What is a Health & Safety Management System?
A workplace health and safety management system is a set of policies, procedures and plans that systematically manages health and safety at work and can help to minimise the risk of injury and illness from workplace operations.
What is the contents of a health & safety management system?
The contents of a health and safety management system will differ from industry to industry.
Below will be the general elements needed in a health and safety management system:
- Management Commitment towards Health & Safety
- Safety Accountability and Responsibilities of Company and Employees
- Appointment of Key Safety Personnel
- Coordination of Emergency Response Planning
- Safety Management Documentation
- Hazard Identification
- Safety Risk Assessment and Mitigation of risk identified
- Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement
- Continuous Improvement
- Training and Education
- Safety Communication
When do you need a health & safety management system?
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and the Construction Regulations 2014, every contractor and sub-contractor needs to present a safety file. They must always have a Safety File (health & safety management system) available. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and Construction Regulations 2014 state the following:
- Construction Regulation 3(6)– A client must ensure that the principle contractor keeps a copy of the construction work permit contemplated in sub regulation (1) in the occupational health and safety file for inspection by an inspector, the client, the client’s authorized agent, or an employee;
- Construction Regulation 5(1)(s) – The client must ensure that health and safety file contemplated in regulation 7(1)(b) is kept and maintained by the principle contractor;
- Construction Regulation 7(1)(b) –A principle contractor must open and keep on site a health and safety file which must include all documentation required in terms of the Act and these Regulations, which must be made available on request to an inspector, the client, the client’s agent or a contractor.
For more information regarding this topic, please do not hesitate to contact Global Safety Consultant. Let us do what we do best, so that you can focus on doing what you do best.
References:
- Occupational Health & Safety Act
- Construction Regulations
