Guidance

in preparing a
Safety &
Health Policy

OSHA HOTLINE: 623-OSHA (6742)

[Link]
 Introduction Introduction
Occupational Safety Occupational
and Health Safety
Act Chapter
and Hea
88:08 (the OSH Act) 88:08
requires
(the inter
OSH Act)alia, requires
every
employer of an industrial
employer establishment
of an industrial
with 25
estab
or more employees or to more
prepareemployees
or revise to
a Safety
prepare
and Health Policy inand
consultation
Health Policy
with in
represen
consultati
-
tatives of the employees.
tatives of Section 6(8) of theSec
the employees.
OSH Act also states that
OSH theAct Chief Inspector
also states that may
the Ch
direct employers ofdirect
feweremployers
than 25 persons
of fewertotha
also prepare a safety and
also health a
prepare policy.
safety Conse
and-heal
quently, the following information
quently, can beinformat
the following used
as a guide in the preparation
as a guide in of the
the preparation
required
document by all employers
document in by Trinidad and
all employers
Tobago. Tobago.

What is a safety and

What
health
is a safety
policy?and healt

Your safety and health

Yourpolicy
safety setsandouthealth
how policy
you
manage safety andmanagehealth insafetyyour organisation.
and health in y
It is a unique document
It is athat
uniqueidentifies
document
who does
that id
what and when andwhat how and they when
do it. and
Pages
how 4-14
they d
of this booklet give of
anthis
example
booklet ofgive
a policy
an exampl
that
you can use and keep youin canyouruse workplace.
and keep How in -your
ever, you do not haveever, to you
use do thisnot
document
have to or use t
format, it is meant format,
for guidance it is meant
only. for
Youguidanc
are
free to record and free
storetothe record
information
and store
in any
the in
form you choose. Thisform format
you choose.
gives youThis
anformat
idea g
of the kind of information
of the youkindneedof information
to [Link] n

1. 1.
ocumentYour should
policy document
describe your should describe your
i.e. the
arrangements,
systems [Link]
the systems and procedures
placeyou forhave
ensuring
in place
employees’
for ensuring employees’
th. You
safety
may and
wish
health.
to refer
You
to may
otherwish to refer to other
g. workdocuments,
rules, safety
e.g. checklists,
work rules, safety checklists,
mmes, training
emergency
programmes,
instructions,
emergency instructions,
ees etc.
may All
notemployees
need to see may
all the
not need to see all the
ts, but
other
theydocuments,
must see thebutpolicy.
they must see the policy.

ed a safety
Why doand
I need a safety and
y? health policy?

healthThepolicy
safetyis and
yourhealth
startingpolicy
pointis your starting point
safetyto and
managing
health safety
in the andwork- health in the work -
neralplace,
policy your
on safety
generalandpolicy
health on safety and health
organisation
at work and and the
arrangements
organisation and arrangements
policy
for putting
into practice.
that policyWriting
into apractice. Writing a
th policy
safetyis and
morehealth
than just
policy
a legal
is more than just a legal
is your
requirement,
commitment it istoyour
planning
commitment to planning
safety
and andmanaging
health. Itsafety
is the and
key tohealth. It is the key to
d achieving
maintaining and acceptable
maintaining acceptable
cingstandards,
accidents reducing
and work-related
accidents and work-related
shows
illnesses
our employees
and it shows thatour
youemployees that you
fety care
and health.
for their safety and health.
2. 2.
 Who should develop
Whothe
should
policy?
develop the p

With very few exceptions,

With very thefewresponsibility
exceptions,forthe
safety and health rests
safety
on and
you health
as an employer.
rests on you
However, many day-to-day
However, many tasks day-to-day
may be
delegated. Your policy
delegated.
should Yourclearly
policy
identify
shou
how these tasks arehowallocated,
these tasks but remember,
are allocated
you will still have you
ultimate
will still
responsibility.
have ultimate You re
should consult your should
employees,
consult (through
your employee
worker
representatives) about
representatives)
the policy. about Everyone
the p
should be able to see
should
from betheable policy
to seeexactly
from t
who is responsible who
for different
is responsible
tasks, for
suchdiffere
as
advice, reporting anadvice,
accident reporting
and firstanaid,
accident
etc.

