Attaining Safety Compliance in the Workplace

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Program Title: Architecture and Construction

  Course Title: Fundamentals of Architecture and Construction

  Course Number: 8130300

  Career Cluster: Architecture & Construction

  CIP Number: 148130300M

  Course Type: EXPL - Middle School Programs

  CTE Standards or benchmarks:

  CTE-AC.68.8130300.2.1 Comply with all applicable basic Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations.

  CTE-AC.68.8130300.2.3 Describe personal and job site safety rules and regulations that maintain safe and healthy work environments and work ethics.

  Integrated benchmarks: ELA or Other:

  ELA.8.C.3.1 Follow rules of the standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, “Attaining Safety Compliance.” See CPALMS resource ID# 214723.

• Career Connection

  
  

  Students will use their knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety guidelines to address concerns and offer suggestions for improvement of safety issues in the workplace.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Analyze real-life case study to identify potential safety hazards and risks in a workplace setting.
  • Research OSHA safety guidelines for the workplace and identify its effect in creating a safe environment for the workplace.
  • Apply knowledge of relevant safety protocols and procedures to ensure a safe working environment.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in researching and referencing OSHA guidelines to support recommendations for improving workplace safety.
  • Compose a professional email, following proper format adhering to correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with:

  • A basic understanding of workplace hazards and safety procedures.
  • Conducting research using a reliable source.
  • Composing formal emails including tone, structure, and content.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • What do you think workplace safety means?
  • Why is workplace safety important?
  • Can you think of examples of workplace issues?
  • How can identifying and understanding OSHA regulations enhance the overall safety of a workplace?

• Procedure

  
  

  Introduction:

  1. To introduce the lesson, create a Bubble Map with the word COMPLIANCE. See attachment.
  2. Display or write the Bubble map on the board.
  3. Students will provide connections to the word.
  4. Write the words on the bubbles in the vocabulary semantic map.
  5. Discuss the definition of the word Compliance- the process of ensuring that an organization's activities are in line with its policies, procedures, and applicable rules.
  6. Display the quote- "If you think that compliance is expensive, try non-compliance.” -Paul McNulty, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General. See attachment
  7. Discuss what Paul meant by his quote.

  Discussion/comprehension questions

  • What are the main reasons for the conflict between Ivan and David regarding safety protocols in TitanTech Innovations?
  • How do Ivan and David's differing perspectives on safety reflect their priorities for the company's growth and success?
  • What specific compromises in safety protocols has Ivan made in pursuit of rapid company growth, and what are the potential consequences of these compromises?
  • Can you identify any instances where the compromise in safety protocols at TitanTech Innovations has directly endangered employees or led to workplace accidents?
  • In what ways does David prioritize safety over productivity, and how does this conflict with Ivan's focus on growth?
  • What steps can David take to effectively communicate the importance of strict safety guidelines to Ivan and address his resistance?
  • Considering the shared vision for success, how can Ivan and David improve their differences in making safety a priority without compromising the company's growth objectives?
  • How might the outcome of the safety audit impact the future of TitanTech Innovations, particularly in terms of reputation, employee morale, and legal compliance?

  Student-centered and integrated activity

  1. Partner read the case study ID: 214723, "Attaining Safety Compliance."
  2. Research different OSHA regulations on sites like https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs.
  3. Make a T chart on a sheet of paper. Label one section Safety hazards and the other OSHA regulations.
  4. Reread the case study. During the second read, list the safety issues in the case study under the Safety Hazard section.
  5. Use the research on the OSHA website to write the OSHA regulations and recommendations for the hazard.

  Class Discussion Future Work: Have a closing discussion using the following reflection questions.

  List of questions for a future of work reflection:

  • How might advancements in technology impact workplace safety practices in the future?
  • How can businesses balance the need for growth and productivity while keeping a safe and healthy work environment for employees?
  • What role do you think government regulations, such as those enforced by OSHA, play in shaping the future of work?
  • In what ways might the conflicts between Ivan and David regarding safety protocols affect employee morale and retention?
  • How can businesses prepare for safety audits in an effective manner?

  Closure:

  • Have students write a formal email as the OSHA auditor explaining the safety concerns and the regulations that must be followed. Let students know the importance of following proper tone and conventions in professional emails, encourage students to use spell check.

  Teachers can assign roles of different stakeholders in the scenario (e.g., Ivan, David, employees, OSHA auditor) to students and conduct a role-playing exercise where they act out the perspectives and interactions of these characters. This allows students to empathize with the various viewpoints involved and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of workplace dynamics and decision-making.

• Teacher Notes

  
  

  Safety Hazards and Violations of OSHA Regulations in the Case Study

  TitanTech is out of compliance with OSHA regulations in several ways:

  • The lack of proper guarding on the low-cost machinery.
    • OSHA regulations mandate that machinery should have adequate guards to prevent accidental contact with moving parts, reducing the risk of workplace injuries.
  • Sharing of PPE among employees.
    • This violates OSHA's guidelines on individual protective equipment usage. OSHA requires employers to provide appropriate PPE to each employee and ensure its proper use to mitigate workplace hazards.
  • The absence of clear emergency procedures and evacuation plans in the event of a fire or other emergencies is another concern.
    • Employers are required by OSHA to have written emergency action plans that include procedures for reporting emergencies, evacuation routes, and methods for employees to alert others to emergencies. Failure to have such plans in place can pose serious risks to employee safety in the event of emergencies.
  • Inadequate training and education on workplace safety.
    • OSHA regulations obligate that employees receive training on safety procedures relevant to their job roles, including the proper use of equipment and machinery, hazard recognition, and emergency response protocols. Without enough training, employees may not be prepared to identify workplace hazards, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.