Environmental Health & Safety Management

Learning Outcomes
y Understand the requirements of Section 20 of the

Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

y Describe the contents of a safety statement for an

organisation

What is a Safety Statement ?

y The basis of the Safety Management System for an

Organisation y It is based on identification of hazards and assessment of risk

y Must be specific for your business/ work activity y Must be reviewed on a regular basis y Working Document

Function of the Safety Statement

y Commitment for employers to safeguard: y The safety and health of employees while they work y The safety and health of other people in the workplace

e.g contractors, visitors and members of public

Function of the Safety Statement

y Sets out policies and procedures which influence the

following: y Selection of competent people, equipment and materials y Outlines how work should be done y Goods and Services maintained and systems for procurement

Safety Statement
Safety and Health Policy Review and Update Identify Hazards

Record your Findings Decide on Control Measures

Source HSA, 2006,Dublin Guidelines on Risk Assessments and Safety Statements,HSA.

Assess Risks

What does the Law Require?

y Under Section 20 of the Safety Health and Welfare at

Work Act 2005

y Employers are required to complete a safety statement

for all companies or organisations with greater than 3 employees

Safety Statement
y If employer has less than 3 employees y Code of Practice can be used if it exists for their sector y Risk Assessments must always be completed in

addition to Code of Practice

Legislation SHWW Act 2005

Section 20 (1) states all employers must prepare the safety statement or cause to be prepared a written safety statement

Legislation SHWW 2005

y Section 20 continues to specify what must be included: y Section 20 (2)

Hazards & Risks

y Section 20 (2) y Specifies

identify hazards and risk assessed

y Document control measures put in place

Emergency Procedures
y Under Section 20 y Employer must specify instructions in the event of an

emergency
y E.g Fire and Evacuation Procedure. y Assembly Point y Codes for Evacuation as necessary y Training for Fire Wardens

Duties Legislation
y Employer must document duties of employees as

required under Section () of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act
y Employer can also document duties of contractors as

required under legislation

y General Duties of the Employer should also be

documented

Assignment of Responsibilities
y Must be detailed and specific in relation to y y y y

management of health and safety Include Names Job Title/ Position Held Reponsibilities

Safety Representative
y Detail the arrangements put in place for the safety

representative in the workplace

y Employee Elected y How Many y Names of Safety Rep y Consultation with Safety Rep

Legislation SHWW Act 2005

y Under Section 20(3) employers must bring the safety

statement to the attention of: y Employees at least annually or where there has been an amendment y New employees on recruitment y Other persons who may be affected by the risks in the organisation

Legislation SHWW Act 2005

y Risks must be identified that pose a serious risk y Employer must bring these risks to the attention of

employees y Risks Identified y Risk Assessment Completed y Control Measures in Place

Legislation Safety Statement

y Under Section 20 (5) y Taking into account Section 19 (Risk Assessment) the

safety statement must be reviewed when: y There has been a significant change in the operations y It is deemed no longer valid y A HSA Inspector directs it to be amended within 30 days

Legislation Safety Statement

Under Section 20 (7) Copy of safety statement must be kept available at the place of work or near every place of work to which it relates for inspection .

Legislation Safety Statement

y Under Section 20 (8) y Employers who have less than 3 employees shall satisfy

compliance by observing the terms in the code of practice if one exits relating to their work activity.

HSA Code of Practice

y Code of Practice for contractors with 3 or less

employees y Working on Roads y Construction Contractor http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Public ations/Construction/Working_on_Roads_Code_of_Pr actice__For_Contractors_with_Three_or_Less_Employees.pd f

Safety Statement
y Who completes the safety statement?

Competent Person
y Who is a competent person under the Safety Health

and Welfare at Work Act 2005?

y Person who has sufficient training, experience and

knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken

Section 1 General Information & Health and Safety Policy Statement

Section 1
y Information on the Organisation y Number of Locations y Number of Employees y Board of Directors and Organisational Structure of the

Company

Safety Statement
y First Priority for completion of the Safety Statement y Document the Health and Safety Policy for the

company or organisation
y This policy is the commitment of senior managers/

directors to health and safety. y Agreement that adequate resources will be assigned to health and safety

