Prepared By: Awais & Amir

FOUNDATION IN HEALTH AND SAFETY

IGC 1

Element 1

Foundations in Health & Safety

Q. Outline reason for promoting and maintaining good Safety environment in
workplace?
There are three reasons for promoting and maintaining good safety standards in
workplace.
Moral
Legal
Financial
Moral
Its moral obligation of the employer to provide safe environment to the employees where
they can enjoy their work and feel happy while returning home. Injury and accident leads
to pain and suffering not only to victim but also the family and friends. Everyone who goes
out for work is because of economic necessity and not consents with injury and accident.
Legal
Its also legal obligation by the countrys law that employer should provide an environment
that is totally safe for working just like HASAWA (Health and Safety At Work place Act
1974). Non compliance to the legal binding can result in penalties, fines and even
prohibition of the work.
Financial
A work place without good safety working standards can lead to accidents which have
direct and indirect financial impacts. Accidents cause a great deal of money especially
when we add damage caused by some accidents.
Direct cost:
Fines, compensation, pay outs, medical cost and sick pay etc.
Indirect cost:
Include production delay, personnel allocated to investigate the accidents, damage to
equipment, loss of reputation and loss of goodwill.
So maintaining a good and safer working environment is cheaper in longer terms

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POLICY
Element-2
Overall aim of Safety policy:
Create a structure and approach to Health and safety.
Objective:
Clear definition of organization goals
Set out responsibilities
Describe arrangements.
Q. Outline three main components of health and safety policy.
1. Statement of intent
2. Organization
3. Arrangements
Health and safety policy should be signed by the most senior person of organization
because it demonstrates total commitment and also he/she has authority to allocate
resources.
Statement of intent:
Without integrated and sustained management effort from all levels within organization
accident prevention cannot be successful. The tool required to produce organizational
control is general statement of intent. It is the visible demonstration of senior
management commitment is so far and it contains general policy statement, signed and
dated by most senior member of organization. This statement is normally contained upon
a single sheet of paper and is itself expression of management commitment.
Organization:
An essential requirement of safety policy if it is to be effective, is to define health and
safety responsibility in detail within this document and then to monitor that this is being
carried out.
The organization for health and safety should reflect the organizational structure and
method of working. Responsibility for health and safety should be given at successive
level of management from top to individuals and supervisors responsibilities should be
clearly defined and preferably included in job description to prevent overlapping and
omission. The commitment should be demonstrated not only by words but by actions
such as by providing resources, training etc.
Arrangements:
This section of policy should detail the practical arrangements in force to assist the overall
policy implementation. It should consider the arrangements for planning and organizing,
controlling hazards, consultation and communication and monitoring compliance with
assessing effectiveness of arrangement. They can be divided into two main categories
General such as first aid and fire fighting and Specific relating to plant, processors, etc.
therefore such arrangements cover training and monitoring, PPE,S ,Medical and welfare
consideration.

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Reviewing Safety policy
Safety policy should be reviewed periodically e.g. annually to monitor its effectiveness it
should also be reviewed if there is:
Technological change
Significant organizational change
Legal change
As a result of identifying problem in active and reactive monitoring like major accident.
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Organizing for Health & Safety

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Element 3
Q. Outline the benefits to an organization of having health and safety committee.
Ans. An organization having health and safety committee shows that the top management
is fully committed to provide health and safety culture to the organization.
It also facilitates the communication and consultation between employer and employee.
It also provides a forum for meeting and discussion between employer and employee.
It also promotes health and safety culture at workplace.
It also encourages employee to take part and also feel degree of ownership in company.
Q. Outline the reason why a health and safety committee may prove to be in
effective in practice?
Ans. An health and safety committee may prove to be ineffective in practice if there is lack
of commitment from management to provide resources. It also proves to be in effective if
there is no specific agenda of meeting and minutes of meeting are not recorded. It also
proves to be in effective if there is imbalance of the committee constitution e.g employer
or employee nomination is not proper and if leadership is poor and not serious in
implementing health and safety practices. The function of committee is also remains in
effective if committee has no access to the decision making. The frequency of meeting is
also important factor if it is rare or is frequent can also result in effectiveness. And finally if
topics of meeting are not appropriate.
Q. Identifies range of methods that an employer can use to provide health and
safety information directly to the individual employee.
Ans. Following are the methods through which employer can provide health and safety
information directly to individual employee.
1.

Through messages on pay slip:

Pay slips are the most important piece of paper which is read by everyone. One
method to provide information to individual is to print health and safety related
messages on pay slip so that information is shared with every one.

2.

Safety posters:
Safety messages should be delivered by posting safety posters at prominent
places as the visual way is easy to express and understand.

3.

Electronic media:
Now days where there is email access to every body in company. One method is
to circulate safety alerts by emails to all individuals.

