Make “Safer” A Work Culture – How To Reduce Accidents At Work

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Thursday, 24 July 2008

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By:Julian Hall

Every company big or small has to comply with general standards. These cover things like hazardous materials, ventilation, personal protective equipment, fire safety, safety exits, first aid and sanitation

Employers can reduce their insurance premiums and make the workplace a safer place to be by considering the following:

1. The quality of your health and safety risk management system. These should display a positive, proactive approach to managing health and safety. This could immediately affect premiums and also any efforts made can reduce future claims. The long term view will be to improve company performance in this area.

2. Prove that your company meets legislative safety management requirements. Primarily the Heath and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Any other legislation controlling your significant risks should also be reviewed

3. Have an effective policy including a clearly written statement of policy, details of the organisation and arrangements for health and safety. Outlining clear, relevant, health and safety objectives.

4. Organising your health and safety objectives including

- Employee consultation
- Good Communication
- Allocation of resources
- Good controls in place

5. Effective planning based on risk assessments

6. Proactive inspections and accident investigations

7. Reviewing your health and safety systems and arrangements

8. Conducting job analyses leading to developing a training program to inform employees about the causes of work related injuries and how to identify possible scenarios.

9. Before a party or social event, send out an office-wide communications reminding employees not to drink in excess and not to drink and drive. Encourage them to act responsibly and control their own behaviour.

10. Prevention

- Make sure all machines are properly guarded
- Safety training programs should be an integral part of staff training
- Employ health and safety into the culture of the company

11. Document and record
- Including near misses
- Training
- Risk assessments
- Accident book

12. Consider the following insurance schemes

-Professional indemnity insurance – covers against any bad advice you might give
-Third-party motor insurance – this is mandatory
-Buildings insurance and contents insurance – premises and contents
-Product liability insurance – insures against any faulty products
- Public liability insurance – covering any accidents on your premises

13. RIDDOR Compliant

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Reportable major injuries are:

- unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent
- loss of sight (temporary or permanent);
- fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes;
- amputation;
- chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye; injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
- any other injury; leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
- acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or its toxins or infected material.
- dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine;
- acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin;

Article Source: http://www.dailynewarticles.com

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