OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Dr Prasanna Illankoon
Objectives

• By the end of this session, you will able to,

• Explain the fundamental concepts of OHS

• Identify the key elements for well-functioning of
an OHS management program
• Explain how professional ethics relate to the
management of OHS
 6

High Risk Industries?

Risk Accident

Incident
Ill Health

Hazard Safety
Risk Likelihood that a specified undesired
event will occur due to the realisation
of a hazard by, or during work
activities or by the products and
services created by work activities.

Hazard The potential to cause harm (ill health

and injury, damage to property, plant,
products or the environment,
production losses or increased
liabilities)
Ill
Acute and chronic ill health caused by
Health physical, chemical or biological
agents as well as adverse effects on
mental health
Incident Undesired circumstances and ‘near
misses’ which could cause accidents

Accident Undesired circumstances which give

rise to ill-health or injury, damage to
property, plant, products or the
environment; production losses or
increased liabilities
Safety
The ‘control of accidental loss’.
How can we make the workplace safe?
Hierarchy of Controls
BS8800

Image : NIOSH
 CHEMICAL & DUST
HAZARDS
(cleaning products,
pesticides, asbestos, etc.)
BIOLOGICAL ERGONOMIC
HAZARDS HAZARDS
(repetition, lifting, awkward
(insects/pests,
communicable diseases, etc.) postures, etc.)
WORK
ORGANIZATION
HAZARDS
Things that cause STRESS!

PHYSICAL HAZARDS ENVIRONMENTAL

(slips, trips and falls, faulty HAZARDS
equipment, etc.)
(noise, temperature
extremes, radiation, etc.)
OHS Management System
BS 8800
OHS Management Systems
 23

Effective OHS Program

Management
Commitment Worksite
and Employee Analysis
Involvement

Hazard
Safety and
Prevention and
Health Training
Control
 Management Commitment

Policy established
Responsibility and
and communicated
accountability
with goals and
Employeesassigned
objectives
involved in
developing
policies and
Authority and
resources programsManagement
allocated for safety Review
programs
Mazur, 2015
 Typical Safety Management Programs

Emergency Electrical Chemical

LOTO
Preparedness Safety Management

Working at Confined
PPE Hot Work
height Space

Machine and
Management Work SubCon
equipment
of Change Environment compliance
Maintenance
 Emergency
Preparedness

Planning

Training

Drills

Education

Technology

Coordination

Communication
 Step 1: Detailed procedures for equipment
LOTO
Step 2: Notify affected employees

Step 3: Shut down equipment properly

Step 4: Disconnect all primary energy sources

Step 5: Address all secondary sources

Step 6: Verify the lockout

Step 7:Keep it in force during shift changes

Step 8: Bring the equipment back on line

Hot Work
 Working at
height

Can you AVOID Can you Can you MINIMIZE

working at height? PREVENT a fall the distance and
If not go to from occurring? If consequences of a
PREVENT no go to MINIMIZE fall?
Worksite Analysis
Historical Perspective
Ethical Issues

Unique Preventable
problems for and controllable
public health hazards

Profit frequently
Setting for
override other
social conflicts
responsibilities
(Diseases of Workers)

Bernardino Ramazzini
(1633–1714)
 “Ethics”

Functioning of society as a whole and

the individual’s role in it.

Greek work ethikos (“of or for morals”)

Study of values or morality
 “Ethics and CSR”

What is it that we owe How does our

our employees, fulfillment of these
customers, obligations ensure our
shareholders and the long-term sustainability
community at large? as a company?
 Safety as a starting point

Foundation for
organizational
excellence and integrity
in strategic, financial
and operational
performance.
 Commitment to ethical principles

Integrity – Justice – Strong

Value for human
Commitment to sense of fair
life
telling the truth dealing

Excellence –
The good of the
Always have the
many –Common
opportunity to
good
improve
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Key legislation
• Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 2001
• original act 1974

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

1999
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
2002
• normally referred to as COSHH
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

BS 8800
(National Health Service SAFECODE)

• http://www.safecode.co.uk/Power%20Point%20Presentations/management/sld004.htm
10 February 2007

