Detect Pharmaceutical Health
Hazards and Act
LO4. Manage OHS
continuous
improvement
process By M.T Jul 17, 2025
Presentation outline
This learning guide is developed to
provide you the necessary information
regarding the following topics:
4.1. Techniques/Methods of OHS
improvement
4.2. Setting OHS priorities
4.3. Develop OHS action plan
4.4. Monitor achievements
Objectives
Upon completion of this session, you will be
able to:
Identify and implement pharmaceutical
OHS improvement
Determine pharmacy related OHS
priorities
Develop OHS action plans taking account
of priorities
4.1. Techniques/Methods of OHS improvement
4.1.1. Occupational health and safety
management system (OHSMS)
OHSMS is a systematic approach put in
place by an employer to minimize the risk
of injury and illness.
OHSMS involves identifying, assessing,
and controlling risks to workers in all
workplace operations.
Con;t
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
Con;t
A successful OHSMS includes the
following seven elements:
1. Management involvement and
commitment
2. Hazard identification and assessment
3. Hazard control
4. Training
5. Emergency response
6. Incident reporting and investigation
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
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
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.
Con;t
Hazard controls are defined by the
Hierarchy of Controls and include:
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering controls
Administrative controls
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Prevention through Design using hierarchy of controls
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
5. Emergency response
Emergency response planning refers to
the methods, techniques, procedures,
and actions;
That the organization has put in place
to respond to potential emergencies
(e.g. fire).
Con;t
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
6. Incident 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.
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.
4. 1. 2. 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
4.2. Setting OHS priorities
4. 2.1. 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.
The question of regulating which risks in
what order is an important aspect of the
setting of priorities.
Con;t
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
Evaluations of experienced labor inspectors, in
their everyday work, come into contact with
events which involve risk.
4. 2.2. 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:
Con;t
1. 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.
2. Relevance: indicates the willingness of a
society or the scientific community to regulate
or analyze the particular risk.
3. Feasibility: indicates criteria related to the
technical, economic, methodological, material,
and intellectual capacities of a society or the
Con;t
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.
Environmental scientists have recognized two models
The adversary model (e.g. United States, Japan)
The consensus model (e.g. Great Britain, Netherlands).
Con;t
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.
Con;t
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
Con;t
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.
4.3. Develop OHS action plan
4. 3.1. 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.
Steps of developing OHS action plan
The essential elements included in developing
a successful OHS action plan are:
Step 1: Choose an issue
Step 2: Collect information
Step 3: Determine the solution
Step 4: Establish an action plan
Step 5: Identify obstacles
Step 6: Identify and communicate stakeholders
Step 7: Evaluate the Plan
Con;t
1. Choose an issue
Decide what health and safety problems or
issues to be addressed.
OHS Priority setting may help identify and
select an issue.
2. Collect information
Decide what information is needed concerning
the problems or issues we want to address.
Con;t
3. Determine 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.
Con;t
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
Con;t
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).
Con;t
When – Develop a timetable with specific
dates for achieving each task, and for the
action plan as a whole.
Make sure that timetables are reasonable!
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
Con;t
5. Identify obstacles
Identify potential obstacles, and
develop a specific action plan for
preventing them.
Also prepare for overcoming obstacles
that cannot be prevented.
Con;t
6. Identify 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.
Con;t
7. Evaluate the Plan
At the end of the allotted/prearranged 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/integrate what was learned
into future strategic planning activities.
4.4. Monitor achievements
4. 4.1. Surveillance of OHS
Surveillance can be defined as close observation
of a person or group, especially one under
suspicion.
one suspected of doing something illegal.
Surveillance is also defined as the act of
observing or the condition of being observed.
Surveillance is a core activity in the practice of
occupational health.
Con;t
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 or group of
workers.
Both have important roles in occupational
health practice and are complementary.
Con;t
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 is 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.
Con;t
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
Con;t
Interpretation of the test results
should be based on several factors,
including the predetermined action
level criteria, and exposure data for
the individual (including possible non-
occupational exposures).
Abnormal results should be
reconfirmed.
Con;t
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.
As screening tests may not provide a definitive
diagnosis, further medical evaluations may be
indicated, including referral to the appropriate
specialist.
Con;t
The work environment of the employee with an
abnormal screening result has to be re-
evaluated.
If necessary, measures should be
implemented to reduce the exposure to safe
levels.
In addition to medical record keeping, records
of notifications, exposure evaluations and
environmental modifications, should be kept.
Con;t
Consideration should also be given to:
The requirements, procedures, and
interpretation of findings for health
surveillance as specified by national
legislation.
Responsibility for continuation of health
surveillance after cessation of exposure.
Determination of whether additional or
special surveillance should be started after
specific events, for e.g., following a chemical
4. 4.2. Steps in designing and implementing
OHS surveillance
Steps in designing and implementing an
occupational health surveillance program
are:
Step 1: Assessment of workplace hazards
Step 2: Identification of target organ
toxicities for each hazard
Step 3: Selection of test for each
“screenable” health effect
Continue
Step 4: Standardization of data collection process
Step 5: Performance of testing
Step 6: Interpretation of test results and test
confirmation
Step 7: Notification
Step 8: Diagnostic evaluation
Step 9: Evaluation and control of exposure
Step 10: Record keeping
