Managing

Safely
Module 1-Introducing Managing Safely

IOSH Managing Safely

Module 1:- Introducing Managing Safely

Key Learning Points

Why is it important to manage safely? What are your responsibilities as a manager?
How do we do managing safely ??? In this course we shall be using the term managing safely to mean actually working using methods which will keep to a minimum the chance of you: Propagating or causing an injury to yourself and someone other Propagating causing an ill-health to yourself and someone other Why is it Important to Manage Health and Safety ?? There are many reasons for managing health and safety at workplace. But we will justify the need on the below arguments: MORAL LEGAL ECONOMICAL Moral/ Social/ Humanitarian: Moral reasons are based on the concept of an employer owing a duty of reasonable care to his employees. The moral arguments are reflected by the occupational accident and disease rates. Everyone is entitled to feel confident that they will go home safely. Nobody wishes to suffer an injury or cause somebody else to suffer one.

In addition to the physical impact on a person, it is often the case that individuals involved in any form of safety event suffer some form of physiological ill health; the effects upon the families and dependents of those who suffer injury or ill health caused at work.

IOSH Managing Safely

Health and Safety Executive (HSE UK) statistics : Read more : http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/cost-to-britain.pdf Health and Safety Executive statistics reveal that 171 workers were killed during the year 2010/2011, representing a rate of 0.6 fatalities per 100,000 worker. The construction industry accounted for 50 of those fatalities and agriculture 34 .In Manufacturing there were 27 fatal injuries. 1.2 million working people (2010/2011) suffering from a work related illness during the year. 26.4million (2010/2011) days were lost overall due to work-related illness and workplace injuries equivalent to 15 days per case of the work- related illness or workplace injuries. Legal : The legal arguments, concerning The employers duty of care in criminal and civil law. Failure to meet these obligations can result in a claim for compensation by the individual/s who have suffered a loss. It can result in significant fines/ imprisonment for companies and enforcement action by the enforcement authorities. Financial: Cost associated with an accident/ incident or ill- health may be direct and indirect costs and incur an insured and an uninsured cost. It is important that all of these costs are taken into account when the full cost of an accident is calculated.

IOSH Managing Safely

Impact of a serious accident on the employee , their family, employer and society :
The study found that serious work related accidents and illness can have a widespread impact on individuals and their families and that many will find their working life is significantly affected Psychological consequences included: high levels of psychiatric morbidity a significant proportion of accident cases at risk of post traumatic stress disorder a higher number of cases of anxiety and depression compared to a control group Behavioural consequences included: common instances of disturbed sleep and noticeable changes in temperament cognitive changes for example in concentration and decision making socialising patterns changed among male outdoor construction workers behavioural changes that could last for several months detrimental changes in the behaviour of children Social consequences included: a pervasive and damaging impact on personal and family life feelings of frustration, depression and social isolation frustration and anxiety about the future additional social consequences for those living alone Vocational consequences included: over half the cases reported that their working life is or will be significantly affected a lack of formal return or remain at work schemes Economic consequences included: a serious loss of income among construction workers additional medical and travel expenses family and friends losing pay and time from work a high level of compensation claims as individuals saw their employer as responsible Amati and Scaife (2006) provide a further overview of the links between psychological ill health, stress and safety

Read More:
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Research_Publications/The_c osts_and_effects_of_workplace_accidents_-_Twenty_case_studies_from_Ireland.pdf

IOSH Managing Safely

How Much may not be recovered through insurance ?? The relationship between insured and uninsured costs of accidents is highlighted in HS(G)96 where for every 1 paid in insurance premiums, the average non-recoverable costs were about 10 times the amount paid in premiums. The losses from day-to-day accidents range from 8 to 36 times the amount paid in premiums.

IOSH Managing Safely

What are your responsibilities as a manager ?? Ok !! So far we have talked about the company now lets talk about you. As a manager you should already know that you have health and safety responsibilities. As a manager, you are in the front line and expected to ensure good health and safety is effectively established in your assigned areas. As the representative of the employer, you will make decisions about local safety practice. You are in control of what really happens or fails then you could be held accountable for such happenings and failing. Managers have responsibility to assess and manage the risks that employees under their control are exposed to, they have responsibility to investigate accidents to ensure immediate causes of accidents are identified and controlled. If you fail to take reasonable care in the provision of supervision as a manager you could be held accountable and you will have to tell your employees family or loved ones that they wont be coming home tonight. Responsibility leads to accountability as a manager, you can delegate responsibility but you cant give away your accountability youre ultimately accountable

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