Section 1 - Importance of HS to Individual and Organisation Flashcards
Definition of health
The protection of bodies and minds of people from illness resulting from the materials, processes or procedures used in the workplace
Definition of Safety
The protection of people from physical injury
Definition of Welfare
The provisions of facilities including washing and sanitisation, drinking water, heating, lighting, canteen facilities, as well as first aid to maintain health and well-being of individuals
Definition of Occupational or Work-Related Ill-health
Illness of physical and mental disorders caused or triggered by workplace activities
Environmental Protection
Arrangements to protect people and the broader environment outside the workplace from the effects of workplace activities
3 Reasons for managing health, safety and welfare
Moral, Financial and Legal
Moral reasons to manage health, safety and welfare
1) Societies attitudes to health and safety, it is reasonable for all individuals to be able to go home safe and healthy at the end of every working day
2) All individuals at all levels in the workplace have a moral obligation not to harm themselves or others by their acts or omissions.
3) Society expects that the public are proteced from harm
Direct costs of accidents and ill-health
1) Sick pay for injured employee
2) Repairing or replacing damaged equipment or property
3) Costs associated with managers’ time dealing with the consequences of the accident
How much larger are direct costs to indirect costs
4-10 times
Cost of a lost time accident
over £2000 in uninsured costs
Cost of a serious accident
from £45,000 in fines in lower court, up to an unlimited amount and prison sentences in crown court
Uninsured costs
1) F ines
2) I nvestigation time
3) L ost production time
4) L egal costs
5) S ick pay
6) P roduction delays
7) E xtra wages (overtime working and temp labour)
What legal powers do government appointed regulators have
Issue notices which have legal status and can prohibit dangerous activities and force changes to prevent accidents
Failure to comply with government appointed regulators can result in…
Fines and imprisonment as a result of court action
Legislation is the general term for:
laws including acts (statutes), regulations (statutory instruments), orders and directives
What is civil law concerned with
the right and duties of individuals (and organisations) towards each other.
in civil law, violations of established rights and duties are known as… the main … affecting h and s is…
torts and negligence
What do civil cases comprise of
action brought by one person against another in order to seek restitution for some form of wrongdoing
where are civil cases heard
County court for minor cases and high court for more serious cases
What is criminal law concerned with
Offences against society generally
What are crimes
Actions with violate the basic rules and principles by which society lives
Where are criminal law court cases heard
In Magistrates court without a jury for less serious breaches, and in Crown court with a jury for more serious cases
What supporting documents are used in the legislation process
ACOPs (Approved Codes of Practice), British and european standards, industry-cased standards.
The HSW Act covers:
Employers, Employees, People in control of work premises, The self-employed, Designers manufacturers suppliers and installers
Employers duties
1) Protect health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business
2) Make sure that workers and others are protected from anything that may cause harm, effectively controlling any risk to injury or health that could arise in the workplace
3) assess risks in the workplace. Risk assessments should be carries out that address all risks that might cause harm in the workplace
4) Give employees information about the risks in the workplace and how employees are protected, also instruct and train employees on how to deal with the risks
5) Consult with employees on health and safety issues
Employees duties under HS
1) Take reasonable care for their own health and safety
2) cooperate with their employers and anyone else to help everyone meet their health and safety obligations
3) Not put others at risk by what they do or dont do at work
4) Not deliberately interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety purposes
Duties of people in control of work premises
Ensure a means of access and egress are safe for those using the premises, and any plant or substances are safe and without risk to health
Duties of the self employed
Not to put other people at risk by the way they carry out their work activities
Duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers and installers
Responsibility for the design and construction of articles, the use of substances and the testing and installation of their work. They must provide adequate information, such as instructions for the safe use of a machine
Employers must have processes and procedures to meet HS legal requirements inc:
1) Written HS policy
2) Carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments recording significant findings
3) Make arrangements for effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventative and protective measures that come from risk assessments
4) Appoint competent person to assist with HS
5) Provide employees with info about risks in the workplace and how theyre protected
6) Instruction and training for employees on how to deal with risks
7) Ensuring adequate and proper supervision
8) Consulting with employees about their risks and current preventative and protective measures
Suitable and sufficient risk assessment includes
1) Identify significant risks arising out of work
2) Enable the employer to identify and prioritise necessary action
3) Ensure its appropriate to the nature of the work
Definition of Competence
Person must have practical and theoretical knowledge as well as sufficient experience of machinery, plant and procedures involved to enable them to identify defects or weaknesses during plant and machinery examinations and to assess eithers importance with relation to the strength and function of that plant and machinery
What powers do HSE inspectors have?
