Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

7.4 
What to measure
7.4.1 Introduction
In order to achieve an outcome of no injuries or workre-
lated ill-health, and to satisfy stakeholders, health and 
safety risks need to be controlled. Effective risk control 
is founded on an effective health and safety manage-
ment system. This is illustrated in Figure 7.2.
7.4.2 Effective risk control
The health and safety management system comprises 
three levels of control (see Figure 7.2):
➤
level 3 – effective workplace precautions provided 
and maintained to prevent harm to people who are 
exposed to the risks
➤
level 2 – risk control systems (RCSs): the basis for 
ensuring that adequate workplace precautions are 
provided and maintained
➤
level 1 – the key elements of the health and safety 
management system: the management arrange-
ments (including plans and objectives) necessary to 
organize, plan, control and monitor the design and 
implementation of RCSs.
The health and safety culture must be positive to sup-
port each level.
Performance measurement should cover all elements 
of Figure 7.2 and be based on a balanced approach 
which combines:
➤
input: monitoring
the scale, nature and distribution 
of hazards created by the organization’s activities – 
measures of the hazard burden
Figure 7.2
Health and safety management system.
INPUT
PROCESS
OUTPUT
OUTCOME
Uncontrolled
hazards
The ‘Hazards
Burden’
Health and safety management systems
Management arrangements (Level 1)
Risk control systems (Level 2)
Workplace precautions (Level 3)
Positive health and safety culture
Controlled
hazards/risks
1. No injuries
2. No occupational
ill-health
3. No incidents
4. Stakeholder
satisfaction

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