Unit IGC1: Element 2.

Key Elements of a Health and Safety Management System

Follows the PDCA cycle:

• Plan – what you’re going to do.

• Do – it!

• Check – that what you’re doing is working.

• Act – if what you’re doing isn’t working as well as it should.

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

We will cover this in more detail in a minute…

– Policy.

– Organising.

– Planning and implementing.

– Evaluation.

– Action for improvement.

– Audit.

• The system should develop over time to ensure continual improvement.

Policy:

– Clear statement of commitment to health and safety.

– Sets aims and objectives

– Emphasis Employee participation towards health and safety

– Provision of resources of Health and Safety

Organising:

– Roles and responsibilities for health and safety.

– At all levels in the organisation.

Planning and implementing:

– Detailed arrangements to manage H&S.

– Risk assessments!

– Acceptance monitoring

Evaluation:

– Methods to monitor and review the effectiveness of the arrangements.

– Active monitoring & Reactive monitoring

Action for improvement:

– Steps to correct issues found in the review.

Audit:

– Independent, critical and systematic review of the management system.

Purpose and Importance of Setting Policy for Health and Safety

• The foundation stone for good health and safety management in an organization.

• Sets out the organization’s aims.

• Identifies who is responsible for achieving these aims.

• States how the aims are to be achieved.

• Specific to each organisation’s requirements.

• Increase productive by reducing accidents

• To comply legal requirement

• Emphasis Employer participation and Healthy workforce

(Not to be confused with “Policy” in the H&S management system model.)

Why Have a Written Policy?
 Legal compliance.
 Meet management-systems standards
(ILO-OSH 2001, OHSAS 18001).
 Clear communication.
 Continuous improvement.

Key Features and Content of a Health and Safety Policy

Health and safety policy is usually found in three parts:

1. Statement of Intent

What is going to be done.

1. Organisation

Who is going to do it.

1. Arrangements

How they're going to do it.

Statement of Intent section of health and safety policy (WHAT):

• Setting overall aims and

objectives.

• Complying with law.

• Achieving standards.

• Reminds workers at all levels of their responsibilities.

• Signed and dated by the most senior person.

• Regular review.
“SMART” Objectives

• Specific - clearly defined, precise.

• Measurable - towards a target, quantified.

• Achievable - it can be done.

• Reasonable - within timescale, and resources,

• Time-bound - deadline, timescale.

It will be important to consider:

• Who is going to set the objectives?

• How objectives will be set at each functional level.

• Legal and other requirements.

• Hazards and risks.

• Technological options.

• Financial, operational and business requirements.

• Views of interested parties.

Organisation Section of health and safety policy (WHO):

• Outlines the chain of command for health and safety management.

• Identifies the roles and responsibilities of staff.

• Usually includes an organizational chart relating to health and safety.

• Shows lines of communication and feedback.

• Defines responsibilities for:

• The CEO or MD – ultimately responsible and accountable.

• Management – responsible for day-to-day management.

• All employees – responsible for acting safely.

• Competent persons – first aiders, fire marshals, etc.

• Specialist health and safety practitioners – responsible for providing advice to support
management and employees.
Arrangements Section of health and safety policy (HOW):

• Describes how things are done.

• Detailed description of policies

and procedures.

• Usually a long document.

• Often separate from the policy document.

• Unique to each organisation.

Examples of topics:

• Carrying out risk assessments.

• Information, instruction and training.

• Compliance monitoring, including auditing.

• Accident and near-miss reporting, recording and

investigation.

• Consultation with workers.

• Developing safe systems of work.

• Welfare and first-aid provision.

• Fire safety and prevention.

• Emergency procedures.

Specific Risks and Problems

• Lone working.

• Noise.

• Vibration.

• Hazardous substances.

• Control of crowds.

• Transport risks.

• Waste disposal.
Reviewing the Policy

Some reasons for review:

Changes in:

 Key personnel.

 Management structure.

 Ownership.

 Processes.

 Technology.

 Legislation.

Incident.

Enforcement action.

After audit.

After worker consultation.

Passage of time, e.g. annually.

International Standards for Policy

Article 14

ILO Recommendation R164

Requires employers to set down

in writing, policy and arrangements
for health and safety management:

• Where circumstances warrant it.

• In a readily-understood language or medium.