Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Factors to be considered
It is recognized that each organization must have the 
freedom to devise systems that match the risk potential 
of their operations and which are practicable in their situ-
ation. However, they should take account of the follow-
ing factors in making their decision:
➤
types of risk involved in the operation
➤
magnitude of the risk, including consideration of the 
worst foreseeable loss
➤
complexity of the operation
➤
past accident and loss experience
➤
requirements and recommendations of the relevant 
health and safety authorities
➤
the type of documentation needed
➤
resources required to implement the safe system of 
work (including training and monitoring).
6.5.4 Development of safe systems
Role of competent person
Primarily management is responsible to provide safe 
systems of work. Managers and employees know the 
detailed way in which the task should be carried out. 
The competent person appointed under the MHSW 
Regulations should assist managers to draw up guide-
lines for safe systems of work with suitable forms and 
should advise management on the adequacy of the safe 
systems produced.
Analysis
The safe system of work should be based on a thorough 
analysis of the job or operation to be covered by the 
system. The way this analysis is done will depend on the 
nature of the job/operation.
If the operation being considered is a new one 
involving high loss potential, the use of formal hazard 
analysis techniques such as HAZOP (Hazard and 
Operability study), FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) or Failure 
Modes and Effects Analysis should be considered.
However, where the potential for loss is lower, a more 
simple approach, such as JSA (Job Safety Analysis), will 
be suffi cient. This will involve three key stages:
➤
identifi cation of the key steps in the job/operation – 
what activities will the work involve?
➤
analysis and assessment of the risks associated 
with each stage – what could go wrong?
➤
defi nition of the precautions or controls to be taken – 
what steps need to be taken to ensure the operation 
proceeds without danger, either to the people doing 
the work, or to anyone else?
The results of this analysis are then used to draw up the 
safe operating procedure. (See Appendix 6.2 for a suit-
able form.)

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