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CHAPTER - 1
FUNDAMENTALS OF SAFETY
1. INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY

The term SAFETY is derived from Latin word SALVOS means unharmed & healthy. It is
related to Person and Property. A person is supposed to be safe if he is unharmed and healthy
from a potential hazard. Similarly when the property (machines, equipment, materials,
buildings etc.) is in state of unharmed and healthy, the state is thus called SAFE.

2. KEY DEFINITIONS OF SAFETY

Safety : free from hazard which are exists in all unsafe activities and unsafe conditions is called
as safe where as any method, technique or process which prevents or minimises the unwanted
event which causes loss of some kind (injury, Property loss and environmental damage) is called
as SAFETY.

Accident : Any unwanted, unforeseen and unplanned event which causes loss of some kind
(injury, Property loss and environmental damage) is called Accident.

Incident : Any unwanted, unforeseen and unplanned event which have potential to cause an
accident loss of some kind (injury, Property loss and environmental damage) is called Incident.

Hazard : Anything which have potential to harm in terms of loss of some kind is called Hazard.

Risk : Combination of likelihood and consequences of the harm is called Risk.

Acute effect : Short term exposure or one time exposure to a unsafe condition or hazardous
condition which results injury or ill-health to a person is termed as Acute effect. This effect is
reversible in nature i.e. person suffered from acute disease may be cured within a short period
of time.

Chronic effect : Long term exposure or repeated exposure to a unsafe condition or hazardous
condition which results injury or ill-health to a person is termed as Chronic effect. This effect is
irreversible in nature i.e. person suffered from Chronic disease cannot be cured or take very
long time period but not cured completely.

3. NEED OF SAFETY IN ANY ORGANISATION
There are three basic reasons for implementing safety in any industries and that are:
A. Moral Responsibilities : We all have moral responsibility, not to harm anyone.

B. Legal Obligation : due to legal obligation industries are bounded to implement good
health and safety in the premises.

C. Economic benefits : After an accident and dangerous occurrence too many cost
incurred in terms of direct and indirect cost. To save this cost industries implements
safety.

In other words we can say to avoid accidents, better quality control, zero defects, protection of
environment, and most important protection of human being safety in industry is necessary.

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4. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Like any other management system, safety runs on a management system. This management
system also implemented through Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology. Apart from PDCA a
detailed structure is required for better implementation of Safety and good health. That
structure comprises of following elements which are known as:

Elements of Safety Management System

(i) POLICY : Policy is a goal. Aim or target to achieve that states managements intention & sets
clear aims, objectives & targets. It must be signed by M.D/C.E.O or any other top level
managements personnel.

(ii) ORGANISING : This is followed by organizing for safety by allocating responsibilities &
establishing effective communication & commitment at all levels established.

(iii) PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION: The next stage involves planning & implementing, where
practical plans are developed to meet the objectives & effective control measures introduced.
:- Identify hazards, assess risks, and decide how risks can be eliminated or controlled.
Sets standards against which performance can be measured.

(iv) MEASURING : Proactive & reactive monitoring systems should be introduced to measure
performance in health & safety a system of review established to evaluate the performance
against the objectives & targets, to consider options for improvement & to reset targets

(v) REVIEW and (vi) AUDIT : The review would be reinforced by an independent & structured
audit of all parts of the system, which would assess compliance with Health & Safety
management procedures & identify where existing standards are inadequate or deficient


Flow diagram of Safety Management System
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What is a health and Safety policy:- A business plan or target to achieve the desired
level of the implemented safety objective of the organisation.
Objectives of policy:- to protect people from injury and ill-health, comply with legal
requirements and avoid prosecution and manage health and safety on a cost effective
basis.
ELEMENTS OF POLICY
1) Statement of intent:- Which both demonstrates managements commitment to health
and safety and sets goals and objectives for the organisation.

2) Organisation:- The purpose of which is to identify health and safety responsibilities &
channels of communication within the company.

3) Arrangements:- which sets out in detail the systems and procedures that show how the
policy is to be implemented.


