NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health

Unit IGC1

Element 2: Health and Safety Management Systems 1 -

Policy

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this element, you should be able to demonstrate understanding of the content through the application of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar situations. In particular you should be able to: • 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

Unit IGC1 Element 2.1

Key Elements of a Health and Safety Management System

ILO-OSH 2001 Safety & Health Management System

Follows the PDCA Cycle • Plan – what you’re going to do

• Do – it!

• Check – that what you’re doing is working

• Act – if what you’re doing isn’t working as well as it should

Safety Management System

The ILO-OSH 2001 Safety Management System

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

• We will cover this in more detail in a minute…

– Policy

– Organising

– Planning and Implementing

– Evaluation

– Action for Improvement

– Audit

• The system should develop over time to ensure continual improvement

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

• Policy

– clear statement of commitment to health and safety

• Organising

– Roles and responsibilities for health and safety

– At all levels in the organisation

• Planning and Implementing

– Detailed arrangements to manage H&S

– Risk assessments!

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

• Evaluation

– Methods to monitor and review the effectiveness of the arrangements

• Action for Improvement

– Steps to correct issues found in the review

• Audit

– Independent, critical and systematic review of the management system

1. What are the key elements of the ILO-OSH health and safety management system?

End of Section Quiz

Unit IGC1 Element 2.2

Purpose and Importance of Setting Policy for Health and Safety

Health and Safety Policy

An important document:

• The foundation stone for good health and safety management in an organisation

• Sets out the organisation’s aims

• Identifies who is responsible for achieving these aims

• States how the aims are to be achieved

• Specific to each organisation’s requirements

(Not to be confused with "Policy" in the H&S management system model)

Group Discussion Point

• Why might the health and safety policy of two organisations be different?

• Why isn’t there a prescribed, “one size fits all” approach to developing a policy?

Why Have a Written Policy?

• Legal Compliance

• Meet management systems standards (ILO-OSH 2001, OHSAS 18001)

• Clear communication

• Continuous Improvement

1. Why is an organisation’s policy so important?

2. Why might two organisations have different policies?

End of Section Quiz

© RRC Training

Unit IGC1 Element 2.3

Key Features and Content of a Health and Safety Policy

Health and safety policy is usually found in three parts:

1. Statement of Intent

What's going to be done

2. Organisation

Who's going to do it

3. Arrangements

How they're going to do it

Key Elements of a H&S Policy

• Setting overall aims and objectives

• Complying with law

• Achieving standards

• Reminds workers at all levels of their responsibilities

• Signed and dated by the most senior person

• Regular review

General Statement of Intent

Group Discussion Point

• Targets may be included in the statement of intent to show commitment to improvement.

• What targets could be included? (general examples only needed)

Organisation Section

Health and Safety Organisation Chart

• Outlines the chain of command for health and safety management

• Identifies the roles and responsibilities of staff

• Usually includes an organisational chart relating to health and safety

• Shows lines of communication and feedback

Organisation Section

Defines responsibilities for:

• The CEO or MD - ultimately responsible and accountable

• Management - responsible for day-to-day management

• All employees - responsible for acting safely

• Competent persons - first aiders, fire marshals, etc.

• Specialist health and safety practitioners – responsible for providing advice to support management and employees

Organisation Section

• Describes how things are done

• Detailed description of policies and procedures

• Usually a long document

• Often separate from the policy document

• Unique to each organisation

Arrangements Section

Examples of topics:

• Carrying out risk assessments

• Information, instruction and training

• Compliance monitoring, including auditing

• Accident and near miss reporting, recording and investigation

• Consultation with workers

• Developing safe systems of work

Arrangements Section

Can you think of any other specific health and safety hazards?

Write down as many as you can think of which you believe should be included in the Arrangements Section of a Health and Safety Policy.

Individual Activity

Arrangements Section

Specific Risks and Problems

• Lone working • Housekeeping • Noise • Vibration • Hazardous substances • Fire procedures • Control of contractors • Transport risks

Some reasons for review

• Changes in:

key personnel

management structure

ownership

processes

technology

legislation

• Incident

• Enforcement action

• After audit

• After worker consultation

• Passage of time e.g. annually

Reviewing the Policy

Article 14

ILO Recommendation R164

Requires employers to set down in writing, policy and arrangements for health and safety management:

• Where circumstances warrant it

• In a readily understood language or medium

International Standards for Policy

1. What are the three key parts to a health and safety policy?

2. What type of targets might be referenced in the policy (and where)?

End of Section Quiz