NEBOSH International General Certificate in

Occupational Safety and Health

Unit IGC1

Element 2: Health and Safety

Management Systems 1 Policy
RRC Training

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this element, you should be able to
demonstrate understanding of the content through the
application of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar
situations. In particular you should be able to:
Outline the key elements of a health and safety
management system
Explain the purpose and importance of setting policy for
health and safety
Describe the key features and appropriate content of an
effective health and safety policy

RRC Training

Unit IGC1
Element 2.1
Key Elements of a Health and Safety Management
System

RRC Training

ILO-OSH 2001 Safety & Health

Management System
Follows the PDCA Cycle
Plan what youre going to do
Do it!
Check that what youre doing is working
Act if what youre doing isnt working as well as
it should

RRC Training

Safety Management System

The ILO-OSH 2001 Safety Management System

RRC Training

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

We will cover this in more detail in a minute
Policy
Organising
Planning and Implementing
Evaluation
Action for Improvement
Audit
The system should develop over time to ensure
continual improvement

RRC Training

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

Policy
clear statement of commitment to health and
safety
Organising
Roles and responsibilities for health and safety
At all levels in the organisation
Planning and Implementing
Detailed arrangements to manage H&S
Risk assessments!

RRC Training

Key Elements of ILO-OSH 2001

Evaluation
Methods to monitor and review the
effectiveness of the arrangements
Action for Improvement
Steps to correct issues found in the review
Audit
Independent, critical and systematic review of
the management system

RRC Training

End of Section Quiz

1. What are the key elements of the ILOOSH health and safety management
system?

RRC Training

Quiz - Answer
1- Policy, Organising, Planning and
Implementation, Evaluation, Action for
Improvement, and Audit. Continual
improvement is also important.

RRC Training

Unit IGC1
Element 2.2
Purpose and Importance of Setting Policy for Health
and Safety

RRC Training

Health and Safety Policy

An important document:
The foundation stone for good health and safety
management in an organisation
Sets out the organisations aims
Identifies who is responsible for achieving these aims
States how the aims are to be achieved
Specific to each organisations requirements

RRC Training

Group Discussion Point

Why might the health and safety policy
of two organisations be different?
Why isnt there a prescribed, one size
fits all approach to developing a
policy?

RRC Training

Group Discussion Point

Consider the needs of a large hospital
and a small window cleaning business as
examples which would you expect to
have the more detailed policy
documents? Is this reasonable? What
would the impact of making the same
demands be upon the small company?
This can lead to a discussion of the fact
that the policy should be tailored to the
needs of the organisation.
RRC Training

Why Have a Written Policy?

Legal Compliance
Meet management systems standards
(ILO-OSH 2001, OHSAS 18001)
Clear communication
Continuous Improvement

RRC Training

End of Section Quiz

1. Why is an organisations policy so
important?
2. Why might two organisations have
different policies?

RRC Training

Quiz - Answer
1 - The health and safety policy of an
organisation is an important document
that sets out the organisations aims with
regards to health and safety, who is
responsible for achieving these aims, and
how the aims are to be achieved. This can
be expanded on during the discussion!!

RRC Training

Quiz - Answer
2- It should reflect the particular
circumstances of the individual
organisation: the hazards and risks, the
size and the complexity of the
organisation. The policy must therefore be
developed and tailored to fit the particular
organisation that it exists to serve.

RRC Training

Unit IGC1
Element 2.3
Key Features and Content of a Health and Safety
Policy

RRC Training

Key Elements of a H&S Policy

Health and safety policy is usually found
in three parts:
1. Statement of Intent
What's going to be done

2. Organisation
Who's going to do it

3. Arrangements
How they're going to do it
RRC Training

General Statement of Intent

Setting overall aims and
objectives
Complying with law
Achieving standards
Reminds workers at all levels of
their responsibilities
Signed and dated by the most
senior person
Regular review
RRC Training

Group Discussion Point

Targets may be included in the
statement of intent to show
commitment to improvement.
What targets could be included?
(general examples only needed)

RRC Training

Group Discussion Point

Accident rate reduction

Reduced absence
Active monitoring participation
Delivery of key objectives e.g. risk
assessments, delivery of a training
programme

RRC Training

Organisation Section

Health and Safety Organisation Chart

RRC Training

Organisation Section
Outlines the chain of
command for health and
safety management
Identifies the roles and
responsibilities of staff
Usually includes an
organisational chart
relating to health and
safety
Shows lines of
communication and
feedback
RRC Training

Organisation Section
Defines responsibilities for:
The CEO or MD - ultimately responsible and
accountable
Management - responsible for day-to-day
management
All employees - responsible for acting safely
Competent persons - first aiders, fire marshals, etc.
Specialist health and safety practitioners
responsible for providing advice to support
management and employees
RRC Training

Arrangements Section
Describes how things are done
Detailed description of policies and
procedures
Usually a long document
Often separate from the policy document
Unique to each organisation

RRC Training

Arrangements Section
Examples of topics:
Carrying out risk assessments
Information, instruction and
training
Compliance monitoring, including
auditing
Accident and near miss reporting,
recording and investigation
Consultation with workers
Developing safe systems of work
RRC Training

Individual Activity
Can you think of any other specific health
and safety hazards?
Write down as many as you can think of
which you believe should be included in
the Arrangements Section of a Health and
Safety Policy.

RRC Training

Arrangements Section
Specific Risks and Problems

Lone working
Housekeeping
Noise
Vibration
Hazardous substances
Fire procedures
Control of contractors
Transport risks

RRC Training

10

Reviewing the Policy

Some reasons for review
Changes in:
key personnel
management structure
ownership
processes
technology
legislation
Incident
Enforcement action
After audit
After worker consultation
Passage of time e.g. annually
RRC Training

International Standards for Policy

Article 14
ILO Recommendation R164
Requires employers to set down in writing,
policy and arrangements for health and
safety management:
Where circumstances warrant it
In a readily understood language or
medium

RRC Training

End of Section Quiz

1. What are the three key parts to a
health and safety policy?
2. What type of targets might be
referenced in the policy (and where)?

RRC Training

11

Quiz - Answer
1 The General Statement of Intent outlines the importance
that the organisation places on health and safety and the
commitment that can be expected. It sets aims and objectives
for the organisation to achieve. It is signed by the person in
overall control of the organisation.
The Organisation section highlights the roles and
responsibilities that exist at all levels within the organisation.
It shows the lines of responsibility and accountability.
The Arrangements section provides the detail on how the
organisation manages health and safety. It outlines
the general arrangements that relate to health and safety
management and the specific arrangements that relate to
individual health and safety topics and issues.
RRC Training

Quiz - Answer
2- The Statement of Intent may also set targets for the
organisation to achieve. Possible targets might relate to:
Accident rates: to achieve a reduction in the
accident or ill-health rate.
Active monitoring: to complete successfully a number of
active monitoring activities, e.g. successful completion of
90% of all supervisor safety inspections over a year.
completion of key activities such as the completion of risk
assessments across the organisation
Delivery of training to all workers
Development of a consultation process to engage the
workforce
Benchmarking against other organisations
RRC Training

12