How often do I need

How
tooften do I need to
revise the policy?revise the policy?

It should be reviewedIt should be reviewed

and possibly revisedandin possibly revised in
the light of experience,
the light of experience,
or because of opera or- because of opera-
tional or organisational
tional or organisational
changes. It is usefulchanges.
to It is useful to
review the policy regularly
review the policy regularly
(e.g. annually). (e.g. annually).

Do I need to do anything
Do I need
else?
to do anything e

Yes, you have other Yes,

legal
you duties
have other
under legal
other du
sections of the legislation.
sections In of particular,
the legislation.
underIn
the OSH Act Sectionthe 13(A),
OSH youAct have
Sectionto 13(A),
assess yo
the risks arising from
the your
risks work
arisingactivities
from your andw
record the significant
record
findingsthe (refer
significant
to page findings
7 of (
this document). Depending
this document). on yourDepending
type of
work, there may be other
work, there
specific
may legislation
be otherthat
spec
will apply. will apply.

REMEMBER: What you REMEMBER:

write in the What
policy
youhas write
to in
be put into practice.
be put
The into
true practice.
test of a safety
The tru
and health policy isand
the health
actual policy
conditions
is theinactua
the
workplace, not how workplace,
well the statement
not howiswell
written.
the sta
You are also required
Youtoare
submit
also the
required
policytoandsubm
any revision thereofany
to the
revision
Chiefthereof
Inspector
to the
andCh
make it known to allmake
employees.
it known (Section
to all employee
6(7) of
the OSHA Act). the OSHA Act).
3. 3.
 and HealthSafety
Policyand Health Policy

ety &(This
Health
example
Policy Safety
is for guidance
& Health Policy is for guidance
that only.
this is Please
not a generic
note thattemplate
this is not a generic template
put your
that company’s
you can justname
put your
on andcompany’s name on and
thought.
adoptEverywithout
business
any thought.
is different,
Every business is different,
k through
you needthe hazards
to think ad
through
controlsthe hazards ad controls
business.)
required for your business.)

nal SafetyOccupational
and Health Act
Safety and Health Act
Chapter 88:08 Chapter 88:08

Safety and Health

This is the
Policy
Safety
of: and Health Policy of:

(Name of Company) (Name of Company)

general
Ourpolicy
statement
is: of general policy is:
uate control
To provide
of the
adequate
safety andcontrol
health
of the safety and health
our work
risksactivities
arising from our work activities
our employees
To consulton with
matters
our employees
affecting on matters affecting
healththeir safety and health
systemsToofprovide
work safe systems of work
maintainTo provide
safe plantand and
maintain
equipmentsafe plant and equipment
andlingTo and
ensureusesafe
of substances
handling and use of substances
mation, Toinstruction
provide information,
and supervision
instruction
for and supervision for
employees
mployeesTo ensure
are competent
all employees
to do are
theircompetent to do their
e themtasks
adequate
and totraining
give them adequate training
dents Toandprevent
cases accidents
of work-related
and cases
ill of work-related ill
health
and healthy
To maintain
working
safeconditions
and healthy working conditions
evise this
To review
document and asrevise
necessary
this document
at as necessary at
regular intervals
mitment Totoensure
safetycommitment
and health issues
to safety and health issues
To maintain
transportation safe transportation of articles
of articles
tinual Toimprovement
ensure continualof employee
improvement of employee
ons working conditions

Signed:

(Employer) (Employer)

(Date)(Review Date) (Review Date)

4. 4.
 Responsibilities Responsibilities

1. Overall and [Link]

Overall andfor final
safety
responsibi
and
health is that of health is that of

*Your name must be inserted*Yourhere.

nameAsmust
the employer
be inserted
(i.e.
here.
soleAs
trader, senior partner or managing
trader, senior
director),
partneryou
or managing
have overall dire
responsibility for safety and
responsibility
health. for safety and health.

