NEBOSH International General Certificate

Resource Pack
Ian Harries CMIOSH

© 2013 Ian Harries. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reprinted or
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NEBOSH International General Certificate
in Occupational Safety and Health
IGC1.2
Health and Safety Management
Systems 1: Policy
Chapter 2
Unit contents

 Learning outcomes
 The key elements of a health and safety
management system
Learning outcomes

 Outline the key elements of a health and safety

management system
 Explain the purpose and importance of setting policy for
health and safety
 Describe the key features and appropriate content of an
effective health and safety policy.
Key elements of a
health and safety
management system
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

All recognized occupational health and safety management

systems follow the same basic and common elements:

A planning phase
A planning phase

A performance phase
A performance phase

A performance assessment phase

A performance assessment phase

A performance improvement
A performance improvement
phase
phase
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Performance Assessment Improvement

Planning phase
phase phase phase

Active
Setting policy Communication Active Review
Setting policy Communication monitoring Review
monitoring

Employee Reactive Continual

Organizing Employee Reactive Continual
Organizing participation monitoring improvement
participation monitoring improvement

Identification & Acceptance

Identification &
assessment Acceptance
monitoring
assessment monitoring

Procedures
Procedures
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Common basis for HSG 65, OHSAS 18001 and

ILO-OSH 2001 Plan:
Do:
Check:
Act
Plan:
Do:
Check:
Act
Plan Review against
Establish
Implement
Measure progress
plans to
Plan Establish
Implement
Measure
Review against
progress
plans to
standards
achieve
with
objectives
plans
objectives
for
and
standards
achieve
with
objectives
plans
objectives
for
and
health
and
compliance
standards
standards
andand
safety
withtake
Act Do health
and
compliance
standards
standards
andand
safety
withtake
Act Do managementaction
standards
appropriate
managementaction
standards
appropriate
based on risk
based on risk
assessment and
assessment and
Check legal requirements
Check legal requirements
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

HSG 65 is published in the UK by the Health & Safety

Executive (HSE) as a guide to successful health and safety
management.

The guide is more concerned with continual improvement

than the attainment of minimum health and safety
standards.

This framework is used by HSE Inspectors when auditing

the health and safety management arrangements of
employers.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

POLICY Plan
Measure:
Audit:
Policy:
Review and
Organize:
POLICY Implement:
Measure
Planned
Set in
Put
Reviewaaclear
of
structure
ORGANIZE Establish,
assessment
direction,
and
performance aims
operate
of
– and
arrangements
ORGANIZE
and
against
arrangements
objectives
to
actualmaintain
deliveragreed
vs. forgood
the
plannedthe
to
policy
PLAN &
systems
standards
ensure
organization
they
effectively
taking toto
into deliver
are
reveal
to
account
PLAN &
IMPLEMENT the
where
effective,
follow
policy’s
relevantimprovement
suitable
aims
IMPLEMENT is needed
and objectives
meet
experiences any
also
andlegal
MEASURE effectively
praise
requirements
applyinginstances
lessons as of
MEASURE
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
goodas
well
learnt working
in-house
practice,
standards
REVIEW
compliance with
REVIEW procedures, etc.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

OHSAS 18001 is an internationally recognized accredited

standard for occupational health and safety management.

The standard is similar in structure to ILO-OSH 2001, with

the main exception that it is only awarded to organizations
following a successful audit by an awarding institution.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

