Policy Brief Essays Examples

Health and Safety Program Management

April 23rd, 2015
Executive summary
Health and safety programs are designed to be proactive by preventing any potential injuries or illness at work; they can help employers meet the organization requirements regarding employees' health, while ensuring the availability of a healthy workplace. Researches found that the effective management of employee health programs can enhance employee productivity and raise his morale which can affect positively on his performance at work; these programs are designed to reduce the severity of work-related illnesses and potential injuries. Certain procedures are needed to achieve these programs, such as to dedicate managers and employees responsibilities, prepare training courses for employees oriented to eliminate hazards at the workplace and perform regular inspection for control hazards. The effective program must include implications of systematic identification of potential hazards and evaluation and prevention procedures to be followed in this regard; procedures need to go beyond identified requirements of the law in order to address all potential hazards. In order to prepare an effective health and safety program certain elements must be incorporated, such as involvement of managers and employees, analyzing the workplace, enacting prevention policies and performing regular safety and health trainings.

Importance of Health and Safety Program

The importance of health and safety programs can be summarized in the following points:
Health and safety programs encourage employers to comply with policies and regulations that prevent occupational injuries and illnesses and may affect employee's performance.

Health and safety programs call for systematic prevention and identification of potential workplace hazards that may arise from foreseeable conditions.

As the size of the workplace expands, health and safety programs focus more on clarifying and communicating policies and priorities to everyone in the organization, while ensuring the fair application of the enacted rules

Health and safety programs reduce the costs related to work-related injuries and illnesses.

Health and safety programs perform worksite analysis by examining the processes, facilities, materials and equipments
Health and safety programs help employees to notify managers about any hazardous conditions that appear in the worksite, and encourage employees to use the program without fear of reprisal.

Critique of Health and safety program Options Using SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis is designed to identify internal and external points of weakness and strength of any applicable program; it can be applied to criticize health and safety programs in order to better implement and manage the programs.

Strengths

Refer to the internal positive factors relevant to the implementation of health and safety program, such as the effect of the program on personnel, facilities and worksite. Points of strengths are relevant to how far the internal environment can benefit from program application, and the outcomes that succeeded program implementation for both employees and managers.

Weaknesses

Refer to the internal negative factors relevant to the implication of health and safety programs. The negative effect on employees and managers can be seen if the program procedures are defected or not suitable or applicable to this business environment. Threats can be sever to abort the whole program and hinder its success if they are effective and relevant to different procedures performed during the program application.

Opportunities

Refer to external conditions favorable to implementing health and safety program, such as the availability of community organizations that volunteer to provide help to managers in training and policies enacting; another example can be the possibility to get financial support from charity organizations that can provide the required financing for the program.

Threats

Refer to external condition unfavorable to the implementation of health and safety program, such as the national regulations that can put limitations on program application and training courses related to the programs.

Policy Recommendations

Health and safety program can be applied in any organization by preparing time schedules and identify required steps and procedures to be applied in accordance with the time schedule. Program implementation may include different aspects of the organization, such as worksite preparation, periodical reviews, employees and managers health. In order to successfully implement health and safety programs, certain recommended actions are to be followed.

Communicate desired goals and objectives behind the adoption of the safety and health program

Encourage both managers and employees to participate in program preparation and decision-making process
Develop and revise safe work rules and communicate it to all participants
Clearly identify and communicate participants responsibilities regarding all aspects of the program
Perform periodical revisions to program operations to evaluate the program and identify any deficiencies and revise them as needed
Design job or job site effectively in order to prevent potential hazards where feasible
Prepare time schedule for hazards elimination or control and program implementation
Ensure the maintenance of equipment and establish a comprehensive medical program for all participants.

References

Conducting a review of your security program. (2002). Chemical Health And Safety, 9(6), 40. doi:10.1016/s1074-9098(02)00411-2
Della-Giustina, D. (2000). Developing a safety and health program. Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers.
Ghulam Subhani, M. (2010). Study of Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) in Universities’ Context and Possibilities for its Implementation A case study of University of Gavle. University of Gavle.
Oh, J., & Sol, V. (2008). The policy program improving occupational safety in The Netherlands: An innovative view on occupational safety. Safety Science, 46(2), 155-163. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2007.05.015
Reese, C. (2003). Occupational health and safety management. Boca Raton, Fla.: Lewis Pub.
Work.alberta.ca,. (2015). Health and safety management systems. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/health-and-safety-management-systems.html