Module 2 Safety – Lesson 1: Safety: Everyone’s Responsibility

Today, safety takes on a greater role than ever in the workplace.  With today’s competitive global markets, profit margins are thin.  With our litigious (sue-happy) society, accidents may result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and legal fees.  Injuries are lost time, lost productivity, and lost money.  Insurance and worker’s compensation rates paid by employers are based on the employer’s record of workplace accidents and severity of injuries.

This means students must take safety seriously and understand everything related to workplace safety.  This module includes lessons that address the different components of workplace safety.

Learning Goals:

1. Understand the importance of workplace safety.
2. Identify and describe the agencies that regulate safety in the workplace.
3. Understand and utilize the 8 communication techniques and explain the importance of non-verbal communication.
4. Compare and explain the safety responsibilities of both the worker and employer.
5. Explain and interpret Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
6. Identify hazardous materials symbols and signs.

For this module, use the powerpoint titled “Basic – Module 2 Safety”.  CLICK HERE to download it.

Lesson 1:  Safety:  Everyone’s Responsibility

This lesson introduces students to the fact that the responsibility of safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility.  This lesson also teaches students about the safety agencies responsible for regulating safety in the workplace.

• Begin with showing this YouTube video

• Next discuss that safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. (powerpoint slides 2-4; textbook page 95)
• Next, introduce the safety regulating agencies by allowing students to research the agencies online (if available). If students do not have access to technology for this, have them look up the information in the textbook on pages 95-96. (slides 6-9)

Websites:

• OSHA – https://www.osha.gov/about.html
• NIOSH – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about/
• EPA – https://www3.epa.gov/

Have students find the names of the major agencies, what their main responsibilities are, and any other important info regarding the agency.

Use powerpoint slides 6-9 to summarize what each agency does.

• Discuss that states also have agencies that regulate safety within the state. Use slide 9 to demonstrate the difference between state and federal agencies like EPA.
• Discuss how states can develop their own safety programs. An example in Ohio is the Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) – https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/programs/safety/sandhperrp.asp

Optional Site:

This site has some great data on safety and the various industries. https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/programs/safety/SOII/Statistics.asp

You can explore the site with your students or design an assignment that allows the students to explore and find information from the site and reports.