women still face various forms of discrimination namely, financial and managerial (Karsten, 2006). Many challenges facing women in the workplace revolve around gender. Men are dominating in departments.
In the 21st century, women are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, women are forced to cooperate with their managers and, superiors to receive promotions as well as, other workplace benefits. Within the family setup, women are expected to balance between career and family, which they rarely attain due to many barriers (Karsten, 2006).
Conclusively, the government, doctors, and all stakeholders in the workplace should work together in establishing a favorable working environment where masculinity/femininity is not an issue. Modernity and equity should be put into consideration. New strategies and policies should be implemented to address issue such as double burden, discrimination, as well as pollution. Finally, women issues should equally be taken seriously the way men issues are addressed.
References
Barry, L. (2006). Occupational and Environmental Health: Recognizing and Preventing. London:
Wiley.
Karsten, F. (2006). Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Workplace. California: Greenwood.
Kenen, R. (1993). Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Storey, R. (2001). Activism and the Making of Occupational Health and Safety Law in Ontario.
Ontario: Cornell.