4.

Safety signs
Safety signs should be used at hazardous locations to inform and educate all
individual that this is hazardous zone and precautions are required.

5.

One to one briefing:

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One to one safety briefing is also a very important tool to provide information and
training should be provided to all individuals by one to one briefing.
6.

Appraisal session:
One way to educate the employees is the appraisal session in which safety and
health should be given top priority.

Q. Outline topics that may be included in safety committee meetings.

Ans. There may be include a review of recent incident/ accident, a review of proactive
monitoring strategies such as safety inspections and audits and one report following by
visit of enforcement agencies and effects of new legislations on company. Additionally it
maybe include items on possible amendments to the companys health and safety
policies and risk assessment, the extent and effect of any health and safety training given
to employees and production of new equipment and procedures.
Q. List the factors that could be considered when assessing health and safety
competence of contractor.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Health and safety policy of contactor

Previous work experience of contractor
Past incident/accident statistics
If there any legal notices issued to contractor
Recourses of contractor to meet job
Accreditation of contractor with/from any certified body.
Equipment maintenance/inspection record
Training record of employees
Detail proposal to carry out job

Q. Outline the responsibilities of an employer.

Ans. According to ILO convention C-155 employer must ensure that, so far as is
reasonably practicable that workplace, machinery and processes under their control are
safe and without risk to health. They must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable that
chemical and biological substance under their control are safe and without risk for other.
This includes the provision of free of charge of where necessary adequate protective
clothing and protective equipment to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, risk of
accidents and adverse effect to health.
Employer must provide, where necessary control measures to deal with emergency and
first aid arrangements. Employer must provide necessary information, instruction, training
and supervision as it is necessary to ensure health and safety culture.
Q. Outline duties of employer and self employed persons to the person other than
their employee (non-employee).
It shall be duty of every employer and every self employed person to conduct his
undertaking in such a manner as to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that he and
other person not being his employees, who may b e affected thereby are not exposed to
risk their safety or health.
It shall be duty of every employer and every self employed persons in prescribed
circumstances and in prescribed manner to give the person not being his employee the

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prescribed information on such aspects of manner on which he conducts his undertaking
as might effect their safety or health.
Q. Outline the responsibilities and rights of employee.
Ans. ILO convention C-155 sets the right and responsibilities of the worker also.
Employee duty/ responsibility:
Employee must take reasonable care of his own safety and health and of other people
who might be affected by his acts and omissions, he or she must cooperate with
employer so far as necessary that employer can meet statutory requirements. Employee
must report any situation to their supervisor that they believe present a serious imminent
or danger to life and health. Employee must use all PPE,s at work provided by employer.
Employee must comply all instructions of HSE provided by employer.
Employee, s Rights:
Employee shall be consulted by employer on all aspects of safety and health associated
to their work. Employee cannot be charged for any safety and health measures shall
necessary for workers e.g. PPE and access equipment. Employee has the right not to
return to the workplace where there is serious danger to life and health.
Q. Outline difference between consulting and informing.
Ans. The difference between consulting and informing lies in fact that upon informing a
trade union or safety representative merely acknowledges certain information presented
to them by employer. Consulting on other hand means a situation where the employer
before making any key Health and Safety decision is obliged to inform the trade union of
any proposal and for safety representative to consult fellow worker for any review ,
therefore consultation is two way process where as informing is one way process.
Q. Outline safety and health issues on which employer should consult workers?
Ans. Employer should consult workers on following cases.
1.

Shift pattern changes:

If there is major change in shift pattern then it is the responsibility of employer to
consult the employee before such change.

2.

Change in material:
If there is significant change in material being used by worker, it is responsibility of
employer to consult worker and let them aware about the hazards associated with
new material and its use.

3.

Change in plant/machinery:
if there is significant change in plant or machinery then employer must consult with
worker and educate them about its use and hazards and risk involve in it.

4.

Change in process:
Employer should consult worker before any significant change in process so that
worker are aware about its potential hazards.

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5.
6.

Organizational structure:
Employer should consult workers before any significant change in organizational
structure.
Incentive schemes:
Employer should consult workers before launching any schemes regarding health
and safety so that moral of workforce set boosted.

7.

Emergency Response Procedures

Employer must consult workers before any change in ERP so that workers can be
trained according to new procedures.

8.

Policy
Employer should consult workers if there is new policy imposed in workplace just
like smoking policy.

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PROMOTING POSITIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CULTURE
Element 4
Q.

There has been deterioration of health and safety culture of organization.

a) Define term health and safety culture?
b) Identify the factors that have contributed to the deterioration?

a)

Definition:
The health and safety culture of an organization is the product of individual and
group values, attitude, perception, competence and pattern of behavior that
determine the commitment to and proficiency of an organizations health and safety
management.

b)

Factors contributing in deterioration:

Following are factors that can contribute in the deterioration.

