NEBOSH International General Certificate

Resource Pack
Ian Harries CMIOSH

2013 Ian Harries. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reprinted or
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NEBOSH International General Certificate
in Occupational Safety and Health
IGC1.2
Health and Safety Management
Systems 1: Policy
Chapter 2
Unit contents

Learning outcomes
The key elements of a health and safety
management system
Learning outcomes

Outline the key elements of a health and safety

management system
Explain the purpose and importance of setting policy for
health and safety
Describe the key features and appropriate content of an
effective health and safety policy.
Key elements of a
health and safety
management system
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

All recognized occupational health and safety management

systems follow the same basic and common elements:

A planning phase

A performance phase

A performance assessment phase

A performance improvement
phase
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Performance Assessment Improvement

Planning phase
phase phase phase

Active
Setting policy Communication Review
monitoring

Employee Reactive Continual

Organizing
participation monitoring improvement

Identification & Acceptance

assessment monitoring

Procedures
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Common basis for HSG 65, OHSAS 18001 and

ILO-OSH 2001 Plan:
Do:
Check:
Act
Plan Review against
Establish
Implement
Measure progress
plans to
standards
achieve
with
objectives
plans
objectives
for
and
health
and
compliance
standards
standards
andand
safety
withtake
Act Do managementaction
standards
appropriate
based on risk
assessment and
Check legal requirements
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement 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.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

POLICY Review
Organize:
Plan
Measure:
Audit:
Policy:
and
Implement:
Put
Measure
Planned
Review
Set in
aaclear
of
structure
ORGANIZE and
Establish,
assessment
performance
direction, and
arrangements
aims
operate
of
to
and
against
arrangements
actual
objectives
deliver
maintain
vs.
agreed
the
planned
forpolicy
good
the
to
PLAN &
effectively
systems
standards
ensure
taking
organization
into
they
toto
account
deliver
are
reveal
to
IMPLEMENT the
wherepolicys
effective,
relevant
follow aims
improvement
suitable
is needed
and
experiences
objectives
meet any
also
and
legal
MEASURE effectively
praise
requirements
applyinginstances
lessonsas of
PERFORMANCE goodas
well
learnt working
in-house
practice,
standards
REVIEW
compliance with
procedures, etc.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement 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.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Appropriate
On-going
Provide of
Procedures
Results hazard
adequate the resources
internal
to monitornature
audits and
POLICY identification,
and scale
measure
Define risk assessment
of organizational
evaluations
OH&S
roles, of
responsibilities
and
and establishment
risks
performance.
compliance
accountabilities. of
necessary control measures.
Commitment
Appoint of
Procedures
Results a senior to evaluating
the
consultation
for manager
Results
prevention
with
legal of
specificrisk assessments
ofOH&S
injury
etc. compliance. and
Communications from
PLANNING
considered
continual when
improvement
responsibilities.
Procedures
external parties
determining
to record,
(including
risk control measures.
Competent
Commitment
investigate and
complaints) persons
to analyse in
at least
Results documented and kept
place.
comply
accidents.
OH&S with legal
performance
up-to-date.
IMPLEMENTATION requirements
Effective
well internal
Procedures
How for dealing
objectives havewith
Establish, implement and
& OPERATION communication
Provides aprocedure structures.
framework
actual
been orapotential
met
maintain forfor
non-
Procedures
setting andand
conformity foraccessing
employee
reviewing
including taking
identifying
Status of investigations and
consultation.
occupational
corrective
legal and other standards
action.OH&S
corrective actions
CHECKING & Appropriate
requirements.
Communicated
Records level of
demonstrating
Follow up
documentation.from previous
CORRECTIVE ACTION compliance
Establish,
Is reviewed with
implement the and
periodically
reviews
Appropriate
maintain
management OH&S operational
objectives
system &
Recommendations
controls
which must
18001. purchasing, for
be measureable.
improvement
emergencies, etc.
MANAGEMENT Internal audit programme.
REVIEW
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 is a guideline offering a recommended

occupational health and safety management framework.

There are main common elements with the UKs 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.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Development
Arrangements
Setting
Emphasisof onby
Performed
More emphasis of on
theahealth
plan
POLICY
POLICY following
introduced
and an
welfare
employee
competent
and
initial
responsibilities,
of workers.
participation
and
review
maintained
of any
for
accountability, existing
any
Employees
trained and safety
personnel
Recommendations
health
preventative
and safety
and/or at
competence,
representatives
concerning training
to have
agreed
system. intervals.
corrective actions in
and communication.
sufficient
investigation timeofandwork-
ORGANIZING relation
Plan
Cover:to
Effective
to performance
remedy any
supervision
resources
related to allow to
accidents,
monitoring,
deficiencies. audits and
ensure
effectiveprotection
Elements
injuries,
of
ill-health, of
participation.
the
management
Support reviews.
compliance
workers
disease
Formation andofincidents.
management a health
with national legislation
Arrangements in place
PLANNING & andsystem.
Establishment of
safety committee.
andcontinued
for require continual
IMPLEMENTATION prevention
Occupational
Employee andhealth
health
improvement.
improvement
of the
promotion
andparticipation
safety should be
management
Contain and
system.
measureable
programmes.
compatible
and realisticorobjectives.
consultation.
Worker
integratedaccesswith to
the
EVALUATION Hazard
identification
National legislation
organizations
records, other
monitoring
andcompliance.
risk assessment.
documents,
managementetc. systems
Establish, implement
Meeting
Health
objectives.
and safety
and monitor
ACTION FOR training available to all
procedures.
IMPROVEMENT employees.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing and Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