2. Day-to-day responsibility
2. Day-to-day for ensuring
responsibility
this
policy is put into practice
policy isis delegated
put into practice
to is

*If you are not always there,

*If you
or do
arenot
nothave
always
timethere,
to manage
or do not
on a day-to-day basis, you on can
a day-to-day
delegate basis,
this role
you tocansome
-deleg
one else, e.g. director, manager
one else,ore.g.
supervisor.
director,You
manager
will need
or su
to ensure that they keeptoyou ensure
fullythat
informed
they keep
of safety
you and
fully in
health matters as this willhealth
still bematters
your overall
as this
responsibility.
will still be your

3. To ensure [Link] To ensure

health safety
standards
andareheal
maintained/improved, maintained/improved,
the following people the
have responsibility inhave
the following
responsibility
areasin the follo

Name Responsibilities
Name Responsibilitie

*You may delegate functions

*You may to people
delegatewithin
functions
your organ-
to peop
ization, either by specificization,
areas either
within by
thespecific
workplaceareas
or by
withi
topic. You should include topic.
theirYou
specific
shouldresponsibilities
include their in spe
their job description. You their
must
job also
description.
ensure thatYouthey
mustarealso
competent to undertake competent
their safety to
and
undertake
health responsibili
their safety
- a
ties and have adequateties resources
and have to enable
adequate them to do to
resources

5. 5.
 y. It istheir
important
job properly.
that responsibilities
It is important that responsibilities
ut as are
this clearly
will makeset sure
out as
thatthis
if there
will make sure that if there
and health
are any concerns,
safety andtheyhealth
can be concerns, they can be
right reported
person, andto the
dealt
rightwith.
person,
You and dealt with. You
ert a diagram
may wishortochartinsertshowing
a diagram youror chart showing your
ucture/arrangements.
management structure/arrangements.

s must
4. All
among
employees
other things:
must among other things:

te with (a)
supervisors
Co-operate
andwith
managers
supervisors and managers
and healthonmatters
safety and health matters
fere with
(b) anything
Not interfere
provided
with anything
to provided to
d their safety
safeguard
and health
their safety and health
onable(c)care
Takeofreasonable
their own safety
care of their own safety
h and health
safety and
(d) Report
healthall
concerns
safety andto an
health concerns to an
te personappropriate
(as detailed person
in this(as detailed in this
tement). policy statement).

egal responsibilities
*Employees have to take
legalcare
responsibilities
of their to take care of their
alth and
ownthat
safety
of others
and health
and toand
cooperate
that of others and to cooperate
u comply
withwith
you the
to help
[Link]
Equally
complyif employ
with- the law. Equally if employ
-
cerns over
ees have
safetyany
andconcerns
health issues,
over safety
they and health issues, they
about should
who theybe should
clear about
tell sowhothat they
the should tell so that the
addressed.
concerns [Ref:
can beOSH addressed.
Act Part II [Ref: OSH Act Part II
section 10].

ealthSafety
risks arising
and health risks arising
rk activities
from our work activities

s willRisk
be assessments
undertaken by:
will be undertaken by:

f the
Theriskfindings
assessments
of the will
risk be
assessments will be
reported to:

d to Action
remove/control
required risks
to remove/control
will be risks will be
approved by:

6. 6.
 Risk Risk
Assessment Assessment

will be responsiblewill for be

ensuring
responsible
the action
for ens
required is implemented.
required is implemented.

will check that the will

implemented
check thatactions have
the implemen
removed/reduced the risks.
removed/reduced the risks.

Assessments will be reviewed every:

Assessments will be reviewed e

or when the work activity

or whenchanges, whichever
the work is
activity chang
soonest. soonest.
*You must assess risks to the
*You
safety
mustand
assess
health
risksof
toanyone
the safety
whoand
may be affected by your may
work
beactivities,
affected soby that
youryou
workcan
activ
weigh whether you have weigh
done enough
whetheroryou
need
have to done
do more
enoug
to comply with the law. to comply with the law.

[Ref: OSH Act Section 13(A)].

