ELEMENT : 1

FOUNDATIONS OF
HEALTH AND SAFETY
 Meanings and Distinctions
HEALTH
Relates to physical condition of both body and mind, of all the people at the workplace
(workers, contractors & visitors) their protection from harm in the form of injury or disease.
(Freedom from Illness)
SAFETY ( Freedom from Danger/ Freedom from accident)
Relates to the conditions at the workplace and applies to the pursuit of a state where the
risk of harm has been eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level.

WELFARE Provision of facilities

Relates to the general well-being of workers at the workplace and the promotion of
conditions which help to provide for their needs in respect of health, comfort, social and
personal well-being.

ENVIRONMENT:
The workplace environment, which relates to the general conditions in the immediate area
of the workplace itself for example levels of Air, water, lighting, noise, heat etc

External:
Which relates to pollution of, or damage to, the air, land, water and living creatures outside
of the workplace.
 Meanings and Distinctions
INCIDENT
An unplanned, unwanted and undesired event which has the potential to cause harm,
loss or damage.

ACCIDENTS
An unplanned, unwanted and undesired event which resulted in harm, loss or damage.

NEAR MISS
An unplanned, unwanted and undesired event which has the potential to cause harm,
loss or damage but did not in fact do so.

OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS
An occurrence arising out of, or in the course of, work, which results in
fatal or non-fatal injury.

DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES
A near miss which could have led to serious injury or loss of life. A series of accidents
defined by the law and regulations authorities and reported to them as well.

NOISE : Unwanted sound NEGLIGENCE : is the lack of reasonable care or conduct

which results in the injury (or financial loss).
 Meanings and Distinctions
COMMUTING ACCIDENT
An accidents resulting in death or personal injury occurring the direct way between the
place of work and:-
the workers principal or secondary residence; or
the place where the worker usually takes a meal; or
the place where the workers usually receives one remuneration.

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
Any disease contracted as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work activity
e.g. Occupational cancer from exposure to asbestos at workplace.

WORK RELATED ILL HEALTH

Physiological
dermatitis, lung & skin cancer, asthma, deafness or WRULD.
are those diseases or injuries suffered as a result of long term exposure to dangerous
substances in the workplace (such as various types of dust or fumes) or damaging work
practices (such as repetitive movements or excessive noise).
 Meanings and Distinctions
Psychological
Stress include such illnesses as depression
Stress may be created by short-term (such as being involved in or witnessing violence). It
may also be the result of longer-term exposure to particular pressures at the workplace
including excessive demands on performance

RISK
The likelyhood of harm occuring and its severity of outcome.
Harm x Severity = Risk

HAZARD
Can be anything with the POTENTIAL to cause harm.

PRACTICABLE
Capable of being carried out or feasable (given current technology/knowledge)

REASONABLY PRACTICABLE
Where it is technically possible without incurring excessive costs

ABSOLUTE DUTY
Must comply with
Difference between Health and Safety Issue

Health Issues Safety Issues

Chronic Acute

Time scale Nature of Time scale Nature of

Harm Harm

Slow Illness Quick Injury

(Days, Month, disease (Seconds, Loss

years) Minutes, Hours)
damage
 Nature and Scope of Health and Safety

Multi Disciplinary Nature of Heath and Safety:- As a health and safety practitioner, one
should be aware of the range of different disciplines which contribute to knowledge and
understanding of health safety issues. These include:-

Chemistry and Physics:- Which deals with the properties of different substances and the way in
which the behave in different circumstances for example electricity, acid, explosive material etc

Biological sciences:- (Including toxicology, hygiene and medicine) which explain the
composition and processes of living organisms for example the effects of harmful organism on
people, the responses and reactions of the human body when under physical stress etc

Engineering:- Which is responsible for the construction of buildings and mechanical processes
for example the safe design of machinery and vehicles, fireproofing buildings etc

Psychology:- Which explain the behaviour of the individual for example the effects of stress on
the mind, the motivation behind the behavior of individuals and groups at the workplace etc

Sociology:- Which explain the behaviour of people in groups for example management
processes, patterns of work, communication in organisation etc

The law:- Which contains the rules and regulations of society for example the mass of law which
deals with workplace activities
 WHY WE MANAGE HEALTH AND SAFETY?
Moral

Employers provide the premises and equipment and put in place the working practices which
workers use to produce the goods and services with which employers earn profits. So, It
becomes the moral duty of employer to provide safe workplaces, machinery, equipment,
protective clothing and equipment, training, instruction to ensure that appropriate measure
are taken for the workers Health and Safety.

Legal

Employers have particular legal responsibilities to protect their workers and others from harm
at work or arising from work activities. A failure to comply with these duties may give rise to
civil liability and a claim for damages, or criminal liability and fines, or even imprisonment.