 Appropriate
On-goingof
Provide
Procedures
Results hazard
adequate the resources
to monitor
internal nature
audits and
POLICY 
 and
Appropriate
On-going
Provide
Procedures
Results
identification,
scale
measure
Define
of hazard
adequateto
of internal
OH&S
evaluations
roles, risk the nature
monitor
resources
audits
assessment
organizational
of
responsibilities
and
POLICY identification,
and
 risks
andDefinescale
measure
evaluations
roles,
establishment risk assessment
of organizational
OH&S of
responsibilities
of
performance.
compliance
and accountabilities.
and
and establishment
risks
performance.
compliance
necessaryaccountabilities.
control measures.of
 Commitment
Procedures
Appoint
Results of
necessarya senior to the
for evaluating
consultation
control manager
measures.
  prevention
Commitment
Procedures
Appoint
Results
Results
legal
with of
etc. of
a
risk
ofsenior
compliance.
specific OH&Sto
for the
evaluating
consultation
manager
assessments
injury and
  Communications
Results of risk from
assessments
PLANNING 
prevention
legal
with
considered
 continual etc.
specific
Communications whenof
improvement
responsibilities. injury
compliance.
OH&S and
determining
from
PLANNING Procedures
external parties
considered
risk to
control parties
continual record,
(including
when determining
measures.
improvement
responsibilities.
  Commitment
Procedures
external
Competent
investigate
risk controland
complaints) toanalyse
persons
to record,
at (including
measures. in
least
  Results documented
Competent
Commitment
investigate
complaints) persons
andto at and in kept
least
analyse
 place.
comply
accidents.
 OH&S Results with legal
documented and kept
performance
up-to-date.
place.
comply
accidents. with legal
  OH&S
IMPLEMENTATIO   Effective
requirements
Procedures performance
internal
up-to-date. for dealing with
IMPLEMENTATIO  How well objectives
Establish,
requirements
Effective implement
internal have
and
N & OPERATION Procedures
communication
  Provides
Howmet
actual well
or
Establish, for
objectives
aprocedure
framework
potential
implement dealing
structures.
non- for with
have
and
been
maintain a
communication for
structures.
N & OPERATION   setting
Provides
actual
been and
Procedures
conformitymet
maintain
identifying
areviewing
and
framework
oraincluding
potential
for employee
procedure
accessing
non- forfor
taking
  Status
settingof and
Procedures
conformity investigations
foraccessing
employee
reviewing
including and
taking
consultation.
identifying
 occupational
corrective
Status
legal of
and other andstandards
action.
investigations
OH&S and
corrective
consultation.
occupational
corrective
legal and
actions standards
action.
other
CHECKING & Appropriate
corrective
 Communicated
requirements.
Records levelOH&S
actions
demonstrating of
CHECKING &   Follow up
Appropriate
requirements.
Communicated from previous
level of
CORRECTIVE ACTION   Is Recordsimplement
documentation.
compliance
Establish,
Follow
reviewed up
demonstrating
with
from the and
previous
periodically
CORRECTIVE ACTION   reviews
documentation.
compliance
Establish,
Is reviewed
Appropriate
management
maintain OH&S with
implement the
periodically
operational
system
objectives &and
reviews
  Recommendations
Appropriate
management
maintain
controls – OH&S operational
system
purchasing, for &
objectives
 which
18001. must
Recommendations
controls
which must
improvement
be measureable.
– purchasing,
be for
measureable.
18001.
emergencies, etc.
MANAGEMENT  Internal audit programme.
improvement
emergencies, etc.
MANAGEMENT
REVIEW  Internal audit programme.
REVIEW
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 is a guideline offering a recommended

occupational health and safety management framework.

There are main common elements with the UK’s HSG 65

and OHSAS 18001; the framework is not legally binding on
ILO member states and does not seek to replace national
laws, regulations or standards.

To be successful the ILO recognizes that there must be a

national policy on health and safety and occupational health
and safety management systems in place.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

