IA7 Organisational Factors Flashcards
Outline the factors which can both positively and negatively affect health and safety culture and climate
health and safety leadership :
Transformational
- People will follow a person who inspires them.
- A person with vision and passion can achieve great things.
- The way to get things done is by injecting enthusiasm and energy.
Transactional.
- People are motivated by reward and punishment.
- Social systems work best with a clear chain of command.
- When people have agreed to do a job, a part of the deal is that they pass all authority to their manager.
- The prime purpose of a subordinate is to do what their manager tells them to do.
types of health and safety leadership :
Servant.
Servant:
• The leader has responsibility for the followers.
• Leaders have a responsibility towards society and those who are disadvantaged.
• People who want to help others best do this by leading them.
Outline tangible benefits of a positive health and safety culture
- Reduced costs.
- Reduced risks.
- Lower employee absence and turnover rates.
- Fewer accidents.
- Lessened threat of legal action.
- Improved standing among suppliers and partners.
- Better reputation for corporate responsibility among investors, customers and communities.
- Increased productivity, because employees are healthier, happier and better motivated
Outline how effective leadership can play an essential role in promoting participation and engagement of
the workforce
• Instruction, information and training are provided to enable workers to work in a safe and healthy manner.
• Safety representatives are able to carry out their full range of functions.
• The workforce is consulted (either directly or through their representatives) in good time on issues relating to
their health and safety and the results of risk assessments.
• Workers are clear who to go to if they have health and safety concerns.
• Line managers regularly discuss how to use new equipment or how to do a job safely.
• Health and safety information is cascaded through the organisation through team meetings, notice boards and
other communication channels
What is the difference between a formal and informal organisational structure?
The formal structure is represented by the company organisation chart, the distribution of legitimate authority, written management rules and procedures, job descriptions, etc.
The informal structure is represented by individual and group behaviour
Outline the legal reasons for ensuring that third parties are covered by health and safety management
systems.
The legal reasons for ensuring that third parties are covered by health and safety management systems are that
ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention C155 (Article 17) and accompanying Recommendation R164
(Article 11) state:
“Whenever two or more undertakings engage in activities simultaneously at one workplace, they should collaborate in
applying the provisions regarding occupational safety and health and the working environment, without prejudice to
the responsibility of each undertaking for the health and safety of its employees. In appropriate cases, the competent
authority or authorities should prescribe general procedures for this collaboration.”
Copyright © International Labour Organisation 1981
So, the implication is that account is taken of third parties who happen to be working on the same premises. This
invariably will involve the exchange of information (on hazards, etc.) as well as the co-ordination of emergency
arrangements and sharing of procedures
What are the economic implications of neglect of health and safety in the workplace?
:
• Accidents resulting from poor health and safety management result in huge financial losses to everyone
concerned. Poor health and safety management is often itself caused by a lack of economic resources available for
health and safety purposes both at national and workplace levels.
• It is not difficult to compare the costs of preventing accidents with the costs arising from them (compensation,
lost production, increased insurance premiums, overtime, legal fees, fines, etc.). Prevention of accidents and
ill-health is an investment which attracts enormous dividends both for the individual employer and the national
economy as a whole
Outline the main role of worker representatives on health and safety and their typical activities.
- Workplace observations and inspections.
- Examination of records.
- Listening to complaints.
- Reading information.
- Asking those that they represent what their views are.
Outline the typical activities of a labour-management safety committee
- Promoting health and safety in the workplace (including providing training).
- Monitoring the workplace for hazards and legal compliance (including inspections).
- Agreeing the health and safety policy and its implementation.
- Working with management to resolve health and safety problems/complaints.
- Involvement in planning proposed changes that may impact on health and safety.
- Keeping union members informed about planned actions.
What is a safety circle?
A safety circle is a small group of workers - not safety representatives or members of safety committees - who meet
informally to discuss safety problems in their immediate working environment. The idea is based on the ‘quality circles’
concept and allows the sharing of ideas and the suggestion of solutions. Any insurmountable problem would be referred
to the safety representative or safety committee
Define the term “safety culture”
A definition should centre on a description of the attitudes, values and beliefs which members of an organisation hold
in relation to health and safety, and which, when taken together, produce an organisational culture that can be positive
or negative
How may the safety climate of an organisation be assessed?
The most common way to assess safety climate is by using a tool which includes a questionnaire survey asking workers
the extent to which they agree or disagree with a number of statements which reflect the management of health and
safety.
Name three ways in which management commitment can be demonstrated
- Managers being seen and involved with the work and correcting health and safety deficiencies.
- Providing resources to carry out jobs safely.
- Ensuring that all personnel are competent.
- Enforcing the company safety rules, and complying with them personally.
- Managers matching their actions to their words
Identify the features of a positive health and safety culture within an organisation.
- Management commitment and leadership.
- High business profile to health and safety.
- Provision of information.
- Involvement and consultation.
- Training.
- Promotion of ownership.
- Setting and meeting targets
