1 Flashcards
Define the meaning of health
The protection of the bodies and minds of people from illness resulting from the materials, processes or procedures in the workplace.
Define the meaning of safety
The protection of people from physical injury.
What is welfare?
The provision of facilities to maintain the health and well being of individuals at the workplace.
What is the meaning of environmental protection?
The arrangements to cover those activities in the workplace which affect the environment.
Give FOUR advantages to using posters in the workplace
Attractiveness - with colourful images and interesting text
Flexible - in terms of size and positioning
Can convey short, powerful verbal or visual messages
Presence is a constant reminder of a safety message.
Relatively low cost
Brevity - Allowing messages to be easily understood
Reinforcing verbal instruction or information
Give FOUR disadvantages of using posters in the workplace
Cost - as they need to be changed regularly to maintain interest and attention
Susceptible to damage or defacing
Can be seen to trivialise important issues
Provide no direct way of assessing if the message has been understood
may be perceived as unscrupulous employers as an easy, and not particularly effective way of discharging their responsibilities to provide H&S information
What are the reasons for maintaining good standards of health and safety in the workplace?
Legal - compliance with the law, avoid criminal penalties and to comply with the employers common law duty to take reasonable care of workers.
Moral - to provide a reasonable standard of care, reducing injuries, pain and suffering caused to workers by accidents and ill health
Social - to provide a safe place of work, safe equipment, safe systems of work, competent workers and a high standard of training and supervision.
Financial - more motivated workforce improving rate of production and better quality product, which, in turn, can increase business.
Avoidance of costs associated with - accident investigations, training or hiring replacement staff, possible repair of plant or equipment
Securing - more favourable insurance terms
Maintaining - image and reputation of the organisation
What is the definition of a hazard?
A hazard is the potential of a substance, person, process or activity to cause harm.
What is the definition of a risk?
A risk is the likelihood of a substance, person, process or activity to cause harm and its severity.
Why may a good standard of H&S not be maintained within an organisation?
A lack of management commitment
Poor morale within the workforce
Lack of motivation
Lack of resources
Conflicting demands with priority being given to deadlines and targets
poor communication and consultation with workforce
Failure to provide adequate training
Lack of awareness amongst workforce
Failure to complete risk assessment
Failure to produce SSOW
Failure to produce method statements
What are the reasons it is important to investigate “near miss” incidents?
Identifies underlying causes which may allow preventative action before before something more serious may happen
Gives the right message that all failures are taken seriously by the employer, not just those that lead to injury
“near misses” far outnumber incidents, and therefore produce more data which give a greater understanding of the deficiencies in existing management systems such as risk assessments and SSOW which can be identified and rectified.
What are the H&S responsibilities of the employer?
To provide safe plant and equipment
To carry out risk assessments and introduce SSOW
To ensure the safe use, storage, transport and handling of articles and substances
To provide and maintain a safe workplace, including access and egress
To provide a safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities including first aid
To provide information, instruction, training and supervision of workers
To secure competent H&S advice and to cooperate with other employers at the workplace
What are the actions an enforcement authority may take if it finds an employer is not meeting its responsibilities?
Giving advice or warning, either written or verbally
Requiring that an improvement is made within a period time
Require the cessation of work until improvements in H&S are made
Taking formal legal proceedings such as prosecution
What are the possible costs to an organization following an accident in the workplace?
Lost production, staff absence, sick pay,
Temporary replacement with the need for additional training,
Repair of damaged plant and equipment,
Damage to products, investigation and remedial action,
Administration incurred, an increase in insurance premiums,
Fines and compensation awarded,
Court and other legal representation.
Intangible costs arising from a loss of business image
The detrimental effect on worker morale resulting in reduced productivity.
What are the powers given to health and safety enforcement officers?
The right to enter premises, if necessary by enlisting the assistance of a police officer;
To carry out examinations and investigations;
To direct that premises or equipment be left undisturbed for the purpose of investigations;
To take measurements and photographs;
To inspect and/or take copies of documents and records;
To take samples;
To require a person to answer questions and sign a declaration to the truth of his/her answers;
To take possession of articles and substances;
To issue enforcement notices;
To instigate to conduct proceedings in a magistrates’ court.
