NEBOSH International General Certificate

Resource Pack

Ian Harries CMIOSH

© 2013 Ian Harries. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any storage retrieval system without permission in writing from the publishers.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health IGC1.1

Foundations in Health & Safety

Chapter 1

Unit contents

    Learning outcomes The scope and nature of occupational health and safety Moral, social and economic reasons for managing health and safety in the workplace The role of national governments and international bodies in the regulation of health and safety

Learning outcomes

   Outline the scope and nature of occupational health and safety.

Explain briefly the moral, social and economic reasons for maintaining and promoting good standards of health and safety in the workplace.

Outline the role of national governments and international bodies in formulating a framework for the regulation of health and safety.

The scope and nature of occupational health and safety

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion The effective management of health and safety is important to all organizations, irrespective of their size, work activities, industry sector, etc.

Health and safety issues will differ from country to country.

This unit aims to introduce you to the foundations necessary for any organization to effectively manage occupational health and safety.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion The International Labour Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) estimates that annually there are:  

270 million occupational accidents, and 160 millions cases of occupational disease

throughout the world.

reported It is also estimated that over year as the result of

2 million

accidents or workers die each contracting an occupational illness.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion Estimated numbers of global work-related adverse events (ILO)

Event

Work-related deaths Work-related deaths of children

Daily average

5,000 60

Annually

2,000,000 22,000 Work-related accidents Work-related diseases Hazardous substance deaths Asbestos-related deaths 740,000 438,000 1,205 274 270,000,000 160,000,000 440,000 100,000

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion Corporate responsibility is now a widely accepted term used throughout the world, as it covers:    the effects an environment organization’s activities have on the human rights third world poverty.

Therefore corporate responsibility includes the health and safety of employees and others who could be affected by the organization’s activities.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion In the UK the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has the responsibility for enforcing health and safety legislation and is working with UK organizations to:    Improve health and safety management systems to reduce workplace injuries and ill-health Demonstrate the importance of health and safety issues at all levels of an organization, especially management and board levels Report publicly on health and safety issues within their organization, including their performance in relation to accidents, workplace ill health, etc.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion

What types of barriers may be present within an organization in relation to accepting health and safety?

Any personal experiences?

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion There are many obstacles – both internal and external – to achieving good health and safety standards:      Production targets and pressures Performance targets and pressures Financial pressures and constraints The organization itself in terms of structure, scope of operation, etc.

Acceptance throughout the organization of the reasons for managing health and safety effectively.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions Group discussion The following are common management of health and safety: issues relating to the      Arrangements and procedures may not be apparent to employees Audits are only concerned with a review of paper systems, not how risks are actually managed in the workplace Excessive and complicated documents make acceptance by managers, supervisors and employees difficult to enforce Other business priorities are given more emphasis Supervisors not understanding or implementing safety procedures, which leads to non-acceptance by employees.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions Group discussion Often within an organization or workplace, health and safety management will encompass:     Risk assessment Setting targets and objectives and monitoring Promotion of a safe and healthy working environment Identifying and understanding the impact on the health of employees.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions Group discussion  Organizations are able to demonstrate legal compliance to enforcement agencies, who in turn have more confidence in their ability to safeguard the health and safety of employees and others than organizations who do not effectively manage health and safety issues.

 Health and safety is given equal priority to other business objectives – financial, quality, production, etc.

 Allow for significant risks to be identified, evaluated and controlled in a systematic manner.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions Group discussion  Allow the organization to demonstrate compliance with legal terms such as ‘practicable’ and ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’.

 Demonstrate they can respond and manage the impact of emergencies effectively.

 Illustrate a commitment to the health and safety of employees, and others.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety

Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions Group discussion In the UK the HSE believes that effective management of health and safety:   Is essential for employee well-being Has a major role in enhancing an reputation  organization’s Is financially beneficial to the organization by reducing costs relating to accidents, down-time, investigations, claims for compensation, etc.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions

Group discussion Health Protecting the bodies and minds of people from illnesses arising from exposure to materials, processes or procedures used in the workplace.

