Unit IA1

Question 1

List the three reasons that are given for managing health and safety within an organisation:

Answer 1

Ethical and Moral reasons.
Legal reasons.
Financial reasons

Question 2

Explain Ethical and Moral reasons for managing OHS

Answer 2

• A Duty of Care exists between employer and employee (and those others affected by their actions

Question 3

What is Duty of Care?

Answer 3

Duty of care is the obligation to exercise a level of care towards an individual, that is reasonable - in all circumstances - to avoid injury to that individual or his property

Question 4

What is a A negligent act?

Answer 4

A negligent act is an unintentional but careless act that results in loss. Only a negligent act will be regarded as having breached a duty

Question 5

What is a Prohibition Notice

Answer 5

A prohibition notice is issued by the Inspector and prohibits the work described in it, if the inspector is of the opinion that the circumstances present a serious risk of personal injury. The notice is usually to take immediate effect although it can have a deferred time limit

Question 6

What is an Improvement Notice

Answer 6

An Improvement Notice is issued by an inspector (when a statutory requirement is not being complied with) and specifies a time period to remedy the contraventions

Question 7

What is Statute Law

Answer 7

Statute law is the written law of the land. It includes Acts of Parliament, Regulations etc. An Act of Parliament is called primary legislation and any regulations made under it are called secondary legislation

Question 8

What is Common Law

Answer 8

This part of the English law is not embodied in legislation. It consists of rules of law based on common custom and usage and on judicial (court) decisions. English common law became the basis of law in the USA and many other English-speaking countries

Question 9

What is Civil law

Answer 9

Civil Law is the section of the law that deals with disputes between individuals or organisations

Question 10

List the Direct costs associated with incidents

Answer 10

Death.
Hospital, etc. treatment.
Permanent disability.
Sick pay.
Legal costs.
Insurance claims.
Damage to buildings, vehicles, machinery, etc.
Product loses and or damage.
Material loses and or damage.
Overtime working

Question 11

List the indirect costs associated with incidents

Answer 11

Investigation costs.
Fines.
Hiring or training replacement staff.
Loss of experience and expertise.
Lowering of morale.
Loss of goodwill.
Loss of image.
Business interruptions.
Product liability.
Production delays.
Increased premiums

Question 12

List the Societal Factors Influencing Health & Safety Priorities

Answer 12

• economy - both global and national
• new developments in technology and industry
• innovations in management philosophy
• changes in the attitudes of society in general and workers in particular.
• Demographic changes
• the Globalisation of Business

Question 13

List the Definition of hazard according to OHSAS 18001

Answer 13

“As a source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of injury or ill-health, damage to the workplace, damage to the workplace environment or a combination of these”

Question 14

List the definition of a hazard according to HSE guidance to risk assessments

Answer 14

“Anything that can cause harm.” (chemicals,electricity, working from ladders

Question 15

List the definition of risk according to OHSAS 18001

Answer 15

Combination of the likelihood and consequences of a specified hazardous event occurring

Question 16

Suitable and sufficient in terms of risk assessment ( in terms of MHSWR (3) include:

Answer 16

• All persons affected by the operation is considered.
• Identifies the risks from or in connection with work.
• All persons affected by the undertakings are considered.
• It is appropriate to the nature of the work.
• It identifies the period of time for which it is valid

Question 17

List the Benefits of formal health and safety management system

Answer 17

• A system for continually identifying legal & other requirements
• A clear management structure delegating authority and responsibility.
• A clear set of objectives for improvement, with measurable results.
• A structured approach to risk assessment within the organization.
• A planned and documented approach to health and safety.
• The monitoring of health and safety management issues, auditing of performance and review of policies and objectives

Question 18

List the elements of HSG 65

Answer 18

Policy 
Organizing 
Planning 
Measuring performance 
Audit and review

Question 19

List the three aspects of organizing according to HSG 65

Answer 19

Control
Co-operation
Communication
Competence

Question 20

List the six elements of OHSAS 18001

Answer 20

OHS Policy
Planning 
Implementation and operation 
Checking and corrective action 
Management review 
Continual improvement

Question 21

What should a OHS policy consists of?

Answer 21

• statement of intent
• organization
• arrangements

Question 22

List the aspects under the arrangement section of the OHS policy

Answer 22

• relevant HIRA
• emergency procedures
• first aid
• permit to work
• procedures for contractor and visitors
• OHS inspections and audits
• accident and illness reporting
• electrical equipment inspection and maintenance
• employee OHS code of practice
• PPE control
• machinery safety
• constitution for safety committee
• housekeeping procedures

Question 23

What is the role of the OHS specialist?

Answer 23

Role of OHS specialists is to assist the relevant employer in applying the provisions of health and safety law. An important aspect of his/her duty is rod design and implement a safety management system

Question 24

What is TQM

Answer 24

Total Quality Management(TQM) is a business philosophy that seeks to encourage both individual and collective commitment to quality at every stage of the production process from initial design and conception to after-sales service

Question 25

What is ISO 14001

Answer 25

This series of standards is designed to cover the whole area of environmental issues for organisations in the global market place

Question 26

List the benefits of Integration of Management Systems

Answer 26

- Simplified systems, optimized resources and a common framework for continual improvement - Employees can perform their jobs using one set of work instructions rather than multiple - There are similarities between the quality, environmental and OHS programs. And although they have different target audiences, their structure and approaches to regulatory compliance and similar - A single training process for new employees minimises contradiction - Reducing the amount of documentation - Integrated Management System reviews can help ensure that elements develop at the same rate - Bringing together expertise in each discipline to address specific issues. This would promote the exchange of fruitful initiatives

Question 27

List of the limitations of of integrated system

Answer 27

The existing systems may simply work well. A process of integration could threaten the coherence and consistency of current arrangements There can be a tendency to develop over documented, bureaucratic processes. This is true for single management systems and increases for systems intended to meet the requirements of multiple standards International recognition -. BS EN ISO environment and quality management standards are internationally recognised and certificatable, but the OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems- specification, though certificatable, is not internationally recognised

Question 28

What is ethics

Answer 28

The field of ethics (or moral philosophy) involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior

Question 29

Generally speaking there are four principles for highly ethical organisations

Answer 29

1. They are at ease interacting with diverse internal and external stakeholder groups 2. They are obsessed with fairness 3. Responsibility is individual rather than collective, with individuals assuming personal responsibility 4. They see their activities in terms of purpose

Question 30

Define a Conflicts of Interest

Answer 30

Conflicts of interest can be defined as any situation in which an individual or corporation (either private or governmental) is in a position to exploit a professional or official capacity in some way for their personal or corporates benefit

Question 31

List the Types of conflicts of interests

Answer 31

Self-dealing, in which an official who controls an organization causes it to enter into a transaction with the official, or with another organization that benefits the official Outside employment Family interest Gifts

Question 32

Explain the benefits of adopting a self regulatory model?

Answer 32

- model is usually developed by those involved in the management of OHS therefore creating ownership - quicker to achieve then statutory models - can result in higher levels of compliance - can easily be adapted and revised - can offer cheaper and quicker means to address issues - results in closer relationship between client and industry

Question 33

Explain the limitations of adopting a self regulatory model

Answer 33

- No umbrella standard to strive for - Those involved in the organization may not operate within the self regulatory rules with possibility arising in working with other companies - Model may not always fit local circumstances - Issues may be missed and this would result in lower levels of compliance - There is no third party or independent auditing - may not be valued