NEBOSH International General Certificate

Resource Pack
Ian Harries CMIOSH

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NEBOSH International General Certificate

in Occupational Safety and Health
IGC1.2
Health and Safety Management
Systems 1: Policy
Chapter 2

Unit contents
Learning outcomes
The key elements of a health and safety
management system

Learning outcomes
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.

Key elements of a
health and safety
management system

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

All recognized occupational health and safety management

systems follow the same basic and common elements:
A planning phase
A planning phase
A performance phase
A performance phase
A performance assessment phase
A performance assessment phase
A performance improvement
A performance improvement
phase
phase

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

Planning phase

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

Performance
phase

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Assessment
phase

Group
discussion

Improvement
phase

Setting policy
Setting policy

Communication
Communication

Active
Active
monitoring
monitoring

Review
Review

Organizing
Organizing

Employee
Employee
participation
participation

Reactive
Reactive
monitoring
monitoring

Continual
Continual
improvement
improvement

Identification &
Identification &
assessment
assessment

Acceptance
Acceptance
monitoring
monitoring

Procedures
Procedures

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

Common basis for HSG 65, OHSAS 18001 and

ILO-OSH 2001
Plan:
Do:
Check:
Act
Plan:
Do:
Check:
Act

Plan
Plan
Act
Act

Do
Do

Check
Check

Review against
Establish
Implement
Measure
progress
plans to
Establish
Implement
Measure
Review
against
progress
plans to
standards
achieve
with
objectives
plans
objectives
for
and
standards
achieve
with
objectives
plans
objectives
for
and
health
and
compliance
standards
standards
andand
safety
with
take
health
and
compliance
standards
standards
andand
safety
with
take
management
standards
appropriate
action
management
standards
appropriate
action
based on risk
based on risk
assessment and
assessment and
legal requirements
legal requirements

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

HSG 65 is published in the UK by the Health & Safety

Executive (HSE) as a guide to successful health and safety
management.
The guide is more concerned with continual improvement
than the attainment of minimum health and safety
standards.
This framework is used by HSE Inspectors when auditing
the health and safety management arrangements of
employers.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

POLICY
POLICY
ORGANIZE
ORGANIZE
PLAN &
PLAN &
IMPLEMENT
IMPLEMENT
MEASURE
MEASURE
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE

REVIEW
REVIEW

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

Review
Organize:
Plan
Measure:
Audit:
Policy:
and
Implement:
Put
Measure
Planned
Review
Set in
aa
clear
of
structure
and
Establish,
assessment
performance
direction,
arrangements
aims
operate
of
and
to
and
against
arrangements
actual
objectives
deliver
maintain
vs.
agreed
the
planned
forpolicy
good
the
to
effectively
systems
standards
ensure
taking
organization
into
they
toto
account
deliver
are
reveal
to
the
where
effective,
relevant
follow
policys
improvement
suitable
aims
is needed
and
experiences
objectives
meet
any
also
and
legal
effectively
praise
requirements
applying
instances
lessons
as of
goodas
well
learnt
working
in-house
practice,
standards
compliance with
procedures, etc.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

OHSAS 18001 is an internationally recognized accredited

standard for occupational health and safety management.
The standard is similar in structure to ILO-OSH 2001, with
the main exception that it is only awarded to organizations
following a successful audit by an awarding institution.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