[Ref: OSH
You Act
will Section
need to13(A)].
involveYou a w
number of different people,
number
including
of different
your Safety
people, represen
including
-
tatives and employees, tatives
to do and
the risk assessment.
employees, to doYou the r
need to record the significant
need findings
to recordofthe
your risk
significant finding

7. 7.
a separate
assessments
statement.
in a separate
Your policy statement. Your policy
cords your
document
arrangements
only recordsfor ensuring
your arrangements
the for ensuring the
one andassessments
are kept up areo done
date. andOnce areyou
kept up to date. Once you
k assessments,
have done youyour
mustrisktake
assessments,
the neces - you must take the neces -
ove or sary
reduce
action
the to
riskremove
as far asor is
reduce
reason
- the risk as far as is reason
-
For further
ably information
[Link] For
“A further
Guide information
to see“A Guide to
Risk Assessment”.

n withConsultation
employees with employees
sentative/s
Employeeis/are:
representative/s is/are:

Consultation
h employees with employees
is provided by: is provided by:

our employees.
*You must consult
If you recognise
your employees.
a trade If you recognise a trade
trade union
union andhas thatappointed
trade a union
safety
has appointed a safety
u mustrepresentative,
consult them on you matters
must consult
affectingthem on matters affecting
ey represent.
the employees
If you do theynotrepresent.
have trade If you do not have trade
consult
unions,
employees,
you must either
consult
directly
employees,
or either directly or
d representative
through an [Ref: electedOSHrepresentative
Act Section [Ref: OSH Act Section
h to use
6(7)].
yourYou
safety
mayand wishhealth
to usecommit
your- safety and health commit-
eeting tee
as aor forum
another for meeting
consultation.
as a See
forum for consultation. See
ety and“Guidance
Health Committees”.
on Safety and Health Committees”.
8. 8.
 Safe plant and equipment
Safe plant and equipment

will be responsible will

for identifying
be responsible
all equipment/
for identifyi
plant needing maintenance.
plant needing maintenance.

will be responsible for

willensuring
be responsible
effective
formainte
ensuring
-
nance procedures are nancedrawn
procedures
up. are drawn u

will be responsible for

will ensuring
be responsible
that all for
identified
ensuring
maintenance is implemented.
maintenance is implemented.

Any problems found Any with

problems
plant/equipment
found with
should be reported should
to: be reported to:

will check that new will

plantcheck
and that
equipment
new plant
meets
and e
safety and healthsafety standards
and health
before standard
it is
purchased. purchased.

*You will need to ensure that

*Youall
will
plant
needand
to ensure
equipment
that all
(e.g.
plant
lift a
trucks, vehicles, gas appliances,
trucks, vehicles,
machinery
gasguarding,
appliances, mac

9. 9.
 equipment,
ladders, lifting
electrical
equipment,
equipment,
air receiv
lifting
- equipment, air receiv
-
lant) ers,
that ventilation
require maintenance
plant) that (e.g. require maintenance (e.g.
servicing,
pre-shift
thoroughchecks,examinations)
servicing, thorough
are examinations) are
at the identified
maintenance and isthat
[Link] Itmaintenance
may be is done. It may be
a logbook
worthwhile
to recordusingthea logbook
maintenance to record the maintenance
uying checks.
new or second When buying
hand plantnew andor second hand plant and
must check
equipment,
it meets yousafety
must and
check health
it meets safety and health
buying standards
it. [Ref: OSH before
Act Section
buying13].it. [Ref: OSH Act Section 13].

g andSafe
usehandling
of substances
and use of substances

ble for
will identifying
be responsible
all substances
for identifying all substances
sk assessment.
which need a risk assessment.

ible will
for be
undertaking
responsible
riskforassess
undertaking
- risk assess
-
ments.

ible will
for ensuring
be responsible
that allforactions
ensuring that all actions
assessments
identifiedare
in the
implemented.
assessments are implemented.

ble will
for ensuring
be responsible
that allfor
relevant
ensuring that all relevant
informed
employees
about are
risk informed
assessments.
about risk assessments.

newwillsubstances
check thatcan
newbesubstances
used can be used
ey are
safely
purchased.
before they are purchased.