Health and Safety Policy

y Duties of Employers as required under Section 20

Safety Health and Welfare at Work 2005

y Safety and Health Policy must be signed at

Director/Employer level.
y Health and Safety Policy must be communicated to all

staff

Health and Safety Policy

y Purpose of the health and safety policy is to : y Outline the commitment of the company to health

and safety in detail y Most health and safety policies include a Statement of Intent commitment by the Board of Directors/ Owner of the Company

Health and Safety Policy

y Examples of statement of intent y To provide adequate control of health and safety risks y y y y

arising from work activities Consult employees on health and safety matters Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment Ensure safe handling and use of substances Provide information instruction and supervision

Health and Safety Policy

y Ensure that employees are competent to complete y y y y y

their work activities Prevent accidents and ill health Maintain safe and healthy work conditions Review and renew this policy as necessary Source: www.hsedirect.com This policy is then signed off by the employer and dated

Section 2 Assignment of Responsibilities

Assignment of Responsibilities
y Director s Responsibilities y Senior Management y Health and Safety Manager/Officer y Line Manager y Employees Responsibilities y Sub- Contractors

Assignment of Responsibilities
y Safety Representative y Health and Safety Committee Members

Duties of the Employer

y Manage and conduct work activities y Prevent Improper Conduct y Provide a safe place of work y Provide a safe means of access and egress y Provide safe systems of work y Prevent risk to health from any article or substance

Duties of Employer
y Provide information, instruction, training and y y y y y

supervision Provide PPE Prepare and Revise Emergency Plans Designate responsibilities on emergency duties Provide and maintain welfare facilities Competent Person to advise

Duties of Employees
Under Section 13 Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 y Comply with regulations with regard to health and safety y Not under the influence of an intoxicant y Submit to appropriate testing as required y Co-operate with the employer y Not engage in improper conduct

Duties of Employees
y Attend Training y Implement Training y Report Defects y Must not misuse or intentionally damage any item

provided to protect the safety and health or persons in the workplace

Policies
y Policies are guidelines y Outline organisational attitudes y Purpose y Control the conduct of people and the activities

carried out y Generally formulated at top management level

Policies
y For policies to be effective: y Provide insight into what management believes is

important for the company y Clarifies obligations of the employees y Outlines the purpose of the obligations y Consequences of the failure to conform

Policies
y Policies must be consistent and long lasting to become

part of the health and safety culture.

Policies
y Can anyone give examples of policies they would find

in the Safety Statement?

E.g. s Policies in Safety Statements

y Bullying and y y y y y VDU y Chemical Handling y Construction Activities y Driving for Work y Personal Protective

Harassment Use of machinery Housekeeping Lone Working Work at Heights

Equipment y Noise at Work

Policies Safety Statement

y In groups complete a policy for a company?

Procedures
y Drive Actions y Must be detailed y Procedures are laid down at lower organisational levels

in order to implement policies

Procedures in Safety Statement

y Can you give some examples of procedures in the

Safety Statement?

E.g. s of Procedures in Safety Statements

y Permit to work system y Incident Reporting y Fire and Emergency

Procedure y VDU Risk Assessment y Floor Cleaning Procedure y Lock/ Tag Out Procedure

Response Procedures y Spill Containment Procedures y Health & Safety Audit Procedure

Policies and Procedures

y Based on Legislation y In Particular Safety Health and Welfare at Work

General Application Regulations 2007

Procedures
y In groups complete a procedure for a company?

Prioritise the following

y Safe People y Safe Procedures/Systems y Safe Place y Safe Plant & Equipment

Safe People
y Pregnant and Breastfeeding Employees y Stress Management y Bullying and Harassment

Safe Systems/Procedures
y Incident Reporting Policy/Procedure y Policy on the storage of chemicals y Cash Handling/ Transfer y Permit to Work system

Safe Place
y Housekeeping y Preventing Slips Trips and Falls y Working at Heights y Floor Cleaning y Maintenance of LEV System y Stairs and Lifts y Signage y Fire and Emergency Planning

Safe Plant and Equipment

y Policy on procurement of new equipment or machines y Preventative Maintenance of machines and equipment

(including reporting of defects) y Instruction and Training y Supervision

Fire and Emergency Procedures

y Safety Statement must describe the emergency

evacuation procedures for the organisation

y Detail instructions e.g. Chemical Spill y Emergency Response Team Members y Bomb Procedures etc

Assignment

Project