Safety Protecting individuals from physical injury.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions

Group discussion Hazard The

potential

cause harm.

for a substance, person, activity or process to Risk The

likelihood

of a substance, person, activity or process to cause harm including the severity of harm.

A risk can be

controlled reduced

and a hazard

eliminated

through effective management of risk.

or

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions

Group discussion Welfare Provision of facilities to maintain the health and well-being of individuals present in the workplace, such as washing and sanitation facilities, provision of drinking water, heating, lighting, etc. including first aid facilities.

Accident An unplanned event that results in injury or ill health of people, damage or loss of property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of a business opportunity.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions

Group discussion Near miss Any incident which could have resulted in an accident. Near miss statistics in the UK has shown that for every

10 near miss events 1 minor accident

occurs.

Dangerous occurrences An incident which could have led to a serious injury, loss of life or property damage, e.g. release of flammable gas, collapse of scaffold structure, crane or passenger carrying equipment.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety

Key definitions

Group discussion Workplace ill health Any condition which an employee develops which is linked to exposure to hazardous substances, noise, vibration, biological agents, etc. Can also include stress.

Scope and nature

Introduction to managing health & safety Benefits of managing health & safety Key definitions

Group discussion

1 What are the definitions of the following terms and common workplace examples of each: a b Hazard Risk?

Moral, social and economic reasons for managing health and safety

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion The ILO estimates that work-related deaths and illnesses represent

percent 3.9 percent of all deaths

, together with of the

15

world’s population suffering a workplace injury or developing an occupational illness each year.

Up to

30 percent

of the world’s unemployed report they are suffering from an injury or workplace disease relating to their previous employment.

Fatal workplace accidents in Asia and Latin America are increasing.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Australia Brazil Canada China EU Egypt India South Korea Saudi Arabia United Kingdom USA Social reasons

Labour force

9,796,300 83,000,000 16,200,000 737,000,000 224,050,000 19,200,000 443,000,000 22,100,000 5,800,000 27,200,000 141,800,000 Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion

Estimated fatalities (annually)

236 11,304 899 73,595 11,369 3,884 48,176 3,148 1,096 225 6,821

Estimated lost time accidents (annually)

180,486 11,366,000 789,000 68,692,000 4,340,000 2,245,000 30,627,000 1,542,000 632,000 180,000 5,069,000

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons Financial reasons

Region

Established market economies Former socialist economies India China Other Asia and Islands Sub-Saharan Africa Latin-America and Caribbean Middle Eastern Crescent Effective management Group discussion

% share of fatal injuries

5 5 11 26 22 15 11 5

Fatal accidents per 100,000 workers

4.5

13.0

11.0

10.0

20.5

21.0

15.0

17.0

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons

Region

Financial reasons Established market economies Former socialist economies India China Other Asia and Islands Sub-Saharan Africa Latin-America and Caribbean Middle Eastern Crescent Effective management Group discussion

Economical active population

419,732,002 183,089,714 443,860,000 740,703,000 415,527,598 279,680,390 219,083,179 135,220,721

Fatal occupational accidents

15,879 17,416 40,133 90,295 76,886 53,292 36,372 17,977

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion Work-related diseases cause the majority of deaths amongst the world’s working population:    Of the

2.2 million

work related deaths each year,

million

are the result of disease

1.7

The ILO estimates there to be work-related disease each year

160 million

cases of Hazardous substances kill about

438,000

workers annually, with asbestos-related illness claiming about

100,000

lives.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons Australia Brazil Canada China EU Egypt India South Korea Saudi Arabia United Kingdom USA Financial reasons Effective management

Labour force

9,796,300 83,000,000 16,200,000 737,000,000 224,050,000 19,200,000 443,000,000 22,100,000 5,800,000 27,200,000 141,800,000 Group discussion

Work-related disease fatalities

6,634 44,375 10,962 414,024 50,279 26,175 325,350 11,665 8,660 20,552 98,210

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion

Region

Established market economies Former socialist economies India China Other Asia and Islands Sub-Saharan Africa Latin-America and Caribbean Middle Eastern Crescent

Economical active population

419,732,002 183,089,714 443,860,000 740,703,000 415,527,598 279,680,390 219,083,179 135,220,721

Fatal work-related disease

281,364 148,194 261,891 386,645 178,786 211,262 108,195 120,725

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons

Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion A common feature of most countries’ legal systems is the concept of the duty of care each employer owes to their employees, as well as other persons who may be affected by their activities.

