Occupational Health and Safety focuses on the well-being of individuals or groups of people in the workplace. Barnett-Schuster (2008:1) states that Occupational Health and Safety is a concept compiled from many different disciplines. Among others, it includes: biological hazards, physical hazards, chemical hazards, mechanical/electrical hazards and psycho-social hazards. The employer has to understand that Occupational Health and Safety should follow a holistic approach. Occupational Health and Safety is a Constitutional imperative – a command, - not a request. Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa no. 108 of 1996, The Bill of Rights provides protection to such an extent that human dignity may remain intact. Therefore, compliance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation is of cardinal value to any organization or business. An organization or business can also improve their financial standing and public image by complying with Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace is guided by the Occupational Health and Safety Act of South Africa no. 85 of 1993, which was implemented in 1994. The Occupational Health and Safety Act further aims to present clear explanations on concepts related to Health and Safety and enables both employers and employees to gain an understanding of their distinct responsibilities. Occupational Health and Safety is a concept that has been around for decades – especially focusing on the mining sector of South Africa. Occupational Health and Safety is observed in the South African technical schools. Statistics from the Children’s Institute show that 350 000 of these children are currently not attending school. In most cases, many parents/guardians do not take the time to assess the safety of their children at school before enrolling their child. This assessment should not only be looking at security measures applied in the school, but if and how true Occupational Health and Safety measures are in place. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is measures put in place so that learners/children are free from risk, injury, disease or harm. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools is in direct conflict with the Constitution of South Africa. As stated earlier, Occupational Health and Safety is a Constitutional imperative which is the responsibility and the right of each individual in South Africa. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools is a human rights issue based on the dignity of children. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools can be seen as a policy flaw. This study intends to create a holistic view of the managing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety in the South African school environment. Occupational Health and Safety is an integral part of teaching and learning. The research problem addressed in this study is: “How School Management Teams (SMT) experience, manage and implement Occupational Health and Safety policies in South African schools?”. The main aim of the research is to investigate how School Management Teams (SMT) experience, manage and implement Occupational Health and Safety policies in South African schools. By exploring Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools, this study would strive to obtain clarity on whether enough is being done to ensure the health and safety of learners in the school environment by means to explore the current Occupational Health and Safety management in the South African schools, identify the guidance provided on the Occupational Health and Safety implementation policy, investigate provisions for continual assessment of the process of the Occupational Health and Safety policy and provide recommendations for the lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Occupational Health and Safety focuses on the well-being of individuals or groups of people in the workplace. Barnett-Schuster (2008:1) states that Occupational Health and Safety is a concept compiled from many different disciplines. Among others, it includes: biological hazards, physical hazards, chemical hazards, mechanical/electrical hazards and psycho-social hazards. The employer has to understand that Occupational Health and Safety should follow a holistic approach. Occupational Health and Safety is a Constitutional imperative – a command, - not a request. Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa no. 108 of 1996, The Bill of Rights provides protection to such an extent that human dignity may remain intact. Therefore, compliance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation is of cardinal value to any organization or business. An organization or business can also improve their financial standing and public image by complying with Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace is guided by the Occupational Health and Safety Act of South Africa no. 85 of 1993, which was implemented in 1994. The Occupational Health and Safety Act further aims to present clear explanations on concepts related to Health and Safety and enables both employers and employees to gain an understanding of their distinct responsibilities. Occupational Health and Safety is a concept that has been around for decades – especially focusing on the mining sector of South Africa. Occupational Health and Safety is observed in the South African technical schools. Statistics from the Children’s Institute show that 350 000 of these children are currently not attending school. In most cases, many parents/guardians do not take the time to assess the safety of their children at school before enrolling their child. This assessment should not only be looking at security measures applied in the school, but if and how true Occupational Health and Safety measures are in place. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is measures put in place so that learners/children are free from risk, injury, disease or harm. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools is in direct conflict with the Constitution of South Africa. As stated earlier, Occupational Health and Safety is a Constitutional imperative which is the responsibility and the right of each individual in South Africa. