August 28, 2002—A new study from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has identified the five building blocks for an effective occupational safety and health (OSH) management system. Entitled The Use of Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems in the Member States of the European Union, the report uses case studies to illustrate the five keys, which include:
- Obtaining the support and involvement of all stakeholders: The report says this is vital for an organization-wide sense of accountability, responsibility, and authority. Management must be fully committed to the initiative and provide the necessary resources. At the same time, employees need to participate in the program from the outset, either directly or via representative bodies, such as safety committees.
- Setting measurable goals, following a baseline hazard assessment: According to the report, a risk assessment needs to be conducted to identify existing and potential problem areas. Quantifiable and practically achievable goals to improve OSH standards also have to be set. These can range from illness and injury rates, possibly benchmarked against enterprises in the same sector, to measures of the workforce’s general health and well being.
- Focusing on staff safety when implementing the system: The health and safety of staff should be center stage, says the study, supported by training and appropriately qualified OSH personnel. Clearly documented and well-publicized OSH management procedures are equally important, including preventive measures to protect staff and hazard control systems to reduce the impact of any unexpected problems. Procuring goods and services that conform to the organization’s safety standards is also advisable.
- Communicating progress and “room for improvement:” An OSH audit system is needed to monitor safety and health and investigate and analyze the root causes of any accidents, advises the report. The results, together with other OSH-related information, should be regularly communicated across the organization to foster an OSH culture.
- Working towards continual improvement: According to the study, regular management reviews of the system are required in order to identify areas where it can be improved, especially if there are major organization changes. It is essential that the system be integrated into every facet of the business, including linking it to existing management systems, such as ISO9002.
The Agency commented that many organizations have several of these ingredients for success, but that this study highlights the need to have all these in place and integrated across the organization to be truly effective and protect the safety and health of employees.
The European Employers Association, UNICE, affirms that employers have a responsibility to prevent and control occupational health and safety risks, and that adopting a systematic OSH management approach is beneficial. But the UNICE asserted that there is no “one-size-fits-all” formula in this field, and that OSH management approaches must be tailored to the organization’s needs and circumstances.
For more information or to order the publication, visit the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
