Element 3 - Managing Risk – Understanding People and Processes Flashcards
Define Health and Safety Culture
The shared attitudes, values, beliefs and behavious relating to H&S. Either positive or negative
Define positive cultures
Feel H&S is important
Clear leadership from the top, runs through organisation
Work safely because they want to, not because they have to
Workers that do not agree with culture leave or dismissed for unsafe work
Safer workers leads to less accidents and less ill health
Define negative culture
H&S not important
Poorly educated in H&S
Lack of direction from senior management
Do not think of H&S when it comes to decision making so let short term profits dictate actions
Behave unsafely because they do not know better
Safe people in minority leads to them working unsafely because of peer pressure
Poor attention to H&S more accidents and ill health
Indicators of H&S culture
Accident rates Sickness rates Absenteeism Staff turnover Compliance with safety rules Complaints about conditions
Talk about the influence of peers on health and safety culture
Groups interact and hierarchy forms means way of behaving becomes the norm
To become part of the group you comply with norms
If group is safe peer pressure will keep them safe
If group is unsafe even if new members know its wrong, peer pressure will override personal apprehansion
Tackle influential members to tackle negative groups through training education and increased responsibility
Most important place to start when improving H&S Culture?
Senior management, they need to show inside leadership
How can leadership be shown visually?
Behaving safely themselves
Involvement in day to day H&S management through participating in meetings
Safety tours/audit participation
Enforcing company H&S rules
What does enforcing company H&S rules entail?
Must punish bad behavior if serious through formal disciplinary procedures and reward good behavior.
What does overpunishing lead to
Blame culture
What is a competent person?
Someone that has sufficient skills experience and knowledge to do the job
How does a competent person influence culture
Increased ability to work safely and can lead to positive influence on culture
Define communication
process of delivering info from sender to recipient
How can communication be optimised?
Correct info is communicated
Must be transmitted, received and understood by the recipient
The 3 types of communication
Verbal, written and graphic
Pros of verbal communication
Personal
Direct
Quick
Allows for feedback
Cons of verbal communication
Language barrier/accent issues
Ambiguous message
No written record as proof
Info may be missed
Examples of verbal communication
Meetings, interviews, conversations and phone calls
Pros of written communication
Permanent record
Reference point
Can be distributed
Can be written carefully
Cons of written communication
Indirect
Time consuming
Impersonal
Questions cannot be asked
Examples of written communication
Report, Memo, Email, Minutes, Policy Docs
Pros of graphic communication
Visual
No language barrier
Jargon free
Quick to interpret
Cons of graphic communication
May not be looked at
Questions cannot be asked
Expensive to buy/produce
Can only convey simple messages
Why is it important to include workers in decision making?
To avoid negative culture
What is consulting?
2 way exchange of info/opinion between employers and workers so best course of action can be agreed. Info flow is 2 way.
What is informing?
Providing info to workers they can understand and then checking the info has been understood. Info flow is one way.
It is a legal duty for employers to consult with employees. What are the legal regulations for unions?
Safety Representative and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
It is a legal duty for employers to consult with employees. What are the legal regulations for non-unions?
Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
What are the issues that employers must consult employees on when it comes to H&S?
Intro of measures affecting H&S
Intro of new technology that affects H&S
Health and Safety training plans
Appointment of safety health advisers and specialists
What are safety representatives’ right and entitlements?
Carry out inspections Examine accident causes Receive info from HSE Be consulted on H&S matters Investigate complaints about H&S
Define the features of employees under Safety Representative and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
Representatives: Appointed by trade unions
Title/position: Safety representatives
Define the features of employees under Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
Representatives: Appointed by employers
Title/position: Representatives of employees safety
Under Safety Representative and Safety Committees Regulations 1977, when 2 or more employees request establishment of a safety committee how long does the employer have to comply?
3 months
What are the important points for a safety committee to work well?