 Arrangements
Development
Setting
Emphasis of onby of on
the ahealth
plan
 Performed
More emphasis
Arrangements
Development of a plan
POLICY
POLICY Setting
Emphasis
Performed
introduced
following
More ofparticipation
an on
and
emphasis
responsibilities,
and welfare
employee bytheon
initial
of health
workers.
POLICY competent
introduced
following
welfare
maintained
review of anyanand
responsibilities,
and and
for initial
of workers.
existing
any
employee
competent
accountability, participation
and
 Employees
trained
Recommendations
maintained
review and
personnel
of safety
any
accountability, safety
anyat
forexisting
 preventative
health and
Employees
trained and/or
and
personnel
Recommendations
competence, safety
training at
representatives
concerning
preventative
health
agreed and to
safety
intervals.
competence, and/orhave
training
corrective
system. actions
representatives
concerning
and communication. in
to have
agreed
sufficient
investigation
corrective
system. intervals.
time of and
work-
actions in
ORGANIZING and communication.
relation to performance
ORGANIZING   Plan
Cover:to
Effective
resources
related
Plan to
remedy
sufficient
investigation time of
supervision
accidents,
relation remedy
any
and
work-
allowany to
totoaudits
performance
 Cover:
monitoring,
deficiencies.
Effective
resources
related supervision
to allow
accidents, and to
ensure
effective
injuries,
 protection
ill-health,
monitoring,
deficiencies. of and
participation.
Elements of the
audits
 management
ensure
 reviews.
injuries, ill-health, of
Support protection
compliance
effective
Elementsparticipation.
of the
 workers
disease
Formation and
management
management of incidents.
a reviews.
health
PLANNING &   Support
workers
Arrangements
with national
disease compliance
and
management
Formation ina place
legislation
of incidents.
health
PLANNING &  and system.
Establishment
safety
Arrangements
with of
committee.
national in place
legislation
IMPLEMENTATIO  for
and continued
andrequire
system.
Establishment
safety continual of
committee.
IMPLEMENTATIO  prevention
for
and require
Occupational
Employee andcontinual
continued health
health
N  improvement
improvement.

prevention of the
andhealthhealth
Occupational
promotion
Employee
improvement
improvement.

and safety programmes.
should of the
be
N  participation
management
Contain
promotion measureable and
system.
programmes.
andparticipation
safety should be
 management
Worker
compatible
Contain access to
orobjectives.
measureable
consultation. and
system.
 and realistic
Worker
compatibleaccess to
orobjectives.
and consultation.
records,
integrated monitoring
with
realistic the
EVALUATION  Hazard
 records, identification
National
integrated legislation
monitoring
with the
EVALUATION  documents,
organization’s
Hazard
 National etc. other
identification
legislation
and risk assessment.
documents,
organization’s
compliance. etc.other
 management
and
Health risk
and systems
assessment.
safety
compliance.
 Establish,
management
Health implement
and systems
safety
 Meeting
training
Establish, objectives.
available
implement to all
and monitor
Meeting
training
 objectives.
available to all
ACTION FOR employees.
and monitor
procedures.
ACTION FOR
IMPROVEMENT
employees.
procedures.
IMPROVEMENT
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing and Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Auditing should establish how effective the following three

components of the health and safety management are in
reality:
1 Management organization and arrangements
2 Identification and implementation of risk control
measures
3 Workplace precautions and control measures.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing and Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

To be effective improvement does not need to be expensive

or complex but can benefit organization:
 By decreasing the rate of injuries, ill health and damage
 By a possible reduction in the resources required to
maintain the system
 By accepting high standards and improvement in the
health and safety culture
 With overall improvements in the management system
itself.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

1 What are the main elements of an occupational health

and safety management system?
Key features and
content of a health
and safety policy
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 identifies that the employer, in consultation

with the workforce and their representatives, should set out
in writing a health and safety policy:
 Specific to the organization and appropriate to its size
and activities
 Concise, clearly written, dated and made effective by
the signature of the most senior accountable person
 Communicated and readily accessible to all persons at
their place of work
 Reviewed for continuing suitability
 Made available to relevant external interested parties.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The ILO further recommends:

 Protecting the safety and health of all members of the

organization by preventing work-related injuries, ill
health, disease and incidents
 Complying with relevant occupational health and safety
national laws and regulations, voluntary programmes,
etc.
 Ensuring that workers and their representatives are
consulted and encouraged to participate actively in all
areas of occupational health and safety management
 Continual improvement in the performance.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The statement of intent should set out in clear and simple

language the commitment of the organization to meeting its
obligations for managing the health and safety risks arising
from its normal operations.

