Problems at work

Health and safety

Here are some health and safety issues for people at work.

• temperature
• passive smoking
• repetitive strain injure or RSI
• dangerous machinery
• hazardous substances
• fire hazards

All these things contribute to a bad working environment. The government sends officials called health and safety inspectors to make sure that factories and offices are safe places to work. They check what companies are doing about things like:

• heating and air-conditioning
• first aid
• fire precautions

Words

temperature /ˈtemprətʃə $ -ər/ ★★★ S2 W2 n.

[countable, uncountable] a measure of how hot or cold a place or thing is

The temparature of the water was just right for swimming.

passive smoking n. SYN second hand smoke

the act of breathing in smoke that is in the air around you when someone else is smoking cigarettes

Their wickedness was emphasised by several large posters detailing the dangers of both active and passive smoking.

second hand adv.

if you get something second hand, it is not new and has been used by other people before

We got most our furniture second hand

repetitive strain injury or RSI

pains in your hands, arms etc caused by doing the same hand movements many times, especially by using a computer keyboard or mouse

Office workers can suffer form work-related ill-health such as repetitive strain injury.

machinery /məˈʃiːnəri/ ★★☆ W3 n.

[uncountable] machines, especially large ones agricultural/industrial/factory etc machinery

The use of heavy machinery has damaged the site.

hazard /ˈhæzəd $ -ərd/ ★★☆ n.

[countable] something that may be dangerous, or cause accidents or problems

That pile of rubbish is a fire hazard.

hazardous /ˈhæzədəs $ -zər-/ ★☆☆ adj.

dangerous, especially to people’s health or safety

The chemicals in paint can be hazardous to health.

substance /ˈsʌbstəns/ ★★★ W3 n.

a particular type of solid, liquid, or gas

ventilate /ˈventəleɪt $ -tl-eɪt/ vt.

to let fresh air into a room, building etc

a well ventilated kitchen

ventilation n.

ventilation system

precaution /prɪˈkɔːʃən $ -ˈkɒː-/ ★☆☆ n.

[countable usually plural] something you do in order to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening

Fire precautions were neglected.

Bullying and harassment

If someone such as a manager bullies an employee, they use their position of power to hurt or threaten them, for example verbally. Someone who does this is a bully.

Sexual harassment is when an employee behaves sexually towards another in a way that they find unwelcome and unacceptable. The related verb is harass

Words

bully /ˈbʊli/ n.

[countable] someone who uses their strength or power to frighten or hurt someone who is weaker

Bullies are often cowards.

v.

1 to treaten to hurt soem one or frighten them, especially someone smaller or weaker

2 to put pressure on soneone in order to make them do what you want

Don’t let them bully you into working on Saturdays.

verbally adv.

Her boss failed to stop the other workers from verbally abusing her

sexual harassment n.

[uncountable] sexual remarks, looks, or touching done to someone who does not want it, especially from someone they work with

There have been a number of sexual harassment complaints.

sexual /ˈsekʃuəl/ ★★★ S3 W2 adj.

relating to the physical activity of sex

a disease passed on by sexual contact

relating to the social relationships between men and women, especially the differences between men and women

sexual stereotypes

harassment /ˈhærəsmənt, həˈræsmənt/ ★☆☆ n.

[uncountable] when someone behaves in an unpleasant or threatening way towards you

African-Americans have been complaining about police harassment for years.

harass /ˈhærəs, həˈræs/ ★☆☆ vt.

to make someone’s life unpleasant, for example by frequently saying offensive things to them or threatening them

A number of black youths have complained of being harassed by the police.

Discrimination

If people are treateddiffernetly from others in an unfair way, they are discriminated against.

If a woman is unfairly treated just because she is a woman, she is a victim of sex discrimination. In Many organizations, women complain about the glass ceiling that allows them to get to a particular level but no further.

If someone is treated unfairly becaus of their race, they are a victim of racial discrimination or racism. Offensive remarks about someone’s race are racist and the person making them is a racist.

In the US, affirmative action is when help is given in education and employment to groups who were previously discriminated against. In Britain, affirmative action is known as equal opportunities.

Soome companies have dignity at work policy covering all the issues described in ‘Bullying and harassment’ and ‘Discrimination’.

Words

discriminate /dɪˈskrɪməneɪt/ ★☆☆ vi.

to treat a person or group differently from another in an unfair way

Under federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against minorities and women.

discriminated against

someone is treated differently from another in an unfair way.

glass ceiling n.

[singular] the attitudes and practices that prevent women or particular groups from getting high-level jobs, even though there are no actual laws or rules to stop them

Goodhue shattered the glass ceiling as the first female publisher at Time Inc.

remark /rɪˈmɑːk $ -ɑːrk/ ★★★ W3 n. SYN comment

[countable] something that you say when yo express an opinion or say what you have noticed

Unfrotunately, a local journalist overheard the remark.

affirmative /əˈfɜːmətɪv $ -ɜːr-/ adj. OPP negative

formal an affirmative answer or action means ‘yes’ or shows agreement

affirmative action n. SYN positive discrimination

[uncountable] the practice of choosing people for a job, college ect who are usually treated unfairly because of their race, sex etc

It will attack affirmative action, on the ground that it undermines blacks’ confidence that their successes reflect their merits

dignity /ˈdɪɡnəti/ ★★☆ n.

[uncountable] the ability to behave in a calm controlled way even in a difficult situation

the fact of being respected or deserving respect with dignity

dignity at work policy

a policy which lists or explain how to behave at work in order to prevent discrimination, bullying, or harassment etc

Additional words

accuse /əˈkjuːz/ ★★☆ W3 vt.

to say that you believe someone is guilty of a crime or of doing something bad

Smith accused her of lying

victimize /ˈvɪktəmaɪz/ v. SYN pick on

to treat someone unfairly because you do not like them, their beliefs, or the race they belong to

The men claim they have been victimized because of their political activity.

tear up SYN rip up

to tear a piece of paper or cloth into small pieces

She tore up his letter and threw it away.

be subjected to

be effected usually in bad situation.

He was subjected to claims

sexist /ˈseksɪst/ n.

[countable] someone who believes that one sex is weaker, less intelligent, or less important that the other, and treats them unfairly because of this - used to show disapproval

manageress(old-fashioned)

old-fashioned expression of a female manager.

abolish /əˈbɒlɪʃ $ əˈbɑː-/ ★★☆ vt.

[usually related to a law]to officially end, system etc, especially one that has existed for a long time

Slavery was abolished in the US in the 18th century.

admitt /ədˈmɪt/ ★★★ S2 W1 vi, vt.

vt. to allow someone to join an organization, club etc

Drake was admitted into the club in 1997.

vt. [in hospital] if people at a hospital admit someone, that person is taken in to be given treatment, tests, or care

What time was she admitted?

vt. to allow someone to enter a public place to watch a game, performance etc

Only ticket-holders will be admitted into the stadium.

to agree unwillingly that something is true or that someone else is right

‘Okay, so maybe I was alittle bit scared.’ Jenny admitted.

ex) 0.7

BrE nought point seven

ArE zero point seven

It is the end of this time : )