Introduction
A health and safety management system is essential for a business. Not only does it make it easier for a business to comply with legal rules and regulations, but it also maintains a positive environment. The workforce feels safer and more motivated with a proper safety management system in place. The components of a safety and health management system include thorough risk assessment, timely risk management and clear risk communication. However, it is a multi-layered concept which needs to be managed at all times.
Here is a comprehensive blog on how to conduct risk assessment as a part of your health and safety management system.
What is a Health and Safety Management System?
A safety management system is an organizational framework that includes the structure of safety policy, defined responsibilities and procedure of working. The processes in the safety management system are used for developing safety measures to minimize workplace hazards and implementing them effectively.
A premium HSE software when combined with a compliance management system ensures that safety measures are reviewed regularly and proper awareness is spread among people. It created a general sense of safety assurance among employees which fosters a positive working environment and enhances the reputation of a company.
Assessing risks is a preliminary step in which all kinds of hazards are anticipated. ISO 45001 is the most widely followed international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. From proactive prevention of hazards to complying with legal standards, this standard is valid for organizations of all sizes from all sectors.
5 Steps to Assess Risks Under Health and Safety Management System
HSE software must align with the compliance management system of a company. This will ensure safety and adherence to all the standards. Here are 5 effective steps to minimize workplace accidents:
- Identify Potential Hazards
Hazard identification is a process that includes checking the peripheral environment in advance. Common workplace hazards are recognized and measures against obvious hazards are taken at the right time. For a better understanding of potential hazards, review the causes of previous accidents to know what went wrong and how the situation was managed.
This is an important step of a foolproof method to mitigate risks and prevent accidents. Since natural disasters cannot be predicted and neither can their severity, businesses must take into consideration the most unlikely events and plan accordingly.
- Analyze Risks
Once the hazards have been identified, the risks they pose to the workforce must be understood, identified and clearly stated systematically in reports. With the help of a foolproof compliance management system, an organization determines the probability of the same accident happening again so that the management team is prepared properly.
A better method of risk analysis is to rate hazards according to the risk matrix. A risk matrix includes two basic questions.
- First, how severe would an injury or harm be if an employee is exposed to it?
- Secondly, what are the chances of employees getting injured in case they are exposed to a hazard?
- Make an Action Plan
With the help of OHS management software, management of potential risks can be done beforehand. Specific tools and techniques must be in place to save lives, minimize damage to properties and save the environment. An action plan must be:
- Plan properly beforehand so that the management is ready when a crisis hits. Employees must be continuously briefed about the processes and protocols to avoid confusion. Timely drills ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities.
- Checking a plan is essential to check its practicality and relevance. Periodic reviews and addressing new risks as they emerge must be done responsibly. This step also helps the management and the leadership to check if the measures comply with the latest ISO standards and are legal.
- Testing a plan ensures that all loopholes are covered. Simulated emergencies and drills help determine if all the employees are properly briefed and aware of the system in place. This step is also helpful for revising strategies, coming up with better ones and brainstorming.
- Record Findings
The management must maintain formal records of processes in place, their effectiveness and how often these measures are updated. With HSE software, there is improvement in accountability, tracking the performance of employees and testing the progress over time. These findings note how often safety measures are updated and tested.
These reports made with the help of health and safety software can include audit details, framed to support future evaluations. These reports prove how a company or a business complies with the latest health and safety regulations.
- Update AssessmentÂ
Updating assessment is best to prove that the existing systems are in incongruence with the latest standards. Ineffective measures and processes are replaced with better ones. Tools in health and safety management system updates include incorporating the latest technology and adjusting for any regulatory changes.
Employee feedback refines assignments which keeps everyone adopting a proactive approach. Proper communication between various departments is a must at this stage. Well-coordinated management team works better as a team during a crisis.
Conclusion
Health and Safety Management System comprises risk assessment, timely risk communication and proper risk management. The most important factor for a business is to upgrade security systems continuously and train the employees accordingly for maximum benefit. Identifying risks and hazards at the appropriate time is essential to prevent and avoid them completely.
Therefore, downloading the latest security health and safety system software ensures proper compliance and maximum safety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. 1 Which ISO standard is considered when enhancing the health and safety management of a company?
Answer: ISO 45001 is the international standard that companies abide by for maintaining occupational health and safety. The standard states functions to be performed to minimize dangerous occupational hazards and protect employees.
Q. 2 How is ISO 45001 different from ISO 18001?
Answer: ISO 45001 focuses on risks posed by the functioning of a company and ways to mitigate these risks to enhance overall safety standards. ISO 18001, on the other hand, only focuses on the occupational risks posed by an organization.
Q. 3 What is an example of an Occupational Health and Safety measure?
Answer: An example of Occupational Health and Safety could be controlling or minimizing radiation exposure, ensuring that the workplace is equipped with enough fire extinguishers, employees are fully equipped and so on.
Q. 4 ISO 45001 comprises 7 elements. What are they?
Answer: The 7 elements of ISO 45001 are occupational health and safety policy, employee engagement, being ready for emergency, consistent improvement, legal compliance and hazard identification.
Q. 5 How is a compliance management system different from a quality management system?
Answer: A compliance management system ensures maximum adherence to law whereas a quality management system is broader. The latter makes it easier for a company to improve product quality, satisfy customers and maintain organizational standards.