Who is on the committee How often do they meet Who chairs it What authority do the committee have What will be discussed How will discussions be recorded How will issues be followed up
Name some topics that could be discussed at a safety committee
Accident/incident records
Reviewing reports
Monitoring training effectiveness
Reports from HSE
Define health and safety training
Planned and formal process of acquiring and practiving knowledge and skills and in relatively safe environment
Who is responsible for training?
Employers
After induction training the employee will learn:
Hazards and risk to their work Correct rules/precautions Emergency procedures Limitations/restrictions to work Personal H&S responsibilities Consequences of breaking rules Who to contact is issues arise
When are the best opportunities to train employees?
New workers Job change Process change New techniques New legislation
What are (some of) the things included in an induction
H&S policy Energency procedures Workplace hazards and controls First aid facilities and personnel Location of welfare facilities Accident/incident reporting Personal protective equipment Risk assessment Disciplinary action
What are the 3 things that influence a worker’s safety related behaviour
Organisational
Job
Individual
What are the organisational factors that influence workers’ behavior
H&S culture of the organisation Commitment and leadership from management Resources Work patterms Communications Levels of supervision Consultation Training
What are the job factors that influence workers’ behavior
Task Workload Environment Displays/control and how the lack of them or poor ones can create human error Procedures
What are the individual factors that influence workers’ behavior
Competence Skills Personality Attitude Risk perception
How can you improve a worker’s perception of hazards
Safety awareness campaigns Training programme Highlighting hazards Adequate lighting Removing distractions
Define Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm
Define Risk
The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm in combination with severity of the injury/damage/loss
Define Risk profiling
The process to recognise the range of risks that threaten an organisation aline with the likelihood and probable impact of those risks
Define Risk Assessment
Formalised process of identifying hazards, evaluating risk and hem eliminating/controlling the risk to acceptable levels
Which regulation requires risk assessments?
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
How can you classify hazards?
Physical Chemical Biological Ergonomic Psychological
How can you classify risk
Quantitatively - probabilities/frequencies based on data
Qualitatively - high/med/low
What is the risk calculation?
Risk = Likelihood x Severity
What are the special cases for risk assessment?
Young person
New/Expectant Mothers
Disabled Persons
Lone Workers
What are the steps in the Risk Profiling Process?
Identify the health and safety threats faced by the organisation
Identify the health and safety impacts and the business impacts that might result
Identify how well each threat is currently controlled
Identify the likelihood of each threat occurring
Identify the priority of each threat
What other regulations require a risk assessment
COSHH Regs
H&S (DSE) Regs
What is the main aim of a risk assessment?
To ensure that hazards are eliminated or risks minimised by the correct application of relevant standards, to prevent workplace accidents
What are the objectives of a risk assessment?
to prevent: Death and personal injury Ill health Other types of loss incident Breaches of statute law Direct/indirect costs from accidents followup
What constitutes a suitable and sufficient risk assessment?
IDs risks
IDs prople at risk
Evaluates effects of current controls
ID/prioritises measures to protect people
Appropriate and remains valid for a reasonable period
What are the 5 steps of a risk assessment?
ID the hazards
ID the people who might be harmed and how
Evaluate the risk and decide on precautions
Record the findings and implement them
Review and update as necessary
What does the abbreviation SREDIM stand for and what is it used for?
Select task to analyse Record steps/stages of tasks Evaluate risks with each step Develop safe working method Implement safe working method Monitor to ensure effectiveness
Used to analyse protocols/tasks
What are some of the principles of prevention? And which regulation talks about this
Regulation 4 of the Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999
Avoid risks Evaluate the ones hat cannot be avoided Combat risks at source Adapt work to suit worker Adapt to technical progress Replace with less dangerous alternatives Give appropriate instruction Develop an overall prevention policy
What is the general hierachy of control
Elimination Substitution Engineering controls Administration Controls PPE
Types of engineering controls
Isolation.total enclosure
Separation/segregation
Partial closure
Safety devices
Types of administrative controls
Safe system of work
Reduce exposure
Reduce time of exposure
Information, instruction, training and supervision
Define personal protective equipment
Equipment/clothing worn/held by a worker that rotects them from one or more risks to their health or safety
What regulations govern PPE?
