Principles and Content of Effective Health and Safety Management Systems

Question 1

Health and Safety Policy - Legal Requirements

Answer 1

HSWA Section 2(3) requires the Employer to prepare and revise a written statement of policy with respect to the Health and Safety at Work of his employees and also the organisation and arrangements for carrying out that policy.
The policy needs to be brought to the attention of all his employees and applies where there are five or more employees.

Question 2

Health and Safety Policy - Management Systems

Answer 2

The policy sets the framework of the Management System. The policy is just a statement of intent i.e. demonstration of commitment.

Question 3

Health and Safety Policy - Communication of Health and Safety Information

Answer 3

The policy should tell people about the company’s approach to managing health and safety, communicate the organisations commitment to health and safety, can be used in the induction of new employees, can be used to involve the workforce in writing and amending policy and it can be used at regular briefing sessions to communicate information relating to different sections of the policy.

Question 4

Three sections of the policy

Answer 4

The Statement of General Policy - States the commitment to managing health and safety and what needs to be achieved.
The Responsibilities - Sets out who is responsible for specific actions
The Arrangements - Contains the detail of what needs to be done to achieve the aims set out in the statement of Health and Safety policy.

Question 5

Aim of setting out a policy

Answer 5

Set out in such a way that is clear to everyone what is expected of them to comply with the requirements of the policy

Question 6

Aims of a policy

Answer 6

Linked to the level of risk; Risk Assessment should determine how detailed the arrangements section needs to be

Question 7

Aims of the reach of a policy

Answer 7

In larger organisations there may be an overarching policy that covers general issues, and detailed policies relating to the individual sites or activities.

Question 8

Aims of informing employees

Answer 8

If the policy is short enough, give a copy to each employee
If the policy is lengthy, copies can be posted on notice boards or intranet
Regardless of how, the policy must be brought to the attention of all employees

Question 9

Aims of monitoring and review

Answer 9

It is vital that the policy is monitored to check that it is still effective. Ways of monitoring include: Spot checks, Safety Inspections, Audits and Reviewing Management Reports and Incident Investigations.

Question 10

Principle of a Health and Safety Policy

Answer 10

Sets out what needs to be done
Sets out who needs to do it
Sets out how it is going to be achieved

Question 11

Contents of Policy

Answer 11

Statement of Intent setting out aims and objectives
Organisational structure detailing people with Health and Safety responsibilities and their duties
Systems and procedures in place to manage risks

Question 12

Objectives of Policy

Answer 12

Supporting HR Development
Minimising financial losses
Recognising that accidents from management failing are not necessarily the fault of individual employees
Ensuring a systematic approach to the identification of risks and allocation of resources
Supporting quality initiatives aimed at continuous improvement

Question 13

Requirements of 18001

Answer 13

Requires an organisation to determine its existing health and safety activities, develop programmes and system that focus on the elimination of risk to staff and other parties and to then develop a management system that primarily aims to ensure that health and safety performance is continuously monitored and improved.

Question 14

Elements of 18001 Management System

Answer 14

Occupational Health and Safety Policy
Planning
Implementation and Operation
Checking and Corrective Action
Management Review
Continual Improvement

Question 15

Arguments for IMS

Answer 15

A well-planned IMS is likely to operate more effectively than seperate systems, and facilitate decision making that best reflects the overall needs of the organisation
IMS offers the prospect of more rewarding career opportunities
Objectives and processes of management systems are essentially the same
Integration should lead to the avoidance of duplication
IMS should involve timely overall system reviews
A positive culture in one discipline may be carried over to others

Question 16

Arguments against IMS

Answer 16

Existing systems may work well already
Specialists may continue to concentrate on the area of their core expertise
Uncertainties regarding key words
System requirements may vary across topics
Health, Safety and Environmental performance is underpinned by statute law whilst quality management is customer specification
Powerful and integrated team may reduce ownership by line management
A negative culture in one may be carried over to others
Single topic auditors may have difficulty evaluating their part of IMS when it is interwoven with other parts that are of no concern to the auditor.

Question 17

Elements of both HSG65 and 18001

Answer 17

HSG65 - Plan, Do, Check, Act

18001 - Policy, Planning, Implementation and Operation, Checking and Corrective Action and Management Review