IG 1 Element 1

Reasons for Maintaining and Promoting

Good Standards of Health and Safety

• Moral reasons.
• Legal (or social) reasons
• Economic (or financial) reasons.
Moral Reason
No one want to get injured or make others injured by
their work(Duty of care). Accidents reduce the moral
confidence of employees. A reasonable care need to
be provided by the employer to prevent accident,
injuries and ill health.
Legal Reason
OHS Law (Civil & Criminal) need to be followed all the
time. Violation of it will lead to enforcement action.
(eg: Fine, Prosecution, Ban etc).There may be
international standards also to be followed.
Economic (Financial) reason
Every accident will cost money either as a Direct
cost or Indirect cost (eg: Hospital expense, Fine,
Loss of time for investigation, Business loss
etc).If accidents are not happening this cost will
be converted into profit.
 Cost of an Accident
• Direct cost
–Measurable cost arising from an
accident
• Indirect cost
–This is very difficult to calculate
–May not involve money
–Happens as a result of Accident.
why an Organisation shall prevent accidents?
– Prevent financial loss
– Prevent enforcement action
– Prevent loss of employees confidence

Benefits of maintaining good standards of OHS?

– Increase in Profit
– Increase in reputation by avoiding
enforcement actions
– Workers confidence & happiness
 An employee at your workplace has been
seriously injured in a workplace accident.

• Identify the possible effects and implications

of this accident on the:
a. Injured employee.
b. Company.
c. Line manager.
• Injured employee:
– Pain and suffering, lost time/wages, impact on family,
on-going impact on work.
• The company:
– Payment of sick pay, overtime cover for employee,
recruitment costs for replacement, insurance claims,
fines/prosecutions, increased insurance premiums.
• The line manager:
– Loss of skilled member from team, time and cost of
retraining replacement, effect of overtime cover on
shifts.
Social Expectations for Health and Safety
• OHS shall be covered in both civil law and criminal law
• OHS enforcement agency shall be appointed Without the
potential for a litigation or regulatory action many
employers may not act upon their implied obligation to
provide protection of employees through safe provisioning
of workplace, safe equipment/ material and making
process as well as workers safe.
• Apart from this, in many countries it is a specific legal
requirement to safeguard the health & safety of workers
and others who might be affected by the organisations
operations such as contractors, visitors, public etc.
• Provision of employers liability insurance.
 Role of International Bodies
International Bodies
Globally International Labour Organisation (ILO) which is an Agency of
United Nations Sets international standards for H&S by publishing:
Conventions, Recommendations ,Articles.

• Occupational Safety and Health Convention (C155) – a goal-setting policy

for companies and nations.

• Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation 1981 (R164) –

supplements C155 and gives more guidance on how to comply with its
policies

These guideline are available to member as well as non member countries.

Most countries are members of ILO and they use it to frame National Law.

Conduct research in the field of OHS, Collect and analyse data's on OHS world
wide & publish reports.
 Role of National Governments
• Frame OHS Law based on ILO guidelines
• Appoint enforcement Agencies to ensure
compliance of OHS Rules & Regulations.
• Set up Employers Liability insurance schemes
• Promotes charitable organisations spreading
the message of OHS.
Employers responsibility for Health and Safety
– Safe place of work – Must be suitable for nature of work, must have
safe access and egress, must be protected from external weather,
Internal environment in terms of heating, lighting, ventilation, humidity
space, noise etc must be adequately controlled.

– Safe plant and equipment – Must have Quality Assurance, Design &
suitability, Fitted with safety devices, Have inspection & maintenance.

– Safe system of work –Work should be safe in all circumstances –

Proper planning and control (eg: Risk Assessments),appropriate review,
ensure availability of emergency procedures..