This duty cannot be passed onto another person, such as a manager or a consultant employed to provide advice and support to the employer, or if an employee is sub contracted to work for another employer.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons

Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion 2 3 4 5 Commonly this duty is divided into five specific areas: 1 Provision of a safe place of work, including access and egress Provision of safe plant and equipment Provision of safe systems of work Employing safe and competent employees Provision of adequate levels of supervision, information, instruction and training.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons

Social reasons

Financial reasons Effective management Group discussion Health and safety requirements will normally be reinforced by national civil and/or criminal law.

This provides an incentive to manage health and safety effectively as the outcome of failing to safeguard employees’, or others’, health and safety may lead to:     Enforcement action Prosecution Fines and/or imprisonment Compensation claims – criminal law – civil law.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion A study of UK accidents and ill health by the HSE identified that indirect costs (or hidden costs) could be as much as

36 times higher

than direct costs.

In 2000 the European Union estimated that occupational accidents cost member states

55 billion Euros

each year.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion The Business Case for Health and Safety

£1

Accidents and work-related ill-health both require investigating to identify the direct involved.

and indirect costs

£8 - 36

A UK HSE study identified that indirect costs for an accident could be as much as 36 times greater than the known direct costs

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion The Business Case for Health and Safety

DIRECT COSTS

Insured direct costs will include:     Insurance claims Damage to buildings, equipment or vehicles Attributable production and/or general business loss Absence of employees.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion The Business Case for Health and Safety   

DIRECT COSTS

Uninsured direct costs will include:    Fines arising from prosecutions Sick pay Damage to product, equipment or vehicles which is not attributable to the accident Increased insurance premiums Compensation not covered by the insurance policy due to agreed excesses Legal representation.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion The Business Case for Health and Safety

INDIRECT COSTS

Insured direct costs will include: • Cumulative business loss • Product or process liability claims • Recruitment of replacement staff.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion The Business Case for Health and Safety     

INDIRECT COSTS

Uninsured direct costs:   Loss of goodwill and poor corporate image including poor staff morale Accident investigation time together with any remedial action required Production delays Extra overtime payments Lost time for other employees – e.g. first aider Recruitment and training of replacement staff Additional administration time.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion Employers’ liability insurance Many countries’ legal systems require employers to have employers’ liability insurance – the purpose of the insurance is to cover their liability in the event of an employee suffering a injury following an accident or contracting an occupational disease.

Such cover ensures that should the employee make a compensation claim they will receive their compensation irrespective of their employer’s financial status.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion Fault and no-fault injury compensation In the UK compensation for injuries/occupational diseases is awarded after a successful civil case brought by the employee.

To achieve this the claimant has to prove the defendant was at fault and was therefore negligent – this means the system is adversarial and costly and is a major contribution to spiraling insurance claims and costs of premiums.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion Fault and no-fault injury compensation In New Zealand, Canada, Scandinavian countries and some US states, a no-fault compensation system is in place.

In such systems compensation levels are agreed at a state or national government level based on the type and severity of the injury.

As opposed to the UK system, compensation is often in the form of a structured continual award, and may be in the form of a service as opposed to monetary compensation.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion 3 4 5 Fault and no-fault injury compensation For any national non-faulty system to work five principles must be in place: 1 2 Community responsibility Comprehensive entitlement irrespective of income or job status Complete rehabilitation of the injured person Real compensation for the injured person Administrative efficiency of the compensation scheme.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion Fault and no-fault injury compensation Possible advantages:  Accident claims are settled quicker than in fault systems   Accident reporting rates can improve Accidents are easier to investigate as blame is no longer an issue  More funds are available from insurance premiums for the injured party and less is used in the judicial and administrative processes.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons

Financial reasons

Effective management Group discussion Fault and no-fault injury compensation Possible disadvantages:   May be an increase in unjustified claims Lack of employers direct accountability of managers  and Mental injury and trauma are often excluded from no fault schemes due to the difficulty in generically measuring these conditions  Can be difficult to define the many causes of accidents and occupational diseases.