POLICY
POLICY

ILO-OSH
2001

PLANNING

PLANNING

IMPLEMENTATION
IMPLEMENTATION

& OPERATION
& OPERATION

CHECKING &

CHECKING
&

CORRECTIVE
ACTION
CORRECTIVE ACTION

MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT

REVIEW
REVIEW

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

On-going
hazard
Appropriate
the resources
nature
Provide of
Procedures
Results
adequate
internal
to monitor
audits
and
On-going
hazard
Appropriate
to
the
nature
Provide
Procedures
Results
of
adequate
monitor
resources
audits
and
identification,
risk
assessment
and
scale
of internal
organizational
measure
OH&S
evaluations
of
Define
roles,
responsibilities
identification,
risk
assessment
and
scale
of organizational
measure
evaluations
OH&S
of
Define
roles,
responsibilities
and
establishment
of
risks
performance.
compliance
and
accountabilities.
and
of
risks
performance.
compliance
necessary
control measures.
and establishment
accountabilities.
Commitment
to
the
Appoint
a senior
manager
Procedures
Results
of
consultation
for evaluating
necessary
control
measures.
Commitment
to
the
Appoint
Procedures
Results
of
a
senior
consultation
for
evaluating
manager
Results
of
risk
assessments
prevention
of
injury
and
with
legal
specific
etc.
compliance.
OH&S
Communications
from
Results
of
risk
assessments
prevention
of
injury
and
considered
when
determining
with
specific
OH&S
legal
etc.
compliance.
Communications
from
continual
improvement
responsibilities.
Procedures
external
parties
to
record,
(including
considered
when determining
risk
control parties
measures.
continual
improvement
responsibilities.
Procedures
external
toanalyse
record,
(including
Competent
persons
in
Commitment
to
at
least
investigate
complaints)
risk controland
measures.
Results
documented
and
Competent
persons
in kept
Commitment
to
at
least
investigate
complaints)
and
analyse
place.
comply
with
legal
accidents.
Results
documented and kept
OH&S
performance
up-to-date.
place.
comply
with
legal
accidents.
OH&S
performance
requirements
Effective
internal
up-to-date.
Procedures
for
dealing
with
How
well objectives
have
Establish,
implement
and
requirements
Effective
internal
Procedures
for
dealing
communication
structures.
How
well
objectives
have
Provides
aprocedure
framework
for with
actual
or
potential
nonEstablish,
implement
and
been
met
maintain
a
for
communication
structures.
Provides
areviewing
framework
actual
oraincluding
potential
nonbeen and
met
Procedures
for
employee
setting
maintain
procedure
forfor
conformity
taking
identifying
and
accessing
Status
of and
investigations
and
Procedures
foraccessing
employee
setting
reviewing
conformity
including
taking
identifying
and
consultation.
occupational
standards
corrective
action.
Status
of
investigations
and
legal
and other
OH&S
corrective
actions
consultation.
occupational
standards
corrective
action.
legal
and
other
Appropriate
levelOH&S
of
corrective
actions
requirements.
Communicated
Records
demonstrating
Follow
up
from
previous
Appropriate
level
of
requirements.
Communicated
Recordsimplement
demonstrating
documentation.
compliance
with
the
Establish,
and
Follow
up
from
previous
Is
reviewed
periodically
reviews
documentation.
compliance
with
the
Establish,
implement
Is
reviewed
periodically
Appropriate
operational
maintain
OH&S
objectives
management
system
&and
reviews
Appropriate
operational
Recommendations
maintain
OH&S
objectives
for &
management
system
controls

purchasing,
which
must
be
measureable.
18001.
Recommendations
for
controls
purchasing,
which
must
be
measureable.
improvement
18001.
emergencies,
etc.
Internal
audit programme.
improvement
emergencies,
etc.
Internal audit programme.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 is a guideline offering a recommended

occupational health and safety management framework.
There are main common elements with the UKs HSG 65
and OHSAS 18001; the framework is not legally binding on
ILO member states and does not seek to replace national
laws, regulations or standards.
To be successful the ILO recognizes that there must be a
national policy on health and safety and occupational health
and safety management systems in place.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

POLICY
POLICY
POLICY
ORGANIZING
ORGANIZING
PLANNING &
PLANNING &
IMPLEMENTATION
IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
EVALUATION
ACTION FOR
ACTION FOR
IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVEMENT

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

Arrangements
Development
of on
ahealth
plan
Setting
Emphasis
of onby
the
More
emphasis
Performed
Development
Arrangements
of
a
plan
Setting
Emphasis
ofparticipation
on
theon
health
introduced
following
an
and
initial
More
emphasis
Performed
by
responsibilities,
and
welfare
of
workers.
employee
competent
and
following
introduced
an
and
initial
responsibilities,
and
welfare
of
workers.
maintained
review
of
any
for
existing
any
employee
participation
competent
and
accountability,
Employees
and
safety
Recommendations
trained
personnel
review
maintained
of safety
any
forexisting
anyat
accountability,
preventative
health
and
and/or
Employees
and
safety
Recommendations
competence,
training
trained
personnel
at
representatives
to
have
concerning
health
preventative
and
safety
and/or
agreed
intervals.
competence,
training
corrective
system.
actions
in
representatives
to have
concerning
and
communication.
agreed
intervals.
sufficient
time
and
investigation
of
worksystem.
corrective
actions
in
and
communication.
relation
to performance
Plan
to
remedy
any
sufficient
time
and
Cover:
investigation
of
workEffective
supervision
resources
allowany to
related
accidents,
relation
totoaudits
performance
Plan
to
remedy
Cover:
monitoring,
and to
deficiencies.
Effective
supervision
resources
to allow
related
accidents,

ensure
protection
of and
effective
participation.
injuries,
ill-health,
monitoring,
audits
deficiencies.
management
reviews.

