Revealing the Hidden Costs: The Social and Economic Costs of Workplace Injury and Illness

Transcription

1 Revealing the Hidden Costs: The Social and Economic Costs of Workplace Injury and Illness Presented By - Rashmi Rajan & Sue Graham OSH, Dept. Of Labour New Zealand Slide no 1

2 Methodology h The study objectives were to: hexplore the social and economic consequences of workplace injury and illness for injured and ill employees, their families, and the workplace hidentify key characteristics that determine social consequences and hconfirm links between social and economic consequences hinform investment in health and safety in the workplace h Unit of analysis - ill or injured employee and their relationships in the home, workplace, and community h A case study approach, with both quantitative and qualitative methods was utilised Slide no 2

3 Methodology Cont.. Fifteen cases selected using criteria including age, family status, socio-economic status, occupation, gender, nature of workplace injury or illness or conditions/environment The research team consisted of ten researchers from a wide range of academic disciplines and backgrounds (nursing, law, health, community development, and social sciences) Slide no 3

4 Demographics Auckland to Invercargill Rural and urban Females (4) Males (11) Age range Maori, cook island maori, Asian, Pakeha $20,000 to $70,000 Self-employed (2), employees (12), contractor (1) 15 cases - 68 interviews Slide no 4

5 Demographics Cont.. Boat building (3) Manufacturing (4) Farming Meat processing Medical facility Offices (2) Cool store maintenance Wood processing Panel beating Slide no 5

6 Cases Injury (7) - crushing injuries/fractures, severe brain and spinal injuries, burns, amputation, and fatal injuries Gradual process injury (3) - OOS, noise induced hearing loss Illness (5) - asthma, solvent induced Neurotoxicity, Leptospirosis, harm from stress Slide no 6

7 Principal Findings Minor mistakes cause big consequences Costs were enormous, non-recoverable, and ongoing The consequences ripple out Common characteristics/varied consequences Visibility vs. Invisibility Relationship between cause and consequence Over-arching cost determinants Support Slide no 7

8 The Workplace Employment relationship - key components were: Influence Responsibility Slide no 8

9 Influence Responsibility (Blame) Ian caused his own death Martin practiced poor hygiene Barbara smoked, didn t really want to work where she did & didn t wear PPE Murray probably used drugs Thomas didn t follow instructions Peter & Julia should have taken responsibility Slide no 9

10 Influence Responsibility (Control) Peter knew ventilation & lighting were inadequate Brian was fearful of completing the job Phillip felt pressured to succeed Slide no 10

11 Influence Responsibility (Time Pressures) Ian - OHN felt production over rode H&S Thomas - expectation that employees keep busy Julia - performance based on statistics Phillip - compelled to work long hours Slide no 11

12 Influence Responsibility (Roles) Often outside usual role Brian - working at height Ian long time employee Thomas keeping busy Slide no 12

13 The Workplace Cont. Union - on the positive side: Collective bargaining agent Health and welfare organisation Advocacy Information and knowledge On the negative side: Source of tension and misunderstanding Source of conflict Slide no 13

14 Union Julia & Lisa wages, medical referral, legal, support Ian investigation, unionism Barbara, Thomas & Martin conflicts Slide no 14

15 The Workplace (Cont.) Workmates - Responses included: Support Guilt Lack of or inability to support Minimisation of situation Indifference Hostility Influenced by: Visibility vs. Invisibility Injury vs. Illness Slide no 15

16 Workmates Illness versus injury Sympathy versus hostility Confirmed versus unconfirmed or unknown diagnosis Support versus disinterest Slide no 16

17 The Workplace (Cont.) Role of Supervisor and Employer - Their approach impacted on rehabilitation outcomes and depended on whether they: Kept injured/ill employee in touch with the workplace Assisted with rehabilitation and re-entry into the workplace Accepted responsibility Blamed the employee Slide no 17

18 Contact with Workplace Closely associated with blame! Julia Positive but limited contact Lisa & Grant Positive support resulted in successful rehabilitation Six cases where employers didn t accept responsibility for the accident Slide no 18

19 The Workplace (Cont.) Health and Safety Systems - Deficiencies included: Lack of knowledge for worker and workplace safety Procedures and equipment incomplete H & S systems impractical or unworkable Policies and procedures non-existent Failure in the supervisory/employer role Inadequacies in systems made workers feel unempowered to ask for/bring about change Slide no 19

20 The Workplace (Cont.) Economic Costs Legal costs Lost production and morale Extra H & S compliance work Damage to plant and equipment Staff costs Public odium These were either: obvious visible costs or less apparent intangible costs Slide no 20