Christel Fouche on Health and Safety

Health and Safety systems based on the OHSAS18001 management system standard, whether the system is certified or not, tend to remain a Safety Management System and never became a true Health and Safety system.

Health and Safety systems designed to facilitate compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993,  generally continue this trend. These continue to remain Safety Management systems.

So question must be asked, where is the Health part?

Why is it not included? Can Occupational Health just be sidestepped?

The foundation of a Health and Safety management system starts with the identification of hazards and risks pertaining to Health and Safety. Does your Risk Assessments include Occupational Health hazards and risks or only those for Occupational Safety?

When these Risk Assessments were done, did the clinic sister, medical practitioner, occupational hygienist or other health professional give their input?

Another key factor is Health and Safety training. Does your Health and Safety training of the Health and Safety representatives focus on Health and Safety content or only on Safety?

The workplace inspection check-list of the Health and Safety representative, is anything included in the checklist that refers to Occupational Health?

Health and Safety Induction training. Does your training refer to Occupational Health and illnesses and diseases, medical surveillance and biological monitoring or Occupational Health risk assessments?

Let’s look at the Supervisor training as required by your Health and Safety system. Does the training cover the basic key factors that a manager must know of to identify the first signs of illnesses or diseases in the workplace and then how to handle it confidentially?

Now take a fresh look at your Health and Safety system appointments. Excluding the 16.1 and 16.2 appointments as required by the Health and Safety Act, how many of the other appointments include Health and Safety?

All the workers appointed in terms of your Health and Safety system, how many actually know what Occupational Health is all about and then inspect and audit the Health side in their areas of responsibility?

Take a look at your Health and Safety system evaluations. When auditing Health and Safety legislation, which questions do you ask in terms of Health legislation or do you only focus on the Occupational Health and Safety Act?

Your systems need Health and Safety Legal Registers to support them. Does your Legal register include the Health Act, Coid Act, Tobacco Act, and other related health legislation?

Do the roles and responsibilities of employees include Occupational Health?

The above examples are highlighted to show possible loopholes in a Health and Safety management system that may not reflect a balance between Occupational Health and Safety.

Keep the balance right.

Article by: Christel Fouche