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Management of International

Health and Safety


Element 2: Health and Safety
Management Systems - PLAN

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Learning Outcomes
• Outline the key elements of a health and safety
management system.
• Explain the purpose and importance of setting
policy for health and safety.
• Describe the key features and appropriate content
of an effective health and safety policy.

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Unit IGC1: Element 2.1

KEY ELEMENTS OF A HEALTH AND


SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

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ILO-OSH 2001 Safety and Health
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.

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Safety Management System

The ILO-OSH 2001 Safety Management System

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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.

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Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001
Policy:
– Clear statement of commitment to 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!

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Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001
Evaluation:
– Methods to monitor and review the effectiveness of the
arrangements.

Action for improvement:


– Steps to correct issues found in the review.

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

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OHSAS 18001: The Occupational Health and
Safety Management System Standard

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End-of-Section Quiz

What are the key elements of the ILO-OSH


health and safety management system?

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Unit IGC1: Element 2.2

PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF


SETTING POLICY FOR HEALTH AND
SAFETY

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Health and Safety Policy

An important document:
• The foundation stone for good health and safety
management in an organisation.
• Sets out the organisation’s aims.
• Identifies who is responsible for achieving these aims.
• States how the aims are to be achieved.
• Specific to each organisation’s requirements.
(Not to be confused with “Policy” in the H&S management
system model.)

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Group Discussion Point

Why might the health and safety policy of two


organisations be different?

Why isn’t there a prescribed, “one size fits all”


approach to developing a policy?

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Why Have a Written Policy?

Legal compliance.
Meet management-systems standards
(ILO-OSH 2001, OHSAS 18001).
Clear communication.
Continuous improvement.

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End-of-Section Quiz

1. Why is an organisation’s policy so


important?
2. Why might two organisations doing similar
work have different policies?

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Unit IGC1: Element 2.3

KEY FEATURES AND CONTENT OF A


HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

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Key Elements of a H&S Policy

Health and safety policy is usually found in


three parts:
1. Statement of Intent
What is going to be done.
2. Organisation
Who is going to do it.
3. Arrangements
How they're going to do it.

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General Statement of Intent
• 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.
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“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.

E.g. review all 48 risk


assessments within a
12-month period.

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“SMART” Objectives

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.
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Group Discussion Point

Targets may be included in the statement of


intent to show commitment to improvement.

What targets could be included? (General


examples only needed)

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Organisation Section

Health and Safety Organisation Chart

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Organisation Section
• Outlines the chain of
command for health and
safety management.
• Identifies the roles and
responsibilities of staff.
• Usually includes an
organisational chart
relating to health and
safety.
• Shows lines of
communication and
feedback.
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Organisation Section
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.
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Arrangements Section
• 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.

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Arrangements Section

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.

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Individual Activity

Can you think of any other specific health and


safety hazards?

Write down as many as you can think of,


which you believe should be included in the
Arrangements Section of a Health and Safety
Policy.

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Arrangements Section
Specific Risks and Problems
• Lone working.
• Noise.
• Vibration.
• Hazardous substances.
• Control of crowds.
• Transport risks.
• Waste disposal.

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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.
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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.

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End-of-Section Quiz

1. What are the three key parts to a health


and safety policy?
2. What type of targets might be referenced
in the policy (and where)?

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