A1 Principles of Health and Safety Management

Question 1

What are the three reasons why an organisation should manage Health and Safety?

Answer 1

Moral - What is right or wrong?

Legal- Prevention, Punishment, Compensation.

Financial- Insured and Uninsured costs.

Question 2

Give examples of moral reasons for effective Health and Safety management?

Answer 2

• Employers owe a duty of reasonable care to his employees
• Society expects employers to ensure the health safety and welfare of its workforce
• it is unacceptable to place employees in situations where their health safety is at risk

Question 3

Give examples of legal reasons for effective Health and Safety management?

Answer 3

• Principles of self regulation (Robens Report)
• Preventative by enforcement notices (improvement or prohibition)
• Punative by criminal sanctions (fines, imprisonment)
• Compensatory by civil actions

Question 4

Give examples of economic reasons for effective Health and Safety management?

Answer 4

Costs associated with an accident, incident or ill health as well as punitive costs.

Direct - compensation for injury, ill health and damage

Indirect- lost time, investigator costs, sick pay, increased premiums, insurance excess, fines, first aid replacement, lost orders & business, training, recruitment.
Dame carol black -working for a healthier tomorrow

Question 5

What is the typical insured to uninsured cost ratio?

Answer 5

Typically for every £1 insured cost there are £10 of uninsured costs, but this can vary from £8 to £36 depending on organisations, incidents etc.

Question 6

Give examples of insured cost?

Answer 6

Direct insured- Material damage and personal injury claims.

Indirect insured- product liability and production disturbances.

Question 7

Give examples of uninsured costs?

Answer 7

Direct uninsured- sick pay, reparations, product damage, fines, increase in premiums, insurance excess, legal fees.

Indirect uninsured- investigation costs, loss of good will, training, loss of reputation, replacement staff.

Question 8

What are the seven main societal factors?

Answer 8

• Economic climate
• Government Policy and initiatives
• Industry/business risk profiling
• Globalisation of businesses
• migrant workers
• Sickness, absence and incapacity
• Corporate social responsibility

Question 9

Corporate social responsibility

Answer 9

• Employees -investment in
• Suppliers- responsible sourcing
• Customers -open and honest
• Local community-Involvement
• Environmental impact-reduce impact

Question 10

Definition of danger

Answer 10

When there is a distinct possibility of an interchange of energy (physical, chemical, biological) above physical or psychological tolerable limits

Question 11

definition of a Hazard

Answer 11

An inherent property of an article, substance, person or situation which has the potential to cause damage or harm

• Chemical
• Physical
• Biological
• Psychological

Question 12

Definition of risk

Answer 12

The probability that this potential will be realised, taking into account the severity of the harm.

Question 13

Management of Health Safety at Work regulation (7)

Answer 13

Employers to appoint one or more persons to assist in undertaking Health and Safety measures

Question 14

Health and Safety at work act Section 2(3)

Answer 14

Employers to prepare and as appropriate revise a written statement of policy

• brought to the attention of employees
• Contains a statement of intent
• Where there are 5 or more employees
• Organisation Xxxx
• Arrangements Xxxx

Question 15

Name the key feature of HSG65

Answer 15

Plan- Policy & planning
Do- Risk profiling, organisation and implement
Check- Measure performance, investigate failings
Act- Review performance and learn from lessons

Question 16

Management of Health and Safety at work regulation 5

Answer 16

Arrangements
As appropriate every employer to make arrangements for the effective
Planning,
Control,
Monitoring and
Review of preventive and protective measures

5 or more employees the employer will record the arrangements.

Question 17

Key stages of OHSAS 18001

Answer 17

Occupational health and Policy
Planning 
Implementation and operation 
Check corrective action 
Management review 
Continual improvement

Question 18

Management of Health and Safety at work regulation 3

Answer 18

Every employer to make suitable and sufficient risk assessment of
Risk to H and S of his employees at work
Risk to H and S of persons not in his employment
Risk to H and S to self employed

Question 19

HSG65 organisation 4Cs

Answer 19

CONTROL - within line management, calling on specialist advice.
COOPERATE - with employees, listen to and act upon suggestions
COMMUNICATE - written word, visible behaviour and face to face discussion
COMPETENCE - knowledge, attitude, training and experience

Question 20

What are the three levels of duty

Answer 20

1) Absolute = must
2) Practicable = if technically possible then it should be done
3) Reasonably Practicable = the quantum of risk against cost (time, effort and financial)

Question 21

Aim of MHSWR to make a safe work place by placing the following duties on employers

Answer 21

• Make suitable and sufficient RAs (R3)
• Apply Principles of prevention (R4)
• Arrangements (R5)
• Health surveillance (R6)
• Access to competent assistance (R7)
• Establish procedures for danger (R8)
• Contact with external services (R9)
• Provide information to employees (R10)
• Coop with others who share workplace (R11)
• Provide contractors with info (R12)
• Provide safety training for employees (R13)
• Provide agency with info (R15)
• Assess pregnant workers (R16)
• Ensure protection of young (R19)

Question 22

Regulation 4 MHSWR

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION

Answer 22

a) Avoiding risks;
b) Evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;
c) Combating the risks at source;
d) Adapting the work to the individual
e) Adapting to technical progress;
f) Replacing the dangerous by less or non-dangerous
g) Developing a coherent overall prevention policy
h) Giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures
i) Giving appropriate instructions to employees.

Question 23

Advantages of moving to OHSAS 18001 from HSG65

Answer 23

• External certification
• Publicity to potential suppliers
• Moving to an integrated management system allows for easier integration of other systems such as 45001.
• Clear indication of continual improvement
• Easier bench marking

Question 24

Disadvantages of moving from HSG65 to OHSAS18001

Answer 24

• HSG65 is recognised by HSE and most HSE guidance is linked to HSG65
• Costly and time consuming to change
• Need for specialist advice
• Need for external certification is expensive and time consuming
• increased burden of paperwork
• can be too complex for small and medium businesses