Auditing should establish how effective the following three

components of the health and safety management are in
reality:
1 Management organization and arrangements
2 Identification and implementation of risk control
measures
3 Workplace precautions and control measures.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing and Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

To be effective improvement does not need to be expensive

or complex but can benefit organization:
By decreasing the rate of injuries, ill health and damage
By a possible reduction in the resources required to
maintain the system
By accepting high standards and improvement in the
health and safety culture
With overall improvements in the management system
itself.
Key elements
Key elements of all H&S HSG OHSAS ILO-OSH Auditing & Group
management systems 65 18001 2001 Improvement discussion

1 What are the main elements of an occupational health

and safety management system?
Key features and
content of a health
and safety policy
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 identifies that the employer, in consultation

with the workforce and their representatives, should set out
in writing a health and safety policy:
Specific to the organization and appropriate to its size
and activities
Concise, clearly written, dated and made effective by
the signature of the most senior accountable person
Communicated and readily accessible to all persons at
their place of work
Reviewed for continuing suitability
Made available to relevant external interested parties.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The ILO further recommends:

Protecting the safety and health of all members of the

organization by preventing work-related injuries, ill
health, disease and incidents
Complying with relevant occupational health and safety
national laws and regulations, voluntary programmes,
etc.
Ensuring that workers and their representatives are
consulted and encouraged to participate actively in all
areas of occupational health and safety management
Continual improvement in the performance.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The statement of intent should set out in clear and simple

language the commitment of the organization to meeting its
obligations for managing the health and safety risks arising
from its normal operations.

This should include:

A commitment to the effective management of health
and safety risks arising from the normal operations of
the organization
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the

health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives
It should be signed by the most senior accountable
person to signal senior management commitment to
effectively managing health and safety.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

What Who How

Statement of
Organization Arrangements
intent

What the Who has The measures

organization is general and in place to
aiming to specific roles & manage general
achieve in functions in and specific
relation relation to aspects of the
managing health managing organizations
and safety health and health and
safety safety
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The policy should include the following:

The name or job title of the senior accountable person

in the organization who is responsible for health and
safety
The name of the Health and Safety Adviser, any safety
representatives and others who have specific roles and
responsibilities for health and safety
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The commitment to employee consultation e.g. using a

safety committee, recognition of safety representatives
Identify the relevant health and safety, welfare and
environmental issues relating to the organization's
activities
A commitment to risk assessment, emergency
procedures, health surveillance and employment of
competent persons
Duties towards non-employees, e.g. contractors, visitors,
members of the public
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Reference to specific policies of the organization e.g.

smoking, violence to staff etc.
Duties of employees
Specific performance targets for the immediate and long-
term future
The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the
health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Common health and safety performance targets:

A specific reduction in the number of accidents, incidents and
cases of work-related illness
A reduction in the level of sickness absence
A specific increase in the number of minor accidents and near
miss incidents
A reduction in the number of civil claims
No enforcement notices from the relevant Enforcement
Agency
A specific improvement in health and safety audit scores
Achievement of a nationally recognised health and safety
management system (e.g. OHSAS 18001).
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The setting of health and safety performance standards is an

important aspect of the statement of intent, because:
They indicate that there is management commitment to
improve health and safety performance
They motivate the workforce with goals
They provide evidence during the monitoring, review and
auditing of phases of a safety management system.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The organization section of the policy should define the

names and duties of the people within the organization who
are responsible for the development and communication to
the workplace of the health and safety policy.

Two key personnel to be identified are:

the most senior accountable person for managing
occupational health and safety and
the Health & Safety Competent Person.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Managers (e.g. directors, departmental managers,

supervisors etc.) with delegated health & safety
responsibilities
Competent persons (e.g. occupational nurse, first
aiders, fire marshals, in-house inspection/testing
personnel, etc.)
Safety representatives.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

This section of the policy will outline the arrangements in

place within the organization for meeting any specific
hazards, legal requirements, etc.

This will include health and safety rules and procedures and
the provision of facilities, such as a first aid room and wash
rooms.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

For evaluating and managing risks arising from

workplaces, hazardous substances, activities, fire, etc.
Health and safety inspection and audit procedures
Accident and illness reporting and investigation
procedure, emergency procedures, first aid
Employee health and safety responsibilities
Control of hazardous substances, manual handling,
noise, vibration, etc.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Electricity and electrical equipment (maintenance and

testing)
Machinery safety (including safe systems of work), lifting
and pressure equipment permits to work procedures
Procedures for contractors and visitors
Catering and food hygiene procedures
Terms of reference and constitution of the safety
committee (where appropriate).
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Specific arrangements
Accident investigation and reporting
Health and safety training and information
Health and safety monitoring and audit
Health surveillance
Monitoring of plant and equipment and its maintenance
Liaison with external agencies.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

The best control systems will deteriorate over time, or

become obsolete as a result of change, new processes,
etc.

Therefore it makes sense to periodically review the policy to

ensure it remains effective, measure the aims and
objectives and update the organizational and arrangement
sections as necessary.

When and why should an organization review its

health and safety policy?
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

Annually as part of a formal review cycle, and following:

A change in the health and safety responsible person

and/or health and safety competent person
Changes in management affecting delegated
responsibilities
Changes in workplace arrangements, facilities, or the
introduction of new processes
Introduction of new legislation introducing new duties
or responsibilities
A prosecution or issuing of an enforcement notice.
Key features and content
ILO Statement Group
Organization Arrangements Review
recommendations of intent discussion

1 a What is the general content of the three sections of a

health and safety policy?
b Why should the most senior person in an
organization sign the health and safety policy?

2 What should be covered in the arrangements section of a

health and safety policy?

3 Under what circumstances should a health and safety

policy be reviewed?