1) Enter premises
2) Inspect and investigate
3) Take measurements, samples and photographs
4) Require an area or machine to be left undisturbed
5) Seize, render harmless or destroy dangerous items
6) Obtain information and take statements from management and employees
7) Give advice or written information
8) Issue instructions, improvement notices and prohibition notices that must be carried out by law
9) Initiate a prosecution
What is an improvement notice
requires contravention to be corrected within a specified time, but does not stop work activity
What is a prohibition notice
Is issued if there is, or is likely to be, a risk of serious personal injury. Requires an activity to be stopped imediately unless corrective action is taken
What is a fee for intervention
If the HSE issues a notification of contravention, companies pay a fee
What costs does a fee for intervention include
inspectors time:
1) at mill site
2) preparing reports
3) getting specialist advice
4) talking to company employees
Plan, Do, Check, Act
Plan - establish objectives and policies necessary to deliver results. Planning for implementation
Do- Profiling for HS risk. Organising for HS. Implementing the plan
Check - Measuring performance against policy/legal requirements. Investigating accidents/incidents
Act - Reviewing performance and continually improve. Learning lessons.
Definition of culture
- Set of values, behaviours and norms that guide interactions between people
- Personality of the workplace
- How things are done around here
- Sometimes difficult to see because they are deeply held assumptions developed over time
Organisations with a positive HS culture are characterised by:
communications founded on mutual trust, by shared perceptions of the importance of safety and by confidence in the efficacy of preventative measures
What is poor health and safety characterised by
An atmosphere where not complying with safe working practices is acceptable and effective action to solve HS problems is not taken
Indicators of the state of the HS culture of an organisation
Number of accidents, near misses, and occupational ill-health cases occurring within the organisation
Indicators of positive HS culture
- Leadership and commitment throughout all levels of the organisation
- Acceptance that high standards are achievable
- A comprehensive assessment system for all HS risks
- HS policy statement with detailed risk management arrangements
- Relevant employee training programmes and consultation mechanisms
- Systems for monitoring of workplaces, equipment, processes and procedures
- Prompt investigation of all incidents and accidents
Definition of First Aid
Emergency treatment until arrival of a medical practitioner or nurse. Treatment of minor injuries that do no warrant medical attention or would otherwise receive no treatment
How many first aiders are required in the workplace
1 per 50 employees for low risk work, with more per employees with higher risk
Definition of a First Aider
Someone who has undertaken training appropriate to circumstance. Must hold a valid certificate of competence in either: first aid at work, emergency first aid at work, or any other level of training or qualification that is appropriate to circumstances
What is emergency first aid at work (EFAW)
enables a first-aider to give emergency first aid to someone who is injured or becomes ill at work
What is first aid at work training
includes EFAW syllabus and also equips the first aider to apply first aid to range of specific injuries and illness
How long to first aid certificates last
3 years
How often is refresher training recommended
yearly
Essential parts of health and safety management system
Emergency procedures, accident reporting, accident investigation
Incident Defintion
Near miss, an event that has the potential to cause injury or ill health
Accident definition
Any unplanned, uncontrolled event that results in injury or ill health of people or damage or loss to property, plant and materials or the environment or the loss of a business opportunity
Reasons for reporting accidents
Statutory obligation, insurance claim, in-house accident reporting and investigation
What is the law that requires employers to report and keep records of work related accidents
RIDDOR
How long should statutory records be held for
3 years
Types of reportable major injuries
A fracture, other than fingers, thumbs, legs, foot or toe
amputation of arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe
permanent loss of sight or reduction of sight
crush injuries leading to internal organ damage
serious burns
unconsciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
any other injury arising from work in an enclosed space leading to hypothermia, heat induced illness or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours
Reportable dangerous occurences
Collapse, overturning or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead electrical power lines
electrical incidents causing fire or explosions
failure of a pressure system
Reportable Occupational Diseases
Occupational asthma, occupational dermatitis
Functions of an in-house accident investigation
Informs senior managers that an accident has occurred and gives them a factual account of it
Identifies any shortfall in organisational safety arrangements and enables these to be corrected
provides the basic data which companies can use to analyse and utilise to prevent reoccurrence
What does positive mental health allow people to do
Realise full potential, cope with life stresses, work productively, make meaningful contributions to communities
What factors contribute to mental health problems
Biological factors (genes or brain chemistry), life experiences (trauma or abuse), family history of mental health problems
What are some early warning signs of bad mental health
Inability to perform daily tasks they previously had no problem with, appearing confused forgetful on edge angry or upset, experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems at work
Definition of stress
The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them
What is an EAP
An employer-funded benefit that offers employees confidential counselling and advice on a wide range of work and personal issues. A core component of an organisations risk and absence management strategy and a versatile resource for managers and human resource professionals
What else, other than mental health counselling, can an EAPs help employees
childcare, elder care, buying a home for the first time, divorce, debt
