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Developing and implementing an organizational approach to undermining employer safety discipline policies
Results from CWA’s efforts will help provide direction towards the resolution of this important issue, i.e., the underreporting of workplace I/I. These results will demonstrate value for labor union and public health safety and health activists and researchers in their efforts to address this national workplace and public health problem.
The identification and elimination of employer policies and procedures that lead to the underreporting of occupational I/I is a significant problem in the U.S. Several studies and reports have demonstrated significant underreporting by employers. In turn, action necessary to encourage/have employers accurately report workplace I/I has to be developed and implemented. Given the scope of this issue, these efforts must involve members of the affected communities- activists from labor, academia and research, employers, government, and public health organizations.
The CWA's OSH Department has developed a comprehensive effort to identify represented telecommunications employers who have developed policies and procedures which directly and indirectly lead/have led to the underreporting of occupational I/I as well as formulated activities to eliminate such policies.
Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safetyPublic health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Assess the scope of the problem associated with the underreporting of occupational injuries and illnesses as well as employer policies and practices that discourage the accurate reporting of such injuries and illnesses;
Identify employer policies and practices used to encourage underreporting of occupational injuries and illnesses; Discuss efforts to identify and resolve employer underreporting of workplace injuries and illnesses; Explain an organizational approach towards undermining employer activities to underreport occupational injuries and illnesses; Discuss how CWA’s activities fit with OSHA efforts to update the Agency’s Recordkeeping Rule.
Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety, Reporting
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working in OHS for nearly 36 years. I have been involved in developing and participating in education, research, publications, and advocacy efforts focused upon identifying & assessing the underreporting of occupational injuries and illnesses (I/I) and related employer efforts to discriminate against workers for reporting such I/I. These efforts include: work within the collective bargaining process, as well as with other unions, academics, and federal & state agencies responsible for addressing them.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.