MaintainingBestPracticesinSafetyandHealthAguidetoOurVisionhealthy,safeandproductivelivesMaintainingBestPracticesinSafetyandHealthContentsIntroduction2Understandinglegalcompliance3Knowingtherolesandresponsibilitiesofboardsanddirectors4Settingkeysafetyandhealthtasksformanagers6Takingcollectiveresponsibilityforsafetyandhealth7Successfulemployeeengagement9Creatingapositivesafetyandhealthculture10Safetyandhealthmonitoring12Reviewingsafetyandhealthperformance14Ensuringcontinuedsafetyandhealthsuccess15PublishedbytheHealthandSafetyAuthority,TheMetropolitanBuilding,JamesJoyceStreet,Dublin1.©Allrightsreserved.Page1MaintainingBestPracticesinSafetyandHealthPage2MaintainingbestpracticesinsafetyandhealthintroductionThisguidanceisaimedatbusinessleaders,owners,managersandthosewhocontrolworkactivitiesatallworkplaces.ItwillhelpthosewhohaveresponsibilitiesundertheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct,2005(the2005Act)andotherrelevantRegulationsthatmayapplytotheirworkactivities.Itsetsoutwhattheyshoulddoinordertodevelopandmaintaintheirsafetyandhealthmanagementsystems.Thisguidancewillhelpthevariousdutyholdersatworktoensuretheirsafetyandhealthmanagementsystemscomplywiththebestpracticesinsafetyandhealth.Theguidancesetsouthowcompaniesshouldplanforandexecutetheirsafetyandhealthmanagementprogrammes.Itrecommendsthatsafetyandhealthmanagementshouldbeanintegralpartofgoodmanagementgenerally,ratherthanastand-alonesystem,andthatitshouldbeafundamentalpartofthesuccessfulrunningofabusiness.Itencouragesdirectorsandseniormanagerstodemonstrateandpromoteleadershipinsafetyandhealthexcellence.Dutyholdersshouldalsoconsultthemoredetailedandsector-specificguidancewhichisavailableontheHealthandSafetyAuthoritywebsiteatwww.hsa.ieforhowtofullyimplementtheprinciplessetouthere.MaintainingBestPracticesinSafetyandHealthPage3Understandinglegalcompliance•ComplyingwiththeprovisionsoftheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct,2005•OtherRegulationswhichmayapplytoyou•Whatdoeslegalcompliancemean?•WhatHealthandSafetyAuthorityinspectorsdo•PromotingbestpracticesinsafetyandhealthmanagementTheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct,2005(the2005Act)setsoutclearlytheresponsibilitiesofthemainduty-holderswhohaveoccupationalsafetyandhealthresponsibilitiesattheworkplace.ThemainprovisionsincludeSections8(DutyofEmployers);10(InstructionandTraining);12(DutiestoOthers);15(DutiesofthosewhoControlWorkplaces);19(RiskAssessments);20(SafetyStatements),25(SafetyRepresentatives)and26(SafetyConsultationetc.)forwhichmeetinglegalcomplianceismandatory.Meetinglegalcomplianceismandatoryfortheseprovisions.GuidanceonhowtocomplywiththesemandatoryrequirementsisavailableontheHealthandSafetyAuthoritywebsiteatwww.hsa.ie.OtherActsandRegulationsmayalsoapply,dependingonwhatworkyoudoorwhatsectoryouractivitiesrelateto,forexample,theChemicalsAct2008andtheEuropeanCommunities(TransportofDangerousGoodsandTransportablePressureEquipment)Regulations(ADR)applytochemicalprocessingoperationsandthetransportofDangerousGoodsbyroad.TheGeneralApplicationRegulationsapplytoallworkplacesandsetoutbroadrequirementsontheworkplacerelatingtotheuseofworkequipment;manualhandling;first-aid;theuseofcomputers;alongwithmanyotherwork-relatedactivities.TheConstructionRegulationsapplyonallconstructionsites,andtheAsbestosRegulationsapplytoasbestos-strippingworkcarriedoutduringdemolition.Theselawssetoutthekeyrespons...