ensure
protection
Support
compliance
effective
participation.
injuries, ill-health, of

Elements of the
Elements
of
the
workers
disease
and
incidents.
management
reviews.
management
Formation
of
a
health
Support
compliance
workers
Arrangements
with
national
legislation
in
disease
and
incidents.
management
Formation
of
a place
health
Establishment
of
system.
and
safety
committee.
with
national
legislation
Arrangements
in
place
for
and
continued
require
continual
Establishment
of
system.
and
safety
committee.
prevention
andcontinual
health
and
for
continued
require

Occupational
health
Employee
improvement.
improvement
of
the
prevention
andhealth
health

Occupational
promotion
programmes.
Employee
improvement.
improvement
of
the
and
safety
should
be
participation
and
management
system.
Contain
measureable
promotion
programmes.
andparticipation
safety
should
be
and
management
system.
Worker
access
to
compatible
Contain
measureable
or
consultation.
and
realistic
objectives.
Worker
access
to
compatible
orobjectives.
consultation.
records,
monitoring
integrated
with
the
and
realistic
Hazard
identification

records,
monitoring
National
legislation
integrated
with
the
documents,
etc.
organizations
other
Hazard
identification

National
legislation
and
risk assessment.
documents,
etc.
organizations
other
compliance.
management
systems
and
risk
assessment.
Health
and
safety
compliance.
Establish,
implement
management
systems
Health
and
safety

Meeting
objectives.
training
available
to all
Establish,
implement
and
monitor

Meeting
objectives.
training
available
to all
employees.
and monitor
procedures.
employees.
procedures.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing and
Improvement

Group
discussion

Auditing should establish how effective the following three

components of the health and safety management are in
reality:
1 Management organization and arrangements
2 Identification
measures

and

implementation

of

risk

3 Workplace precautions and control measures.

control

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing and
Improvement

Group
discussion

To be effective improvement does not need to be expensive

or complex but can benefit organization:
By decreasing the rate of injuries, ill health and damage
By a possible reduction in the resources required to
maintain the system
By accepting high standards and improvement in the
health and safety culture
With overall improvements in the management system
itself.

Key elements
Key elements of all H&S
management systems

HSG
65

OHSAS
18001

ILO-OSH
2001

Auditing &
Improvement

Group
discussion

What are the main elements of an occupational health

and safety management system?

Key features and

content of a health
and safety policy

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

ILO-OSH 2001 identifies that the employer, in consultation

with the workforce and their representatives, should set out
in writing a health and safety policy:
Specific to the organization and appropriate to its size
and activities
Concise, clearly written, dated and made effective by
the signature of the most senior accountable person
Communicated and readily accessible to all persons at
their place of work
Reviewed for continuing suitability
Made available to relevant external interested parties.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The ILO further recommends:

Protecting the safety and health of all members of the
organization by preventing work-related injuries, ill
health, disease and incidents
Complying with relevant occupational health and safety
national laws and regulations, voluntary programmes,
etc.
Ensuring that workers and their representatives are
consulted and encouraged to participate actively in all
areas of occupational health and safety management
Continual improvement in the performance.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The statement of intent should set out in clear and simple

language the commitment of the organization to meeting its
obligations for managing the health and safety risks arising
from its normal operations.
This should include:
A commitment to the effective management of health
and safety risks arising from the normal operations of
the organization

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the

health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives
It should be signed by the most senior accountable
person to signal senior management commitment to
effectively managing health and safety.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

What
Statement of
Statement of
intent
intent
What the
What the is
organization
organization
is
aiming
to
aiming in
to
achieve
achieve in
relation
relation health
managing
managing
and
safety health
and safety

