Element 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety

Morals and Money

The Moral Reason for Managing Health and Safety

Global statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO) SafeWork Programme:

• Over 350,000 work-related fatal accidents each year.

• 2.75 million work-related fatalities each year.

• 2.4 million fatalities from occupational diseases.

• 270 million accidents and 160 million diseases a year due to work.

• 4% of global GDP is lost.

Definitions

• Unsafe Act- [ Unsafe behaviour / Unsafe Practices] Any activity which can cause harm eg.
Driving at high speed

• Unsafe Condition- Any condition which can cause harm Eg. Slippery floor

Group Exercise

An employee at your workplace has been seriously injured in a workplace accident.

In groups, list the possible effects and implications of this accident on the:

• Injured employee.

• Company.

• Line manager.

Answers

• 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 skills from team, time and cost of retraining replacement, effect of overtime
cover on shifts.

The Financial Reason for Managing Health and Safety

Accidents and ill health cost money.

Costs may be:

• Direct - measurable costs arising directly from accidents.

 • Indirect - arise as a consequence of the event but may not directly involve money.
Often difficult to quantify.

H&S failure can affect the broader economy, as well as individual companies.

Insured and Uninsured Costs

Definitions

• Health – Protection of bodies and minds of people from illness in a workplace Resulting from
the materials, processes or procedures used in the workplace.

• Safety – Protection of people from physical injury.

• Welfare – The provision of facilities to maintain the health and well-being of individuals in
the workplace

• eg. Adequate drinking water facilities Definitions

• Environment –Flora, Fauna, water, air and soil

• Environmental Protection- Activities which protect the environment against damage.

• Accident – Any unplanned incident that result in injury or ill-health or property damage.

• Hazard – Something with the potential to cause harm.

Regulating Health and Safety

Legal Reasons for Managing Workplace Health and Safety

• Most countries have health and safety laws.

• Failure to achieve legal minimum standards can lead to prosecution.

The International Framework

International Labour Organization (ILO)

• Agency of the United Nations.

• Most countries are members.

• Sets international standards for H&S by publishing:

‒ Conventions.

‒ Recommendations.

ILO CONVENTIONS

• Identify issues affecting the labour force around the world

• Arrange for study and analysis of issues to find solutions

• These are presented in Conventions conducted every year

• These are put to vote among nominated members form different member nations

• Once passed, they become adopted conventions

 • Adopted Conventions are sent to members for debate in their parliament

• These are voted, and if passed, become ratified conventions

• Ratified conventions should be made safety laws within a year.

• ILO will help in making the law and implementing it by guidance and technical support

• ILO will also provide information through published recommendations and codes of practice.

• ILO has the power to take actions against those who do not follow up

• These safety laws, when implemented, will improve the health and safety standards of the
country.

The International Framework

Conventions [Similar to UK Acts of Parliament]

• If ratified, it creates binding policies to implement their provisions.

• If not ratified, No legal authority aginst the member state.

Recommendations [ Similar to UK Approved codes of practice]

• Provide guidance on policy, legislation and practice.

Regulations Adopted by the ILO

• 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.

The Role of Enforcement Agencies

• No harmonised global standard.

• Country-specific agencies may include:

‒ H&S Enforcement Agency.

‒ Fire authority.

‒ Insurance companies.

• Police may be involved in enforcing H&S law in some countries.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Breach of H&S legislation is usually a criminal offence, leading to:

• Enforcement action:

Improvement notices.

Prohibition Notices
 • Prosecution:

Organisation may be fined.

Individuals may be fined or imprisoned.

Other International Standards

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

World’s largest developer of management standards, e.g.:

– ISO 9001 - Quality Management

– ISO 14001 - Environmental Management

– ISO 12100 - Safety of Machinery

These standards are not ‘law’, they’re good management practice.

They lead to a worldwide common approach to good management.

Other International Standards

Internationally-recognised standard for occupational health and safety is currently

ISO 45001.

Compatible with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Sources of Information

• Health and Safety Executive (UK)

• www.hse.gov.uk

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)

‒ www.osha.gov

• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU)

‒ https://osha.europa.eu/en

• Worksafe (Western Australia)

‒ www.commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe

Group Exercise

An employee has been injured at work.

Identify potential:

• Direct costs of the accident.

• Indirect costs of the accident.

Group Exercise

Why might the management

of an organisation not
consider health and safety
to be a priority?

Answers

• 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.

End of Module 1.2 Exercise

1. What are the two main standards that the ILO has produced for health and safety? What do
countries do with these standards?

2. What are employers’ responsibilities under R164?

3. What are employees’ responsibilities under R164?

4. What action could be taken against organisations breaking health and safety law?

1.3: Who Does What in Organisations

The Employer

Responsibility for ensuring that the workplace is safe and free of health risk rests with the employer.

As we noted earlier, this responsibility is made clear in:

• ILO Convention C155.

• ILO Recommendation R164.

The Employer

The employer carries ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the workplace is safe and free of
health and safety risks.

Ensures the safety of workers and ‘others’, e.g. visitors and contractors.

Employers’ Responsibilities

Article 16 of C155 identifies obligations placed on employers to:

• Ensure that workplaces, machinery, equipment and work processes are safe and without
risks to health.
 • Ensure that chemical, physical and biological substances and agents are without risk to
health when protective measures have been taken.

• Provide adequate protective clothing and equipment to prevent risks of accidents or adverse
health effects.

Employers’ Responsibilities

Everybody is responsible for health and safety - but most of the responsibility lies with the
employer to provide:

• To provide a Safe place of work.

• To provide Safe plant and equipment.

• To provide Safe systems of work.

• To provide Training, supervision and

competency of staff.