10. 10.
Assessments will be reviewed
Assessments
every
will be reviewed e

or when the work activity

or when changes,
the workwhichever
activity chan
is
soonest. soonest.
*You must assess the risks*You
from must
all substances
assess the risks
hazardous
from alltosub
health [Ref: OSH Act Section
health6-(3)(4)(5)(6)].
[Ref: OSH Act Section 6-(3)(4)(5
These are known as yourThese risk assessments.
are known asYou yourshould
risk assessm
do
assessments on substances assessments
you use ([Link] substances
adhesives, paints,
you use (e
cleaning agents, solvents) cleaning
and substances
agents, solvents)
generated andfrom
substa
work activities (e.g. dust,work
fume,activities
vapour).(e.g.
Your
dust,
assessment
fume, vapo
should identify any health should
risks. identify
If thereany
is a health
risk, yourisks.
should
If the
take steps to remove take or control
steps the
to remove
risk. Further,
or controlan t
employer should ensure employer
that his employees
should ensureare provided
that his em
with health surveillancewith as health
appropriate.
surveillance
[Ref: OSH as approp
Act
Section 25(K). All health Section
records 25(K).
should All
behealth
kept forrecords
25years shou
[Ref: OSH Act Section 75(1).
[Ref: OSH Act Section 75(1).

Information, instruction
Information,
and supervision
instruction and
Safety and health supervision
Safety andof health
youngsupervision
workers/
trainees will be arranged/undertaken/monitored
trainees will be arranged/unde
by: by:

is responsible for ensuring

is responsible
that ourfor employees
ensuring tha
working at locationsworking
under atthelocations
control ofunder
otherthe
employers, are givenemployers,
relevant safety
are given
and relevant
health
information. information.

*You are required to have *Youaccess

are required
to competent
to haveadvice,
access to
either in-house or, if not either
available,
in-house
external
or, if(e.g.
not available,
employer e
organisations, trade associations,
organisations,
tradetrade
unions,associations,
consultants). trad
If you have young workers If youand/or
have take
youngonworkers
traineesand/or
or
students to provide work experience,
students to provide
you willwork
needexperience,
to ensure y
that they are properly instructed
that theyand
are supervised.
properly instructed
You mustand
also undertake specific also
risk assessments
undertake specific
for young riskpeople
assessme
and you need to take account
and youof need
their inexperience,
to take account lack
ofof
thei
awareness of risks and immaturity
awareness[Ref:
of risks
OSHandAct immaturity
Section 22;[Re
Sections 53-56]. If your employees
Sections 53-56].
go to work
If yourforemployees
another go

11. 11.
behalfemployer
(e.g. if you
onare
youracontractor),
behalf ([Link]
if you are acontractor), you
that they are given
will need relevant
to check that safety and
they are given relevant safety and
for thatlocation,
health by that
information for employer/
thatlocation, by that employer/
company.

for tasks
Competency
and training
for tasks and training
ng will
Induction
be provided
training
for all
willemploy
be provided
- for all employ
-
ees by:

iningJob
will specific
be provided
training
by: will be provided by:

quiring
Specific
training
jobs
are:
requiring training are:

s areTraining records are kept at/by:

kept at/by:

Trainingarranged
identified, will be identified,
and moni- arranged and moni
-
tored by:

st be *All
given
employees
safety and must
health
be given
induction
safety and health induction
start training
work. This whencanthey
be start
combined
work. withThis can be combined with
ation e.g.
otherpay,
useful
leave,
information
and hourse.g.
of pay,
work).leave, and hours of work).
basic safety
It needs andto health
cover basic
such as
safety
first and
aid health such as first aid
mployeesand will
fire need
safety.
jobEmployees
specific training,
will need job specific training,
e safetywhich
and includes
health aspects
the safety
of the
andjob. health aspects of the job.
rovideYousafety
alsoandhave
health
to provide safety and health

12. 12.
trainingfor people when risks
training
change,
for people
or periodically,
when [Link]
if
skills do not get used regularly.
skills do not Some getjobsusedwillregularly.
require S
additional special training
additional
(e.g. manual special
handling,
rainingdriving,
(e.g. man
slinging techniques, confined
slinging
spacetechniques,
entry and confined
asbestosspace
removal). You may wish to removal).
refer to your
You company
may wish training
to refer to y
programme. It is importantprogramme.
to keep records
It is important
of training, to kee
(even training you have (even
providedtraining
in-house),
you have
to show provided
that in
employees have receivedemployees
training. You have
should
received
monitortraining.
the Y
training records, so that training
refresherrecords,
training sois given
that refresher
when tr
necessary. necessary.

