3.6 General Principles Of Prevention Flashcards
Nebosh Learning Outcome 2016
3.6 Explain the general principles of prevention
3.6 General principles of prevention
- General principles of prevention with reference to Regulation 4 and Schedule 1 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
- avoiding risks
- evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided
- combating the risk at source
- adapting the work to the individual especially with regards to design of
workplace, the choice of work equipment, and the choice of working and production methods, with a view, in particular, to alleviating monotonous work and work at a predetermined work-rate and to reducing their effect on health;
- adapting to technical progress
- replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous
- developing an overall coherent prevention policy which covers technology,
organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence
of factors relating to the working environment;
- giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective
measures; and
- giving appropriate instructions to employees.
What measures are (collectively) known as CONTROL MEASURES.
Industry safety is controlled through a
combination of
- Engineering measures, such as, safety protection
(e. g. guarding and warning systems) - Operational measures, such as, training, safe
work practices, operating procedures and
method statements - Management supervision.
The legal requirements of the
General principles of prevention
can be found under what regulation?
Regulation 4 of the MHSWR 1999.
Where an employer implements any preventative measure he SHALL do so on the basis of the principles in MHSWR schedule 1
What are they?
- Avoiding risks
- Evaluate the risks that cannot be avoided
- Combat the risks at source
- Adapt the work to the individual
- Adapt to technical progress
- Replace the dangerous with the non or less dangerous
- Develop a coherent prevention policy
- Give priority to collective protection measures
- Give appropriate instructions to employees
A brief summary of the:
General Principles of Prevention
- Avoid the risk: -If you can get rid of the hazard then people are not exposed to the risks. You should apply this principle first
*Evaluate unavoidable risks -: This requires you to undertake risk assessments. If you can’t get rid of a hazard, you must assess it
*Combat the risks at source:- Here you are trying to deal with the hazard at its root. For example if you have a noisy machine in your workplace, giving employees hearing protection is not dealing with the root of the problem. If you enclose the machine so that it is not noisy or if you replace the machine with a quieter one, then you are combating the risk at source.
*Adapt the work to the individual-: This is the principle of arranging the workplace and tasks to take into account your employees and to reduce the affect of work on health.
*Adapt your work place in line with technical progress - Safer systems of work are always being developed. You should keep up to date with new systems, so that you can put them into use in your workplace. The HSA, trade associations, industrial bodies and trade unions will have information on safe systems of work that will help you
*Replace dangerous systems with safer alternatives - This applies to dangerous articles, substances or systems of work. For example, if you are using a solvent that may be toxic, then you should consider if there is a non-solvent alternative that is safer. Basic approach - if you can take steps to make it safer, then do it.
*Develop a prevention policy - This is where you would set out how you are going to protect your employees and other people from the hazards in your workplace. This forms part of your safety statement.
*Give priority to collective protective measures - Here it is better to put controls in place that protect everyone, rather than for example just handing out PPE to employees. - Give training and instruction - Once you have assessed the risks and decided on your controls in line with the principles above, you will need to tell your employees about them and to make sure that they are competent to work safely.
