Health and Safety Management Systems in an Organisation - Term Paper Example

 [Health And Safety Management Systems In An Organisation] Contents Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 Health and Safety Management Systems in Relation to HSG 65 Guide 3 Safety Policy 3 Organising 4 Planning and Implementing 4 Performance Measurement 5 Performance Review 5 Auditing 6 The Importance of Conducting Risk Assessment in an Organisation 7 Safe work practices which are enhanced by risk assessment keeps people in an organisation healthy and safe. They are also given safe working environment. A safe working place for employees guarantees their health and enhanced superior performance. Employees are provided with adequate plant, tools and equipment and are also provide with ongoing training and education. This is because Health and Safety Management Systems identify risks that an organisation may be facing and, and controls are put in place to eliminate the risk (Urquhart, 2011, p, 1). 7 For example manufacturing and construction companies can ensure health and safety by carrying out risk assessment to identify the significant hazards that their employees face. The organisations can then formulate an action plan of minimizing the identified risks (Keirle, 2002, p, 202). Priorities will then be set and the costs will be identified. Responsibilities will be allocated to ensure that the action plan is achieved. There should also be regular reviews of the plan to ensure continuous success. 7 Importance of Conducting Safety Audit 12 References 14 Executive Summary It is a requirement that every organisation to have a policy for systematic management of health and safety. This ensures that health and safety risks are addressed and controlled effectively. In this report, The Importance Of Implementing Health And Safety Management Systems In An Organisation, using various examples of organisations is assessed and discussed, in relation to HSG 65 guide. Also, in this report, the process of implementation of a successful management system in various organisations in world is outlined. The report also discusses the importance of implementing risk assessment and safety audit to ensure safety of workers and safe environment. Introduction Health and safety in the work is vital in any organisation. Therefore, workplace health and safety has been embraced by many organisations across the world so as to keep people healthy and safe from working conditions, business processes and plant and equipment, among other factors that may cause harm. Organisations seek to achieve this goal by implementing Health and Safety Management Systems. This report assesses and discusses the importance of risk assessment and implementing of Health and Safety Management Systems in an organisation, using various examples of organisations, in relation to HSG 65 guide. The report also explains how the process of implementation of a successful management system in various organisations in the world is carried out. Finally, the report outlines the importance of implementing risk assessment and safety audit to ensure safety of workers and safe environment. Health and Safety Management Systems in Relation to HSG 65 Guide HSG 65 is among the major occupational health and safety systems that are used in the UK. The UK HSE published a successful health and safety management, HSG 65 in 1991(Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Since then, HSG 65 has been undergoing various amendments. The HSG 65 framework is used to evaluate and audit the health and safety management arrangement of an organisation. The HSG 65 framework has various elements, which can be used in implementing Safety management Systems in organisations, as explained. Safety Policy Organisations should have a clear health and safety policy. This involves a clear direction in terms of recruitment, selection of equipment and materials and work practices, aimed at having high standards of health and safety. A well considered policy contributes to business efficiency and continual improvement throughout the organisation. It minimises avoidable accidents (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Such a policy also demonstrates to an organisation’s workforce that accidents are not necessarily the fault of any individual member of the workforce. Organisations can implement a clear health and safety policy by ensuring that there is a systematic approach to risk assessment. Organising There should be a well defined health and safety organisation policy which will contribute to positive health and safety culture. There should be management control of health and safety throughout the organisation. Organisations can ensure that their workforce, safety representatives and managers should collaborate through involvement and participation, high quality communications, empowerment of employees and promotion of competency (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Organisation should also allocate responsibilities for the health and safety tasks, during the implementation of Health and Safety Management Systems. This requires allocating adequate time, resources, and ensuring that those entrusted with those duties are competent by arranging necessary training when necessary. During this stage, organisations should ensure that arrangements are well communicated. Information about hazards, risks and preventive measures should be communicated to everyone. Managers and directors should lead by example in managing health and safety, according to HSG 65. Planning and Implementing There should be a clear, health and