What is a health and safety management system?
Components of a working Health and Safety Management System include a health and safety policy, identification of health and safety hazards, control measures to eliminate or reduce hazard risks, worker training, an inspection program, incident reporting and investigation, emergency response planning and program administration through documentation of policy, hazard assessments, employee training, inspections, investigations and safety meetings.
Australian Standard AS/NZS 4801:2001 states that an OHS Management System is “that part of the overall management system which includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the OHS policy and so managing the risks associated with the business of the organisation.” Health and safety needs to be managed just like other critical aspects of a business and the best way to do it is to adopt a systematic approach. Consider the other things you need to manage as part of your business: quality, productivity, finance, accounting, industrial relations, insurance etc. Having systems in place makes it easier to manage these things. The same applies to health and safety. Good health and safety management systems are good business.
A health and safety management system is an infrastructure put in place by employers to minimize the incidence of injury and illness to their workers. This is accomplished through identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to workers in all workplaces. The scope and complexity of the management system vary according to the type of workplace and the nature of business.
A health and safety management system is a process put in place by an employer to minimize the incidence of injury and illness to workers involved in the operations carried out by the employer. This is accomplished through identifying, assessing and controlling risks and potential risks to workers in all workplace operations. The scope and complexity of a health and safety management system will vary according to the type of workplace and the nature of operations carried out.
Related Questions
- My organisation is nothing more than an office. What are the benefits of implementing an Occupational Health & Safety management system and achieving registration to OHSAS 18001?
- Where can I get sample documents to support my health and safety management system?
- What is an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS)?