Organization

Arrangements

Who

Review

Group
discussion

How

Organization
Organization

Arrangements
Arrangements

Who has
Who has
general
and
generalroles
and &
specific
specific roles
&
functions
in
functions
relation
to in
relation to
managing
managing
health
and
health
safety and
safety

The measures
measures
inThe
place
to
in
place
to
manage general
manage
general
and
specific
and specific
aspects
of the
aspects
of the
organizations
organizations
health
and
health
safety and
safety

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The policy should include the following:

The name or job title of the senior accountable person
in the organization who is responsible for health and
safety
The name of the Health and Safety Adviser, any safety
representatives and others who have specific roles and
responsibilities for health and safety

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The commitment to employee consultation e.g. using a

safety committee, recognition of safety representatives
Identify the relevant health and safety, welfare and
environmental issues relating to the organization's
activities
A commitment to risk assessment, emergency
procedures, health surveillance and employment of
competent persons
Duties towards non-employees, e.g. contractors, visitors,
members of the public

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Reference to specific policies of the organization e.g.

smoking, violence to staff etc.
Duties of employees
Specific performance targets for the immediate and longterm future
The aims and objectives should be set and agreed by the
health and safety committee, following consultation with
safety representatives.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Common health and safety performance targets:

A specific reduction in the number of accidents, incidents and
cases of work-related illness
A reduction in the level of sickness absence
A specific increase in the number of minor accidents and near
miss incidents
A reduction in the number of civil claims
No enforcement notices from the relevant Enforcement
Agency
A specific improvement in health and safety audit scores
Achievement of a nationally recognised health and safety
management system (e.g. OHSAS 18001).

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The setting of health and safety performance standards is an

important aspect of the statement of intent, because:
They indicate that there is management commitment to
improve health and safety performance
They motivate the workforce with goals
They provide evidence during the monitoring, review and
auditing of phases of a safety management system .

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The organization section of the policy should define the

names and duties of the people within the organization who
are responsible for the development and communication to
the workplace of the health and safety policy.
Two key personnel to be identified are:
the most senior accountable person for managing
occupational health and safety and
the Health & Safety Competent Person.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Managers (e.g. directors, departmental managers,

supervisors etc.) with delegated health & safety
responsibilities
Competent persons (e.g. occupational nurse, first
aiders, fire marshals, in-house inspection/testing
personnel, etc.)
Safety representatives.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

This section of the policy will outline the arrangements in

place within the organization for meeting any specific
hazards, legal requirements, etc.
This will include health and safety rules and procedures and
the provision of facilities, such as a first aid room and wash
rooms.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

For evaluating and managing risks arising from

workplaces, hazardous substances, activities, fire, etc.
Health and safety inspection and audit procedures
Accident and illness reporting and investigation
procedure, emergency procedures, first aid
Employee health and safety responsibilities
Control of hazardous substances, manual handling,
noise, vibration, etc.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Electricity and electrical equipment (maintenance and

testing)
Machinery safety (including safe systems of work), lifting
and pressure equipment permits to work procedures
Procedures for contractors and visitors
Catering and food hygiene procedures
Terms of reference and constitution of the safety
committee (where appropriate).

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Specific arrangements

Accident investigation and reporting

Health and safety training and information
Health and safety monitoring and audit
Health surveillance
Monitoring of plant and equipment and its maintenance
Liaison with external agencies.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

The best control systems will deteriorate over time, or

become obsolete as a result of change, new processes,
etc.
Therefore it makes sense to periodically review the policy to
ensure it remains effective, measure the aims and
objectives and update the organizational and arrangement
sections as necessary.

When and why should an organization review its

health and safety policy?

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

Annually as part of a formal review cycle, and following:

A change in the health and safety responsible person

and/or health and safety competent person
Changes in management affecting delegated
responsibilities
Changes in workplace arrangements, facilities, or the
introduction of new processes
Introduction of new legislation introducing new duties
or responsibilities
A prosecution or issuing of an enforcement notice.

Key features and content

ILO
recommendations

Statement
of intent

Organization

Arrangements

Review

Group
discussion

1 a

What is the general content of the three sections of a

health and safety policy?
b Why should the most senior person in an
organization sign the health and safety policy?

2 What should be covered in the arrangements section of a

health and safety policy?
3 Under what circumstances should a health and safety
policy be reviewed?