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons Financial reasons

Effective management

Group discussion SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MORAL LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVE HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Why manage effectively?

Moral reasons Social reasons Financial reasons Effective management

Group discussion

1 a What is the purpose of employer liability insurance?

b List six costs of an accident which might be uninsured.

2 a What are the possible consequences of an accident to: i the injured worker ii their employer?

b List the

direct

and accidents at work.

indirect

costs to the employer of c What actions may an enforcement agency take following an accident at work?

Role of national governments and international bodies

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Role and function A specialized agency of the United Nations which seeks to promote social justice through establishing and safeguarding internationally recognized human and labour rights.

The ILO consists of over 175 member states, but can be a source of guidance and influence on non-member states.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Role and function The ILO formulates international labour standards and aims to establish minimum rights, such as:      Freedom of association The right to organize Collective bargaining Abolition of forced and child labour Equality of opportunity and treatment.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Role and function The main principles of the ILO are: 1 2 3 4 Labour is not a commodity Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere The ‘war against want’ is required to be carried out by each member state.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO occupational safety and health standards:

1 Guiding policies for action

& Health Convention – the Occupational Safety 1985 (No.

155) and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 164) require preventative measures and a coherent national policy on occupational safety and health.

Also stresses employer’s responsibilities and the rights and duties of employees.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO occupational safety and health standards:

2 Protection in given branches of economic activity

– The Safety and Health in Construction Convention 1988 (No. 167) and its accompanying Recommendation (No.

175) stipulates the basic principles and measures to promote health and safety for workers in construction.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO occupational safety and health standards:

3 Protection against specific risk

Convention (No.

162) and its – the Asbestos accompanying Recommendation (No. 172) gives managerial, technical and medical measures to protect workers against exposure to asbestos dust.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO occupational safety and health standards:

4 Measures of protection

– Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provision) Convention 1975 (No. 143) aims to protect the safety and health of migrant workers.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO Conventions are international treaties signed by Member States, with each country obliged to comply with the standards set out by the Convention.

Recommendations are non-binding and often deal with the same issues as a Convention. They are adopted when the subject, or aspects, are not considered suitable or appropriate at the time for a Convention.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations ILO standards are the same for each member state – there are no different standards for different regions of the world or groups of countries.

Standards are modified and modernized as necessary – the ILO’s governing body periodically reviews standards to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations In addition to Conventions and Recommendations the ILO also publishes Codes of Practice, guidance and manuals.

These form a body of reference material of greater detail than Conventions and Recommendations and suggest practical solutions for the application of ILO standards by member states.

ILO CoPs indicate ‘what should be done’.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Conventions and Recommendations Examples of ILO Codes of Practice:        Safety and health in construction Ambient factors in the workplace Safety in the use of chemicals at work Recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases Ergonomic checkpoints Work organization and ergonomics Occupational safety and health management systems.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Absolute The highest duty which can be imposed and requires action to be taken – regardless of cost – where the level of risk is considered so high that injury is inevitable.

Example • Provision of machinery guarding to prevent access to the dangerous parts of any work equipment

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Practicable A more common duty imposed on employers for the provision of safeguards which are technically possible and feasible – again cost cannot be an argument for not complying with a practical requirement under national legislation.

Example • The installation of local exhaust ventilation in a woodworking workshop to prevent exposure to wood dust generated during cutting, sanding, etc.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Reasonably Practicable The most common duty and requires employers to evaluate the level of risk in balance with the time cost and inconvenience of complying with a requirement of national legislation.