What is the purpose of employer’s liability insurance?
To satisfy a legal requirement for employers to carry such insurance so that an employee who is harmed due to the fault of his/her employer is assured of receiving compensation that the employer might otherwise have insufficient resources to pay.
This type of insurance is exerting significant pressure on employers to improve their standards of health and safety.
What are SIX costs of a workplace accident that might be uninsured?
Production delays, damaged goods, and equipment;
Accident investigation;
Loss of expertise or experience;
Hiring and training replacement staff;
Loss of goodwill and reputation;
Clean up operations;
Possible fines and associated legal fees.
What are differences between civil law and criminal law?
Different objectives of the two systems (one to provide a remedy and the other to punish),
The burden of proof required (a balance of probabilities as opposed to beyond all reasonable doubt),
The parties generally involved (two individuals rather than the state and an individual) and the different court structures involved.
Define the term ‘negligence’.
It may be defined as a civil wrong (tort) involving unreasonably careless conduct (or a breach of the common law duty of care), resulting in a loss, damage or injury.
What are defenses available to an employer in a case of alleged negligence brought by an employee?
There was no duty owed to the employee since the case referred to something which did not take place during the course of employment;
Such a duty was owed, there was no breach in that what happened was not foreseeable and in the event, everything reasonable had been done;
The loss, damage or injury was either non-existent or not caused by any breach
the claimant voluntarily accepted the risk or that the case was out of time.
What are the three main sections of a health and safety policy?
- Statement of intent, (aims and objectives
- Organisation of health and Saftey (who is responsible for what)
- Arrangements for health and safety (how risks are managed)
Give the stages of risk assessment in order.
- Identify hazards
- Identify who might be harmed and how.
- Evaluate risk arising from hazards in terms of the likelihood and the severity of harm.
- Examine existing controls.
- Recommend further action required to eliminate or control risks.
- Record the findings of assessment.
- Set a date for review.
What are 5 pieces of legislation which require specific types of risk assessment to be carried out?
- COSHH (2002)
- DSE REGS (1992)
- Manual handling regs (1992)
- Managements of H&S at work regs (1999)
- First aid at work regs (1980)
- PPE at work regs (1980)
- Noise at work regs (1989)
- Control of asbestos at work regs (2002)
- Control of lead at work regs (2002)
What is the criteria for a ‘suitable and sufficient’ risk assessment?
- a proper check of the workplace was made
- any people who might be affected by the hazards were identified
- all significant hazards were examined, and the numbers of all those who could be affected were taken into account
- the controls identified were reasonable and residual risk was low
What are the benefits of a risk assessment?
- helps prevent incidents
- helps prevent further similar incidents
- allows prioritisation of action required
- aids financial planning for health and safety measures
- satisfies legal requirements
- helps secure the safety of people & equipment, thereby preventing loss
- reduces costs
What are 4 conditions that would prompt a review of risk assessment?
- Changes in personnel
- Changes in equipment
- Changes in legislation
- New equipment
- Changes in the nature of work or methods
- Changes in the time of work
- Following an incident
What are 4 methods to identify hazards?
- Observation of work activities
- Job safety analysis
- Interviewing staff
- Examinations of documents and records
What are the general controls hierarchy?
- Eliminate
- Substitution
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- PPE
What information about risk assessment needs to be recorded?
- Significant hazards that were found
2. Conclusions about the measures needed to control the risks
What are the qualities required in a person described as ‘competent’ to carry out the risk assessment?
- Needs sufficient knowledge of the work area and work processes
- Knowledge of legislative requirements and other relevant standards appropriate to the assessment
- The skills to identify hazards
- To be able to identify the persons affected
- To be able to evaluate risks and have training in risk assessment
- Sufficient experience in risk assessment in the environment and of risks in general
- Would recognise the extent of their own competence I. E. Would know their own limitations in terms of knowledge, skills, training and experience.
