Topic 6: Web based occupational safety and health

Through HRIS class, I get to know that the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posted on its Web sites Safety and Health Topic Page intended to provide information to help safety managers and others demonstrate the value of safety and health to management. OSHA states that employees who invest in workplace safety and health can expect to reduce fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

 This should result in cost savings in a variety of areas such as lowering worker’s compensation costs and medical expenses, avoiding OSHA penalties and reducing costs to train replacement employees and conduct accident investigation. In addition, employers will often find that changes made to improve workplace safety and health can result in significant improvements to their organization’s productivity and financial performance. (Krueger, 2007)

The mission of the OSHA is to assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards: providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. One of the ways that OHSA does training, outreach and education is with eTools, which are stand-alone, interactive, web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics.

For example, eTools and the eMatrix are "stand-alone," interactive, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. They are highly illustrated and utilize graphical menus. Some also use expert system modules, which enable the user to answer questions, and receive reliable advice on how OSHA regulations apply to their work site. Expert Advisors are based solely on expert systems and v-Tools are prevention video training tools. Selected eTools are available as downloadable files for off-line use. Other training and reference materials are also available from the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education (DTE).

OSHA developed a database system which is known as the OSHA performance and Tracking measurement System (OPTMS) that helps to obtain information on activities related to OSHA’s GRPA goals. According to OSHA officials, this web-based system requires no additional reporting because it includes 276 data elements that already exist in other OSHA data systems. One hundred of the elements are relevant to the consultation program. For example, OPTMS tracks the number of consultations that are performed in targeted industries as well as the number of employees participating in the Consultation program that develop a safety and health program. Only the consultation programs in the 31 federal OSHA states provide data into OPTMS for evaluation.

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References:

Krueger, G. P. (2007). Web based occupational safety and health. USA: Research Transportation Board.