– Safe worker- Make Competent by Providing Training , SOPs,

supervision, Health check ups, Job rotations, Rest break, welfare, PPE
Free of cost.
 Workers responsibility in OHS
• Duty of Care- Take reasonable care of own safety
and their action, omission to do certain action
shall not affect others safety.
• Obey rules & regulations set on OHS by employer
• Use , maintain & do not damage PPE provided by
employer
• Report all incidents, injury, ill-health , accident to
employer with out fail which they cannot correct
themselves.
 Workers Rights
• Right to information on matters related to
OHS within their place of work, the
equipment/materials they use, the activities
they undertake including a specialist opinion.
• Right to leave the premises of work without
intimation when there is a immediate danger
to Health & life which they cannot control
themselves and remain in a safe place till the
time the workplace is declared safe by a
competent authority.
 Role of Enforcement Agencies
• Investigate all work place accident, Identify causes
& take necessary steps to prevent recurrence.
• In case of violations:-
– Take Formal Enforcement action by
Suspending high risk activity with prohibition notice
Provide advice , guidelines & reasonable time for
improvement, re inspect and allow work.
In case of repeated violations:-
-Prosecution
It can be Against Individual- Fine, imprisonment OR
Against organisation: Fine, Ban , Cancellation of
contract, tenders.
 Purpose & Benefits: Employers liability Insurance
• Purpose
To provide financial assistance to victim of an
accident irrespective of financial condition of
employer.
Benefits
Employee
• Receive financial compensation irrespective of
financial condition of employer
• Gives moral confidence to undertake high risk
activities
• Employer
Receive financial assistance following an
accident if premium is paid covering all
foreseeable accidents and no violation of law
occurred.
• Governments
Gets reports of legal compliance through
insurance audits.
 Insure & Uninsured Costs
• Insured Costs
• Fire.
• Worker injury/death.
• Medical costs.
• Uninsured Costs
• Loss of raw materials due to accidents.
• Sick pay.
• Overtime.
• Equipment repairs.
• Lost materials.
 Duties of Directors and Senior
Managers in OHS
– set up a OHS policy,-to demonstrate clear commitment
and leadership towards OHS, meet legal requirements
– allocate roles, responsibilities for OHS at all levels in
organisation. Give an organisation its direction,
– Set priorities for OHS & ensure that all activities taking
place within organisation is as per SSW.
– Allocate reasonably practical resources for OHS and
appoint competent persons.
– Ensure regular monitoring of OHS perormance
– Consult with workers on OHS matters
– Ensure regular review of OHS policies and procedures.
– Ensure regular Audits for continual improvement.
 Middle Managers and Supervisors
•Middle managers and supervisors to ensure day-to-day
operational running of the organisationas per SSW
•Have Risk assessments carried out & controls implemented
•Ensure health and safety standards within the operations under
their control.
•Safe working practices are followed.
•Have emergency procedures

•Agree to management policies & procedures

•Ensure Issue & correct use of PPE by workers

•Workers receive necessary OHS training

•.Ensure All incidents are reported by workers and passed to Top
management for further necessary actions.
 OHS specialist
• Advice top management to set up a OHS policy meeting legal
requirement
• Coordinate with middle level management & make them agree with
policy & procedure
• Implement OHS policy among work force
• Oversee development of SSW (Risk assessment, PTW) involving middle
& floor level management
• Over see development of training programmes
• Ensure that all implemented controls are effective in preventing
accident/ ill-health
• Ensure all proactive monitoring measures are taking place effectively (
eg: inspections)
• Ensure all accident/ ill-health are reported & investigated involving
middle & floor level management.
• Ensure regular worker consultation between workers & management
on OHS related matters.
• Provide input for review of OHS policy to top management
• Ensure all OHS related activity documentation.
• Maintain good professional relation will external agencies
 Clients and Contractors
• Controller of premises is responsible for all
accidents created by Joint Occupiers.
Outline actions client will take in order to
prevent accidents from contractors & sub
contractors before & during the project?
 How a client manages contractors to
prevent accident :-
• Before starting project
– Selecting the competent contractor.
– Planning the work.
– Co-ordinating the work.