1.

Lack of management commitment

If top management is not properly committed to provide or maintain health and
safety culture can deteriorate.

2,

Lack of communication
If there is a gap between the top management and the worker so that worker
cannot convey his problems to the top management this lack of communication
can deteriorate.

3.

Organization-Re organization
Frequent changes in the management can result in scenario where health and
safety culture deteriorate.

4.

Increased accident
Increase number of accidents demonstrates that the accidents are not being
investigated properly and if properly investigated re-occurrence can be stopped so
this can deteriorate Health and safety culture.

5.

Staff turnover
High rate of turn over of the staff require again the training of new staff regarding
health and safety and frequent turn over results in deterioration.

6.

Lack of enforcement and monitoring

It is necessary to have proper audit/ monitoring of health and safety regulations
and they should be enforced, penalties should be awarded on non-compliance. In
case of lack of enforcement and monitoring the health and safety culture
deteriorates.

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7.

Reduction in staffing level

If the number of staff is reduced and one person is doing work of 03 persons, it can
cause accidents hence deterioration of culture.

8.

Decline in economy
Decline in economy causes the in security of the jobs of employees and result in
low morale, hence deteriorates the health and safety culture.

Q.

Define attitude
Attitude is the response to the situation; it is the stance on take.
Define aptitude
It is tendency to good act on certain things.
Define Motivation
It is the driving force behind a person action.

Types of Motivation
There are two types of motivation:
a)

Motivation of people:
It concerned with action taken by superior to influence their subordinates to be
more effective performance. This is more commonly known as leadership

b)

Motivation within people:

This assumes that there is driving force within people which drive them to achieve
their goals.

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MASLOW HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

Self actualization
Self realization
Social needs
Safety and security needs
Physiological needs
Self actualization (achievement) e.g. growth, personal development
Self realization (status) promotion, increase responsibility
Social (belonging to group) love, friendship
Safety and security (Discipline, rules)
Physiological (hunger, thirst, sleep)
Practical Harnessing of Maslow
Self actualization
Self realization

:
:

Social
Security
Physiological

:
:

e.g. employee development assistance program

e.g. Promotion, recognition, increase responsibilities,
Involvement in decision, incentive schemes,
Peer group pressure, management leadership,
supervisor.
Disciplinary procedure
Provision of welfare facility

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Errors and Violations
Human failures are either caused by errors or violations. Error has three types.
1

Slip
Failure in carrying out action of task in other words actions are not planned. These
might include action carrying too soon or too late, omitting step of series. Carrying
out an action with too little or too much strength.

2.

Lapses
Forgetting to carry out an action, to lose our place in a task or to what intended to
do.

3.

Mistake
Where we do the wrong thing and believing it to be right. The failure involver our
mental process which control how we plan. Rule based mistake happen when our
behavior is bases upon remembering rule knowledge based mistakes.
Violation:
Violation has three types these are:
1. Routine:
Violation is the deliberate actions which a person does it deliberately, knowing that
is wrong he does it on routine base.
2. Situational
A specific situation when an employee feels that a rule has to be violated to reach
indented goal.
3. Exceptional
A rule is brake exceptionally when employees feel that to achieve a specific target
we have to violate the rule.

Communication
Communication is defined as what we do to inform other of our ideas, feelings, and
knowledge and in turn receive their feedback. Effective communication is essential
feature of health and safety culture. There are three methods of communication.
1. Verbal
2. Written
3. Graphic
There are two types of communication.
1) one way
2) two way

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Barriers in communication:
There are different factors that can be barrier in effective communication.
1. Noise
During verbal communication, it is possible that during high noise the person at other end
cannot understand you or listen properly to you.
2, Complexity
Complexity is another factor that if the topic is too complex, very technical and the person
on other hand is not able to understand so it should be taken into account that the topic
chosen is very simple.
3. Language
It happens in much organization that the different nationality people are working with
different native languages so the verbal communication can be a problem for them. A
graphical representation or interpretation is necessary in that case.
4. Sensory impairment
One most important factor is that if somebody is deaf, color blind or have some sensory
impairment, he should be deal in particular way.
5. Ambiguity
If the topic or delivering style is not clear to others can create communication difficult.
6. Jargon
If the abbreviation or technical terminology is used in communication, it can be problem
for receivers.
7. Mental impairment
If somebody has problem with understanding has no such level.
8. in attention
If sender is not paying full attention towards receiver so that it can also make such
problem in which communication does not successful.
9. In experience: If sender is in experience so it also a barrier to communication.
Principles of communication:
1. Direct yourself towards and reach intended recipient.
2. Communicate in the way that is easy to understand.
3. Use open ended questions (e.g. how will you do? etc)
4. Use close ended questions to confirm (e.g. answers in yes or no)
5. Use clear terms
6. be assertive
7. be concise
8. Ensure understanding
9. Check to ensure understanding
10. Ask for feed back

