AWARD IN WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

ELEMENT 1

Foundations of
Health and Safety
The International Labour Organisation
ILO is the United Nation’s specialised agency that
promotes social justice, human and labour rights.

The principle is that workers should be protected from

sickness, disease and injury while carrying out their
duties at work.
 The International Organisation for
Standards (ISO)

ISO 9001:2000 – Quality Management Systems

ISO 14001:2004 – Environmental Management

Systems
ISO 18001:2007 – OHS Management Systems
 What is Health and Safety
Health: The protection of the bodies and minds of
people from illness resulting from the materials,
processes or procedures used in the workplace
ً‫هً حماٌة االجسام والعقول من المراض المهنٌه الناتجه المواد والعملٌات المستخدمه ف‬
‫مكان العمل‬
Safety: The protection of people from physical
injury
‫ حماٌه الناس من االصابات وكدالك حماٌة المواد من التلف‬:‫السالمة‬
 The differences between
Safety and Health
Safety Health
Slips, trips, falls Exposure to hazardous
Falls from height chemicals
Struck by vehicles Exposure to asbestos,
dusts, etc.
Contact with electricity
Repetitive strain injuries
Contact with moving parts
 Worldwide Accidents

ILO Worldwide estimate on workplace

accidents per year:
Fatal Safety - 335,000
Fatal Health - 992,000
Definitions used in Health and
Safety
Welfare
Looking after people’s basic needs
:‫الرعاٌة‬
ً‫هً توافر المرافق و الشروط الالزمة والبٌئة المرٌحة إلى الحد المعقول بشكل صح‬
‫وآمن‬

Environment
The surroundings in which an organisation
operates including land, air and water, natural
resources, flora, fauna, humans and their inter-
relationships
 Accident Definitions
An Accident
An unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event which results
in a loss of some kind.
‫حدث غٌر مخطط له ٌنتج عنه ضٌاع مادي أو إصابة بشرٌة‬

Near Miss (Incident)

An unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event that had the
potential to result in a loss

‫حادث وشٌك‬
‫هو حادث لم ينجم عنه أذية بشرية أو تلف في الممتلكات‬
 Ill-health Definitions
Acute ‫حاد‬
Short term exposure with immediate
effect, usually reversible

Chronic ‫مزمن‬
Repeated or long term exposure,
often irreversible
:‫األمراض المهنٌة‬

‫وتشمل األمراض العضوية والنفسية التي حدثت بسبب العمل‬

 Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm
Physical
Chemical
Biological
Ergonomic
Psychological
 Risk
The likelihood that harm will occur and
the severity of the harm

The extent of risks

cover the population
affected and the
consequences for
them
 Reasons for
Good Health & Safety Practice
Humanitarian/Moral
Ethical and responsible behaviour

Legal
Criminal and civil
liability

Cost The costs of accidents

and ill-health
 Legal

Fines

Jail
 COSTS
Hidden Cost to Employers
Iceberg Model of Accident Costs:

… Visible Costs
Liability insurance

Invisible Costs
$16-75
 Hidden Costs of Accidents

Direct Costs of Insured Loss

Accidents

Hidden Costs of Uninsured Loss

Accidents 37% = 8 to 36 times
profits 5% op. greater than
costs insured loss
 Hidden Costs of Accidents
• Accident investigation
• Payments to injured • Loss of reputation
person • Repair or
• Payments to non replacement of
productive time damaged plant
• Replacement labour • Compensation
• Training for replacement • Legal fees
labour • Insurance
• Business interruption
Benefits of Good Health and
Safety Practice
1) Increased levels of compliance
2) Improved production
3) Improved staff morale
4) Improved company reputation
5) Reduced accidents
6) Reduced ill health
7) Reduced damage to equipment
8) Reduced staff complaints
9) Reduced staff turnover
10) Reduced insurance premiums
11) Reduced fines and compensation claims
 Health and Safety Law

Law - Definition
A rule of human conduct
imposed upon and
enforced among the
members of a given
State
 Purposes of Law
• Control of anti social
behaviour
• Regulate relationships
• Resolution of conflict
• Setting standards of
behaviour
 Sources of Information
External Sources

• Government organisations e.g. Enforcing

Authorities
• National safety organisations / Professional
Institutions
• Various Standards Organisation such as ISO and
British Standards Institute (BSI)
• Suppliers and manufacturers
• Consultants and specialists
• Insurance Companies and workers unions
 Sources of Information
Internal Sources
• Risk assessments
• Inspection reports
• Accident/incident records
• Medical reports
• Safety representatives
• Safety committee reports
• Company safety policy
• Maintenance reports