• During the project

– Monitoring the work.
 Things you should check:
when Selecting the Contractor
• Health and safety policy.
• Risk assessments.
• Qualifications and training records.
• Membership of a professional organisation.
• Maintenance and equipment testing.
• Previous or current clients.
• Accident records.
• Enforcement action.
• Adequate resources.
 Planning the Work
(Information to be shared between client
and contractor):
• Client will inform Hazards posed by the site
and work carried out.
• The contractor will inform Hazards posed by
his activities.
• Carry out Risk assessments by contractor.
• Submit Method statements.
 Co-ordination of Work
(Arrangements between the client and all
contractor to ensure activities don’t conflict.)
A joint meeting will be arranged by Client with
all contractors & subcontractors to ensure:-
– Sharing of information about hazards , risk,
precautions & emergency procedures.
– Client Make project OHS policy.
– Appoint Key contacts, e.g. works foreman
identified to ensure continuity.
 Monitor and Control the work
Clients must:
• Provide induction training
• Sign in-out procedure
• Appoint foreman (for all communications)
• Monitor the work to ensure safety.
• All high risk activity under PTW from client
• The client can:
• Stop the work if it involves unsafe practices.
• Conduct Auditing against agreed method
statements.
Duties of Client (Controller of Premises)
• Ensure only Competent Contractors/Sub
contractors are working in the premises.
• All information about hazards present in the
premises need to be shared with Joint
Occupiers
• Ensure all joint occupiers are carry out Risk
assessments, Developing SSW, Control
measure, Emergency procedures.
• Ensure all joint occupiers are submitting
method statement.
 Duties of Client (Controller of Premises)
• Ensure all joint occupiers are sharing information about
Hazards, Risk, Precautions, Emergency procedures,
Communication among each other & client.
• Make project HSE policy.
• Appoint key contact people for communication.
• Provide Induction training
• Control movement of Men/ Material in site with sign in-out
procedure
• Monitor, Audit Joint occupier activites
• Issue PTW for High Risk activity
• Ensure regular reviews as and when required.
 Duties of Joint Occupier
• Carry out Independent Risk assessment on all activities
done by them, Identify Hazards, Risk, develop Controls,
Emergency procedure & Communication.
• Sharing of information about Hazards, risk, controls,
emergency procedures, communication with other
joint occupiers & client.
• Ensure all workers under them are competent
• Obey OHS rules/policy set by client
• Ensure all employees are provided with PPE & correctly
using it.
• Attend all training/meetings arranged by client/ other
joint occupiers.
• Report all accident/ ill health/ near miss to client
without fail.
Explain how two organization who have the same work place can work together to ensure
that good health and safety standards are achieved.
They must have an independent risk assessment on all the ACTIVITES undertaken by them,
Make Own employees safe, Report all incidents to client, Obey OHS policy of cleint.
There after for sharing;-
They can consider and have a joint co-ordination committee
They can have a common procedure for handling visitors to the premises
They can decide and have common assembly point or master point for assembling during
and emergency
They can have a common emergency siren code
The route and movement of personnel and vehicles can be jointly coordinated and
synchronized to avoid or prevent any difficult (conflict)
They could consider and have a joint health and safety committee or council to sharing or
exchange of information or knowledge on the subject
They could share together a safety alerts, Hazard information, control measures,
Emergency communications.
They could conduct joint safety training program on common subjects such as
- Fire prevention and fire fighting,- First aid,- Manual handling of material,- Electrical safety
- Working at height,- Emergency management
They can consider and joint mock drill exercise for emergency control
They can co-ordinate the use of all means of communication e.g.: telephone, fax, etc…
They can jointly decide who should do what during an emergency.
They can share certain common resources. e.g.: toilets, wash room, canteen, medical central
or first aid facilities and fire facilities
 Sources of Information
Internal • External
– Accident records. • National legislation.
– Medical records.
• Safety data sheets.
– Risk assessments.
• Codes of practice.
– Maintenance reports.
• Guidance notes.
– Safety inspections.
– Audit reports. • Operating instructions.
– Safety-committee minutes • Trade associations.
– Absentee records • Safety publications.
– Break down records • Insurance reports
– House keeping reports • Enforcement reports
– Atmospheric monitoring • SDS, User manuals.
report.
 Nature of Health & Safety
• OHS Is a Multi-Disciplinary subject as Health and
safety practitioners need to be familiar with:
• Chemistry/physics/ biology.
• Engineering.
• Psychology.
• Sociology.
• Management
• Legislation:
– Standards that apply.
– Strengths and weaknesses of options.
Barriers to Good Standards of H&S
• Behavioural issues:
People failing to act safely as desired (unsafe acts), or making
mistakes (unsafe conditions) that can lead to accidents .
Eg:- not using PPE correctly.
• Complexity of the workplace.
Various activities, different category of People, Variety of
equipment and material when work together at one place makes it
a complex phenomena increasing the chance of accidents.
• Conflicting demands:
The need to finish the job with in targeted time period may face
conflicts from OHS requirements in terms of:-
o Timescales.(Overtime & no trainings, Maintenance etc)
o Standards, Legal requirements( Fire safety X Environment law)
o Budgets.( no money for resources)
 Assignment
1. Explain moral, financial and legal reason for
managing Health & Safety in workplace?
(6 marks)
2. Explain how health & Safety is regulated in a
country and what are the consequences of
non compliance of it?(10 Marks)
3. Give meaning of the terms a) Health b) Safety
c) Welfare?
 Assignments
4. Explain the moral reasons for promoting good
standards of OHS?
5. What an organisation should consider when
considering the work of contractors?
6. What are the cost for an organisation from ill-
health?
 Practice questions
1. explain the purpose of employer liability insurance? (3)
2. List six costs of an accident which might be uninsured.(6)

3. Identify the possible consequences of an accident to:

1. the injured worker 2. their employer? (8)
4. List the direct and indirect costs to the employer of
accidents at work.(8)

5. Explain reasons why an organization should maintain and

promote good standards of health and safety in the
workplace. (6)

6. Identify sources of information can be used by an

organization to help maintain and promote good standards of
health and safety in the workplace? (8)
 Practice Questions
7.Two organizations operate from the same workplace.
How could they co-operate to ensure good health and safety
standards are in place and maintained?
8.Identify factors should be considered when assessing the health and
safety competence of a contractor?
9.Contractors are carrying out a major building project for an client
organization.
Outline How can the client organization reduce the risks to contractors
before the start of and during the construction work? (8)
 Why might the management of an organisation not
consider health and safety to be a priority?
• Ignorance of legal duties
• Lack of care for staff welfare
• Focus on output and profitability at expense of worker well-
being
• Cost to the business – taking a short-term view
• Ignorance of true cost to the business of worker ill health
• Competition within the business for access to limited funds
• Unwillingness or lack of resources to devote time to H&S
management
• Failure to perceive hazards in their operations
• Cavalier attitude to the management of risks