Editors: Mihaela Rotaru, Lucian-Ionel Cioca

Occupational Health and Safety

eBook: US $39 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $72
Printed Copy: US $52
Library License: US $156
ISBN: 978-981-5165-53-1 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5165-52-4 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2023
DOI: 10.2174/97898151655241240101

Introduction

This comprehensive handbook delves into the essence of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), exploring the dynamic interplay between regulations, practical methodologies, and the broader impact of OHS on organizations. The goal of the book is to help readers understand OHS practices in the workplace and how to implement a plan.

Chapter 1 establishes the conceptual framework of OHS and provides a foundational understanding of the subject. Moving forward, Chapters 2 and 3 dive into the international and national legal requirements, giving a comparative overview of OHS legislation in the EU and specific regulations in Romania, Italy, and Spain. Chapter 4 introduces readers to risk assessment tools and the OHS management process, while Chapter 5 emphasizes the importance of performance monitoring and measuring. Chapter 6 presents a step-by-step risk assessment methodology. Finally, Chapter 7 explores the significant impact of OHS on overall company performance, integrating ergonomics and organizational resilience.

Key Features:

  • - Combines theoretical insights with practical applications for academics and OHS professionals.
  • - Offers an up-to-date analysis of OHS regulations, with a focus on EU guidelines and specific regulations for Romania, Italy, and Spain.
  • - Provides knowledge on risk assessment tools and performance monitoring methods for effective safety measures.
  • - Highlights the essential relationship between OHS and company performance with real-world examples and a systems approach.

The book is ideal for a wide range of readers, including OHS trainees, professional safety managers, policymakers, researchers and students studying OHS practices, safety regulations and its organizational impact.

Readership

OHS trainees, professional safety managers, policymakers, researchers and students studying OHS practices, safety regulations and its organizational impact.

Preface

Occupational Health and Safety is defined as the science of anticipating, identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards that may arise in or from the workplace and endanger workers' health and well-being, while also considering the potential impact on surrounding communities and the general environment. Hazard identification and risk assessment must be done for each component of the respective work system, employee, job responsibilities/ workload, means of work/work equipment, and environmental factors that are identified and evaluated including risk-sensitive groups such as pregnant women, women who had recently given birth or are breastfeeding, young people under 18 years old, and persons with disabilities. This topic is unavoidably broad, including a wide range of professions as well as various occupational and environmental risks. That is why it is always carried out by a team of HS experts, employees, employers and labour physicians. The book includes information on the main legal requirements presenting the legal framework of Health and Safety in the EU, the definition of hazard, hazard identification and evaluation, risk assessment by the INCDPM method, causes of accidents (Human Factors, Situational Factors, and Environmental Factors), and major components of a Safety and Health Program. The proposed book is to help readers understand and apply the basic terminologies used related to occupational health and safety in the workplace, explain the difference between risk and hazard, and conduct a risk assessment using the INCDPM method.

Mihaela Rotaru & Lucian-Ionel Cioca
Faculty of Engineering,
Lucian Blaga Univesity of Sibiu
Sibiu, Romania