safety plan that sets and implements performance standards and procedures. Priorities should be set to control and eliminate hazards, and as well reduce risks. Organisations should set performance standards. During the planning and implementation stage, organisations should use risk and hazard identification and assessment methods to make decisions about how to eliminate or control risks and hazards. Planning and implementation also involves design of tasks, processes, and equipment and safety systems. Organisations should ensure that targets and standards are set at this stage. In addition, organisations should ensure that they set sustainable, measurable, achievable, and realistic and time bound objectives. Performance Measurement Organisations should ensure that they evaluate the performance. Measuring of performance involves evaluating of performance against set standards to assess the effectiveness of an organisation’s health and safety systems. A method of measuring health and safety performance should be instituted. This involves proactive monitoring on the working of the occupational health and safety management system. It also involves active monitoring by looking at the premises, plant, people, procedures and substances. There should also be reactive monitoring, which is the investigation of incidents and why controls have failed. Performance Review Organisations should implement systematic reviews, which should be carried out frequently to ascertain performance against legislative requirements. This involves evaluation of how reliable and effective the system is by assessing whether it achieved the desired results (Collins, 2008, p, 51). Performance review enables organisations to reinforce, maintain and develop the ability to reduce risks. This will enhance continuing effectiveness of the health and safety management system. Auditing Auditing is a kind of performance review method which involves monitoring through independent audits. Performance is assessed against health and safety policy objectives and targets. This monitoring activity involves collection of independent information on the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the health and safety management system to create corrective plans (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). In auditing, organisations should that they collect relevant information pertaining to performance of health and safety management systems for evaluation and corrective purposes. The Importance of Conducting Risk Assessment in an Organisation Safe work practices which are enhanced by risk assessment keeps people in an organisation healthy and safe. They are also given safe working environment. A safe working place for employees guarantees their health and enhanced superior performance. Employees are provided with adequate plant, tools and equipment and are also provide with ongoing training and education. This is because Health and Safety Management Systems identify risks that an organisation may be facing and, and controls are put in place to eliminate the risk (Urquhart, 2011, p, 1). For example manufacturing and construction companies can ensure health and safety by carrying out risk assessment to identify the significant hazards that their employees face. The organisations can then formulate an action plan of minimizing the identified risks (Keirle, 2002, p, 202). Priorities will then be set and the costs will be identified. Responsibilities will be allocated to ensure that the action plan is achieved. There should also be regular reviews of the plan to ensure continuous success. For instance, Chep UK introduced a behavioural safety programme to improve employee safety (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). The introduction of the behavioural safety programme started with the planning phase, where a policy statement was formulated. The policy statement outlined the health and safety aims and commitment of Chep UK. Management also identified prevailing hazards. The assessment of risk included selection of risk reduction measures (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Then health and safety responsibilities were allocated at all levels of the organisation. Employees were trained on how to make observations on safe and unsafe behaviours. There was effective communication between management and the workforce. As the system of work was set, performance improvement was achieved. Meetings were held to review weaknesses of the programme. Workers had a chance of giving out their suggestions on how to improve health and safety within the organisation. The implementation the behavioural safety programme reduced staff injury costs and absenteeism among staff members (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Initially, there were accidents that led to loss of a lot of time. Managers identified a behavioural safety programme that would improve health and safety within the organisation. Employees were to make observations on safe and unsafe behaviours in terms of personal prevention equipment and handling of automated plant (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Secondly, most organisations ensure that they have quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems. Organisations that have implemented health and safety management systems use the management systems as tools for improving health and safety performance, which, in turn, contributes to the overall success of an organisation (ANSI/AIHA, 2005). This also leads to environmental conservation and human resources utilisation by setting realistic goals and