Economic

More accidents can effect the productivity, cause business interruption and bad image in both
public and private. Employers have to protect their workers and others from ill health and
injuries to improve the productivity and avoid direct and indirect costs in shape of
compensations, legal fees, lost of work days, fines, hospitalization, absenteeism etc
 Accident Causation
Direct Causes;

Unsafe Act: Any act which is done by human their omissions or errors and
contribute to accident

Due to;
Poor attitude
Lack of knowledge
Lack of skill
Physical unsuitability (The person not fit for job)

Unsafe Condition: Any environmental condition which may cause or

contribute to an accident

Due to;
Poor design
Ergonomics
No Permit to Work System
Poor housekeeping
Noise/ heat/ fumes/ dust
 Direct and Indirect Costs

Direct Cost Indirect Costs

Repairs or replacement of
Business interruption
damaged equipment & building
Loss of orders
Product loss or damage
Cost of time spent on investigation
loss of production
Fines Loss of corporate image

legal fees Low profits from sales

sick pay Cost of training
Hospitalizations
Compensations
Public and or product liability
Increases in insurance premiums
 Safe Place of Work and Safe Plant and Equipment

Safe Place of Work

The employer should provide safe place of work which Refers to the

environment of the workplace (collective protective measures) and includes

access/egress to workplace.

Safe Plant and Equipment (CLIT)

If the employers wish to escape liability in the event of an accident they should

provide and ensure that all the machinery, tools, plant, equipment and appliances

which will be used by the workers are kept well maintained and in safe condition all

the time and inspect, service, and repair as and when required
 SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK AND TRAINING,
SUPERVISION AND COMPETENCY

Safe System of Work

The integration of people, machinery and material in safe environment and workplace to
produce and maintain standard of safety.
A formal procedure based on a systematic examination of the tasks or a working process
in order to identify all the hazards. It defines safe methods of working to ensure that
hazards are eliminated or risks minimised.
Safe system includes:-
Employers Duties
Role of Competent Person
Worker Involvement
Written Procedures
Technical, Procedural, Behavioural Controls
Training, Supervision and Competency of Staff
It is essential duty of employer to ensure that staff are equipped with the information,
training, instructions, skills (I.T.I.S). Also to provide competent personnel supervision
(who have skills, knowledge, experience and trained) to carryout their work in a safe
manner, without causing harm to themselves or others.
 EMPLOYERS BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The employer has :-

To ensure that SFAIRP the workplaces, machinery, equipment and process under
control are safe and without risk to health and injury.

To ensure that SFAIRP the chemical, physical, biological substances and other
agents under their control are without risk to health.

To provide adequate protective clothing and protective equipment to prevent

SFAIRP risk of accidents.

To give instructions, training and information where ever necessary

To provide supervision of work and of work practices

To institute organizational arrangements regarding health and safety

The framework / standard is International Labour Organisation (ILO) Occupational Health

& Safety Convention C155 supplemented by Occupational Health& Safety
Recommendation R164.
 EMPLOYEE BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Article 19 of C155 identifies obligations placed on all workers and their representatives to

cooperate with their employer in regard to fulfilling his safety obligations. Workers should:-

To take reasonable care for their safety and that of other persons who may be

affected by their acts or omissions at work:

To use safety devices and protective equipments correctly and do not render them

inoperative

To comply with instructions given for their own safety and health

To report any situation which they have reason to believe could present a hazard and

which they cannot themselves correct

To report any accident or injury to health which arises in connection with work.
 Why Health & Safety is less Important

The primary objective of management in a competitive and cost-conscious

environment will be to achieve their goals. Under this way of looking at
organization, Health and Safety represents a cost, which might be regarded as
non-productive cost in that it does not directly contribute to the efficient
provision of goods and services.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

A failure to comply with Health and Safety of workers at the workplace may
give rise to civil liability and a claim for damages, or criminal liability and fines,
or even imprisonment.
 SOURCE OF INFORMATION
External:
1. National legislation ( regulations)
2. Safety data sheets from manufacturers and suppliers
3. Manufacturers /suppliers maintenance manuals
4. National/international standard (ILO C155)
5. Information from Government enforcing local safety groups
6. Information from trade associations
7. Information from journals and magazines]
8. authority publications such as Codes of Practice
Internal:
1. Information from accident records
2. Information from medical records and medical department if there is one
3. Information from company doctors
4. Risk assessments
5. Maintenance reports
6. Information from joint inspection with Safety Representatives
7. Information from audits, sampling and tours
8. Information from safety Committee minutes
9. ILO www.ilo.org, OSHA www.osha.gov, HSE (UK) www.hse.gove.uk,
worksafe (western Australia) www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
 FRAME WORK FOR HEALTH AND
SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Framework for Health & Safety Management:

(POPIAA)

P - Policy

O - Organizing

PI - Planning and Implementation

E - Auditing

A - Action for improvement

 Frame Work for Health and Safety Management
Policy
General statement of intent which shows the prime commitment of the management
and set clear targets and objectives.
Organising
A framework o f Roles and responsibilities for health and safety with duty placed
upon individuals through out the organization from senior management down to
shop floor.
Planning & Implementation
On the basis of the risk assessment, specific systems of work and protective
measures should be identified and implemented
Evaluation
Basically means Monitoring, measuring and reviewing performances. Management
must ensure that the systems and measures put in place are working effectively.
Action for Improvement
Any defects identified by the review process must be set right as soon as possible
by making whatever adjustments are necessary to policy, organisation and
arrangements for implementation.
Auditing
Process of collecting objective information on the efficiency, effectiveness and
reliability of the safety system in the organisation