Health and Safety Management Systems

The three main reasons for managing health and safety can be identified as:

Moral, Legal and Economic.

Moral

Moral reasons are based on the concept of an employer owing a duty of reasonable care to his employees.
In addition to the obvious duties owed by the employer to his workers, he also has a moral obligation to protect other people whose health and safety may be affected by his undertaking, for example contractors or members of the public.

Legal

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA), and the Regulations made under it reinforce the duty of care.
There are strong legal reasons to manage risk:

• Enforcement notices can be issued by enforcement inspectors.
• Criminal courts impose fines and imprisonment for breaches of legal duties. Punishments can be given to the company or to individuals within the company.
• Employees are able to sue in the civil courts for compensation.

Economic

Accidents and ill-health are costly and the indirect costs involved are often substantially more than the direct costs.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 as amended – regulation (5) states that every employer shall make such arrangements as appropriate for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the necessary preventative and protective measures having regard to the nature and size of his undertaken.
Health and Safety legislation places the majority of responsibility on management for health and safety of workers and others on company premises.

Services

B & P Health and Safety Management Consultants Ltd can provide the client with advice, support and assistance in implementing management systems to meet their health and safety obligations.