obtaining active support from all management levels of an organisation (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Safety of employees and third parties, as well as security and social responsibility are essential aspects for the company strategy (Weiß & Bentlage, 2006, p, 85). An excellent example of an organisation that improved quality through environmental and occupational health and safety management system is St Regis, a paper manufacturing company (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). The paper company carried out a full review on its health and safety management system (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). There was maximum employee involvement. Accident and injury rates were reduced. The process began by carrying out guarding of machinery and other equipment and improving management systems and procedures (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Risk assessment helps in personal development of the workforce and reduces financial losses from avoidable accidents because employees are provided with an opportunity to better their performance through training (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). Risk assessment also helps in reducing losses that may arise from accidents. For instance, Birse Rail Company introduced a Health and Safety Management System that promoted a zero tolerance culture, which enabled the company to reduce accidents and improve safety and health. Interruptions were also minimised. Management offered its support while business managers were trained (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Implementation of this Health and Safety Management System commenced with the identification of the health and safety aims of the organisation and responsibility. Hazards were then identified and risk control measures were assessed and evaluated. This was followed by allocation of health and safety responsibilities to organisational members. There was effective communication between organisational members. Therefore, Birse Rail Company was able to reduce accidents and losses. Through appropriate risk assessment and Health and Safety Management Systems, business efficiency is enhanced (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). When an organisation has a Health and Safety Management System in place, it ensures employee safety, safety of the business premises and assets. When plant and equipment of an organisation are in order and employees are safe and healthy. Risk assessment addresses risks by identifying existing risks that the organisation may face and instigate control measures for such risks. This promotes a positive health and safety culture within an organisation. Health and Safety Management Systems also enhance integration with quality and environmental management systems to facilitate sharing of resources within an organisation (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011). As organisations implement Health and Safety Management Systems, they improve the culture of the business as a whole and ensure legislative compliance (Urquhart, 2011, p, 2). Risk assessment also prevents hazards through Health and Safety Management Systems. Hazards and risks to workers’ safety and health are identified and assessed on an ongoing basis by Health and Safety Management Systems. Health and Safety Management Systems ensure that the risk is controlled at the source by use of engineering controls or organisational measures (Pardy & Andrews, 2010, p, 41). They facilitate the design of safe work systems, including administrative control measures to minimize hazards or risks (Pardy & Andrews, 2010, p, 41). When the occupational safety and health management system in an organisation is identified, evaluated, and incorporated into procurement specifications prior to the procurement, an organisation conforms to the requirements for goods and services prior to their use. Health and Safety Management Systems are useful in contracting because they ensure training to contractors or their workers, prior to their beginning of work (Pardy & Andrews, 2010, p, 43). When an organisation carries out risk assessment, it ensures long term sustainability of effective safety health and environmental performance. Competent people drive effective performance and effective management which in turn drives sustainability (Mannan, 2005, p, 6). Health and Safety Management Systems provide training to employees on how to address hazardous and risky situations, which enhances long term sustainability. Also, with appropriate risk assessment, organizations will be able to identify, evaluate and control health and safety hazards that employees encounter (Redinger & Levine, 2000). Risk assessment in an organisation aids in the identification, acquisition and compatibility of controls, processes, fixtures, equipment, and skills, which might be required to minimize the risks that are associated with the identified health and safety hazards (Redinger & Levine, 2000). With appropriate risk assessment and Health and Safety Management Systems in an organisation, the organisation is systematically prepared for emergencies (Redinger & Levine, 2000). Prior planning of production, installation and servicing processes and equipment are carried out in a manner that identifies and controls hazards (Redinger & Levine, 2000, p, 6). An organisation with Health and Safety Management Systems is always prepared to address any emergencies. Organisations can ensure that they are prepared to handle emergencies by employing occupational, health professionals to attend to medical emergencies