Slide 3

Occupational Safety and Health Management

System
Definition:
An OSHMS is a coordinated and systematic approach to
managing health and safety risks within an organization.
These systems help organizations continually improve
their safety performance and ensure compliance with
health and safety legislation and standards.
OHSMSs are generally more proactive. They focus on
prevention, hazard abatement, and continuous
improvement. Adopting an OSHMS can indeed enhance
health and safety performance and simplify business
management by providing a structured framework for
risk management and continuous improvement.
An OSHMS is the integrated set of organizational
elements involved in the continuous cycle of planning,
implementation, evaluation, and continual improvement.
These elements include policies, goals, decision-making
structures, technical resources, accountability practices,
communication practices, hazard identification, training,
hazard controls, quality assurance, evaluation and
organizational learning.
10 Benefits of Occupational
Health and Safety Management
Systems
-Improved health and safety performance
-Reduced cost associated with accidents and
incidents
-Improved staff relations and morale
-Improve business efficiency
-Improved public image and PR
-Lower insurance premiums
-Easier access to finance
-Increased regulatory compliance
-Improved confidence
-Boost corporate and social responsibility
1. Improved health and safety performance
 There’s absolutely no doubt that adopting a systematic
approach to OHS management and using a specific system
WILL make managing your business easier!
 Having a proper system in place will make your OHS
management strategies much more effective.
Why?
 All of your employees will have a clear understanding of
how to handle key activities, whether it’s reporting an
incident, responding to an issue, or working through a
problem.
 When every worker is clear about the precise protocol to
follow and everyone uses the same approach every time,
your organization’s OHS performance will improve.
 With the right OHS management system in place, your
organization will have a clear overview of every OHS-
related activity that happens on your premises. You’ll have
a clear, agreed-upon record of what happened, how it was
responded to and what further actions were taken
 2. Reduced cost associated with accidents
and incidents
Without a system to track and monitor accidents and incidents,
there is no formula for reducing the risks faced by your
employees. Every time an accident occurs, the organisation will
be on the back foot, at the mercy of the consequences such as:
-Staff compensation claims that push up your insurance
premiums
-The cost of hiring temporary staff to plug gaps in your workforce
while the injured workers recover.

Other indirect costs too.

- Each accident and incident WILL dent staff morale.
- When workers feel that their employer doesn’t take OHS
management seriously, they’ll be less likely to engage with their
work.
- workplaces with low moral typically have lower productivity
levels.
A formal OHS management system will help reduce the
likelihood of incidents and accidents from occurring.

3. Improved staff relations and morale

• Increase employee satisfaction and help to improve staff relations
and morale.
• Employees will notice whether their managers are taking a
genuine interest in their health and safety. This will be noticed in
their engagement levels and their on-the-job behaviour.
• Without a solid safety culture, employee may put their own safety
or the safety of others at risk.
• When a company invests in an OHS management system
employees will start to feel more comfortable and secure as
they’ll have a set of clear OHS practices in place and will have
guidelines to follow in any situation. This will help them gain
confidence while at work.

4. Improve business efficiency

An OHS management system can help you:
• Reduce the number of sick and ill days that your staff
take
• Lower the number of temporary workers you need
to hire
• Lower insurance premiums
• Increase staff morale and productivity
• Improve staff retention rates
• Reduce training costs (for new and temporary staff)
• Reduce risk, leading to lower accident and injury rate
and therefore reduce the cost of investigating
accidents.
• Avoid the cost of hiring and training temporary
workers as a result of accidents and also avoid the
cost of hiring or repairing damaged property and
equipment.
 5. Improved public image and PR
• Serious health-related accidents and injuries DO
become public and CAN cause irreparable harm to
a company’s public image.
• Consumers are far less likely to trust companies
that don’t take their employee’s health and safety
seriously.
• A major incident is sufficient to detract from the
good work of the organization.
• Putting in place an OHS management system is a
sensible precaution to take. It shows the
employees that their rights to a safe and healthy
working environment are being valued and have
every intention of respecting this.
• Over time, this can help boost public image of the
organization, making staff hiring and retention far
easier: a win-win for both the organization and the
employees.

