INTRODUCTION

Accidents at work and occupational ill- health are costly to workers and their families and to employers. Management control of health and safety is therefore essential, particularly in smaller firms where fatal and major injury rates tend to be higher. Losses from a major incident could ruin a company. Directors and managers can be held personally responsible for failures to control health and safety. The manner and extent of a health and safety management system will vary with the size of the enterprise, the nature of its activities, the hazards and the conditions in which it operates. Successful organisations develop systems that are relevant/appropriate, cost effective, aim to reduce financial losses and to protect and enhance both physical and human resources. The following step-by-step approach is tried and tested. It has strong similarities to systems for total quality management used by many successful companies. It can help you protect people and control loss. The HSE has produced comprehensive yet readable advice on such an approach in HS(G)65 - 'Successful health and safety management' from which the following summarised key points are taken.

STEP 1 : An INITIAL REVIEW of existing health and safety arrangements will provide useful information regarding the scope, adequacy and implementation of the current system. From this, progress can be planned and monitored.

STEP 2 SET YOUR POLICY : A written statement of your policy is required if 5 or more persons are employed. It should include details of the organisation and arrangements for its implementation and should be communicated to all staff.

STEP 3 ORGANISE THE WORKFORCE :

(i) Allocate responsibilities for health and safety. This should be done at all levels in the organisation and so help secure commitment and co-operation.

(ii) Ensure competence. This is achieved by ensuring that the company has, or has access to, sufficient health and safety knowledge, skills and experience. Appropriate resources should be allocated and training needs identified and met in a planned way.

(iii) Communicate. This entails providing information about hazards, risks and preventative measures. It also involves measures to encourage/secure the participation of all the workforce.

N.B. The documentation of policies, procedures etc. is an important element in the successful management of health and safety. Documentation should be sufficient to support the health and safety management system, not drive it; it should be proportional to the needs of the business on grounds of effectiveness and efficiency.

STEP 4 PLAN AND IMPLEMENT : This involves setting objectives, identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing performance standards and developing a positive attitude to health and safety i.e. what is to be done, who is responsible, when it is to be done and the desired end result. Standards must be measurable, achievable and realistic.

Talking leaflets

These files are provided in mp3 format,

INDG173 Officewise

Health & safety law: What you should know

INDG226 Homeworking

INDG163 Five steps to risk assessment

INDG225 Preventing slips and trips at work

CHECKLIST - MANAGING HEALTH & SAFETY

	Policy
1	Do you have a clear policy for health and safety? Is it written down? Is it up to date?	YES/NO
2	Does it allocate responsibilities to individuals/posts throughout the firm?	YES/NO
3	Does it specify the organisation and arrangements for identifying hazards, assessing risks and controlling them?	YES/NO
4	Are staff aware of, and understand, the policy?	YES/NO
5	Is safety documentation in place/appropriate/current?	YES/NO
	Organise
6	Have you allocated responsibilities for health and safety to specific people throughout the firm?	YES/NO
7	Do you consult and involve your staff (including safety representatives) if appropriate on matters of health and safety?	YES/NO
8	Do you provide sufficient information, instruction and training regarding hazards, risks and preventative measures?	YES/NO
9	Do you have an appropriate level of health and safety expertise in, or available to, the firm?	YES/NO
	Plan and Implement
10	Do you have a health and safety plan, including objectives?	YES/NO
11	Have all hazards been identified, risks assessed and preventative measures established?	YES/NO
12	Are safety standards implemented?
	Measure Performance
13	Do you know whether your safety plans have been implemented and objectives achieved?	YES/NO
14	Do you know how effective your risk controls are?	YES/NO
15	Do you have accurate records of injuries, ill-health and accidental losses? Do you analyse these?	YES/NO
	Audit and Review
16	Do you learn from your mistakes?	YES/NO
17	Do you operate a health and safety audit system?	YES/NO
18	Do you periodically review your health and safety policy statement and your safety performance?	YES/NO

REFERENCES/FURTHER DETAILS

1. '5 steps to successful health and safety management - special help for directors and managers' IND (G) 132L (HSE)
2. HS(G)65 Successful health and safety management

3. British Standard BS8800: 1996 Guide to operational health and safety management systems. (BSI) (British Standards Institution, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL)
4. HSE leaflet:- http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg275.pdf
5. Leaflet HSC2 - Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 -The Act Outlined (HSE)
6. Leaflet HSC6 - Writing a safety policy statement - Advice to Employers (HSE)
7. Booklet - Writing your health and safety policy statement

8. Management of health and safety at work - Approved Code of Practice L21

9. Book - Essentials of health and safety at work

10. Leaflet IND (G) 76L - Safe systems of work (HSE)
11. Booklet - 101 tips to a safer business. IND(G) 123L (HSE)
12. Leaflet - Consulting employees on health and safety - a guide to the law IND (G) 232L (HSE)
13. Managing health and safety - an open learning workbook for managers and trainers

14. HSE Books:

15. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/manindex.htm
16. British Standards web site:

17. HSE main page

18. Business link

19. Risk management:-

For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours or call at the Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1EB.

Managing Health and Safety at Work

Talking leaflets

For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours or call at the Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1EB.

Alternatively e-mail ehs@gosport.gov.ukany time.