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USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
1. Notice boards
Use for displaying health and safety information and news, including photograph of
safety representative and staff with health and safety responsibilities is highly
effective in raising profile of worker involvement. For its effectiveness it needs to
be regularly updated with information about safety meeting, accident statistics etc.
It should be prominently displayed and use of color makes it more appealing.
2. Team meetings
Making health and safety a standard agenda in team meeting is proven way of
raising its standard in organization. Managers should encourage feed back from
staff and ensure that concern and suggestion are responded to and registered.
3. Newsletters
Use newsletters to inform staff about health and safety and ways to get involved.
Try mixing media e-mail updates and hard copy newsletter so that staff receive
relevant and keep them aware about new information.
4. Intranet
Giving health and safety a high profile on your staff intranet and keeping it up to
date is convenient way for staff to access information. Intranet can include
information regarding safety meeting minutes, presentation, regulation etc.
5. Tool box talks
Short talks focused around specific health and safety issues such as lifting, slip, or
injuries form workplace vehicles. Tool box talks help to increase health and safety
culture.
6. Memos
Memos are often used to communicate brief points. The memo is faster and easier
then more formal document change procedure. Safety related issues might include
job change working hours or patterns.
7. Safety propaganda: films, videos, DVD,S and posters
Videos and films are easy way used visual illustrating, such videos can appeal the
both visual and audio learners. Posters can be slogan used for improving health
and safety.
8. Employee handbook
A hand book is excellent tool to inform employee about company policies and
procedures.

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Q. An independent audit of organization concluded that employee has received
insufficient training.
1)

Describe the factors that should be considered when developing extensive

program of health and safety training within organization.

When developing a training program first of all training needs of the employees should be
identified that what they already know and what trainings they require. For developing
training the factor should be considered that what work and employee is performing and
what is the risk involved in that work, and what training should be given that minimize that
risk. It is also important that a senior manager require different type of training where as a
supervisor or worker at shop floor required different training according to his nature of
work. From the training need analysis should emerge information of the number of
workers involved, this type of training need and the resources in term of financial lost,
time and facilities required to carry out program. The factors should include at this stage
competence of trainer required to provide trainings. The possible need to involve external
sources and means of communication of program at all levels.
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
What is Training?
Training means helping people how to do something. It is systematic development of
attitude, knowledge, and skill patterns which a person required to do their job in a
adequate manner.
Effects of training of human reliability:
Will contribute towards making employees competent in health and safety.
Can help business to avoid the distress (to cause mental pain) that accidents and
ill health cause.
Can help to avoid the financial costs of accidents and occupational ill health.
Can help to avoid civil claims, fines and indirect costs such as increased insurance
premiums and loss of reputation.
Benefits of training to employer
Ensure your workers are not injured or made ill by the work they do.
Develop a positive health and safety culture.
Find out how you could manage health and safety better.
Meet legal duty to protect Health and safety or employees
Reduction in loses
Reduced claims
Increase profits
Q. Outline various measures to assess effectiveness of training.

Post training evaluation by trainer trainees and their supervisor

sickness and absence rate and incident/accident rates
Levels of compliance with lay down procedure such as use of PPE.S.
The result of attitude surveys and number of quality suggestion make

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Concerns raise by employees to health and safety
Q. Give four reasons that employer should keep record of employee training.
Provide proof of competence level of employee
Identification of future training
To assess training program against targets
Provide evidence in future in case of accident/incident investigation and legal
requirement.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEE OF HAVING TRAINING PROGRAM
Following are the benefits which an employer can take:

Morale of employee raised and work efficiency increases

Reduction of personal injury
Better welfare awareness
Develop experience further

INDUCTION TRAINING
Induction training includes:
Review of discussion of policy
Specific requirement
Fire and emergency procedure
Welfare facility
PPE,S
Health and safety legislation
Individual responsibility and authority
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
Internal influences
Management commitment
Production demands (realistic)
Communication
Competence
Consultation

INFLUENCES

ON

HEALTH

AND

SAFETY

External influences
Social expectations
Legislation
Enforcement
Insurance Company
Trade unions
Stake holders