6. Lower insurance premiums

• Insurance premiums are mandatory. Insurers will
offer lower premiums if organisation can demonstrate
that risks are being effectively controlled.
• A good OHS management system can be used to
reduce injuries and illnesses. This is a valuable
evidence that the organization can use to renew
premiums. The organization’s perceived risk is
 lower and this may result in cost savings through
lower insurance premiums.
7. Easier access to finance
• An OHS management system is an important part of
proving to potential investors that the organization is
well-managed.
• With fewer accidents and injuries and a set of clear
guidelines that help the organisation responds to any
incident that occur, the organisation will have a
healthier bottom line and an improved chance of
winning investments.

8. Increased regulatory compliance

• Regulations are increasingly stiff and the
punishments are ever-fiercer.
• In the absence of OHS management system in
place, the chances of unwittingly committing an
offense are quite high, whether due to negligence
or human error.
• A proper OHS management system will help ALL of
staff stay aware of current legal requirements. This
improves your regulatory compliance and lowers
the risk of the organisation having to pay a fine.
 9. Improved confidence
• A comprehensive OHS management system
helps ensure that the staff members are more
protected from a wide range of threats and
health problems, such as:
• Falls
• Injuries
• Repetitive strain injuries
• The effects of vibration and noise
• Skin diseases
• Asbestos-related diseases
If employees see that the organisation is
actively looking after their health and safety,
relations and confidence will improve. This will
lead to a more productive, more efficient
workforce.
 10. Boost corporate and social responsibility
• Having a strong OHS management system in
place is an especially important part of building
your brand’s appeal.
• An OHS management policy shows that you
value the physical, social and mental well-being
of your employees, helping you build your
public image.
• CSR is not just about meeting stakeholder
expectations, it is also about ethical behaviours
such as paying attention to worker health.
• Treating workers with decency and respect is a
HUGE part of building brand appeal.
 5 steps to successful safety and health
management:
Management Leadership and Employee Participation:
Strong leadership commitment is essential. Leaders
should actively promote safety, allocate resources, and
involve employees in safety decisions. Employee
participation ensures that everyone contributes to safety
initiatives and feels responsible for their own well-being.
Planning a Health and Safety Management System:
Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines safety goals,
objectives, and strategies. Identify hazards, assess risks,
and prioritize control measures. Consider legal
requirements, industry standards, and best practices
when planning your safety system.
Implementing and Operating the System:
Put your plan into action. Implement control measures to
eliminate or reduce risks associated with workplace
hazards. Train employees on safe practices and ensure
they have the necessary tools and equipment. Regularly
review and update procedures as needed

Monitoring, Evaluating, and Correcting:

 Continuously monitor safety performance. Regular
inspections, audits, and incident investigations help
identify areas for improvement. Evaluate the
effectiveness of control measures and address any
deficiencies promptly. Encourage reporting of near
misses and incidents to learn from them.
Management Review:
Periodically review your safety management system.
Assess its overall effectiveness, identify trends, and make
necessary adjustments. Engage with employees, gather
feedback, and consider changes in the organization’s
structure or processes. A proactive approach ensures
ongoing improvement.
 • A safety and health policy sets out a business’s
general approach to health and safety.
• It explains how an employer will manage health
and safety in their business, and should clearly
state who does what, when and how.
It is an essential document that sets the direction and
vision of health and safety.
It demonstrates a commitment to preventing harm to
employees.
 Statement of intent
• A safety and health policy should start with a
statement of intent, which is also known as the
safety and health policy statement.
• This part of the policy should contain a
statement of your commitment to meeting legal
requirements and safety and health
management.
• It should detail the business’s aim and
objectives regarding safety and health.

