Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

International aspects of health and safety
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and certifi cation. ILO-OSH 2001 combines the features of 
HSG 65 and OHSAS 18001 and stresses the importance 
of worker participation for the system to be effective.
18.4 
Other key characteristics of a 
health and safety management 
system
The four basic elements common to all occupational 
health and safety management systems, as described 
earlier in this chapter, contain the different activities of 
the system together with the detailed arrangements and 
activities required to deliver those activities. However, 
there are four key characteristics of a 
successful
occu-
pational health and safety management system:
➤
a positive health and safety culture
➤
the involvement of all stakeholders
➤
an effective audit
➤
continual 
improvement.
18.4.1 A positive health and safety culture
In Chapter 4, the essential elements for a successful 
health and safety culture were detailed and discussed. 
In summary, they were:
➤
leadership and commitment to health and safety 
throughout the organization
➤
an acceptance that high standards of health and 
safety are achievable
➤
the 
identifi cation of all signifi cant hazards facing the 
workforce and others
➤
a detailed assessment of health and safety risks in 
the organization and the development of appropri-
ate control and monitoring systems
➤
a health and safety policy statement outlining short 
and long term health and safety objectives. Such a 
policy should also include national codes of practice 
and health and safety standards
➤
relevant communication and consultation proced-
ures and training programmes for employees at all 
levels of the organization
➤
systems for monitoring equipment, processes and 
procedures and the prompt rectifi 
cation of any 
defects found
➤
the prompt investigation of all incidents and acci-
dents and reports made detailing any necessary 
remedial actions.
Some of these essential elements form part of the health 
and safety management system but unless all are present 
within the organization, it is unlikely that occupational 
health and safety will be managed successfully no mat-
ter which system is introduced. The chosen management 
system must be effective in reducing risks in the work-
place else it will be nothing more than a paper exercise.