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RISK ASSESMENT
Element 5
Hazard:
Is defined as something that has the potential to cause harm including ill health and injury,
damage to plant, products or environment e.g. slippery floor, electricity etc.
Risk
Is the probability (likelihood) of that harms actually occurring and severity of the
consequences?
Objective of Risk assessment
Minimize the likelihood and severity of harm possess by hazards.
Minimize the economic consequences.
Comply with national/legal requirement.
Risk assessment is defined as the identification of hazards present in an undertaking, and
an estimate of the risk involved, taking into account what precautions are taken and need
of any additional precautions.
Why we prevent accident?
There are three reasons that why we prevent accident.
Human harm:
Any health and safety accident which leads to human harm will involve a degree of pain
and suffering for the individual, possibly their family and friends.
Legal:
Failure to comply health and safety law within country, which than cause an incident can
then lead to a criminal and/ or civil legal action and If found guilty then this could involve
considerable fines and/ or compensation awards.
Economic:
Accident cost money both direct and indirect to an organization. Direct involve
compensation, fines, sick pay and medical allowances where as indirect involves loss of
good will, loss of reputation, accident investigation cost, over time, Machinery damage,
loss of production and poor quality of products.
Q. With respect to undertaking general risk assessment on activities within a
workplace.
a). Outline key stages of risk assessment process; identify issues that need to be
considered at each stage.

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First stage of performing the risk assessment is to identify all the significant hazards that
are involved in job, hazards that may be of different natures i.e. physical, chemical,
biological or agronomical etc.
After identifying the hazards the second key stage to identify that who will be effected and
how will he/she be affected, consideration may be given specially when there are young
workers performing the job or special workers like, the expectant mothers as for example
if expectant mother is working on production line and different movement can end on for
two lives.
After determining that who and how he/she suffer the third key stage is to evaluated the
risk in term of probability and severity and examine the existing controls and if there is
requirement for some other control.
After this the fourth key stage to serve the findings on paper.
Final stage is to review date must be mentioned as different circumstances need review
of risk assessment.
Q. Explain criteria which must be met for risk assessment to be suitable and
sufficient.
For a risk assessment to be suitable and sufficient must include all the significant hazards
involved with the job. It must include that who will be affected and how he/she be
affected. A suitable risk assessment must include evaluation of the risk in terms of
likelihood and severity and what are the existing controls and if there is requirement of
new control measure. For a suitable and sufficient risk assessment if should be carried
out by a competent person and it must remain valid for a certain period of time.
Q. Outline factors that employer should take into account when selecting
individuals to assist in carrying out risk assessment.
Employer should take into account the previous experience of the employer assisting in
risk assessment that in past he/she had knowledge of the process or equipment so that
he can easily assist. Employer must consider the age of persons because a mature
person can assist better than a young person. He/she must have the knowledge of
regulations and legislation. She/she should have writing skills and have knowledge of
standards and finely the attitude of the person.
Q. Outline typical circumstances when we might review risk assessment.
Ans. Typical circumstances that might require review of the risk assessment are:

Change of premises (external or internal layout)

Change or personnel affected. (no, age)
Change of plant and equipment
Introduction of new work process such as hot work, confined space etc.
Changes in legislation
Upon availability of new information, new research
As a result of incident reports
As a result of Occupational health and safety monitoring
As a result of enforcement action
As a result of consultation
Accidents

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As a result of routine active monitoring

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION

In order to control risk identified by risk assessment the employer and the self employed
need to introduce a risk control strategy of prevention. This is bases on the following
principles.
Key. ADAARPIEC
Avoid hazard
Developing a coherent policy
Adopt work to individual
Adopt modern technology
Replacing dangerous by less dangerous
Providing information, instruction, training
Issue Personal protective equipment
Evaluating unavoidable risks
Controlling the hazard at source

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PRINCIPALS OF CONTROL
Element 6
Q. Explain the term Hierarchy of control
It is defined as list of measure to control hazards/ risk associated with work, starts with
string controls and at the end PPE, S as last option.
GENERAL HIERARCHY OF CONTROL
Key: ERICPD

Eliminate the hazard, substance or workplace.

Reduce (the use or frequency) or subtitle e.g. powder with pallet.
Isolate e.g. a glove box for handling biological substances.
Control (engineering control and safe system of work e.g. PTW.
PPE (personal protective equipment like hard hat, gloves etc)
Discipline (enforcement of rules) procedure and info, instruction, training.

SPECIAL CARE RISK ASSESMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS

A young person is statistically at a considerably higher risk of from both a health and
safety stand point in workplace. There are 4 main reasons:

Immaturity (both physical and mental)

Lack of experience
Lack of awareness
High susceptibility to peer pressure

New or expectant mothers:

Expectant mothers are at significant risk from whole ranges of occupational hazards.
1.
Biological
e.g. Hepatitis
2.
Chemical
e.g. Lead, co, mutagens
3.
Physical
e.g. Extreme temp, excess manual handling, prolonged
standing.
4.
psychological
e.g. Stress
As such they should have a specific risk assessment carried out to ensure that neither the
employer nor their unborn subsequent breastfeeding child is exposed to risk that would
damage their health and safety. The specific risk assessment should be undertaken when
an employer provide written notification that she is pregnant.
There are way to ensure health and safety of expectant and new mothers.
Discuss the risk assessment with the employer and get her input
Should be given suitable alternative work or be suspended on full pay.