BS 8800/OHSAS 18001
• BS 8800
o non-certifiable guidance document
o use when implementing a health and safety system
within ISO 14001
• OHSAS 18001
o from ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
o an auditable management system

Health.ppt
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

BS 8800
(National Health Service SAFECODE)

• http://www.safecode.co.uk/Power%20Point%20Presentations/management/sld017.htm
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001

• OHSAS 18001(Occupational Health and Safety

Assessment Series)
• published in April 1999

• specifies requirements of a OH&S MS

• designed to be applicable to
• all types and sizes of companies
• diverse geographical, cultural and social conditions.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
• Certification against OHSAS
is aimed at the way a company has

• knowledge of ...
• and control over ...

all relevant risks resulting from

normal operations and abnormal situations.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
• Growing demand for a management system based
standard for OH&S
• stand alone management system or integrated with
either their ISO 14001 or ISO 9001 management
system.
• expect an accreditation scheme will emerge within
the next 2 years
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
• OHSAS 18001 structure - six sections:
• General Requirements
• OH&S Policy
• Planning
• Implementation and Operation
• Checking and Corrective Action
• Management Review
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment
Series) 18001
• OHSAS 18001: Specifications for
OH&S Management Systems
• OHSAS 18002: Guidance for
OH&S Management Systems
• OHSAS 18003: Criteria for auditors of
OH&S Management Systems
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001

• Traditional occupational health and safety

management reacted to work related
incidents.
• OHSAS 18001 plans for the control of work
related risks.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
• H&S costs facing organizations include but are not
limited to:
• investigation time,
• wages paid for lost time,
• training replacements,
• extra supervisory and clerical time,
• decreased output of worker upon return
• the loss of business and goodwill
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

OHSAS 18001
Benefits of Registration:
• potential reduction in the number of accidents
• potential reduction in downtime and associated costs
• demonstration of legal and regulatory compliance
• demonstration of commitment to stakeholders
• demonstration of innovative, forward thinking approach
• increased access to new customers and business
• better management of risks, now and in the future
• potential reduced public liability insurance costs
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Some URLs for BS8800/OHSAS 18001

• http://www.bvqina.com/ohsas18001.html
• http://www.nsaiinc.com/ohas.html
• http://www.isoqar.com/ohsas18001/hsintro.htm
• http://www.safecode.co.uk/Power%20Point%20Presentations/management/sld001.htm

• http://www.futurepast.com/h-ssys.htm
• http://www.arkhealthandsafety.com/html/FCTSHEET.HTM
• http://www.nqa.com/stand6.htm
 10 February 2007 Health.ppt

British Standards for Occupational &

Personal Safety
Search terms on BSI shop website:
• Ergonomics
• Noise with respect to human beings
• Industrial hygiene
• Protection against electric shock.
• Protective equipment
• Radiation measurements
• Radiation protection
• Safety of machinery
• Vibration and shock
 10 February 2007 Health.ppt

British Standards for PPE

• Hand and arm protection
• Head protective equipment
• Leg and foot protection
• Lifejackets, buoyancy aids and flotation
• Protection against falling and slipping
• Protective clothing
• Respiratory protective devices
• Radiation measurements/protection
• Safety of machinery
• Vibration and shock + general/other
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

COSHH

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

1999
• What are hazardous substances?
• substances used directly in work activities
eg glues, paints, cleaning agents
• substances generated during work activities
eg fumes from soldering and welding
• naturally occurring substances
eg grain dust, blood, bacteria
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

COSHH
• Health effects are the different ways
you can become ill:
• cancer
• dermatitis
• occupational asthma
• poison
• reproductive toxicity
• harm to unborn or breast feeding children,
or to fertility
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

COSHH
• COSHH does cover, e.g.:
• chemicals or mixtures of substances
• substances with occupational exposure limits
• biological agents
• dusts, in certain concentrations
• any other substances which have similar hazards to health but
for technical reasons may not be specifically covered by CHIP
...
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

CHIP
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply)
Regulations 1994.
• to ensure that people supplied with chemicals receive the
information they need to protect themselves, others and the
environment.
• obliges suppliers to identify the hazards and pass on this
information with advice on safe use. This is usually done by means
of package labels and safety data sheets.
 10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Corrosive Explosive Oxidising Extremely Highly

flammable flammable

Very toxic Toxic Harmful Irritant Danger to

environment

CHIP symbols from http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19943247_en_4.htm#end