Accidents, first aid

Accidents,
and first aid and
work related ill health
work related ill health
Health surveillance Health
is required
surveillance
for employees
is require
doing the following doing
jobs: the following jobs:

Health surveillancseHealth
will besurveillancse
arranged by:will be arra

13. 13.
nce records
Health surveillance
will be kept records
by/at: will be kept by/at:

person(s)/first
The appointed
aider(s)person(s)/first
is/are: aider(s) is/are:

d cases
All accidents
of work-related
and cases
ill health
of work-related ill health
ded in
arethetoaccident
be recorded
register.
in the accident register.
ept at:
The register is kept at:

r reporting
is responsible
accidents,
for reporting
diseases accidents, diseases
occurrences
and dangerous
to the occurrences
enforcing to the enforcing
authority.

receive*Employees
health surveillance
must receive
for certain
health surveillance for certain
th flour,work
lead,(e.g.
chrome,
workasbestos,
with flour,noise,
lead, chrome, asbestos, noise,
other hazardous
isocyanates chemicals).
and other hazardous chemicals).

y health This
problems
will identify
early on
any
sohealth
that action
problems early on so that action
ore an employee’s
can be taken condition
before anworsens.
employee’s condition worsens.

14.
Your risk assessments should
Your identify
risk assessments
all areas should
and theidentify
type
of health surveillance needed.
of health Your
surveillance
records shouldneeded. contain Your r
details of the employees,details
the health
of the surveillance
employees, the proce -healt
dures, dates and conclusions.
dures, Thedateshealth
and care
conclusions.
professional The he
doing the surveillance will
doing
hold the
the surveillance
actual medical will hold
records,the ac
as these are confidential.
as these
[Ref.: are
OSH confidential.
Act Section [Ref.: 25K]. O
Providing immediate firstProviding
aid canimmediate
prevent minor first aidinjuries
can
becoming major ones. Itbecoming
is a good major
practice ones.
to have
It is aagood
first p
aid box and an appointed aidperson
box and to take
an appointed
charge ofperson
first aidto t
requirements. Recordingrequirements.
accidents (even Recording
minor ones)accidents
and (
diseases means you candiseases
see whether means youyouhavecana problem
see whether
in a particular area. Youin a mustparticular
[Link] typesmust of re
accidents and ill health at
accidents
work. [Ref:andOSHill health
Act Sections
at work. 46A [Ref
and 48]. and 48].

Monitoring Monitoring

To check our working

To conditions
check our and
working
ensure
condition
our
safe working practices
safe are
working
beingpractices
followed,are
we be
will: will:

is responsible for investigating

is responsible
accidents.
for investigating

is responsible for is investigating

responsible work-related
for investiga
causes of sickness absences.
causes of sickness absences.

15. 15.
or acting
is responsible
on investigation
for acting
findings
on investigation findings
currence.
to prevent a recurrence.

