OHS Continuous Improvement Strategies
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MaህOHS Continuous Improvement Strategies
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MaህCHAPTER 4
Manage OHS continuous
improvement process
CONTENT COVERAGE
◦Techniques/Methods of OHS improvement
◦Setting OHS priorities
◦Develop OHS action plan
◦Monitor achievements
Techniques/Methods of OHS
improvement
A. Occupational health and safety management
system (OHSMS)
◦An occupational health and safety management
system (OHSMS) is a systematic approach put in place by
an employer to minimize the risk of injury and illness.
◦It involves identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to
workers in all workplace operations.
Cont..
◦An effective OHSMS is a key component of any business; its
scope and complexity will vary according to the type of
workplace and the nature of its operations.
◦For both development and implementation of an OHSMS to be
successful, effective, and efficient, it needs to be based on a
formal structure of defined elements.
A successful OHSMS includes but is not limited to
the following seven elements:
1. Management involvement and commitment
◦ Management involvement and commitment can be shown by:
◦ Allocating dedicated health and safety resources
◦ Setting clear direction and expectations through health and
safety policies
◦ Assigning and monitoring health and safety responsibilities
◦ Directly engaging and communicating with workers
Cont.
2. Hazard identification and assessment
Hazard identification is a process used by a company to identify existing
and potential hazards. Examples include but are not limited to:
◦ Inspections
◦ Job task analyses
◦ Site-specific hazard identifications
◦ Hazard reporting
Cont.
3. Hazard control
Hazard control includes the methods, techniques, procedures, and
actions taken by a company to reduce, eliminate, or minimize the
risks of both health and safety hazards. Hazard controls are
defined by the Hierarchy of Controls and include:
◦ Elimination or substitution
◦ Engineering controls
◦ Administrative controls
◦ Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Cont.
4. Training
Training refers to an organized activity aimed at imparting
information and/or instructions to improve the recipient's
performance or to help him or her attain a required level of
knowledge or skill. Training includes but is not limited to:
◦Orientations
◦Current job- and industry-specific training
◦Competency assessment
Cont..
[Link] response
◦Emergency response planning refers to the methods,
techniques, procedures, and actions the organization has put
in place to respond to potential emergencies (e.g., fire,
explosion, etc.). The plan should include but not be limited to:
◦The responsibilities and training of key people at
emergency sites and offices
◦Adequate resources in place
◦Various emergency and post-emergency procedures
◦Drills and evaluations to measure effectiveness
Cont.
[Link] reporting and investigation
◦Incident reporting and investigation are reactions triggered
by an event.
◦In addition to reporting and investigating the incident,
statistics should be recorded and analyzed to identify trends
and needs
Cont..
7. Communications
◦Corporate communication refers to a company’s formal or
informal verbal, written, or unwritten policies, plans,
standards, and procedures.
◦Communications are conducted through meetings; written
messages; and daily informal communication between
supervisors and their employees.
B. Continues improvement
An organization should also commit to continuous
improvement. The four phases in the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle
involve:
• Plan: Identifying and analyzing the problem
• Do: Developing and testing a potential solution
• Check: Measuring how effective the test solution was and
analyzing whether it could be improved in any way
• Act: Implementing the improved solution fully
Figure 1. Continuous Improvement
Model
QUESTIONS
[Link] of the following points show poor management
involvement in occupational health and safety management
system
A. Allocating health and safety resources
B. Engaging and communicating with workers
C. Setting clear direction through health and safety policies
D. Assigning all health and safety responsibilities to the
management
CONT..
2. Which of the following techniques are not used
for hazard identification in a company
A. Inspections C. Job task analyses
B. Hazard reporting D. None of the
above
CONT..
[Link] of the following hazard control mechanism is
the last line of defense
A. Personal protective equipment
B. Elimination or substitution
C. Administrative controls
D. Engineering controls
Setting OHS priorities
Setting priorities
The management of various kinds of risk is one of the most
important areas of decision making in the present-day policy
of occupational health and safety.
Risk management comprises the modification, aversion and
acceptance of risks.
The question of regulating which risks in what order is an
important aspect of the setting of priorities.
CONT..
Although several methodologies for the setting of priorities
are available, intuitive decision making is found to be an
important complement of the systematic assessment of risks.
The systematic identification and estimation of risk is done
on the basis of:
◦Results of scientific studies of risks in various
branches of industry
◦Several types of outcome and exposure registers
Criteria used to set priorities
◦The criteria used to set priorities can be divided into;
◦External (societal)
◦Internal (institutional/scientific) criteria
◦The criteria of the two divisions can be classified
according to three main headings:
◦Importance
◦Relevance
◦Feasibility
Cont..
◦Importance: entails criteria indicating risks with
consequences that would affect the overall health and safety
of the population. It refers to both the volume of the problem
and the intensity of risk involved.
◦Relevance: indicates the willingness of a society or the
scientific community to regulate or analyze the particular risk.
Cont..
◦Feasibility: indicates criteria related to the technical, economic,
methodological, material, and intellectual capacities of a society
or the scientific community to regulate or assess risks.
◦Importance criteria are measured by risk estimation, whereas
both relevance criteria and feasibility criteria are measured, in
part, by risk evaluation. The process of setting priorities and
managing risks depends on the basic structure of the process of
policy making inherent to a society.
Cont..
Environmental scientists have recognized two
models
◦The adversary model ([Link] States, Japan)
◦The consensus model (eg. Great Britain,
Netherlan
Cont..
◦The adversary model: is characterized by open and
public discussion of risks. The risks are regulated by
independent, competent authorities who control
risks by means of powerful legislation and detailed
specific norms.
Cont..