Graphical diagram of contents of a Policy
ORGANISING
Duties of Employers
1. A safe place of work
2. Safe work equipment and substances
3. Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
4. Welfare provisions
5. Emergency procedures
6. Consultation with employees
7. Do not charge employees for health and safety measures

Duties of Employees
1. Do not endanger themselves and others
2. Co-operate with their employer
3. Consult with Employer
4. Report dangerous situations to Employer

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Duties of Designers, Manufacturers and Suppliers
1. Ensure equipment is safe and without risks when being used
2. Ensure substances are safe and without risks when being used
3. Carry out any necessary tests
4. Provide information
5. Take reasonable steps to provide further information if new serious risks appear

Responsibilities of Safety Advisors
1. Be properly trained and qualified
2. Maintain adequate information systems
3. Be able to interpret the law applying to their organisation
4. Establish and maintain procedures for reporting, investigating, recording and analysing
accidents and incidents
5. Be able to present their advice effectively

Relationships outside the organisation
1. The enforcing authority
2. Fire/rescue service
3. Insurance companies
4. Contractors
5. External consultants
6. Engineers
7. Equipment manufacturers and suppliers
8. Clients and customers
9. The police
10. Members of the public
11. The media

Clients duties to when work being done by Contractors
1. To consider the risks to their own employees from the work
2. The risks to the Contractors employees from the Clients activities
3. Risks to the public and others from the work

Contractors duties
1. To consider the risks to their own employees from the work
2. The risks to the clients employees from their activities
3. Risks to the public and others from the work
4. To follow clients rules and procedures

Management of Contractors
1. Select a suitable contractor
2. Planning the job
3. Controlling contractors on site
4. Checking contractors work
5. Review contractors performance

Selecting a suitable Contractor
1. Experience of the type of work and industry
2. Suitable references
3. Enforcement record
4. Safety management such as Policy, risk assessments etc.
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5. Accident and ill-health data
6. Membership of trade/professional bodies
7. Competence and training of employees
8. Arrangements for selection of sub-contractors
9. Arrangement for on-going liaison with clients

Contents of Arrangements Section of Policy
1. Risk assessments
2. Fire policy
3. Evacuation procedures
4. Safe systems of work
5. Permits to work
6. First aid policy
7. Display screen policy
8. Manual handling policy
9. Hazardous chemicals policy
10. Fork truck policy

In other words it can be says as follows:

1. Systems of work
2. Health & safety training, provision of PPE
3. Specific types of hazard (e.g. machinery, hazardous substances, manual handling, fire
etc.)
4. Control of contractors
5. Safety of visitors
6. Accident reporting & investigation procedures
7. First-aid facilities
8. Emergency procedures
9. Employee consultation & monitoring & review procedures.
10. Specify the frequency of the inspections & the form that they might take
11. Other data that would be collected (e.g. accident data) & the process of review, perhaps
by a safety committee

Review of Policy
1. Accidents
2. Incidents
3. New equipment
4. New staff
5. New technology
6. New premises
7. Changes in legislation
8. Accident investigation
9. Enforcement action
10. Prosecution
11. Compensation claims
12. Periodic review


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Ineffective policies
1. No management commitment
2. No objectives set to implement policy
3. Health and safety not given priority
4. Resources not provided to implement action
5. Aims and intentions not understood by personnel
6. Too much emphasis on employee responsibilities
7. No measurement that objectives are being met
8. Management unaware of their health and safety role
9. No management training

5. SAFETY COMMITTEE :
Safety committee is a group of personnel whose members basic responsibilities are to
maintain a good standard of health and safety inside and surroundings of the premises. A
Safety committee should have competent personnel of different level and department as
follows:

1. A personnel from the management (Chairperson)
2. A personnel from the Safety Department (Secretary)
3. Engineers
4. Managers
5. Supervisors
6. Safety Representative (from Worker) / Workers safety representative.

Safety Committees Agenda
1. Study of accident/incident statistics
2. Examination of audit reports
3. Reports from enforcing authorities
4. Reports from workers representatives
5. Assist in the development of policies/procedures
6. Monitoring the effectiveness of training
7. Monitoring safety communications
8. Provide link with the enforcing authority

Effective Safety Committees
1. Right number of members
2. Right mix of members
3. Adequate authority
4. Right knowledge and expertise
5. Good communications
6. Suitable level of formality
7. Input from outside specialists
8. Limited individual input
9. Identified and agreed priorities
10. No trivia
*Ineffective Committee opposite of above



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Criminal law : The objective of a criminal law system is to punish anyone who breaches
the requirements of that law, whereas

Civil law : The objective of a civil law system is to determine appropriate recompense
for a wronged or injured party.
Main Functions of the two laws:

(i) Criminal law:
1. Enforces a code of conduct for society
2. Normally has a protective function
3. & allows the state to take punitive action against those who commit breaches

(ii) Civil law:
1. Enabling an individual who has suffered harm to gain appropriate recompense
from the perpetrator.
2. Or to seek an injunction to prevent harm (or further harm) from occurring.