|
SCENARIO You are the manager at a car tyre fitting organization that has been operating for 2 years. You are also responsible for overseeing all health and safety matters. This includes ensuring legal compliance, which in turn partly avoids enforcement action and any associated criminal or civil proceedings against the organization. You want to avoid any corresponding punitive measures from courts such as fines, especially as the media publicize court decisions. You are regularly seen in the tyre-fitting workshop, talking informally to trained workers about health and safety. You have a lot of experience in tyre fitting and temporarily cover for other workers when they are absent due to occasional sickness or annual leave. You do not expect others to do work that you are not prepared to do yourself. Your workers trust and respect you for this and you trust and respect them too. Although the workshop needs to be profitable, the way things are done is ‘safety first and this is reflected in the behaviour of the workforce.
You have worked extremely hard in managing risks beyond legal and accredited
standard requirements. Because of this, you were instrumental in achieving
certification of the organization’s health and safety management system. You
are proud to have received zero non-conformities when externally audited. Suitable risk assessments and associated safe systems of work are understood by the workforce (all developed with input from the workers). Workers receive adequate health and safety information and inductions. You use the latest technology and equipment for tyre fitting. Your approach is to achieve zero lost time accidents each year, which you believe is a realistic goal. You frequently carry out workplace inspections and foster a culture of incident reporting and investigation that identifies root causes to prevent repeat incidents.
The workshop is open to the public from 09:00 - 17:00 from Monday to
Saturday. It has a single tyre fitting bay where there is room for two cars
to be worked on at any given time. Cars can be driven in to, and out of, the
workshop through an open roller shutter door at the rear of the building. There is also pedestrian access from the workshop to the front office. The cars are driven onto a four-post vehicle lift, from where they can be inspected and maintained. There is a car park at the front and rear of the workshop for waiting vehicles. Cars are collected from either car park by either you (as manager) or by one of the five tyre fitters employed by the organization. The front pedestrian entrance to the building leads onto a short corridor, the walls of which are mounted with framed documents including a health and safety management system certificate, the health and safety policy, and public liability insurance. The corridor leads straight ahead into the workshop via a fire door, or to a customer waiting room (to the left) accessed through another door. The waiting room contains a small counter, behind which is an office, where the manager or one of the tyre fitters can take customer orders. A customer is in the waiting room awaiting a report from the tyre fitter about the condition of their tyres. The tyre fitter returns and reports that the rear tyre has a slow puncture, but also explains that there is some uneven wear on the inside and outside of the two front tyres. The extent of the wear means that they are below the legal limit and need replacing. The tyre fitter invites the customer into the workshop to view the wear. They take the customer to the car, which is still raised on the four-post vehicle lift.
While underneath the vehicle, pointing out the uneven tyre wear, the tyre
fitter trips over a pneumatic impact wrench (used to remove car wheel nuts)
that was lying on the floor and strikes their head hard against one of the
posts of the four-post lift. They fall onto the floor unconscious, with blood
trickling from a head wound and the customer frantically gestures to other
tyre fitters for help. One of the tyre fitters, who is also a trained first
aider, has seen the accident and immediately instructs a fellow tyre fitter
to telephone the emergency services. The
first aider removes the impact wrench trip hazard and anything else they
think is dangerous. They apply first aid, place the injured worker in the
recovery position and then closely monitor them. You are alerted to the
accident and go to check that the first aider can remain with the unconscious
worker until help arrives. You then calmly escort the customer to the waiting
room. The customer is a little shaken and upset so you make them a cup of
coffee and sit with them in the waiting room. the
ambulance arrives and the injured worker is taken to the local hospital. You
continue to comfort the customer and instruct the other tyre fitters to stop
work and leave everything in the workshop as it is for the time being. When
the customer finishes the cup of coffee, and as soon as they appear to be
more composed, you move them to the relative privacy of the office area. You ask the customer what happened and record what they say using the voice recorder on your mobile phone (having requested permission to do so). You then ask the first aider to sit with the customer while you re-visit the accident scene. You record your observations (again using the voice recorder on your mobile phone) and take some photographs of the accident scene. You then return to the office, inform the customer that the work on their car will be completed as soon as possible, and ask the first aider for their recollection of events associated with the accident. Later, you telephone the next of kin, and you are informed that the worker is in intensive care, having been diagnosed with a fractured skull and a possible brain hemorrhage. You notify the enforcement authority of the accident, submitting an online report form. Over the coming days, you complete the accident investigation and communicate the findings to the workers. The injured tyre fitter spends the next 6 weeks in hospital. They eventually return to work after a total of 60 lost working days. You are aware of the rising trend of personal accident compensation claims and associated payments, services for which are widely advertised in the media. About the same time, you receive a visit from a labour inspector. You welcome the inspector, remarking that any advice on improving health and safety would be constructively received; although secretly you are afraid of receiving an enforcement order and being prosecuted.
