VETTER E learning course (EN)

Safety can be defined as the “knowledge that the evolution of a system will not produce undesirable states”: i.e., safety is the condition in which one is protected from a situation of danger and risk. In simpler terms it is: knowing that what we do will not cause injury or damage. In this sense, workers’ safety (also known as occupational health and safety) refers to the provision of a safe working environment, safe equipment, policies, and procedures in order to ensure workers’ health and safety.  Only scientific knowledge, thus based on repeatable observations, can guarantee a meaningful assessment of safety. Total safety occurs in the absence of danger. In an absolute sense, this is a concept that is difficult to translate into real life, even if the application of safety regulations makes it more difficult for harmful events and accidents to occur, which always results in a better quality of life.

Despite its difficulties, in 2020, workplace safety has become one of the main concerns for many employers. Not only the COVID-19 pandemic is resulting in more illnesses, but the emergence of remote work and dispersed workplaces are making it harder for employers to reach their frontline and deskless employees.

While organizations have a moral obligation to ensure safe working conditions, unsafe workplaces can also have serious legal and financial consequences for employers.

WORKPLACE SAFETY:

Workplace means any premises or part of a premises which are made available to any person as a place of work. It does not cover domestic premises. The term workplace also includes the common parts of shared buildings, private roads and paths on industrial estates and business parks. The main actors involved in workplace safety management must consider, for example, lighting, ventilation, temperature, toilets and washing facilities. You must also consider the needs of people with disabilities who may have specific needs, for example adapted toilet and washing facilities, wide doorways and gangways. Here are some characteristics that workplace safety managers should ensure:

• Make sure buildings are in good repair

• Maintain the workplace and any equipment so that it is safe and works efficiently

• Put right any dangerous defects immediately, or take steps to protect anyone at risk

• Take precautions to prevent people or materials falling from open edges, e.g., fencing or guard rails

• Have enough space for safe movement and access

• Good light – use natural light where possible but try to avoid glare and good level of local lighting at workstations where necessary

• Provide clean premises, furniture and fittings

• Clean toilets and hand basins, with running hot and cold or warm water, soap and towels or another suitable means of drying

• Provide enough workspace, including suitable workstations and seating.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION:

Hazard identification or assessment is an important step in the overall risk assessment and risk management process. It is where individual work hazards are identified, assessed and controlled/eliminated as close to source (location of the hazard) as reasonably as possible. As technology, resources, social expectation or regulatory requirements change, hazard analysis focuses controls more closely toward the source of the hazard. Thus, hazard control is a dynamic program of prevention. Hazard based programs also have the advantage of not assigning or implying there are "acceptable risks" in the workplace. A hazard-based program may not be able to eliminate all risks, but neither does it accept "satisfactory" – but still risky – outcomes. And as those who calculate and manage the risk are usually managers while those exposed to the risks are a different group, workers, a hazard-based approach can by-pass conflict inherent in a risk-based approach.

The information that needs to be gathered from sources should apply to the specific type of work from which the hazards can come from. Examples of these sources include interviews with people who have worked in the field of the hazard, history and analysis of past incidents, and official reports of work and the hazards encountered. Of these, the personnel interviews may be the most critical in identifying undocumented practices, events, releases, hazards and other relevant information. Once the information is gathered from a collection of sources, it is recommended for these to be digitally archived (to allow for quick searching) and to have a physical set of the same information in order for it to be more accessible. One innovative way to display the complex historical hazard information is with a historical hazards’ identification map, which distils the hazard information into an easy-to-use graphical format. In the construction industry specifically, job hazard analysis (JHA) software allows safety managers and crew members to identify potential hazards at the job site and improve accident prevention.

RISK ASSESSMENT:

Risk management requires risk to be managed to a level which is as low as is reasonably practical.

This assessment should:

• Identify the hazards;

• Identify all affected by the hazard and how evaluate the risk;

• Identify and prioritize appropriate control measures.

The calculation of risk is based on the likelihood or probability of the harm being realized and the severity of the consequences. This can be expressed mathematically as a quantitative assessment (by assigning low, medium and high likelihood and severity with integers and multiplying them to obtain a risk factor), or qualitatively as a description of the circumstances by which the harm could arise.

The assessment should be recorded and reviewed periodically and whenever there is a significant change to work practices. The assessment should include practical recommendations to control the risk. Once recommended controls are implemented, the risk should be re-calculated to determine if it has been lowered to an acceptable level. Generally speaking, newly introduced controls should lower risk by one level, i.e., from high to medium or from medium to low.

Organizations with employees who are at high risk of getting injured often have structured and well-designed workplace safety strategies in place. As they are aware of the consequences of neglecting workplace safety, they understand that having a good plan can significantly improve employees’ health, safety and wellbeing. Here are some best practices for ensuring safe working conditions:

• Identify all the workplace safety hazards

• Define safety policies and remind employees to follow them

• Keep employees aligned to foster the culture of safety

• Build a safety communication plan

• Involve leadership and encourage employees’ share of voice

• Designate a health and safety representative

• Build trust and be consistent

• Encourage engagement and participation from employees

• Help managers and employees to always stay connected

• Measure the impact of safety communication campaigns.

 Safety and health programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses

• Improve compliance with laws and regulations

• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums

• Engage workers

• Enhance their social responsibility goals

• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations