HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 3 - PLANNING - ELEMENT 4 - UNIT IGC1

4.1 - Importance of planning System to establish, implement and maintain requirements THE PLANNING PROCESS Planning is part of one of the main elements of successful health and safety management, as set out in the ILO document ‘Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (ILO-OSH 2001)’ and part of the overall health and safety management system of an organisation.

Successful organisations adopt a planned and systematic approach to policy implementation. Their aim is to minimise the risks created by work activities, products and services. They use hazard identification and risk assessment methods to decide priorities and set objectives for hazard elimination and risk reduction. Specific actions needed to promote a positive health and safety culture and to eliminate and control risks are identified and plans made to fulfil them. Wherever possible, it is planned that risks are eliminated by the careful selection and design of facilities, equipment and processes or minimised by the use of physical control measures. Where this is not possible, plans for the provision of a safe system of work and personal protective equipment are made to control risks. The planning process includes the identification of legal requirements and other requirements that can influence the level of health performance that the organisation has to establish.

Figure 1-4-1: Planning as part of a system. Source: ILO-OSH 2001.

This, in conjunction with the risk assessment process, is used to establish a planned programme for health and safety implementation that includes the setting of health and safety objectives and ensures that good health and safety practices are maintained.

Setting health and safety objectives Setting objectives is an integral part of the planning process. Setting objectives is essential because they provide:

A target to aim for; therefore actions and efforts can be focused on attaining the objectives instead of being diverted inefficiently.

Participants with a sense of direction. Motivation, through structured progress and successful achievement in meeting them.

A health and safety objective is a mutually understood agreement about a specific health and safety outcome that a person is expected to achieve during a defined objective cycle. It is not a list of all the health and safety activities or responsibilities that relate to the function or level of the organisation, but the role will include fulfilment of the objectives. Organisations should set objectives to meet their commitments established in the health and safety policy and top level objectives, set for the organisation as a whole, should be agreed by top management. Objectives must be set for the organisation as a whole, each function and level. This means that objectives will be established and for different functions, for example, the primary part of the organisation that deals with delivery of a service, those that maintain the fabric and facilities of the organisation and those that administer the organisation. Each level in the organisation should have objectives set that are relevant to them. This will reflect organisational objectives and local objectives to ensure health and safety performance remains relevant to workers. The objectives that relate to the whole organisation should be set by the top management team. The team should consult widely on what the objectives should be, as they relate to everyone in the organisation. This will involve the managers that will be responsible for the fulfilment of the objectives. In addition, the objective setting process will need to consider those who have an interest in the outcome of the objectives, such as workers, worker health and safety representatives and health and safety practitioners. This process of consultation and setting can be replicated to set objectives for the different functions and levels. It is important that objectives set for the whole organisation, functions and levels are documented. They must be seen as an obligation that must be fulfilled and effort must be made to meet them.

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UNIT IGC2 - ELEMENT 3 - MUSCULOSKELETAL HAZARDS AND RISK CONTROL

212 © RMS

Involving the workforce Effort should be made to seek contributions from workers and, where applicable, worker health and safety representatives. Training Employers should ensure that all workers who carry out manual handling operations receive the necessary training to enable them to carry out the task in a safe manner. A training programme should include:

How potentially hazardous loads may be recognised. How to deal with unfamiliar loads. The proper use of handling aids. The proper use of personal protective equipment. Features of the working environments that contribute to safety. The importance of good housekeeping. Factors affecting individual capability. Good handling techniques.

For training to be effective it should be on-going to reflect improved techniques developed by experienced workers and be supported by periodic refresher training and supervision.

Efficient movement principles for manually lifting loads LIFTING TECHNIQUES USING KINETIC HANDLING PRINCIPLES

Figure 2-3-17: Basic lifting principles. Source: UK, HSE Guidance L23. The principles of good lifting and moving techniques have been established for some considerable time. The basic principles are: a) Assess the load before attempting to move it. b) Begin with the load between the feet, the leading foot should be in line with the side of the load, pointing in

the direction of movement.

FIRE SAFETY - ELEMENT 6 - UNIT IGC2

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Pictograms Pictograms are now widely used to indicate the class of fire that a fire extinguisher is suitable for and effective on. In some countries, notably the USA, coloured geometric symbols and letters are also used with the pictograms to discern the type of fire the portable fire extinguisher was suitable for.

: Pictograms for classificatiFigure 2-6-53 on of fires - UK and Europe. Figur

Source: Safety Poste 2-6-54: Pic

er Shop. tograms for classification of fires - USA.

So

applied ng or symbo hould ensure that mean the right fi a particular class

urce: Safety Poster Shop.

Whatever markings areworkers understand their of fire.

to fire extinguishers, colour codiing and are capable of selecting

ls, the employer sre extinguisher for

6.5 - Evacuation of a workplace Means of escape The responsible person for fire ake arrangements to manag ks as are appropriate to the

the undertaking and the nature of its activities. This should include effective planning, organisation, oring and review of the T

ns of escape in the eve general factors sh plann

TRAVEL DISTANCES nificant scap ces are judged

f distance to a pl from uilding; the distance needs to inimum. udes travel ar may greatly affected by any work in

The route must be sufficiently wide and of sufficiently short distance to allow speedy and

risks should m e fire rissize of control, monitfor mea

preventive and protective measures. nt of a fire.

his should extend to arrangements

The following ould be taken into consideration when ing means of escape.

Travel distance is a sig component of a successful means of e e plan. Travel distanon the basis obe kept to the m

ace of safety in the open air and away the b

The distance incl ound obstructions in the workplace and beprogress on a construction site. If someone is outside on a scaffold it is unlikely to be considered as a place of

e would usually be taken as that to reach the ground away from the building (for example, safety and the distancat an assembly point).safe evacuation.

Escape routes Suggested maximum travel distance

High fire risk 25m

Normal fire risk 45m

More than one escape route provided

Lower fire risk 60m