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Special health and safety consideration should be given to pregnant night workers.
Employer should provide facilities for any pregnant workers or nursing mothers to
rest.

Disable person:
A disabled person is generally accepted as someone with a physical and mental
impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse affect on his or her ability to
carry out normal day to day activities. Best practice for ensuring the health and safety of
employer with disabilities in workplace to identify hazards of both the work activities and
the workplace. Risk assessment should also be considering the risk to others who might
be affected by the action of employer.
EMPLOYERS DUTY TO PROVIDE SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK (LONE WORKER)
Lone worker are those who work by themselves without close of direct supervision.
PEME:
People: infectious patients, people with history of violence to staff, mugging. Hazards
specific to individual which may create particular risk for lone worker e.g. medical
condition, disabilities, female employees, expectant mother, age, experience and
immaturity etc.
Equipment: Hazards specific to work equipment which may create particular risk for lone
worker, e.g. manual handling and operations of emergency control and work on electrical
system.
Material: Hazards such as heavy items including display stands and carcinogenic gases.
Environment: Hazards specific to workplace/ environment e.g. remote areas,
laboratories, workshop and confined spaces.
Control measure
Specific information, instruction and training (e.g. emergency procedure, personal
safety training).
Improved communication system such as frequent contact on mobile phone.
Supervision by adhoc visit to inspect their working practices.
Increased security with control access, secure car parking, personal alarms.
Increased lighting at entrances, exit and car park.
SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK
A safe system of work is a step by step process resulting form a systematic examination
of working process that identify hazards and specific work methods designed either to
eliminate the hazards control and minimize the relevant risk.
There is a legal requirement to provide and maintain safe system of work in many
countries including Ireland, Singapore Australia, and Malaysia. Further local laws make

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specific requirement in respect of safe system of work, for example those relevant to
manual handling, use of hazardous substances and use of display screen equipment.
Safe system of work will frequently be addressed in the arrangements section of an
organization health and safety policy within the risk assessment. Safe system of work will
develop by a competent person with sufficient training and experience/knowledge and
other qualities.
Staff that are to be actively involved with carrying out the work also have valuable role to
play in the development of the system. All relevant staff must clearly understand the
system of work and it is equally important that it is effectively communicate to others.
Safe system must be documented to provide an unequivocal reference point for all
concerned including the employers. They may also prove essential if there is an
inspection by enforcement agencies of if any proceedings arise from and accident.
The safe system of work should comprise three types of control:
Technical such as engineering controls such guards.
Behavioral how individual and group should act in relation to the hazards.
Procedural specifying exact nature of task, including sequence.
The system will be developed by an analysis and assessment of the risk inherent within
the task and the requisite controls. Sources of information that need to be consulted
include reference to legislation, guidance notes, manufacturers information, company
policy. The safe system of work may be in the form of a permit to work.
Finally all safe system of work need to be monitored regularly to ensure that they are fully
observed and effective. In order to maintain the safe system of work It will be necessary
to monitor its adequacy and review as necessary.
Conclusion: For each activity a risk assessment then needs to be made.
CONFINED SPACES:
A confined space means a enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or
intended for human occupancy except for purpose of performing work.
1
has restricted means of access and egress.
2.
May become hazardous when employee enter due to
Its design, construction, location.
Its material or substances.
Any other condition relating to it.
Risks:
1.
Oxygen deficiency and enrichment
2.
Fire and explosion
3.
Toxicity
4.
Drowning in liquid or entrapping in free flowing solids
5.
Extremes of temperature
Q. Outline factors to be considered when making assessment of First Aid Provision
in workplace.

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Key:

DNNLS

Distribution:
The spread of workers throughout the workplace is important consideration. Are they
spread over a large areas of construction site or they tightly located e.g. and office block,
so it is important to consider.
Numbers:
Number of worker employed is another factor.
Nature of work:
Is the work is of high risk, low or medium obviously higher risk, higher the level of first aid
provision.
Location:
Location is very important if premises were next door to hospital, then need for first aid is
less but if it is far away then first aid provision will be more.
Shift work:
When there is more than one shift, then there is requirement for more than one first aider
and arrange should be made of leaves and off day.
Q. Identify eight sources of information that might usually be consulted when
developing safe system of work.

