Safety and Health Management

Systems

International Safety Training

Centre
Francis Githua
 “SAFETY IS NOT
THINGS TO
DO”

“SAFETY IS A WAY
OF DOING
THINGS”
 Definition of OSH
Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) is multi-
disciplinary and targets four basic aspects namely;
•(1) The protection and promotion of workers
health by preventing and controlling occupational
diseases and accidents;
•(2) The development and promotion of healthy
and safe work, work environments and work
organizations;
•(3) Enhancement of physical, mental and social
well-being of workers; and
 Definition of OSH
• (4) Enabling workers to conduct socially and
economically productive lives and to
contribute positively to sustainable
development.
This is essentially Fitting work to the worker and
the worker to work
Importance of occupational safety
and health practice
Economic sense
• When safety and health system is in place,
productivity is enhanced. Reduced insurance
premiums, reduced long term health care costs,
reduced legal costs
Legal importance
• Reduced litigations, reduced ambulance chasers
(common law costs), cushion workers from
exploitation by employers.
Importance of occupational health
and safety
Health implications
• Reduced morbidity, mortality and fatality.
Organisational competitiveness
• Improved public image, employee satisfaction and employee
retention.
 A Safety and Health
Management Systems is
the best defense against
workplace injuries.
 Definition- SHMS

• A Safety and Health Management System

(SHMS) is a systematic approach to managing
safety and health activities by integrating
occupational safety and health programs,
policies, and objectives into organizational
policies and procedures.

• SHMS is a set of safety and health program

components that interact in an organized way.
 H&S Management System:
Definition

“The means by which an organisation controls

risk through the management process”.

Health & Safety Executive

 How?
There are five primary elements to an effective
Safety and Health Management system:

Management Commitment
Employee Involvement
Workplace Analysis
Hazard Prevention and Control
Safety and Health Training
 A workplace

• A place where goods and services are

produced. This a positive side of it.
• Ill health, diseases, accidents and damage to
property may occur as unintended products of
the work activities.
 Justification for good
OSH management
• Health is a human right
• Legal–statutory and under common law
• Economic – part of total loss control
• strategy for business growth and creation of
wealth and employment.
• Global market demands- image issues,
• Decent Work Agenda, MDGs
 The tripartite approach

• Good OSH management requires a tripartite

approach- Government, Employer, and
Employee
• Each organ has specific roles in the
management of OSH
 GOVERNMEMT

• The government provides the national

framework for management of occupational
health and safety as follows.
• National policy- legislation on occupational
health and safety.
• The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2007
and rules have been made
• A department- DOSHS established for the
promotion of occupational Safety and Health
 Government continued

• The national advisory committee on

occupational safety and health.
• occupational health and safety officers for
enforcement
• Health and safety advisers have been
approved to offer advice to employers.
 Government- Conti--

• Authorised persons have been approved for

testing and examination of plants
• Doctors –designated health practitioners.
• Institutions have been approved for
facilitating quality training.
• The government reviews and updates
legislation.
• Providing guidelines - codes of practice
 Employer- managing safety

• Development of policy on occupational health

and safety to ensure compliance with the
national legislation and best practices.
• set out in writing the occupational safety and
health policy.
• Organization of health and safety function
• Planning and implementation of policy
• Measuring performance
• Reviewing performance
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems in the
organization
 Key Elements of a H&S Management System
(1)

HSE Model
Policy
(HSG65) Policy development

Organisational
Organising development

Planning &
Audit
Implementing

Developing
techniques of
Measuring planning,
Performance measuring and
reviewing

Reviewing
Performance
Orderly Arrangement - Key Elements of a SMS

Policy Policy

Organising
Effective health and safety
policies set a clear
Audit
Planning &
Implementing direction for the
organisation to follow.
Measuring
Performance

Reviewing
Performance
Orderly Arrangement - Key Elements of a SMS

Policy

Organising
Organising
An effective management
Audit
Planning & structure and arrangements
Implementing
are in place for delivering the
Measuring policy.
Performance

Reviewing
Performance
 Organizing OSH function

• Provide strong leadership and commitment to occupational safety and

health by appointing a senior manager to take charge of the health and
safety function.

• Assign responsibility for safety to every person so that managers,

supervisors, and employees in the organisation, know what performance is
expected of them.

• Integrate health and safety in all company function

• Set up a health and safety committee.

• Set (smart) targets -expected performance of every worker

• Provide resources health and safety programs and activities

 Competence

• Recruit competent employees and contractors.

• Assess the skills to carry out all the tasks

• Ensure that the managers, supervisors and workers are adequately

instructed and trained skills to carry out tasks safely.

• Provide for newly employed persons to under go adequate induction.

• Arrange for a suitable induction for all visitors on site.

• Train adequately members of the Safety and Health Committee.

• Arrange for access to sound technical advise- appoint OSH adviser.

Orderly Arrangement - Key Elements
of a SMS

Policy Planning
There is a planned and systematic approach
to implementing the health and safety
Organising policy through an effective health and
safety management system.
 

Planning &  
Audit
Implementing

Measuring
Performance

Reviewing
Performance
Orderly Arrangement - Key Elements of a SMS

Policy

Measuring
Organising Performance
Audit
Planning &
Implementing
Performance is measured
against agreed standards to
Measuring reveal when and where
Performance
improvement is needed.
Reviewing
Performance
 AUDITING AND REVIEWING OF
PERFORMANCE
Policy Auditing and
Reviewing of
Organising
Performance
Planning &
Audit
Implementing

The organisation learns from

Measuring
Performance all relevant experience
and applies the lessons.
Reviewing
Performance
Auditing

• OH&S auditing is a process whereby an organisation can

review and continuously evaluate the effectiveness of
their OH&S management system.

• Safety auditing is a positive and proactive means of

checking the safety performance of an organisation.
 More simply….

PLAN

Health
ACT & DO
Safety
CHECK
 EMPLOYEE ROLE/RESPONSIBILITY

• To cooperate with their employer to ensure

success of the policy
• Be interested in learning and developing skills on
OSH
• Comply with all safe work procedures and
practices
• Make use of the protective appliances provided
for use .
• Report all unsafe conditions, acts and practices
noted.
 Employee Involvement
Recommendations:
You can involve employees by asking them to:
– Participate in accident or incident investigations.
– Conduct workplace or departmental safety and health
inspections.
– Develop and/or evaluate written safety procedures.
– Participate in safety and health committees.
– Assist in safety training of other employees.
Eliminate Barriers
– Top management must “walk the talk”
– Allow employees to attend meetings or training
sessions
 Employee Involvement

Establish a Safety & Health Committee:

• Involves employees
• Provide Support
• Accountability
 Safety and Health Management
Systems
Benefits
•Lowers Workers Compensation Cost
•Increased Productivity
•Increased Moral
•Lower absenteeism
•Increased Compliance
 NK
A
TH U!
YO
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