Introduction
These days, people are spending an ample amount of time in the workplace. That is why it is very crucial to every business entity to ensure that their workplaces are protected and safe for the employees or workers in order for them to do their job well enough and partake in uplifting country's growing economy and be a globally competitive business district.
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 states that employers or companies in general, must provide a workplace that is free from renowned hazards that can likely be a source or reasons of harm for their employees (“Dealing with violence in the workplace.”). For areas in the workplace, concrete and substantial measures should be built in place and all workers or employees must become aware about the access control to the premises by visitors and where visitors or outsiders can and cannot go. CCTV cameras and other devices must be installed to where it is needed. Consequently, trainings and day to day guidance from supervisors and managers should also be put into practice so that workers are fully vigilant and always ready to act to their duties (Durham).
Business organizations in different countries vary from one another in terms of industry, assets and liabilities, number of employees and working environment but the security needed is actually the same whether they come in different shapes and sizes. They all have their own sets prerogatives to make improvements in the security plans of their organization and consider the interests of their workforce to be benefited at all times especially on programs regarding occupational health and safety.
In this regard, this paper will talk about the assessment on the subject of Occupational Health and Safety programs in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and China. This paper intends to compare and distinguish the similarities and differences of the Occupational Health and Safety programs of these five countries. The paper also has the intention or purpose of providing information for employers in different industries and their employees about their rights and responsibilities in the Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
United States of America
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA is an organizational bureau under the United States Department of Labor was instituted in 1971 by the Williams Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The mission of the OSHA is to make sure that the employees or workers in the United Sates are safe in terms of health and security in their respective work location.
Hence, private employers in different industries in the United States are required to follow the OSHA rules and regulations. The organization guarantees all the employees or workers that they are safe in their workplaces by means of OSHA policy enforcement. OSHA’s principle in workplace standards is the general duty standard that states each of employers should equip their employees with the apt employment and a suitable place of employment that is secured from predictable perils that might produce or give harmful effects to the employees’ welfare.
The place of work should be incorporated by health and safety courses of action that are necessary for the welfare of the employers and their employees. Violent behavior and unnecessary conduct in the workplace is one of the main concerns of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Moreover, health concerns also have an effect on the ability of workers to efficiently carry out work functions and duties. It is significant for employers to take the needed procedures to look after their employees so that the workplace will be from the harm.
Canada
The Government of Canada is very responsible in terms of Occupational safety and health of their citizens. By this, they protect the workplace for the employees by means of implementing legislation, safety programs and other services that are established to avert industrial accident and damages on the job. The Labor Program of the Canadian government is working responsively with employers to trim down these workplace hazards and health concerns giving information on how employers can improve health and safety undertakings for the betterment of the business and the wellbeing of every employee.
Furthermore, the Canada Labor Code also endows with a detailed and effectual disagreement resolution method which they call as the “internal complaint resolution process.” The employers and their employees ought to follow this method in order to determine how they can solve different occupational safety and health concerns in their place of work.
On the other hand, Health Canada coordinates with all the employers and different business entities to provide the “Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System” in monitoring the radiation exposure of every workplace in Canada. Also, Health Canada is offering employee assistance programs and occupational health care services.
Moreover in Ontario Canada, they created a new Occupational Health and Safety Prevention and Innovation Program that has an intention of improving the occupational health and safety of workers in their respective workplaces through the utilization of funding proposals alongside Incorporated Health and Safety Policies and Approaches of health committees in Ontario Canada (Occupational Health and Safety Prevention and Innovation Program).
Mexico
In Mexico, awareness about workplace health and safety is their way of achieving excellent business logic. Occupational safety and health of employees in their workplace will be an added advantage in minimizing health and safety risks. The workplace health and safety rules and regulations in Mexico are entirely federal in substance. The constitution gives the legislative body the authority to approve or grant laws, establish law making bodies and provide necessary measures about this specific concern about work-related protection.
On the other hand, the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare or STPS is a national organization in Mexico that builds and implements occupational safety and health policies in every workplace situated in Mexico (Mexico’s Industrial Health and Safety Regulations). The STPS is also tasked to generate methodical health and safety principles which include workplace inspections, penalty implementation, committee promotions, further researches and the dissemination of information to all employers and employees about the subject matter.
Meanwhile, the Federal Regulation of Mexican government for Occupational Health and Safety Regulation implemented a simplified regulatory structure for occupational health and safety targeting the fortification of employees’ health and welfare as well as the property rights of employers. A number of work-related programs are set to undergo trial periods before implementation in accordance to the parameters and directives of the Mexican government and law making bodies.
Europe
The European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health at Work or EU-OSHA of the European Union is a decentralized organizational agency established in 1994 that is responsible for the collection and analysis concerning the necessary information or ideas that can provide the needs of people who are working to be able to confer with them the ideals of a safe and healthy work.
EU-OSHA’s main function is to collect, analyze and propagate relative information with regards to occupational safety and health to all business entities and firms in the European region. More so, the EU-OSHA aims to conduct risk prevention programs that will provide assistance to some workplace risks as well as giving out awareness and appropriate practices in line with the provisions of occupational safety and health (Wright).
EU-OSHA, together with six national safety and health affiliates, is concurrently participating in different associations and conglomerates in which they have a main purpose of conveying the significance of health and safety practices in every workplace in Europe. In this regard, they are producing films which seek to give people knowledge about the topic rather than just providing entertainment. Through this project, they can extend this idea to more people because of the medium that they used which is the film and entertainment industry.
China
In the present time, China is facing economic reforms and swift development in terms of their small scale businesses and industries. However, because of this progress, a number of occupational safety and health hazards are materializing (Zhang et.al. 263-270). By renewing the conception of health and safety among the employers and their workers, these problems may be resolved.
Also, by means of putting into effect legislation services and programs, this will help improve the areas of occupational health and safety, including the administration and supervision of small and medium scale entities as well as conducting trainings for employers as well as their employees for them to become aware and mindful with regards to these issues in the workplace.
The continuous development of occupational health and safety in China is based on a federal plan for the development of the society and the economy as a whole. The national policies in the workplace and health care programs for the employees have been standardized in order to cope up with the growing business opportunities and integration in the whole country.
Moreover, the government of Beijing promulgates decisive measures for their occupational health and safety programs. At this time, they are fortifying the administering skills of their committees, promoting the use of research materials on the deterrence of occupational health disorders and propagating additional programs and colloquiums on occupational health and safety services.
Conclusion
Each of the five countries has different programs, policies and approaches with regards to Occupational Health and Safety concerns. In accordance to the rules, regulations of these countries, they create committees and agencies that will be accountable for the involvement of the government and the business entities in making sure that every employees or workers are given the right and suitable care from their employers as it is required by the laws of the land. Albeit having different practices, programs and organizations who are handling these occupational concerns regarding safety and health, these five countries have the same purpose or intention of providing exemplary or commendable benefit to every worker as it is very integral to protect the health and welfare of every individual who is working to help the country’s economy grow and progress.
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