This should include:

 A commitment to the effective management of health
and safety risks arising from the normal operations of
the organization
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the

health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives
 It should be signed by the most senior accountable
person to signal senior management commitment to
effectively managing health and safety.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

What Who How

Statement of
Statement of Organization Arrangements
intent Organization Arrangements
intent
What the Who has The measures
What the is Who has
organization
organization is general and inThe measures
place to
aiming to general and &
specific roles in place to
aiming into manage general
achieve specific roles
functions in & manage general
achieve in and specific
relation functions
relation to in and specific
relation health aspects of the
managing relation to
managing aspects of the
managing organization’s
and safety health managing
health and organization’s
health and
and safety
safety and
health health and
safety
safety safety
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The policy should include the following:

 The name or job title of the senior accountable person

in the organization who is responsible for health and
safety
 The name of the Health and Safety Adviser, any safety
representatives and others who have specific roles and
responsibilities for health and safety
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 The commitment to employee consultation e.g. using a

safety committee, recognition of safety representatives
 Identify the relevant health and safety, welfare and
environmental issues relating to the organization's
activities
 A commitment to risk assessment, emergency
procedures, health surveillance and employment of
competent persons
 Duties towards non-employees, e.g. contractors, visitors,
members of the public
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 Reference to specific policies of the organization e.g.

smoking, violence to staff etc.
 Duties of employees
 Specific performance targets for the immediate and long-
term future
 The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the
health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Common health and safety performance targets:

 A specific reduction in the number of accidents, incidents and
cases of work-related illness
 A reduction in the level of sickness absence
 A specific increase in the number of minor accidents and near
miss incidents
 A reduction in the number of civil claims
 No enforcement notices from the relevant ‘Enforcement
Agency’
 A specific improvement in health and safety audit scores
 Achievement of a nationally recognised health and safety
management system (e.g. OHSAS 18001).
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The setting of health and safety performance standards is an

important aspect of the statement of intent, because:
They indicate that there is management commitment to
improve health and safety performance
They motivate the workforce with goals
They provide evidence during the monitoring, review and
auditing of phases of a safety management system.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The organization section of the policy should define the

names and duties of the people within the organization who
are responsible for the development and communication to
the workplace of the health and safety policy.

Two key personnel to be identified are:

 the most senior accountable person for managing
occupational health and safety and
 the Health & Safety Competent Person.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 Managers (e.g. directors, departmental managers,

supervisors etc.) with delegated health & safety
responsibilities
 Competent persons (e.g. occupational nurse, first
aiders, fire marshals, in-house inspection/testing
personnel, etc.)
 Safety representatives.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

This section of the policy will outline the arrangements in

place within the organization for meeting any specific
hazards, legal requirements, etc.

This will include health and safety rules and procedures and
the provision of facilities, such as a first aid room and wash
rooms.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 For evaluating and managing risks arising from

workplaces, hazardous substances, activities, fire, etc.
 Health and safety inspection and audit procedures
 Accident and illness reporting and investigation
procedure, emergency procedures, first aid
 Employee health and safety responsibilities
 Control of hazardous substances, manual handling,
noise, vibration, etc.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 Electricity and electrical equipment (maintenance and

testing)
 Machinery safety (including safe systems of work), lifting
and pressure equipment permits to work procedures
 Procedures for contractors and visitors
 Catering and food hygiene procedures
 Terms of reference and constitution of the safety
committee (where appropriate).
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Specific arrangements
 Accident investigation and reporting
 Health and safety training and information
 Health and safety monitoring and audit
 Health surveillance
 Monitoring of plant and equipment and its maintenance
 Liaison with external agencies.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The best control systems will deteriorate over time, or

become obsolete as a result of change, new processes, etc.

Therefore it makes sense to periodically review the policy to

ensure it remains effective, measure the aims and
objectives and update the organizational and arrangement
sections as necessary.

When and why should an organization review its

health and safety policy?
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

 Annually as part of a formal review cycle, and following:

 A change in the health and safety responsible person

and/or health and safety competent person
 Changes in management affecting delegated
responsibilities
 Changes in workplace arrangements, facilities, or the
introduction of new processes
 Introduction of new legislation introducing new duties
or responsibilities
 A prosecution or issuing of an enforcement notice.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

1 a What is the general content of the three sections

of a health and safety policy?
b Why should the most senior person in an
organization sign the health and safety policy?

2 What should be covered in the arrangements section of a

health and safety policy?

3 Under what circumstances should a health and safety

policy be reviewed?