Describe the business? What do they do?
The United Church Camps Incorporated (UCCI) is a religious organization ministry that aims to provide spiritual ministry to devotees and interested members . The organization has two locations: the Pilgrim Center which is located at Green Lake, and the Moon Beach which is located at the northern part of Wisconsin. As specifically noted, the mission of the organization is to “love God, one another, and the earth by providing
Sanctuary, practicing Hospitality, and performing Ministry” . Thus, the organization provides activities which include camping, music, dance, drama and art activities. Likewise, there are crafts activities, healing and wellness, as well as provision of spiritual counselling and guidance.
How do you imagine Pilgrim Center’s safety structure is or should be?
One imagines Pilgrim Center’s safety structure as complex and expansive since the focus of activities and endeavors are predominantly outdoor. As such, the facilities include three lodges (Norenberg Lodge, Oak Mound Lodge, and Faville Lodge), one cottage (Folsom Cottage), and one chapel (Ley Chapel) . As a religious organization, the safety standards and structure are still provided and governed by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that classified the organization under services: religious organizations . The reason for including the organization under OSHA governance is that the activities which were offered go beyond purely church ceremonies .
The safety structure and standards should therefore include areas covering fire, injuries (due to fall, outdoor activities such as insect or snake bites), drowning, and use of protective equipment, as needed . Thus, there is a need to train and orient the organization’s staff and personnel in addressing risks and hazards related to the activities undertaken by UCCI, especially those administered outdoors through camping endeavors and summer activities with children and family members.
List the 10 most prevalent occupational hazards. Rank the hazards in order of Risk (probability and severity)
The ten most prevalent occupational hazards normally associated with religious organizations like UCCI include the following and listed according to risk (probability and severity):
Ranking According to:
Probability Severity
- Fall from undertaking Highly probable Major injury to
camping and other outdoor incapacity or even death
activities
- Slips from undertaking Highly probable Major injury to
outdoor activities from incapacity or even death
high places depending on ensuing
circumstances
- Slips from walking/working
surfaces Highly probable Major injury to incapacity
- Vehicular accidents Possible Injury, incapacity or death
within the Pilgrim Center
or Moon Beach
- Drowning from swimming Possible Incapacity to death
activities
- Lock out in remote outdoor or Possible Injury, incapacity or even
indoor areas or deep working death depending on
environments due to lack of mitigating circumstances
exit signs
- Fire in lodges, cottage or Possible Injury to death
chapel
- Snake bites, bee stings Possible Injury, incapacity or death
or other outdoor hazards
- Ergonomics related to Possible Incapacity
occupational work
10. Work-related trauma Possible Trivial
The OSHA standards that govern these risks and hazards were noted to be in the following areas: walking-working surfaces (where slips where identified to be highly probable), means of exit (identified to be related to lock-out in remote, internal or external work environment), protective equipment (standards to prevent animal or insect bites, first aid (standards to address injuries caused by falls, slips), and even standards to address fire hazards depending on severity . Likewise, personnel who are to administer camping activities must be able to address injuries through first aid, insect or snake bites, and other camping related injuries. These personnel should be provided with safety training and be adept at reacting to emergency cases and situations .
Other best practices for protecting the worker and the clientele include full awareness and knowledge of OSHA standards, specifically the three-part plan which aims to improve occupational safety and health . The plan incorporates these major parts: (1) the commitment of management and employees in ensuring safety and protecting workers and clients in the work setting; (2) conducting extensive and comprehensive assessment of the work setting to identify risks and hazards to prepare courses of action to address these; and (3) ensuring that staff and personnel are regularly trained and oriented to address the identified risks and hazards, especially ranked according to probability and severity. The work place could assess frequent accident or injuries sustained by workers or clients. From the information gathered and collected, UCCI could use the most prevalent risk or hazard and tailor addressing them according to their needs.
In general, name 3 sites that are most helpful for getting information on standards/best practices.
The three important sites that were deemed most helpful for getting information on standards and best practices include: (1) Church Law and Tax Store; (2) the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA); and (3) First Aid and Safety of Texas. The Church Law and Tax Store provided information written by Stephen Chawaga, reportedly an attorney whose office is located at Haverford, Pennsylvania . As such, the information that was provided in the site caters to similar organizations such as UCCI. Chawaga discussed relevant areas that included the history of OSHA, as well as applicability of OSHA standards and regulations to religious organizations. Likewise, the author also included a discussion on fire safety, voluntary compliance, and OSHA regulations .
The OSHA is the most authoritative site that validated and supported information on prescribed safety standards for religious organizations. Some information provided online allege that religious organizations are actually exempt, especially those which provide purely religious activities or church ceremonies . However, since UCCI actually offers services that encompass other outdoor endeavors beyond purely church ceremonies, the organization is deemed aptly covered by OSHA. Likewise, since most of the outdoor activities provided to clients or members pose potential risks and hazards, the management and staff should be oriented with OSHA standards on safety and health.
Finally, the site on First Aid and Safety of Texas provided information that caters to religious institutions. It presented information related to the need for safety in the workplace and the benefits of first aid. Likewise, the site also discussed the relevance for OSHA compliance and tailoring safety standards according to the requirements of the work setting . Thus, the training courses for personnel working in UCCI should cover areas such as provision of first aid, knowledge of CPR, as well as response to emergency situations.
Conclusion
The current discourse has presented safety structure for United Church Camps Incorporated by presenting relevant information on the organization’s activities and purpose. Likewise, the study also provided how one envisioned the safety structure should be. In addition, a list of ten prevalent occupational hazards were enumerated and ranked according to probability and severity. The OSHA standards were also identified, including the best practices for protecting workers and clients, within the work setting. Finally, the three site that were deemed most useful in gathering relevant information on the safety structure of UCCI were also identified and expounded, as required.
Works Cited
Charles, Thomas. "What Organizations Are Affected by OSHA?" 2014. smallbusiness.chron.com. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organizations-affected-osha-832.html. 2 February 2014.
Chawaga, S. "Safety First at Church What OSHA can teach you about caring for people by Stephen Chawaga." 1999. store.churchlawtodaystore.com. http://store.churchlawtodaystore.com/safiatch.html. 2 February 2014.
First Aid and Safety of Texas. "Churches & Synagogues Safety and Health Programs." 2011. fas-tex.com. http://www.fas-tex.com/industry-solutions/churches-synagogues-safety-and-health-programs/. 2 February 2014.
United Church Camps Inc. "About." 27 January 2013. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/UnitedChurchCampsInc/info. 2 February 2014.
—. "Home." 2014. ucci.org. http://www.ucci.org/. 2 February 2014.
—. "Moon Beach." 2014. ucci.org. http://www.ucci.org/moon-beach/. 2 February 2014.
—. "Pilgrim Center." 2014. ucci.org. http://www.ucci.org/pilgrim-center/. 2 February 2014.
US Department of Labor. "Industry Group 866: Religious Organizations." n.d. osha.gov. https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.display?id=219&tab=description. 2 February 2014.