◦The consensus model: entails more confidential closed
discussions and negotiations between the parties of society
involved; comprehensive "frame-type" legislation
constitutes the main influence of the authorities. In this
model, practical implementation is controlled by the parties
of society which are given high competence together with
the authorities.
Cont..
◦The methodology of risk assessment and priority
setting is better developed in those countries which
follow the adversary model, because the public process
of risk management involves the element of challenge.
The setting of priorities should be a continuous and
dynamic process regardless of the model.
QUIZ- 2
[Link] of the following is used as a criteria to set OHS priorities
A. Importance C. Relevance
B. Feasibility D. All of the above
2. The methodology of risk assessment and priority setting is better
developed in those countries which follow the consensus model
A. True B. False
Cont..
3. Process of risk assessment and priority setting
characterized by open and public discussion of risks is
A. External/societal model C.
Adversary model
B. Institutional/scientific model D.
Consensus model
Developing OHS action plan
Steps of developing OHS action plan
◦ There are as many different approaches to creating strategic action
plans as there are health and safety issues to plan for. The essential
elements included in a successful plan are:
[Link] an issue
◦ Decide what health and safety problems or issues to be addressed.
OHS Priority setting may help identify and select an issue.
Cont..
[Link] information
◦Decide what information are needed concerning the problems
or issues we want to address
Cont..
[Link] the solution
◦Decide what solution you want to achieve. This is the overall goal
or objective that we are seeking to accomplish. List out the general
and specific objectives. Make sure that the objectives are SMART:
◦ Specific: specify a key result to be accomplished
◦ Measurable: so we can know whether or not we have
succeeded
◦ Assignable: specify who will do what
◦ Realistic: but still represents a change and a challenge
◦ Timely: specify any deadlines or amount of time needed to
complete
Cont.
4. Establish an action plan
Plot a roadmap for achieving long-term goal. Elements of an
action plan include:
◦What – List all the different things that need to be done
(e.g. gather information, communicate with/involve
members).
◦When – Develop a timetable with specific dates for
achieving each task, and for the action plan as a whole.
Cont..
◦Who – Assign someone to be responsible for each
particular task, including keeping a record of activities
and reporting back on progress.
◦How – Identify resources that might be needed, and from
whom or where resources could be obtained (resources
include money, time, people materials, and etc.)
Cont.
5. Identify obstacles
◦ Identify potential obstacles, and develop a specific action plan for
preventing them. Also prepare for overcoming obstacles that cannot be
prevented.
[Link] and communicate stakeholders
◦Identify potential allies and develop a specific action plan for
contacting and involving them.
◦Communicate with the workers throughout the entire
crisis/investigation and get feedback on any obstacles.
◦Meet regularly to review progress and modify plans as needed.
Members should be prepared to report on the status of each task.
Cont..
[Link] the Plan
At the end of the allotted time for the strategic plan, evaluate
successes, strengths and weaknesses of the plan. Establish a
system for long term follow-up to prevent future incidents.
Incorporate what was learned into future strategic planning
activities.
Matching
Characteristics Meanings
Specific Specify who will do what
Measurable Specify a key result to be
accomplished
Assignable Know whether or not it is
achieved
Realistic Able to obtain the level of
change reflected in the
objective
Timely Specify any deadlines or
amount of time needed to
complete
Monitoring achievements
[Link] of OHS
Surveillance can be defined as close observation of a
person or group, especially one under suspicion.
The act of observing or the condition of being observed.
Surveillance is a core activity in the practice of
occupational health.
Cont..
Two broad groups of surveillance are commonly
performed—
hazard surveillance and health surveillance.
While the focus of the former is hazards at the
workplace, the latter type of surveillance
pertains to the health of a person of group of
workers.
Important considerations during OHS
surveillance are:
Assessment of workplace hazards and identification of
target organ toxicities for each hazard which refer to
exposure assessments and risk assessments for target
organ damage.
Detection of screenable health effects are those that can
be detected during the pre clinical phase and where
intervention at this stage is more beneficial than during
later stages of the disease.
Cont..
The development of action criteria in response to
medial test results is important. Criteria to be
applied for each test should be appropriate in the
local context.
Standardization of test procedures and quality
control, provision of information to employees
about the tests, and confidentiality of results
should be ensured.
Interpretation of the test results should be based
on several factors, including the predetermined
action level criteria, and exposure data for the
Cont..
Removal of the employee from further exposure may be necessary,
and there may be legal provisions to safeguard wages and benefits
in the event of job transfer due to such a reason. Employees
themselves should be notified of the results, in addition to
statutory notifications (where applicable). As screening tests may
not provide a definitive diagnosis, further medical evaluations may
be indicated, including referral to the appropriate specialist.
Steps in designing and implementing
OHS surveillance
Steps in designing and implementing an occupational health
surveillance program are:
◦ Assessment of workplace hazards
◦ Identification of target organ toxicities for each hazard
◦ Selection of test for each “screenable” health effect
◦ Standardization of data collection process
◦ Performance of testing
◦ Interpretation of test results and test confirmation
◦ Notification
◦ Diagnostic evaluation
◦ Evaluation and control of exposure
◦ Record keeping
QUIZ
1. Incorrect statement about surveillance in OHS
A. Hazard surveillance focuses on hazards at the workplace
B. Health surveillance pertains to the health of a person or group of
workers
C. Health surveillance have less important role in occupational health
practice
D. Hazard surveillance and health surveillance are complementary to each
other
Cont..
2. The first step in designing and implementing
of OHS surveillance program is
A. Notification
B. Interpretation of test results
C. Assessment of workplace hazards
D. Evaluation and control of exposure
CONT..
[Link] screening for OHS exposure, If abnormal test
result is obtained for an employee all of the following are
done except one
