Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

18.4.4 Continual improvement
Continual improvement has been mentioned several 
times in this chapter and is recognized as a vital elem-
ent of all occupational health and safety management 
systems if they are to remain effective and effi cient as 
internal and external changes affect the organization. 
Internal changes may be caused by business reorgan-
ization, such as a merger, new branches and changes in 
products, or by new technologies, employees, suppliers 
or contractors. External changes could include new or 
revised legislation, guidance or industrial standards, new 
hazards or campaigns by regulators.
Continual improvement need not necessarily be done 
at high cost or add to the complexity of the management 
system. Its benefi ts include:
➤
a decrease in the rate of injuries, ill-health and 
damage
➤
a reduction in the resources required to manage the 
system
➤
an acceptability of higher standards and an improved 
health and safety culture
➤
overall improvements in the management system 
itself.
The simplest way to achieve continual improvement is to 
implement the recommendations of audits and manage-
ment reviews, use benchmarks from similar organizations 
and any revised national or industrial guidelines. The 
workforce, managers and supervisors often have very 
good suggestions on ways to improve processes and 
procedures. Such suggestions will lead to improvements 
in the management system. Finally the health and safety 
committee can be a very effective vehicle for continual 
improvement particularly if working parties are used to 
investigate specifi c issues within an agreed timeframe.
Figure 18.10
Have to consider different solutions in dif-
ferent countries – delivering furniture in Certaldo, Italy.

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