10 February 2007 Health.ppt

COSHH
• the presence (or not) of a warning label will indicate
whether COSHH is relevant
• COSHH does not cover:
• asbestos and lead
• radioactive substances per se
• explosive or flammable substances
• chemicals at high temperature / pressure.
Other laws apply in these cases
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

7 steps to COSHH
• Step 1
Work out what hazardous substances are used in your work place
and find out the risks from using these substances to people's
health.
• Step 2
Decide what precautions are needed before starting work with
hazardous substances.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

7 steps to COSHH
• Step 3
Prevent people being exposed to hazardous substances, but
where this is not reasonably practicable, control the exposure.
• Step 4
Make sure control measures are used and maintained properly
and that safety procedures are followed.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

7 steps to COSHH
• Step 5
If required, monitor exposure of employees to hazardous substances.
• Step 6
Carry out health surveillance where your assessment has shown that
this is necessary or COSHH makes specific requirements.
• Step 7
Make sure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

COSHH
• Consider:
• changing the process or activity
• eg mixing in a closed vessel to minimise vapour
• replacing it with a safer alternative
• is the hazardous substance essential
• using it in a safer form
• eg pellets are less dusty than powder.

• and then:
• use appropriate
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

URLs for COSHH

• http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/coshh/
• http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg181.pdf
• http://www.rsc.org/pdf/ehsc/comprsn.pdf
• http://www.hseni.gov.uk/pdfs/coshh.pdf
• http://www.dti.gov.uk/chemicals/atlas/
• http://www.plantsci.rdg.ac.uk/research-services/COSHH/coshh.html

• http://www.fastplanonline.co.uk/
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

BBC Safety Net on-line

http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/default.htm
• Selection, use, & maintenance of safety
equipment including personal protective
equipment (February 1997)
• http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/guidance/safety_equipment.html

• Guide to Programme Risk Assessment

Production, Broadcast & News Safety
Services (November, 1999)
• http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/guidance/pra.html
 10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

• EC Directive 2002/95/EC
• restricts use of certain hazardous substances in electrical
and electronic equipment
• legislation affects manufacturers, sellers, distributors and
recylers of electrical and electronic equipment
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

RoHS ii
• specific to
• lead
• mercury
• cadmium
• hexavalent chromium
• polybrominated biphenyls
• polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

ROHS iii

• Directive covers the same scope as the WEEE (waste

electrical and electronic equipment directive)
• except for medical devices and monitoring and control
instruments.
• applies to electric light bulbs
and light fittings in households.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

REACH

• Registration,
Evaluation,
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
(REACH)
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

REACH intends to ...

• improve the protection of
human health and the environment
• encourage the substitution of
hazardous chemicals by safer ones
• maintain competitiveness and
enhance the innovative capability of
the EU chemicals industry
• promote research and development leading to new
products.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

REACH

• passes responsibility for

management of risks from chemicals
to the industry
• requires the provision of
appropriate safety information
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

RISK ASSESSMENT
• essential for safe working
• applicable beyond OH&S
• quick assessment of relative risks
• simple methodology, usually
• Risk factor = probability x severity
• other forms may be used
e.g. Yoxon & Sheldon for EMS (last week)
 10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Fire risk assessment

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• from 01 October 2006,
all owners/occupiers of UK business premises have to carry out a Fire
Risk Assessment
on their buildings
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Probability

• 1 = unlikely
• 2 = possible
• 3 = probable
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Severity

• 1 = minor
• 2 = serious
• 3 = critical
10 February 2007 Health.ppt

Risk factor
• 1-3 = low risk
• 4 = medium risk
• 6 or 9 = high risk

• NB: the number must be

• calculated, NOT estimated separately
• the product of 1, 2 or 3
so RF cannot be 5, 7, 8.
10 February 2007 Health.ppt
Risk assessment as a Table
One Row / activity with Columns for:
• Reference number
• Activity
• Task
• Hazards
• Persons in Danger
• Probability (P)
• Severity (S)
• Risk Factor (R = P*S)
• Controls in Place or Action to be Taken
• Additional Requirements