The inspector discusses health and safety with the workers who demonstrate
familiarity with the health and safety policy, risk assessments, and
emergency procedures. The inspector also examines your accident report book,
health, and safety policy, risk assessments, safe systems of work, training
records, any complaints from workers, and emergency procedures. They also
discuss the online incident report you submitted at the time of the accident. At
the end of their visit, the inspector offers advice to install wall-mounted
holders for impact wrenches and says they will be in touch soon. As promised,
they telephone you and discuss their investigation findings; they follow this
up by emailing you a full report. |
|
Task-1(a) What are the functions
of labour inspection? |
|
Labour
inspection is an essential part of the labour administration system,
exercising the fundamental function of labour law enforcement and
effective compliance. It ensures fairness in the workplace and helps promote economic
development. It supervises the enforcement of legal provisions,
particularly with regard to workers' rights and labour
inspection also provides information and advice, as well as training (if
required). Some
other functions of labour inspection are given below-
|
|
Task-
1(b) What are the actions the labour inspector could take following the
visit? |
|
Answer:- Labour
inspectors are frequently ensuring that they are integrating the
interdependent and complementary functions of advice and information along
with enforcement to secure the effective implementation of legal provisions
relating to the protection of workers. Actions
that labour inspector could take following the visits:-
|
|
Task-
2: The inspector checked if the organization’s general policy statement for health and safety was
adequate. The policy statement reads as follows: |
|
To
the best of our ability, we commit to: - Preventing accidents, injury, and
ill health. |
|
Based
on the scenario only, to what extent has this policy been implemented? |
|
Answer:
-
Preventing accidents, injury, and ill-health The
organization has taken all major action to prevent accidents by providing
adequate training for the workforce as well as manager is believing in
achieving zero lost time accident is achievable and setting safety as a top
priority which is reflecting from the behaviour of the workforce. Investigating
accidents and near misses in
the scenario, the manager is much concerned and encouraging the worker for
reporting any near misses or incidents as in a recent accident he handled and
secured the accident scene effectively as well he gathered the evidence of
the accident quickly at the time of the accident. He also reported the
accident to the enforcement authority. Providing
safe and healthy working conditions The
organization is providing suitable and sufficient risk assessment and
adequate safe system of work that is prepared according to the activities and
hazards involved which are completely understood by all the workers. Providing
safe plant and equipment for office and mobile workers The
workshop is well designed the cars are driven into the workshop through an
open roller shut door at the back of the building into the workshop and the
car is driven onto a four-post vehicle lift by which workers have easy access
for inspection and maintenance, including first aid at work is in place and
practiced when needed. working condition is adequate and improving day by the
introduction of new technology and equipment. Ensuring
safe handling and use of substances Workers
are provided correct tools and latest technology equipment with adequately
trained workers for safe handling of the car for tyre fitting activities. Setting
and reviewing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound
(SMART) health and safety objectives As
per the scenario, the organization has set precise and clear objectives of
preventing accidents, they have achieved zero non-conformities after
auditing. The manager's goal is to achieve zero lost time accidents is each
year. Meeting
legal requirements The
workshop manager is always thinking and concerning to avoid any legal
implications and worked extremely hard in managing risks beyond legal and
accredited standard requirements. Health and safety policies, safety
management certificates, and insurance policies are displayed at the
workshop. Identifying
health and safety hazards and risks in the workplace Impact
wrench placement hazards and it's associated risk is not identified at tyre
fitting workshop. Provide
adequate training / Providing health and
safety information to workers They
have adequate training provision and having trained workers including Health
Safety information and Induction training along with First Aid training. Consulting
workers The
workshop manager is always visiting the workshop to talk informally to the
workers about health & safety. Workers are also involved to develop the
risk assessment and safe system of work, which shows adequate consultation. |
|
Task-
3: Based on the scenario
only, how does the manager demonstrate commitment? |
|
Management
commitment is an important part of health and safety in the organization. The
manager believes in a Zero accident policy at the workplace and
gives priority to health and safety in the organization. Tyre fitting
workshop Manager demonstrates his commitment by his leadership by following
activities and roles: -
|
|
Task-
4: Based on the scenario
only, what organizational factors appear to be present that would positively
influence health and safety behaviour? |
|
The organizational
factors that appear to be present that would positively influence
health and safety behaviour are: - Positive
Health and safety culture of the organization-
the organization has positive health and safety culture and very occasional
sickness and absenteeism rate due to managers is committed to safety first
and is reflected in the workforce behaviour. Workers' consultation is carried
out regularly about the matter of health & safety and the workforce
thinks and feels that health and safety is important. Commitment
and leadership from management- Safety commitment
and leadership from the management are effectively shown as zero
non-conformities in external audit and realistic zero lost time accident
approach each year by the management. Resources-
Adequate and enough resources are provided by the management such as - Latest
technology equipment for tyre fitting, basic welfare facilities, emergency
