01 Foundations in Health and Safety Flashcards
Why might the managers of an organisation not consider health and safety to be a priority?
Health and Safety has to compete with other management priorities, particularly those associated with the production of goods and services, which is often the main focus of an organisation. It may be seen as an unproductive cost which conflicts with the requirement to keep costs low.
What are the barriers to good standards of Health and Safety?
Complexity.- Co-ordination of many people performing many different activities.
Conflict demands.-There are often competing and conflicting demands placed upon people and organisations.
Behavioural issues.- good health and safety practice often relies on the perfect behaviour of individuals, and people sometimes do not behave in this ideal way.
In three words sum up the reasons why an organisation should manage health and safety.
Moral.- Relates to the moral duty that one person has to another.
Legal or social.- Relates to the framework of laws that govern the conduct of businesses and organisations.
Economical.- Accidents and ill-health cost money.
Give three insured costs and three uninsured costs that might arise from a workplace accident.
Insured costs: damage to plant, buildings and equipment; compensation paid to workers; medical costs; legal costs (civil claims)
Uninsured costs: production delays or down time; loss of raw materials; accident investigation time; criminal fines and legal costs; sick pay for injured workers; overtime to make up for lost production; hiring and training new employees; loss of business reputation.
Identify three of the legal duties that an employer has to comply with.
1) To provide workplaces and work equipment, and use work methods, which are safe and no risk to health.
2) To provide appropiate instructions and training.
3) To provide necessary supervision.
4) To put in place health and safety arrangements adapted to suit the size and nature of the undertaking.
5) To provide any necessary personal protective clothing and equipment free of charge.
6) To ensure that the hours of work do not adversely affect employees’ safety and health
7) To remove any extreme physical and mental fatigue.
8) To stay up-to-date with knowledge in order to comply with the above.
Identify two of the legal duties that a worker has to comply with.
1) Take reasonable care of their own safety and that of other people who might be affected by the things that they do and the things they fail to do.
2) Comply with safety instructions and procedures.
3) Use all safety equipment properly and not tamper with it.
4) Report any situation which they believe could be a hazard and which they cannot themshelves correct.
5) Report any work-related accident or ill-health.
What are the consequences for an employer of non-compliance with health and safety responsabilities?
Enforcement action or prosecution through the criminal courts by the relevant authorities.
Compensation claims from the injured victims perhaps resulting in action through the civil courts.
Give examples of direct costs and indirect costs resulting from an accident.
Direct Costs.- Fines, Compensation payable to victims, First-aid Treatment, Workers sick pay, Repairs to, or replace of, damaged equipment, lost or damaged product, lost of production, overtime to make up for lost time, costs associated with the rehabilitation.
Indirect Costs.- Loss of staff from productive duties, Loss of staff morale, Cost of remedial actions following an investigation, comp`liance with any enforcment notice served, cost of recruiting and training temporary or replacement labour, general difficulties in recruiting and retaining, loss of goodwill of custommers following delays, activation of penalty clauses for failling to meet delivery dates, damage to public image and business reputation, damage to industrial relations.
