1.2 Moral, Legal And Financial Drivers For Managing Health And Safety

Question 1

There are three basic drivers for good health and safety management:
- moral
- legal
- financial
Outline what is meant by each

Answer 1

• It is morally unacceptable that an employer profits from the injury or disease of their employees while they are at work
• The legal reasons are embodied in the criminal (statute) and civil (common) law
• The financial reasons are direct or indirect and are a consequence of infringements of health and safety law

Question 2

What three costs are generally covered by Employers Liability Insurance

Answer 2

• Injury
• I’ll-health
• Damage

Question 3

What are the uninsured costs to an organisation of accidents and I’ll-health

Answer 3

• Sick pay, Overtime, Fines
• Legal costs
• Investigation time
• Excess on insurance claims
• Loss of business reputation
• Lost contracts
• Damage to product, plant,buildings, tools and equipment

Question 4

Explain why the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act is a legal requirement for all employers

Answer 4

Employers’ Liability Insurance! ensures that any employee, who successfully sues his/her employer following an accident, is assured of receiving compensation irrespective of the financial position of the employer

Question 5

Explain what is meant by Societal concerns:

In the context of Health and Safety

Answer 5

The harm which results is a loss of confidence by society in the provisions and arrangements in place for protecting people and, consequently, a loss of trust in the regulator and duty-holders with respect to control of the particular hazard and hazards more generally.