A management system helps you to manage health and safety in the workplace. Systems may include, but is not limited to the following:
• National Acts and Regulations • ISO Standards • In-house standards and procedures • Industry specific frameworks such as Construction • Worlds best practice and principals - Although the language and methodology may vary, the key actions can usually be traced back to Plan, Do, Check, Act.
Documentation – We keep health and safety documents functional and updated. These documents are created with the emphasis on their effectiveness rather than sheer volume of paperwork. Focusing too much on the formal documentation of a health and safety management system which may distract you from addressing the human elements of its implementation and then focus becomes the process of the system itself rather than actually controlling risks.
Attitudes and behaviours - Managing health and safety is not just about having a management or safety management system. The success of whatever process or system is based on the attitudes and behaviours of people in the organisation (this is sometimes referred to as the 'safety culture').
The examples in Are you doing what you need to do? against the key areas of 'What it looks like when done effectively' indicate positive health and safety attitudes and behaviours.
Risk Assessment
Using a risk management approach will provide companies with a framework to assess and address risks identified within the company.
We will assess the risks associated with an action and develop a plan of action that is prioritised in accordance with the findings of the risk assessment.
Risk management is a step-by-step process for controlling health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace. To stablish risks in the workplace the following steps must be considered:
• Identify hazards • Assess the risks • Control the risks • Record your findings • Review the controls • Identify hazards
Accident and Incident Investigations
The term incident is used in some situations and jurisdictions to cover both an "accident" and "incident". It is argued that the word "accident" implies that the event was related to fate or chance. When the root cause is determined, it is usually found that many events were predictable and could have been prevented if the right actions were taken - making the event not one of fate or chance (thus, the word incident is used). For simplicity, we will now use the term incident to mean all of the above events.
When incidents are investigated, the emphasis should be concentrated on finding the root cause of the incident so you can prevent the event from happening again. The purpose is to find facts that can lead to corrective actions, not to find fault. Always look for deeper causes.
Reasons to investigate a workplace incident include:
• most importantly, to find out the cause of incidents and to prevent similar incidents in the future • to fulfil any legal requirements • to determine the cost of an incident • to determine compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., occupational health and safety, criminal, etc.) • to process workers' compensation claims
Health & Safety Training
Every employer needs to provide training and instructions to their employees to ensure that they are able to carry out their tasks safely and without risks to health. Training is helping and showing employees what they should and should not do when they carry out their workplace activities. Employees should be suitably trained in all aspects of their job from the most menial to the riskiest activities in the workplace.
Suitable employee training can reduce workplace incidents and accidents which in turn can lead to reduced costs, lower insurance premiums and fewer potential lawsuits. It would also promote a healthier, safer and happier workforce.
Workplace instruction can be carried out in various ways, it could be a written document such as a method statement, or it could be verbal communication from a line manager or colleague.
Isiviko Health & Safety will assist in the following:
• Establish who needs health and safety training • Types of health and safety training needed • Sourcing of health and safety training provider • Facilitating the health and safety training
Construction Safety
Isiviko Health and Safety has been doing Construction Safety for the last 6 years. Our Consultants are registered with the SACPCMP.
The SACPCMP is a statutory body that regulates the certifications, registrations and applications of Construction Professionals.
In terms of the Construction Regulation 8(5), a contractor is required to appoint a competent safety officer, taking into account the size and duration of the project.
If a construction safety officer is registered with the SACPCMP, he or she is deemed competent in South Africa. Without this registration, an occupational health and safety (OHS) professional cannot practise in the workplace lawfully. Without the necessary qualifications and certifications, a construction safety officer is not deemed competent.
Safety Files
The Safety File is a record of information, prepared by the project supervisor design process for the end user, which focuses on safety and health. The information it contains will alert those who are responsible for the structure and services in it of the significant safety and health risks that will need to be addressed during subsequent maintenance, repair or other construction work including demolition.
Relevant information may include:
• construction drawings, specifications and bills of quantities, used and produced throughout the construction process • the general design criteria • details of the equipment and maintenance facilities within the structure • maintenance procedures and requirements for the structure • manuals, certificates, produced by specialist contractors and suppliers which outline operating and maintenance procedures and schedules for plant and equipment installed as part of the structure, typically lifts, electrical and mechanical installations and window cleaning • details of the location and nature of utilities and services, including emergency and fire-fighting systems
Occupational Medicals
As an employer, you are required by law to prevent physical and mental ill health that may occur as a result of your business activities.
An important part of occupational health is concerned with how work and the work environment can impact on workers’ health, both physical and mental. It also includes how workers’ health can affect their ability to do their job. Put simply this means the effect of work on health and that of health on work.
According the Health and Safety Act, there are things you must do to make sure workers’ health is not adversely affected by their work and that workers are medically fit to carry out their work safely. This includes:
• implementing health or medical surveillance when necessary • ensuring workers are medically fit to undertake the role required (your industry may produce such standards)
There are things that you could do which are aimed at improving the general health and well-being of workers. However, these actions should not be prioritised over the things you must do, should be based on your workers’ needs and be evidence based.