Reference to legislation
Guidance notes
Manufacturer information
Company policy
Result of risk assessment
Practical HSE standards
Incident/accident statistics
Industry or trade

Q. Following significant increase in accidents, a health and safety campaign is

launched in organization to encourage safer working by employee.
a) Outline how the organization might ensure that campaign is effectively
communicated to, and understand by employees.
Ans. Organization must set clear objective and targets for campaign and clear to achieve
them. It is also important that key responsible for campaign are allocated and accepted
with the commitment to avoid mixing of messages variety of means for campaign can be
used such like posters, toolbox talk, safety sign, and and one to one meetings. The
language to communicated should be very simple avoid any jargons and use simple
language so that every body can understand.
Suggestion boxes and surveys should be used to take feedback from employees that the
campaign is progressing properly.

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b) Other than poor communication that can limit the effectiveness of the campaign.
1. Lack of management commitment is the factor than can limit the campaign
effectiveness that if the management not serious.
2. Production or other issues such as to meet production target taking priority over
the health and safety issues.
3. Insufficient resources allocated to campaign can limit its effectiveness.
4. Poor working condition can cause the campaign to limit.
5. Poor industrial relations or lack of confidence of management.
6. Shift pattern may because shift is not conveyed properly because of the non
availability.

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MONITORING REVIEW AND AUDIT

Element 7
ACTIVE AND REACTIVE MONITORING
There are two monitoring systems.
1. Active or pro-active monitoring
2. Re-active monitoring
1)

Active or pro-active monitoring

An monitoring technique to monitor thing before taking place of even e.g. safety

audit.
Objectives of active monitoring
1)
Check that health and safety plans being implemented.
2)
Monitor the extent of compliance of company laid down procedure and legal
requirement.
Organization need to know
1)
2)
3)

Where they are?

Where they want to be?
What is the difference and why?

Methods of Active monitoring

Health and safety audit
Health and safety survey
Health and safety tours
Health and safety contact
Health and safety inspection
Epidemiological survey
Environment monitoring and health surveillance
Risk assessment
Direct observation of employees by first line supervisor
Use of Safety inspection, Sampling and Tours
Safety Inspections involve examination of workplace or equipment in order to identify
the hazards and determine if they are effectively controlled. Four types of inspection
these are given below.
1) General workplace inspections carried out by local first line managers and worker
representative.
2) Statutory inspections of equipment e.g. boiler pressurized tanks and it is carried
out by competent persons.

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3) Preventative maintenance inspection of critical equipment carried out by
maintenance staff.
4) Pro-use checks of equipment e.g. vehicles, forklifts carried out by users.

Safety Sampling:
Sampling is where only a partial amount of group/area is examined to establish fact that
can indicate the compliance of the whole.
Safety tours:
Tours provide opportunity for management to explore the effectiveness of risk control
measure through planned visit to workplace and to observe and discuss the control of its
use.
Reactive monitoring
A tool of monitoring used when an accident occurs.
Primary objective are to analyze data of:
1) Accident / near miss
2) Ill Health
3) Other downgrading events
Methods of reactive monitoring
1)
2)
3)
4)

Analysis on statistics of accidents, near misses, ill health and injury

Assessment of cost these accidents done i.e. damage to property.
Any legal or enforcement action taken against organization.
Civil claims against organization.

Q. Outline sources of information by which health and safety performance can be

reviewed?
1) Accident/incident statistics
Accident data analysis is critical but it should be remembered that it is after event. Two
elements to consider are
a) quality of planning before event
b) failure of control, this will often result in review of risk assessment
2) Inspections
Primary purpose of workplace inspection is to identify the hazards and practices of their
outcome.
3) Absences and sickness
Some workplace hazards or working environment may result in sickness absence or ill
health. Sickness or general data of absence should be collected and analyzed to
determine if it has resulted from work or working environment issues. Such analyzes may
determine causes such as shift working overwork or poor environment conditions
including in adequate ventilation or extreme temperatures and humidity.

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4) Survey, tours and sampling
A survey identifies needs for example a noise survey may identify if there is need for any
assessment. Tours are to be carried out by most senior person of an organization.

5) Quality assurance report and audit

Quality assurance reports and audit clearly shows that what were the performance level
set by the management and whether the set performance level is achieved or not.
6) Reports
Annual reports on health and safety are used when safety performance required being
review.
AUDIT
An audit is the systematic and critical examination of an organizations system to
determine the extent of compliance with set of agreed standards.
Pre-audit preparations:The audit must be structured and coordinated in its assessment of system. This is best
achieved by auditing checklist developed or obtained before audit.
The audit involves assessment of document, interviewing of people and observation in
workplace. In order to prepare for audit it is necessary to decide who needs to be
interviewed and organize a time table in order to meet them in organized method.
Interview should be structured to provide interview with opportunity to express what they
are doing to requirement being audited. The outcome of an audit should be detailed
report. A structure and approach should be agreed at pre-audit stage.
Advantages of Internal Audit
1) Ensure local acceptance to implement recommendations.
2) Auditor often has intimate knowledge of hazards at workplace.
3) An awareness for what might be appropriate for industry.
4) Familiarity with workforce including their weakness and strength.
5) Relatively low cost and easier to arrange.
Disadvantages of internal Auditor
1) May not posses auditing skills
2) May not be up to date current legislation
3) Work load or other responsibilities
4) Pressure from management
Advantages of External Audit
1) These are impartial
2) Range of different experience of the auditor
3) May be offer solutions that may be consider unsolvable in organization.
4) Not inhibited by criticism.