PPE at work Regulations 1992
Benefits of PPE
Can be used as interim control May be only option available Backup for emergencies when other controls fail Cheap Immediate protection
Limitations of PPE
Only protects wearer
May not protect properly if not worn properly
May not be comfortable and may interfere with wearer’s ability to work
Increase to overall risk
What is the risk once all controls have been taken into account called?
Residual risk
What are the categories of residual risk
Acceptable risk - nothing needs to be done
Tolerable risk - not accepted but tolerable for a short time
Unacceptable - risk too high for work to be allowed
What are the triggers for risk assessment review?
Significant change
Reason to suspect that it is not valid
Regular intervals
What changes can have impact on health and safety at work
Temporary works Changes to: process equipment procedures
What control measures can you use to manage change
Risk assessment
Effective communication and cooperation
Segregation of work areas
Amendment to emergency procedure when necessary
Appropriate welfare provision for workers
Define Safe Systems of Work (SSW)
Formal procedure based on a systemic examination of work in order to ID hazards. Defines safe methods of working that eliminate hazards and minimises risk associated
Factors to consider when developing an SSW
People
Equipment
Materials
Environment
Provision of an SSW is part of which legislation?
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Also mentioned in Confined Spaces Regs 1997
What are the steps to develop a SSW
Task analysis
Introduce controls//formulate procedures
Instruction and training
Monitoring the system
Why is it important to involve workers in a SSW
They can provide knowledge and experience of the task, and they gain understanding of hazards and risks, which alows them to take ownership
Define technical, behaviorial and procedural controls
Technical - applied directly to hazard to minimise risk
Procedural - the way the task is done in relation to hazard
Behavioral - how the individual works in relation to hazard
Whose responsibility is it to develop a SSW?
Employer with involvement of competent persons and employees.
Define a permit to work (PTW)
A formal documented safety procedure, part of a SSW which ensures all actions are taken before, during and after high risk work
Some of the types of high risk work controlled by a permit system
Hot works High voltage works Confined space Maintenance on complex machinery Work at height
The 4 main section of a PTW
Issue - details of work, hazards, controls, signatures
Receipt - signature of competent person
Clearance - signature that area is safe
Cancellation - signature the area is safe and accepted back
PTW are issued how many times
3x one in area of work, one to manager, one in central location
To make sure PTWs work effectively:
Only authorised people can issue then
No amendments
Sufficient time allowed for the works
Adherence to PTW
Why do we need emergency procedures
With all safety controls in place, accidents/incidents can still happen so emergency procedures are needed
Emergency Procedure Arrangements should include:
Forseeable emergencies Procedures for raising alarm Procedures to be followed Provision of suitable equipment Nomination of responsible staff Dealing with media Arrangement for contacting emergency services
Incidents that may need emergency procedures include:
Fire Bomb Spillage of chemicals Toxic gas Disease outbreak Severe weather
Emergency procedures need to be tested through drills and exercises regularly. True or false?
True
People who are nominated for specialist roles do not need extra training. True or false
False, they will definitely need extra training for fire marshal or first aider
What legislation gives employers a duty to have first aid provisions?
Heath ad Safety (First Aid) Regs 1981
What are the 3 elements of a first aid provision?
Facilities
Equipment
Personnel
Role for first aiders
Preserve life
Prevent deterioration
Promote recovery
Types of first aid personnel
Appointed person - take care of facilities and equipment and call emergency services
EFAW level trained personnel
FAW trained personnel
How would you improve health and safety culture?
Leadership input Competent workers Increase communication Training Setting up safety committee
Why would you use different types of communication?
Language barrier Different stimuli for different people Important message may need multiple types of Comms May need feedback Statutory One method could be overused
What can distort risk perception?
Lack of training
Illness/stress/fatigue
Drug or alcohol use
Workplace conditions
What should an employer consider when looking at first aid provisions?
Location No of employees Vulnerable persons Risks and hazards present Work patterns/holiday cover Accident history