services, safe working areas, and enough workers for safe work execution. Work
pattern- Workshop opens for work for six days in
a week for 8 hours in a day shift which shows that workers
have proper rest, also provision of annual leave which
indicates that workers are not under any work pressure. Communication-
Effective communication is identified in the organization such as Safety
policy, safety management certificates, and insurance certificates are
mounted on the wall. The manager is verbally communicating with workers about
the health & safety issues along with accident investigation findings. Level
of Supervision- In the scenario, the Manager has a
lot of experience in tyre fitting work, and he is frequently visiting the
workshop to ensure the work execution safely. Consultation
and Worker involvement- Risk assessment and a
safe system of work are developed by the worker's involvement and ensured
their understanding. Training- Workers
are receiving adequate induction training as well as health and safety and
work-related and First Aid training. Monitoring
and Improvement- The manager is ready to receive any
health and safety advice from labour inspector to improve the effectiveness
of the H & S of the organization. |
|
Task-
5(a) Why was it important to secure the scene of the accident? |
|
Securing
the accident scene is important to prevent it from being altered. Securing
the accident scenes enables the investigator to identify the
immediate and root cause. Securing
the scene will help the authorized person such as an investigator to
enter the accident scene so that it should be easy during the quick
investigation. Securing
the accident scene helps to take the evidence to analyze the facts
and root cause of the accident. |
|
Task-5(b)
Based on the scenario only, how did the manager effectively secure the scene? |
|
Workshop
Manager instructs the other tyre fitters to stop work and leave
everything in the workshop as it is for the time being, with
intensions to secure the scene. He also took photographs of
the accident scenes for records. |
|
Task
-5(c): Based on the
scenario only, what immediate actions did the manager take to gather
information for the investigation? |
|
Immediate
actions are taken by the manager to gather information for the investigation are:
-
|
|
Task
-6(a): Based on the
scenario only, what reactive (lagging) monitoring measures could be readily
available for use by the tyre fitting organization? |
|
Lagging
monitoring measures that will be readily available for organization are as follows:
- Accident
report- accident report of this accident will be
readily available for the organization as a result of reactive monitoring. Type
of Injury- Workers have been off days for 6
weeks and it's a lost-time recordable injury of the company. Lost
workdays- The worker has been diagnosed with a
fractured skull and a possible brain haemorrhage and admitted to the hospital
for six weeks. Accident
Investigation findings- The manager
communicated with workers about the finding of the investigation and also a
discussion with labour inspector has been taken place regarding the findings
of the investigation. Compensation
claim- Workers may file a civil compensation claim
against the organization that shows the lagging indicators. |
|
Task
-6(b) Based on the
scenario only, what active (leading) monitoring measures could be readily
available for use by the tyre fitting organization? |
|
Leading
monitoring measures that will be readily available for organizations are as follows:
- Inspection
Record- The manager is regularly visiting the
workshop and doing inspections as required to ensure compliance with safety
norms. Audit
Report- Organization is External Audited and
found zero non-conformities. Safety
Management Compliance- The manager
has worked very hard in meeting all the credentials of standard requirements
which benefit the organization with health and safety management system certification. Training
Records- Adequate training (Induction,
Work-related, and First Aid training) are provided to the workers by the
organization. |
|
Task
-7(a): Based on the
scenario only, comment on what worked well with the management of the
emergency. |
|
Emergency
arrangements are a very important segment in case of any emergency, in the
workshop, there are good management of emergency that worked well in the
organization are as follows: - Availability
of First Aid Facilities & Trained First Aiders: - First
Aid arrangements and trained first aiders are immediately available at the
time of the accident because Tyre fitters are given adequate first aid
training. Quick
Communications: - First Aiders immediately instructed
the other workers to inform the emergency services to call the ambulance. Quick
Response & Alertness: - Everyone in the
workshop is quickly alerted along with the manager about the accident. Emergency
Service Response- Emergency services were informed about
the accident as an ambulance arrived on time and the injured worker was taken
to a local hospital without delay. |
|
Task
-7(b) In the event of the manager being off work, what arrangements would
enable another worker to manage a similar emergency? |
|
In
the case of the manager being off work, the following arrangements should be
in place so that other workers can manage a similar emergency: - Awareness
of the Emergency procedure to be followed- the
organization should prepare a clear effective procedure and must ensure that
the worker is well aware of the procedure which will be followed for a
particular emergency. Regularly
conducting drills and exercises- There should be the
provision of emergency drills and exercises, so in case of any real emergency
workers can handle the situation without the manager's support. Effective
Emergency Preparedness- Emergency contact
numbers must be visible with the easily accessible communication means around
the workshop at a reasonable location. |
|
Task
-8: What appears to be the
legal reasons for the way health and safety are managed at the workshop? |
|
As
per ILO C155 and R164, the Employer has a legal
duty of care to ensure that all employees while at work are safe from
injuries and or risk to their health and Employer Must maintain a safe work
environment, encourage safe working practices, provide and maintain safe work
equipment and provide adequate health and safety information and training to
the employees. The
Legal Reasons for the way health and safety is managed at the workshop appeared
to be as follows: -
|