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5) Will see organization performance with fresh pair of eyes.
Disadvantages of External Audit
1) Need to plan well to identify nature and scope of organization.
2) Individual may not be forth coming, be narrow and reluctant to discuss issue with
outsiders.
3) May seek unrealistic targets as he doesnt know constraint of organization.

INCIDENT & ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION RECORDING &

REPORTING
Element 8
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
There are three reasons for accident investigation.
1. Human
2. Economic
3. Legal
Role of investigation
1. Establish what happened
2. Establish why it happened
3. Identify measure to prevent recurrence
4. Establish legal or workers compensation
5. Date gathering
6. Identification of trend
7. Determine cause including underlying causes
Approach to Investigation
Steps of accident investigation involve:
1. Gathering the information that what happened and to whom it happened. The
information gather will include interviews, photograph, sketches of workplace and
environmental condition.
2. Analyze the information, that why it happened. Analyzing the information of
immediate and root causes. At this stage it should be determined that either
individual, job or management factor cause the accident.
3. Identify suitable control measures that either risk assessment require to be
reviewed, engineering and administrative controls.
4. The action plan for implementation that which risk control measure should be
immediately applied either the technical or administrative specific measurable
agreed time scale.
There are two types of investigation
1. Supervisory investigation
This investigation is necessary for all majorities of incidents. It should result in swift
remedial action and underline supervisor responsibility for day to day basis.
2. Formal investigations
In some time formal investigation take place. The committee includes
A senior manager to fit as chairperson

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A manager lower than senior manager (supervisor)

A competent person
A safety engineer

Summary of action taken in emergency

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Isolating services and make area safe

Administrating first aid services and summons emergency services.
Inform next of kin
Notify the enforcement agency by quickest practical means.
Collect initial evidence such as photographs and sketches.
Setting up accident investigation.

Typical root causes

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Lack of understanding
Lack of training
Time constraints
Poorly supervised
Wrong equipment provided
Inadequate equipment

Immediate causes
1) Unsafe acts (using damaged equipment, not following rules)
2) Unsafe condition (slippery, temperature)
Q. A worker has been seriously injured by strike of reversing vehicle in loading bay.
a) Give four reasons why the accident should be investigate by an employer.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Facilitating requirement to the legal obligations.

Collecting evidence to defend a civil claim where applicable.
Determining economic loss.
Demonstrating management commitment to health and safety.
To ensure that there types of accident never occur again.

b) Outline information that should be included in investigation report.

Personal detail of injured party.
Date, time and location of accident.
Environmental conditions.
Control measures in place.
Precise circumstances of incident.
Type and extent of injury.
Detail of witnesses and copy of their statement.
Drawing, sketches, photograph

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Immediate and root causes.
Possible breaches of law.

Q. Identify four immediate and four underlying causes.

Immediate causes
1. Human error or failure to comply with procedures.
2. Mechanical failure
3. Poor visibility in loading bay.
4. Restricted view for driver.
5. Environmental conditions such as high noise levels.
Root causes
1. Lack of driver or employee struck training.
2. Lack of supervision.
3. Absence of rules in site for reversing vehicles.
4. Failure to separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
5. Lack of maintenance of vehicle.
Q. Outline reasons why accident should be reported and recorded in workplace.
Accidents are required to be properly reported and recorded as it is statutory (legal)
requirement. They should also be reported because it indicates the gap in risk
assessments and their review is required. It also shows the statistical analysis and
indicates the level of training required for staff and improvement to the procedures.
Q. Outline factors that might discourage the workers from reporting accidents?
1. Ignorance of reporting procedures.
2. Possibility of retribution (blame culture)
3. Peer pressure
4. Previous lack of management responses
5. An aversion to form filling
6. A reluctance to lose time from job in hand
7. A desire to preserve companys department and individual record particularly
where bonus payments are affected by it.
Q. Outline the immediate and longer term actions that should be taken following a
serious injury at work.
Immediate actions:
Preserve the scene.
Provide first aid to the injured.
Inform his next of kin.
Determine immediate and root causes
Longer term actions

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Inform law enforcement agencies
Set up and investigation
Record witnesses
And on findings revised the procedures.
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