Example • The provision of adequate welfare facilities – toilets, hot and cold running water, facilities to prepare and consume hot and cold drink/food.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Reasonably practicable Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Risk Sacrifice Risk Sacrifice

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Employer’s duties and responsibilities The ILO’s principle Recommendation 164) are: duties of employers (ILO 1 2 Provide and maintain workplaces, machinery, equipment and work methods which are as safe and without risk as is reasonably practicable Give necessary instruction and training that takes into account the functions and capabilities of different workers

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Employer’s duties and responsibilities 3 4 5 Provide adequate supervision of work practices to ensure that proper use is made of relevant occupational health and safety measures Institute suitable occupational health and safety management arrangements appropriate to the working environment, size of the organization and its activities Provide, without cost to workers, adequate personal protective clothing and equipment which are reasonably necessary when workplace prevented or controlled.

hazards cannot be

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement Workers’ rights and responsibilities Information sources Group discussion 1 2 3 4 In 1998 ILO Member States adopted the

Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

which covers the following four areas: Freedom of association Forced labour Discrimination Child labour.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Workers’ rights Consulted on risks from workplace hazards Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Enquire and receive information from employers on workplace hazards Take adequate precautions to protect themselves and others from workplace hazards Request to be involved in the assessment of hazards and risks Be involved in the development of health surveillance and participate in its implementation Be informed in a timely comprehensive manner of any workplace or individual examinations

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Workers’ rights Raise concerns about workplace hazards and risks Enforcement Appeal to the competent authority if health & safety measures are inadequate Information sources Group discussion Remove themselves from any hazardous situations where they have good reason to Be transferred to another work location if they are medically affected by a workplace hazard Compensation if they are unable to work due to being medically affected by a workplace hazard Adequate medical treatment & compensation for occupational injuries or diseases

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Workers’ rights Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Not use any equipment, processes or substances which can reasonably be expected to be hazardous without receiving appropriate information

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Workers’ responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion Under Convention 187 following responsibilities: employees/workers have the 1 2 Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work Comply with instructions given for their own health and safety and that of others and with safety procedures

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization

Levels of duties & responsibilities

Workers’ responsibilities Enforcement Information sources Group discussion 3 4 5 Use safety devices and protective equipment correctly and not to render them inoperative Report immediately to their supervisor any situation which they have reason to believe could present a hazard and which they cannot themselves correct Report any accident or injury to health which arises in the course of or in connection with their work.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement

Information sources Group discussion Legal framework Legal frameworks will vary from country to country.

   EU Member States use the and safety EU’s framework for health Pacific Rim countries tend to follow the USA framework for health and safety Caribbean countries tend to follow the UK framework for health and safety.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities Legal framework

Enforcement

Information sources Group discussion

Acts Regulations

(mandatory)

Codes of Practice

(standards to be achieved – such as UK Approved Codes of Practice)

National and International Standards Industry Standards and Guidance Notes

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement

Information sources Group 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.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement

Information sources Group 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.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities

Enforcement

Information sources Group 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.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement

Information sources

Group discussion Internal sources       Accident and ill-health records and investigation reports Absenteeism records Inspection and audit reports undertaken by the organization, enforcement body or other competent third party Maintenance records, risk assessments and training records Internal guidance documents to employees Equipment testing, inspection and examination reports.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement

Information sources

Group discussion External sources   National health and safety legislation National enforcement body codes of practice, guidance notes       International standards (ISO) ILO conventions, recommendations or codes of practice European and British Standards Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) European Agency for Safety and Health Worksafe (Western Australia).

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement

Information sources

Group discussion External sources   Health and safety magazines and journals Information published by trade associations, employer organizations    Specialist legal and technical journals Information from manufacturers and suppliers The internet.

Role of national & international bodies

The International Labour Organization 1 Levels of duties & responsibilities Enforcement Information sources

Group discussion

Why should an organization maintain good standards of health and safety management?

2 a b Give four reasons why an organization should maintain and promote good standards of health and safety in the workplace.

What sources of information can be used by an organization to help maintain and promote good standards of health and safety in the workplace?