Workers’ Responsibilities and Rights

Article 19 of C155 also places obligations on workers, expanded in R164 as follows:

• Comply with safety instructions and procedures.

• Report any situation that they believe could be a hazard and which they cannot themselves
correct.

• Report any work-related accident/ill health.

• Own safety and that of other people.[ Take care of]

• Safety equipment [Properly use.]

Workers’ Responsibilities and Rights

Directors and Senior Managers

Directors and senior managers can have enormous influence over their organisation and its
priorities.

The way they are perceived by those lower in the management hierarchy is very important; they
must demonstrate clear commitment and leadership with regard to health and safety.

Directors and Senior Managers

Directors and senior managers:

– Give an organisation its direction.

– Set its priorities.

– Demonstrate commitment and leadership

– Develop a suitable safety policy

– Allocate resources
 – Appoint competent persons./ Ensure competent advice is available

– Allocate roles and responsibilities.

– Ensure all of the legal requirements are met.

– Constitute a health and safety committee

– Conduct annual performance review

Middle Managers and Supervisors

Middle managers and supervisors are involved in the day-to-day operational running of the
organisation so are responsible for the health and safety standards within the operations under their
control.

Middle Managers and Supervisors

• To act as role models in safety

• Implement safety policy and procedures

• Make workers accountable for their actions in safety

• Motivate workers to do safe work

• Train workers whenever needed

• Provide competent supervision

• Discipline workers when they resort to violations

• Co operate with health and safety committee

• Oversee the risk assessments

• Carry out accident investigations

• Ensure welfare facilities are provided and maintained.

The Shared Responsibilities of Joint Occupiers of Premises

• ILO Convention C155 – Article 17

• ILO Recommendation R164 – Recommendation 11

• Employers in shared facilities should communicate to develop appropriate health and safety
standards and appropriate policies and procedures.

• This may include:

‒ Sharing of procedures, e.g.

fire and emergency response.

‒ Sharing of risk assessments.

‒ Joint management-committee
meetings.

Shared Responsibilities
 • ILO - C155 – Article 17 / R164 – Article 11

• Should form Joint management-committee meetings.

• Appoint a health and safety coordinator

• Co-operate and Co-ordinate their activities

• Comply with all legal requirements

• Sharing of risk assessments.

• Good mutual arrangements like LOTO

• Discuss on fire, spills, emergencies, site rules, visitor and traffic management

• Provide information to all employees

• Should share procedures, e.g. fire and emergency response.

• Conduct mutual drills, common inspections

Contractor Management

If a client can be held responsible for an injury caused by a contractor working for the client, then it
must be in the client’s own best interests to ensure that contractors do not endanger workers or
others.

Shared Duties

The way that a client manages contractors can be broken down into three key areas:

• Selection of contractors.

• Planning and co-ordinating

the work.

• Monitoring and managing

the work.

Clients and Contractors

The way that a client manages contractors can be broken down into four key areas:

• Selecting the contractor.

• Planning the work.

• Co-ordinating the work.

• Monitoring the work.

Selecting the Contractor

Things you should check:

• 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:

• Hazards posed by the site and work carried out.

• Hazards posed by the contractor’s activities.

• Risk assessments.

• Method statements.

Co-ordination of Work

Arrangements between the client and contractor include:

• Ensuring activities don’t conflict.

• Permit-to-work system to control activities.

• Key contacts, e.g. works foreman identified to ensure continuity.

Monitor and Control

Clients must:

• Monitor the work to ensure safety.

The client can:

• Stop the work if it involves unsafe practices.

Auditing against agreed method statements is a good technique.

End of Module 1.3 Exercise

1. To whom does an employer owe a duty with regard to health and safety?

2. How can directors influence health and safety?

3. What are the key worker responsibilities?

4. What would you look for/check when selecting a contractor?

Summary

In this element, we have:

 • Introduced some key words, such as: health; safety; and welfare.

• Highlighted the three main reasons why an organisation has to manage health and safety,
which can be summarised as moral, legal and financial.

• Set out the basic requirements of the international standards that govern health and safety,
i.e. the ILO Convention C155 and Recommendation R164.

• Discussed the consequences for employers and workers of non-compliance with legal
standards, together with the possible issue of worker compensation.

• Noted some sources of information on national health and safety standards.

• Identified various parties within and outside of the workplace and the responsibilities that
they have.

• Considered the responsibility that a client has for the management of contractors and
outlined the steps that a client should take to choose a competent contractor and plan and
monitor their work.

Examination Skills Question

What are the possible costs to an organization following an accident in the workplace.[8]

Direct Costs

• First-aid treatment.

• Sick pay.

• Repairs to equipment.

• Lost or damaged product.

• Lost production time.

• Overtime cover for the injured person.

• Fines in criminal court.

• Compensation payment to victim.

Examination Skills Question

Indirect Costs

• Investigation time.

• Lost employee morale.

• Cost of additional control measures.

• Compliance with enforcement notices.

• Cost of recruiting and retraining additional employees, e.g. for cover.

• Damaged customer relationships.

• Damaged public image.

Practice Question

You are asked to give a presentation to the Management on the following, What are the points
you would like to use in the presentation

1. How ILO can improve the health and safety standards in the territories of member nations [8]

2. How National Governments can improve the health and safety standards in their territories [8]

3. Why National Governments should have health and safety laws ? (4)

4. How can National Governments ensure that employers follow Health and Safety laws(4)

5.How can an employer ensure that the contractors are working safely (8)

Scenario-1

You are safety officer in a company. There was a major accident and the employee had to be
admitted in hospital for 4 days and then on medical leave for one month.

• You wanted to put some control measures, which needed money. Your finance manager is
not agreeing.

• Write down the points you may use in convincing him to sanction the budget [10]