𝐄𝐎𝐒𝐇 𝐔𝐊 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟓 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝟏: 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐖𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 ( 1.1 & 1.2 )

The three main reasons for managing workplace health and safety are 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥. Effective health and safety management protects workers from injury and ill health while also protecting the organisation from financial loss and legal consequences. 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝟏. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 refers to the absence of disease or ill health. It includes both physical and psychological health. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: Exposure to asbestos dust can cause serious occupational disease many years after exposure, while excessive workplace stress can negatively affect psychological health. 𝟐. 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 means the absence of risk of serious personal injury. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: A worker standing beneath a suspended crane load is exposed to a serious safety risk. Keeping people outside the danger zone helps maintain safety. 𝟑. 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 means providing workers with appropriate basic facilities to support their health, hygiene and well-being at work. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: Toilets, hand-washing facilities, changing rooms, rest areas, hygienic eating facilities, drinking water and basic first-aid provision. 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 The 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 is based on an employer's responsibility to protect workers from unnecessary injury, occupational disease, suffering and death. Employers control many aspects of work, including the workplace, equipment and working practices. Therefore, they have a moral responsibility to provide safe and healthy working conditions. Poor health and safety can affect not only an injured worker but also their family, dependants, friends and colleagues. In simple terms: “𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨.” Workers should be able to go to work, earn their living and return home without suffering serious injury or work-related ill health. 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 Workplace accidents, occupational ill health and property damage can result in significant financial losses. These losses can include both 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 and 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬. Some losses may be covered by insurance, while many others remain uninsured. Serious accidents can have such a significant financial impact that they may threaten the survival of an organisation. 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Direct costs are measurable financial costs that arise directly from an accident, injury or work-related ill-health event. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Indirect costs are losses that arise as a consequence of an accident or incident but may be difficult to identify or calculate precisely. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: An 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 is a financial loss resulting from an accident or incident that is covered, fully or partly, by an organisation's insurance policy, subject to the policy's terms, limits and excess. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 – 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – Insurance may cover repair or replacement costs. 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 – Property insurance may cover insured workplace damage. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Insurance may cover compensation payable following workplace injury. 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 – Certain treatment expenses may be covered under applicable insurance. 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 – Insurance may cover eligible civil legal expenses. 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: An 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 is a financial loss arising from an accident or incident that is not covered by insurance and must therefore be borne directly by the organisation. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 – 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 – Operations may stop while an incident is managed. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 – Staff and management time is required to investigate the event. 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 – Criminal penalties cannot normally be transferred to an insurer. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Additional labour costs may be required after an accident. 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – A serious incident may damage public confidence and future business. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭. Even where insurance exists, the organisation may still have to pay an 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, and the insurer will only pay up to the 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭. Any amount beyond that limit remains uninsured. 1.2 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 for managing workplace health and safety is based on the framework of laws and legal standards that govern how organisations operate and protect workers. The key principles are: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 have legal responsibilities to provide workplaces, work activities, equipment and substances that are safe and without unacceptable risks to health. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 also have responsibilities for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. The 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐋𝐎) has established important international standards, particularly 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓 and 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝟏𝟔𝟒. Countries normally establish their own national or regional health and safety laws based on internationally recognised principles. Failure to comply with legal requirements can result in 𝐞𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Workers injured through workplace accidents may also be entitled to 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 The 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 relates to the international and national laws that establish minimum standards for workplace health and safety. Organisations are required to comply with applicable health and safety legislation. Failure to achieve the required standards may lead to action by enforcement authorities and prosecution through the courts. The main purpose of these legal requirements is to ensure that: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 There is no single global health and safety law that applies identically in every country. Each country develops its own legislation, although the fundamental principles are often similar. An important organisation in establishing international workplace health and safety standards is the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐋𝐎), an agency of the United Nations. Two important ILO instruments are: 𝐈𝐋𝐎 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓 The 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏 (𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓) establishes fundamental principles for occupational safety and health at both national and organisational levels. 𝐈𝐋𝐎 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝟏𝟔𝟒 The 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏 (𝐑𝟏𝟔𝟒) supplements C155 and provides more detailed guidance on how its principles can be implemented. C155 and R164 recognise that the primary responsibility lies with the employer, while individual workers also have important responsibilities for maintaining workplace safety. 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒’ 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 – 𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝟔 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐋𝐎 𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓 establishes basic obligations for employers. In simple professional terms, employers should: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 – workplaces under their control should be safe and without risk to health. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – machinery, equipment and processes should not expose workers to unacceptable risks. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – chemical, physical and biological substances or agents under the employer's control should not create risks to health. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – appropriate protective clothing and equipment should be provided where necessary. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 – workplace arrangements should aim to prevent injury and adverse effects on workers' health. 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒’ 𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 – 𝐑𝟏𝟔𝟒 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝟎 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝟏𝟔𝟒 provides more practical detail about employers' responsibilities. Employers should: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 that do not create risks to health. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 so workers understand hazards and safe working practices. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 to ensure work is performed safely. 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 appropriate to the size and nature of the organisation. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐏𝐄 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 where personal protective clothing or equipment is required. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 so that working time does not adversely affect workers' safety or health. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 through appropriate workplace measures. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 so that the organisation continues to meet its responsibilities. 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑𝐒’ 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 & 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝟗 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝟏𝟓𝟓 recognises that workers and their representatives have an important role in workplace health and safety. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Workers should: 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 on occupational health and safety matters. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 while carrying out work. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 who may be affected by their acts or omissions. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 established to control workplace risks. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Workers have important rights, including: 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – workers should receive adequate information about measures taken to protect their occupational safety and health. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – workers should receive necessary occupational health and safety training. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – workers should be consulted on health and safety matters relating to their work. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 – a worker should be able to leave a workplace where they reasonably believe there is an imminent and serious danger to life or health. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐒 Health and safety enforcement arrangements vary between countries because there is no single harmonised global enforcement system. However, enforcement agencies commonly: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 where legal requirements are not being met. 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 against organisations or individuals suspected of committing offences. Some countries also have separate 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, while insurance companies may influence workplace safety through inspections, audits, premiums and conditions of insurance cover. 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐍-𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 Failure to comply with workplace health and safety legislation can have serious consequences. 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝟏. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 An enforcement authority may require an organisation to make improvements within a specified period or stop a dangerous activity until adequate controls are implemented. 𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 An organisation may face criminal prosecution and, if convicted, may receive a substantial fine. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 Directors, managers or workers may also be prosecuted and could face 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝/𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Injured workers may also be entitled to compensation. Depending on the legal system, this may involve: 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 against an employer and demonstrating negligence. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞, where available. 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 The 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐒𝐎) develops internationally recognised management and technical standards. Important examples include: 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟏 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝟗𝟎𝟎𝟏 – Quality Management Systems. 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟏 – Environmental Management Systems. 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝟏𝟐𝟏𝟎𝟎 – Safety of Machinery. ISO standards are not themselves legal standards, but they are widely adopted because they demonstrate recognised good management practices. ISO 45001 is compatible with other management-system standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 National regulatory authorities are important sources of information on legislation, legal standards, guidance and recognised health and safety practices. Examples include: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝐇𝐒𝐄) – 𝐔𝐊 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐀) – 𝐔𝐒 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 – 𝐄𝐔 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 – 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 These organisations publish guidance and information that can help employers and workers understand applicable workplace health and safety requirements.