How can workplace health and safety be managed?

 Managing health and safety is an essential part of managing any business. Businesses need to do a risk assessment to find out about the hazards and risks in their workplace and put measures in place to effectively control them to ensure these hazards and risks cannot cause harm to workers.

Occupational health and safety, including compliance with the OHS Act and regulations which is the responsibility and duty of the employer. The employer should show strong leadership and commitment to OHS activities in the organisation and make appropriate arrangements for the establishment of an OHS management system. The system should contain the main elements of policy, organising, planning and implementation, evaluation and action for improvement.

Policy

Occupational health and safety policy

In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act #85 of 1993 (OHSA) section #7. The employer must have a health and safety policy statement that is signed by the CEO and is visibly displayed. The employer, in consultation with workers and their representatives, should set out in writing an OHS policy to which they are committed, and which is communicated to all workers.

Worker participation

Worker participation is an essential element of the OHS management system in the organisation.

The employer should ensure that workers and their health and safety representatives are consulted, informed and trained on all aspects of OHS, including emergency arrangements, associated with their work.

The employer should make arrangements for workers and their health and safety representatives to have the time and resources to participate actively in the processes of organising, planning and implementation

Down full September 2022, Newsletter: