NGC1 Flashcards
Outline costs of a workplace accident that might be Uninsured?
o Insurance excess agreed between the employer and the insurance company will have to be paid.
o Increase in the premium that could follow a serious accident.
o Production delays or lost production.
o Damage to the building, equipment, material and products.
o Time involved in the investigation of the accident.
o Loss of expertise or experience.
o Hiring and training replacement staff.
o Loss of goodwill and reputation.
o Clean up costs.
o Possible fines and legal costs.
Barriers to good standards of health and safety include:
Complexity - Employees become unhappy with the amount and type of information available on health and safety which is not tailored specifically to them. Legislation, regulations and requirements can become overwhelming, difficult to understand and poorly communicated.
Competing & Conflicting Demands - demands to meet production targets or keep within budgets, may compromise health and safety.
Behavioural Issues - changing workers attitudes and behaviour to work safely is one of the biggest challenges in health and safety.
Health
This can be defined as a state of well being. It could be classed as being in a physiological and psychosocial sense, for example this would include not suffering from stress or mental fatigue. The term health, in relation to work, indicates not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; it also includes the physical and mental elements affecting health which are directly related to safety and hygiene at work
Safety
Safety can be defined as an absence of danger of physical harm. This term could not only mean people, but also other things that may be harmed in the workplace, for example equipment, materials and structures.
Factors that could cause harm could be related to plant, machinery, fire, falls from height, etc.
Welfare
Welfare will relate to facilities that should be provided in the workplace providing the basic essentials for the worker. welfare facilities include the provision for eating, washing, toilet facilities, first aid etc. Workplace welfare requirements are included in the UK’s The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
Hazard
Something that has the potential to cause harm;
Risk
The probability/likelihood that an unwanted event will occur and the possible severity in terms of injury or damage should it occur;
Precaution
Step taken to reduce to an acceptable level the risk of a hazard occurring;
Injury
The result of a hazard occurring to a person
Damage
The result of a hazard occurring to a thing.
Physical hazard, :
◦Repetitive strain injuries.
◦Being struck by an object.
◦Noise-induced hearing loss.
Chemical hazard:
◦Contact with acids or alkalis.
◦Contact with asbestos
Biological hazard:
◦Contagious disease.
Psychological hazard:
◦Fear of unemployment.
◦Lack of motivation.
◦Harassment.
◦Disaster at home or at work
arguments for good management of health and safety include:
◦Moral: Ethical and responsible behaviour.
◦Financial: The costs of injuries and ill-health.
◦Legal: Criminal and civil liability
