1.1 Morals and Money Flashcards
What are the three main reasons why organisations should manage workplace health and safety?
Moral
Financial
Legal
Explain the moral reasons for managing workplace health and safety.
Injuries and ill-health relating to work can cause a great deal of pain and suffering for those involved. Every employer should do all they can to avoid injuries, ill-health and the associated suffering.
Explain the financial reasons for managing workplace health and safety.
Accidents/incidents at work can be very costly, particularly when factoring in fines and compensation claims. Other factors should also be considered, including loss of production, damage to the environment, harm to the quality of products etc.
Explain the legal reasons for managing workplace health and safety.
It is a legal requirement to protect the health and safety of employees and others that might be affected by the organisation’s work activities.
How do societal expectations influence health and safety standards?
Strategically: the general mass of the public influences the tolerance, or intolerance, of specific risks and situations.
Locally: the tolerance, or intolerance, of the practices of a specific organisation. Often strongest following an accident or incident.
What common law duties does an employer have to their employees?
To provide: Safe and healthy place of work Safe and healthy plant and equipment Safe and healthy systems of work Training and supervision Competent workers
What civil law duty does an employer have?
Civil law requires employers to take “reasonably care of those that might be foreseeably affected by their acts or omissions”. Including towards employees and others (contractors, visitors, members of the public etc.).
What are DIRECT costs of incidents?
Costs relating directly to the accident/incident or incidence of ill-health. They can be insured or uninsured.
What are INSURED DIRECT costs of incidents?
Depends on the insurance policy but normally:
Claims of compensation
Damage to buildings, tools, equipment. materials etc.
Medical costs relating to the harm caused
Legal costs of defending a compensation claim
Long term loss of business relating to major disasters
What are UNINSURED DIRECT costs of incidents?
Lost time of injured party
continued payments to the worker/their family in a worker absence scheme
Additional payments to workers/contractors for replacement work
Clean up time and materials
Fines imposed by a criminal court
What are INDIRECT costs of incidents?
Costs indirectly relating to the accident/incident or incidence of ill-health. Some may be a result of an accumulation of occurrences over time. They can ne insured or uninsured.
What are INSURED INDIRECT costs of incidents?
Claims for consequential loss related to the effects on the supply chain.
What are UNINSURED INDIRECT costs of incidents?
Lost time/reduced performance
Weakened morale (poor health and safety culture)
Loss of experience in injured worker
Lost time by supervisors/managers due to investigating incident
Interference with production e.g. failure to fulfil orders
Reputation
