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Element 1 cheat sheet: Why we should manage workplace health and safety

Written by Imran Qureshi (NEBOSH)

Full notes for Element 1

1.1 Morals and money

  • Most people accept that going to work should not damage anyone's health.
    • ('text', "Most people accept that going to work should not damage anyone's health.")
  • A moral argument starts from this: pain, disability, lost income and grief for the family are real costs that no organisation should cause.
    • ('text', 'A moral argument starts from this: pain, disability, lost income and grief for the family are real costs that no organisation should cause.')
  • The financial argument looks at what incidents cost.
    • ('text', 'The financial argument looks at what incidents cost.')
  • Costs can also be split into direct costs (the immediate result of the incident, such as treatment or repair) and indirect costs (the knock-on effects, such as delays, lower morale and overtime to catch up).
    • ('text', 'Costs can also be split into direct costs (the immediate result of the incident, such as treatment or repair) and indirect costs (the knock-on effects, such as delays, lower morale and overtime to catch up).')

Terms: Incident, Insured cost, Uninsured cost

Tip: When you justify an improvement, use all three arguments: moral, financial and legal.

1.2 Regulating health and safety

  • Governments set rules and enforcement agencies check them.
    • ('text', 'Governments set rules and enforcement agencies check them.')
  • In general, enforcement agencies can give advice and require improvements, and non-compliance can lead to legal action as well as claims for compensation and loss of reputation.
    • ('text', 'In general, enforcement agencies can give advice and require improvements, and non-compliance can lead to legal action as well as claims for compensation and loss of reputation.')
  • International standards such as ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems) are voluntary, but they give a common framework for good practice across countries.
    • ('text', 'International standards such as ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems) are voluntary, but they give a common framework for good practice across countries.')
  • The International Labour Organisation (ILO) sets out basic ideas in Convention C155 (Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981) and Recommendation R164.
    • ('text', 'The International Labour Organisation (ILO) sets out basic ideas in Convention C155 (Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981) and Recommendation R164.')
  • Article 16 requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes under their control are safe and without risk to health.
    • ('text', 'Article 16 requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes under their control are safe and without risk to health.')
  • Under Article 19, workers cooperate with the employer in meeting its obligations, and a worker must report without delay to a supervisor any situation that the worker has reasonable grounds to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to life or health; until the employer has taken remedial action, where needed, the employer cannot require workers to return to a work situation where that danger continues.
    • ('text', 'Under Article 19, workers cooperate with the employer in meeting its obligations, and a worker must report without delay to a supervisor any situation that the worker has reasonable grounds to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to life or health; until the employer has taken remedial action, where needed, the employer cannot require workers to return to a work situation where that danger continues.')

Terms: ISO 45001, ILO C155

Tip: Quote the right ILO article for the point you are making. Check the exact wording in the ILO text before you rely on a paraphrase.

1.3 Who does what in organisations

  • Health and safety is a shared responsibility.
    • ('text', 'Health and safety is a shared responsibility.')
  • Top management shows commitment by:
    • Making resources available to design, run and maintain the management system
    • Defining roles and responsibilities
    • Appointing a senior person with specific responsibility for health and safety
    • Appointing competent people, inside or outside the organisation, to help it meet its duties
    • Reviewing health and safety performance
  • The syllabus says organisations that share a workplace have responsibilities to work together on health and safety issues (C155 Article 17, R164 recommendation 11).
    • ('text', 'The syllabus says organisations that share a workplace have responsibilities to work together on health and safety issues (C155 Article 17, R164 recommendation 11).')
  • Good practice includes planning and coordinating the contracted work, choosing contractors carefully (checking their competence, safety record and insurance), and managing them while they work (induction, supervision and monitoring).
    • ('text', 'Good practice includes planning and coordinating the contracted work, choosing contractors carefully (checking their competence, safety record and insurance), and managing them while they work (induction, supervision and monitoring).')

Terms: Competent person, Pre-selection

Tip: A common weakness is that the organisation chooses a contractor and then forgets to monitor them.

Element 2