Element 2 Policy

8/11/2019 Element 2 Policy

1/20

Copyright RMS Publishing

IGC First Edition - IGC1 Element 2 - v.1.0 - Slide 1

860409

Unit IGC1

Management ofInternational health

and safety


2/20



860409

Element 2

Policy


3/20



860409

2.1 Explain the purpose and importance of setting

policy for health and safety

2.2 Describe the key features and appropriate content

of an effective health and safety policy

Learning outcomes

Policy


4/20



860409

2.1 The purpose and importance of setting policy for

health and safety

2.2 The key features and appropriate content of an

organisations health and safety policy

Contents of element

Policy


5/20



860409


health and safety



Contents of element

Policy


6/20



860409

European Union and International Laws / Regulations set

out an obligation to manage the risks that organisations

create

A cornerstone of this was seen to be the establishment ofan active health and safety policy

In the United Kingdom (UK):

- Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HASAWA) 1974

- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations(MHSWR) 1999

The purpose and importance of setting policy

Role of the health and safety policy in decision making

Policy


7/20



860409

Without active management any attempt at organised

accident prevention will be restricted and predominantly

reactive

Many employers are required to have a health and safetypolicy by the national or local legislation

A policy is a personal thing setting out a particular

organisations position at that point in time

Organisations differ greatly in their goals, risks, structureand what they feel capable of committing themselves to


Role of the health and safety policy in decision making

Policy


8/20



860409

Overall aims

Key principles and objectives to which the organisation is

committed:

Policy which is specific to the organisation and appropriateto its size

Concise, clearly written, dated and signed

Communicated to all persons working under the control of

the organisation Reviewed for continuing suitability


Policy

Aims, objectives and key elements of a health and

safety policy


9/20



860409

Overall aims

Additional elements to consider:

Protecting the safety and health of all members

Complying with relevant OSH national/international lawsand regulations

Setting and reviewing OSH objectives

Documented, implemented and maintained

Consulted and encouraged to participate actively in allelements of the OSH management system

Continually improving the performance


Policy


safety policy


10/20



860409

Health and safety roles and responsibilities of

individuals within an organisation

The employer must allocate responsibility, accountability

and authority for the development, implementation andperformance of the OSH management system

Policy statement itself should be made effective by the

dating and signature of the most senior accountable

person

Worker participation is an essential element of the OSH

management system in the organisation


Policy


safety policy


11/20



860409

Specifying the arrangements for achieving general and

specific aims

To be effective the policy should be:

In a number of formats Effectively communicated

Revised as appropriate

Monitored through audits


Policy


safety policy


12/20



860409


health and safety



Contents of element

Policy


13/20



General statement of intent

Signatory to statement

Setting objective and quantifiable targets

Concept of benchmarking

The key features and appropriate content

Setting targets

Policy


14/20



Allocation of responsibilities

Lines of communication

Feedback loops

The role of the line manager Monitoring effectiveness

Organising for health and safety


Policy


15/20



Importance of specifying the organisations arrangements for:

Planning

Organising

Controlling hazardsMonitoring compliance with and assessing the effectiveness of

the arrangements

Health and safety arrangements


Policy


16/20



Main headings of arrangements that could be detailed in the

health and safety policy might include:

General arrangements:

Finance Planning

Organising

Control of hazards

Consultation

Communication

Competence Accident and hazard

reporting

Monitoring compliance



Policy


17/20



Specific arrangements for hazards, such as those relating to:

Fire

Electricity

Manual handling Work at a height



Policy


18/20



Changes through time

Technological advances

Organisation - reorganisation

Legislation updates Monitoring - gap analysis

Reviewing the policy


Policy

P li


19/20



In the UK it is a mandatory requirement under the Health

and Safety at Work etc. Act (HASAWA) 1974, that

employers have a health and safety policy

Information on policy requirements can be found withinmanagement system guidance such as OHSAS 18002:

Guidelines on occupational safety and health

management systems

Standards and guidance relating to health and

safety policy


Policy

P li


20/20



2.1 The purpose and importance of setting policy forhealth and safety



Contents of element

Policy

Documents

Element 2 Policy