to show
*Youthat
must youbeareablechecking
to showworking
that you are checking working
tems of conditions
work, i.e. and
that systems
you are of monitoring
work, i.e. that you are monitoring
. Yousafety
can do andthis health.
both actively
You canand do this both actively and
fore andreactively,
after something
i.e. beforegoes andwrong.
after something goes wrong.
ny otherACTIVELY:
appointed youperson
or any can othercarry
appointed
out person can carry out
reportsinspections,
submitted to have
youreports
by managers,
submitted to you by managers,
ts, safety
do representative
spot check visits, inspections,
safety representative
etc. inspections, etc.
alth committee
The safetyhas andthehealth
right committee
to carry outhas the right to carry out
nvestigate
inspections
accidents. and REACTIVELY:
investigate accidents.
You REACTIVELY: You
ny accidents
can investigate
or sickness/absences
any accidents that
or sickness/absences that
ng accidents
occur. isInvestigating
a useful wayaccidents
of reviewing
is a useful way of reviewing
ms. Askyouryourself
safetywhy systems.
the accidentAsk yourself
really why the accident really
hat you happened
can do and to stop
what it happening
you can do to stop it happening
you haveagain.
a number
Similarly,
of employees
if you have absent
a number of employees absent
r ailments,
because this of
might
similar
mean ailments,
there is
thisa might mean there is a
jobs causing
problem ill with
health.
theirWhen
jobs causing
you find ill
outhealth. When you find out
put it right.
what went wrong, put it right.

proceedures,
Emergency Procedures,
cuation
fire and evacuation

r ensuring
is responsible
the fire for
riskensuring
assessment
the fire risk assessment
nd implemented.
is undertaken and implemented.

are checked
Escape routes
by/every:
are checked by/every:

16. 16.
Fire extinguishers are
Firemaintained
extinguishers
andare
checked
maintain
by/every: by/every:

Alarms are tested by/every:

Alarms are tested by/every:

Emergency evacuation
Emergency
will be tested
evacuation
every:will be

*You must carry out a fire

*You riskmust
assessment
carry outin athefiresame
risk assessm
way
you do for safety and health
you do [Link]
for safety
local
andfirehealth
service [Link]
can
tell you your [Link]
you escape
your obligations.
routes, extinguishers
For escap
and alarms, you should andstatealarms,
who checks,you should
how often state and
who ch
also where they are [Link] You
where need theya are
routine
based. in caseYouofnee
fire or any other emergency
fire orevacuation.
any other emergency
You shouldevacua test
your alarms and emergency your alarms evacuation
and emergency
procedureseva
regularly. [Ref: OSHA Actregularly.
Part V]. [Ref:An emergency
OSHA Act Part planV].is A
required if you are an occupier,
requiredi.e. if you
theare
person
an occupier,
who has the i.e. t
ultimate control over theultimate
affairs of control
the industrial
over the establish
affairs- of t
ment.
ment. [Ref: OSH Act Section [Ref: OSH Act Section 8(2)(b)].
8(2)(b)].

17. 17.
eas ofSome
risk key areas of risk

Asbestos
Stress Stress
Chemicals
Substances hazard- Substances hazard-
ces Confinedous to health
spaces ous to health
n Display
(including
screendust, (including dust,
equipment
fumes, etc.) fumes, etc.)
Electricity
Temperatures Temperatures
Excavation
Transport (including Transport (including
s/ Falling
carrying
objects/
dangerous carrying dangerous
uc- collapsing
substances,
struc-and substances, and
tures
pedestrians in the pedestrians in the
osion Fireworkplace)
and explosion workplace)
Machinery
Vibration Vibration
ard- (including
Violenceguard
to staff
- Violence to staff
ing)Work equipment Work equipment
ling Manual Work-related
handlingupper Work-related upper
Noise
limb disorders limb disorders
ms Pressure
Working systems
alone Working alone
Radiation
Working at heights Working at heights
d falls Slips,
Working
trips and
environment
falls Working environment

omeThese
examples
are just
of key
someareas
examples
and of key areas and
ive list.
not anLookexhaustive
around your list. work
Look
- around your work
-
ify other
placeriskto areas.
identify Ifother
any risk
risks areas. If any risks
ork activities,
apply to youryou will
workneed
activities,
to do you will need to do
nts torisk check
assessments
that you to have
check that you have
ucedremoved
the risk. or reduced the risk.

18. 18.
 FOR FURTHER READING SEE:
• A Short Guide for Employers
• A Short Guide for Employees
• A Guide to Risk Assessment
• Guidance on Safety and Health Committees

GETTING HELP
If any additional information is required,
please feel free to consult with:

Level 5, Duke Place, 50-54 Duke Street

Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

OSHA is a statutory agency

Of the Ministry ofLabour and Small
And Micro Enterprise Development
Version 3, July 2015