that occur within the organisation. Qualified engineers should also be hired to assess and offer practical advice on exposure and the risks associated. These professionals can also offer advice on implementation of legislation, health and safety management and risk assessment and control measures. Also, when organisations have carried out risk assessment, they are capable of carrying out health and safety inspection, whereby they check the physical working conditions, equipment, behaviour and working practices of employees (Bateman, 2006, p, 124). With formal health and safety inspection systems, organisations are able to review reports to reveal regular problem that are identified or occasional problems with high risk potential (Bateman, 2006, p, 58). Importance of Conducting Safety Audit Currently, health and safety management is treated as a fundamental element of excellent management, and not as an independent system (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Implementation of risk safety audit enables companies to track the costs or benefits that they incur in health and safety initiatives (Antonelli, Baker, McMahon, & Wright, 2006, p, 13). Implementing safety audit helps senior management of organisations to evaluate the implementation of systems and procedures. Through safety audit, the safety of operations of systems and procedures are adequately investigated to determine their reliability and this leads to safety management of the organisation. Safety audit allows management to evaluate the performance and aptness of the organisation’s systems and procedures by enhancing the safety management of systems and operations of the plant (Lees & Mannan, 2005). Assessing whether an organisation’s plant is performing correctly improves performance, and at the same time reduces injury cases because corrections are made in advance to avoid accidents. Safety audit in an organisation enables senior managers to control risks on their operations such as injuries and illness. Illness and injury are known to cause adverse effects on the performance of an organisation because employees are normally absent, during the time when they are sick (Aviva, 2011). Safety audit reduces, and at times eliminates loss to an organisation. When employees work in an environment that is risky their morale is lost, leading to a loss of morale among other stakeholders of the organisation such as customers (Aviva, 2011). Safety audit enables organisations to determine the reliability of their occupation health, safety and environmental management systems (British Safety Council, 2013). This also enhances efficiency in the implementation of safety procedures and management of the risk of accidents. Safety audit within an organisation ascertains whether suitable environmental practices are followed by organisations. Finally, safety audit reduces the rates of accidents within an organisation, and enables an organisation to minimise or eliminate litigation costs and improve productivity, through appropriate investigations and prevention of hazards (British Safety Council, 2013). References ANSI/AIHA., 2005. American National Standard: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. Fairfax: American Industrial Hygiene Association Press. Antonelli, A., Baker, M., McMahon, A., & Wright, M., 2006. Six SME Case Studies that Demonstrate the Business benefit of Effective Management of Occupational Health and Safety. Berkshire: HSE Press. Aviva., 2011, March 25. The Importance of Auditing . Retrieved from http://www.aviva.co.uk/risksolutions/news/feature/2011/03/25/the-importance-of-auditing/ Bateman, M., 2006. Tolley's Practical Risk Assessment Handbook. Burlington : Elsevier Press. British Safety Council., 2013. Audit. Retrieved from https://www.britsafe.org/audit-and-consultancy/audit Collins, D., 2008. Health and Safety Strategies 2007: Case Report. New York: Workplace Law Group. Health and Safety Executive., 2013. Birse Rail. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy/birserail.htm Health and Safety Executive., 2013. Chep UK. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy/chep.htm Health and Safety Executive., 2013. St Regis Paper Company. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/casestudy/stregis.htm Health and Safety Executive., 2013. Successful Health and Safety Management (HSG65) is Changing. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg65.htm Hughes, P., & Ferrett, E., 2011. Introduction to Health and Safety at Work. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Press. Keirle, I., 2002. Countryside Recreation Site Management: A Marketing Approach. London : Routledge Publications. Lees, F. P., & Mannan, S., 2005. Lees' Loss Prevention in the Process Industries: Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control ... Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann Press. Mannan, S., 2005. Lees' LossPrevention in the Process Industries: Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control. Oxford : Butterworth-Heinemann Press. Pardy, W., & Andrews, T., 2010. Integrated Management Systems: Leading Strategies and Solutions. Lanham : Government Institutes Press. Redinger, C. F., & Levine, S. P., 2000. Occupational Health and Safety Management System Performance Measurement: A Universal Assessment Instrument. Fairfax: American Industrial Hygiene Association Press. Urquhart, J., 2011. Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems. Bloomington: Balboa Press. Weiß, P., & Bentlage, J., 2006. Environmental Management Systems and Certification. Uppsala : Baltic University Press. Read More