The Statement of Intent must be signed and dated by the most

senior person in the business, Managing Director or CEO.
 Having the most senior person to sign the Policy , will
demonstrate your commitment and will give authority to the
document.

Responsibilities for Safety and Health

This part of the policy should detail the names, positions
and duties of those who have specific responsibilities for
safety and health within the business. It could include
those responsible for:
• Policy setting eg Directors/senior managers
• Day to day operations and policy compliance
eg middle managers/supervisors
• Advice/Accident investigations/Inspections
eg Safety and Health Officers/ Safety and Health
Consultants
• Representing employees in safety and health
matters eg Trade Unions/ Safety and Health
Committee members
• First Aid/ Fire Safety eg First Aiders/ Fire Wardens
Responsibilities of Employees also should be
included in line with legislations
 Arrangement for Safety and Health
This part of the policy should detail the practical arrangement
you have in place for managing safety and health and safety risks
within the organization.
These arrangements should show how you will meet the aims of
your safety and health policy from your statement of intent.
It is therefore crucial that your arrangements can meet your
policy aims and that your aims are achievable.

EXAMPLES OF THE ARRANGEMENT

• Specific hazards and risks eg manual handling and
hazardous substances
• Risk Assessments eg safe systems of work
• Emergency procedures eg fire drill/first aid
• Information, Instruction, Training & supervision
• Accident, incident, dangerous occurrence
near miss & illness reporting
A safety and health policy is a live document
and must be visible within the organization. It
should be regularly:
• Reviewed
There is no specified period for a policy review. However,
it is advisable that it is reviewed at least annually or at an
earlier stage if there are any significant changes within
the organization.
• Monitored
The policy should be monitored so that it remains
effective. Monitoring can include:
- audits
- inspections
- review of accidents and near miss
- spot checks

The policy needs to be brought to the attention of your

employees and their
representatives/visitors/contractors/temporary workers.
It is advisable to display the policy in a prominent position.

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH POLICY STATEMENT

Mascot Limited is committed to preserving the Safety and Health of its
employees. All levels of our business from the Managing Director down,
are committed to the elimination of all injuries and work-related
illnesses for all personnel associated with our activities. Safety and
Health is a core value of our business and shall form an integral part of
all activities that we undertake.
AIMS and OBJECTIVES
Our objective is to create a culture and environment which ensures the
safety and health of all personnel through the provision of sound
leadership, planned processes, education, training and a demonstrated
commitment to this policy. We will adopt procedures to-
 Provide a healthy and safe workplace, safe plants and systems of
work.
 Provide written procedures and instructions to ensure safe work
practice.
 Ensure compliance with legislative requirements and current
industry standards.
 Provide such information, training, instruction and supervision to
employees, contractors and customers as is necessary to ensure
their continued safety and health and,
 Provide support and assistance to employees and involve them in
consultation on safety and health issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES
 We recognize that the overall responsibility to provide a safe
workplace rests with Management who will be accountable for
the implementation of this policy. These responsibilities include:
 Providing and maintaining all workplaces in safe conditions,
 Ensuring that all OSH policies and procedures are implemented,
 Actively promoting and being involved in those policies and
procedures,
 Establishing measurable objectives and targets to ensure
continued improvement and
 Providing adequate resources to meet these OSH commitments.

Employees will ensure that they:

Follow all safety, health and welfare policies and procedures and
report all hazards to their supervisor.

Mascot Limited is committed to encouraging consultation and

coorperation between Management and employees. The
company will formally involve elected employee health and safety
representatives in any workplace change, or any matters that may
affect the safety and health of employees in any workplace.
Questions
1. A safety and health policy is an integrated part of an
Occupational Safety and Health Management System
and usually consists of 3 main sections follows:
(i) The statement of intent
(ii) Responsibilities for safety and health and
(iii) Arrangement for safety and health
Explain clearly the importance of these 3 main sections.

2. Discuss the 5 steps to successful safety and health

management.

3. Define occupational safety and health management

system.