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools is a human rights issue based on the dignity of children. The lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools can be seen as a policy flaw. This study intends to create a holistic view of the managing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety in the South African school environment. Occupational Health and Safety is an integral part of teaching and learning. The research problem addressed in this study is: “How School Management Teams (SMT) experience, manage and implement Occupational Health and Safety policies in South African schools?”. The main aim of the research is to investigate how School Management Teams (SMT) experience, manage and implement Occupational Health and Safety policies in South African schools. By exploring Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools, this study would strive to obtain clarity on whether enough is being done to ensure the health and safety of learners in the school environment by means to explore the current Occupational Health and Safety management in the South African schools, identify the guidance provided on the Occupational Health and Safety implementation policy, investigate provisions for continual assessment of the process of the Occupational Health and Safety policy and provide recommendations for the lack of Occupational Health and Safety in South African schools. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Abstract Several companies work in shared workplaces and each company has different requirements for health (H), safety (S), environment (E) and quality (Q). Many globally operating companies have defined their own corporate requirements. Requirements in local national legislation and insurance policies are creating more challenges. The various requirements affect how HSEQ management is implemented in changing, complex, and heterogeneous working environments. The aim of the thesis was to describe HSEQ management development in Northern Finnish process industry companies (N = 6) and their company network in the shared workplaces context during the past 20 years. The study also describes the current state of HS and partly EQ [HS(EQ)] management practices and tools in a global steel company. An important objective was to make recommendations on how to continuously improve and develop HS(EQ) issues. A mixed methods approach (interview, document study, questionnaire, benchmarking and -learning, SWOT analysis) were used in the case study. HSEQ Assessment Procedure―a type of integrated management system tool―was developed to evaluate supplying companies’ HSEQ performance in shared workplaces. It was selected as the main method on one site of the global steel company. The global steel company’s HS management system was based on OHSAS 18001 with HS vision and principles, development plan, internal standards and performance indicators. Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) and HSEQ AP performance showed positive trends. Both corporate HS requirements and local HS(EQ) practices provided adequate tools for a safety culture and HS(EQ) performance development. Recommendations were made regarding HS(EQ) management tools, practices and indicators in shared workplaces operating globally. The focus should be on preventive actions, such as leading performance indicators and creating a uniform safety culture for shared workplaces with a sustainable foundation. The development should be supported by the commitment and participative development of every organisational level. Learning from internal good practices and external benchmarking are valuable methods for this purpose. HSEQ management, change management, internal and external standardisation and information technology systems should be exploited to support this goal. / Tiivistelmä Yhteisellä työpaikalla työskentelee useita yrityksiä, jotka ovat määrittäneet omat vaatimuksensa työterveydelle (H), työturvallisuudelle (S), ympäristölle (E) ja laadulle (Q). Lisäksi kansainvälisillä yrityksillä, kansallisessa lainsäädännössä ja vakuutusyhtiöillä on omat vaatimuksensa, jotka luovat entistä haasteellisemman työympäristön. Monenlaiset vaatimukset vaikuttavat siihen, kuinka HSEQ-johtaminen on toteutettu muuttuvassa, monimutkaisessa ja epäyhtenäisessä työympäristössä. Tutkimuksessa kuvattiin HSEQ-johtamisen kehittymistä pohjoissuomalaisissa prosessiteollisuuden yrityksissä (N=6) ja niiden yritysverkostossa, yhteisellä työpaikalla, viimeisen 20 vuoden aikana. Lisäksi kuvattiin HS ja osittain myös EQ [HS(EQ)] -johtamisen menetelmien ja työkalujen nykytilaa kansainvälisessä terästeollisuuden yrityksessä, sekä kehitystarpeita tavoiteltaessa HS(EQ)-johtamisen huippuosaamista. Tutkimus toteutettiin monimenetelmällisenä tapaustutkimuksena: haastattelu, dokumenttien tutkimus, kysely, esikuva-analyysi, SWOT-analyysi. HSEQ-arviointi on kehitetty yhteisille työpaikoille toimittajayritysten HSEQ-suorituskyvyn arviointiin hyödyntäen integroidun johtamisjärjestelmän periaatetta, ja se valittiin yhdeksi päämenetelmäksi tutkimuksen kohteena olevalle yhteiselle työpaikalle. Tutkimuksen kohteena olevan terästeollisuuden alan yrityksen HS-johtaminen perustui OHSAS 18001-järjestelmään. Visio, periaatteet, toimintasuunnitelma, sisäiset standardit ja suorituskyvyn mittarit muodostivat konsernin HS-järjestelmän. Tapaturmataajuuden ja HSEQ-arvioinnin tulosten perustella kehitys on ollut positiivista. Konsernin HS-vaatimukset ja paikalliset HS(EQ)-käytännöt antoivat kohtuulliset työkalut turvallisuuskulttuurin ja HS(EQ)-suorituskyvyn kehittämiselle. Suositukset koskivat yhteisillä työpaikoilla ja kansainvälisessä työympäristössä toimivien organisaatioiden HS(EQ)-johtamisen työkaluja, käytäntöjä ja mittareita. Pitäisi keskittyä ennakointiin, kuten ennakoiviin turvallisuusmittareihin ja luomaan yhtenäinen kestävä turvallisuuskulttuuri yhteiselle työpaikalle. Jokaisen organisaatiotason tulisi sitoutua kehittämiseen hyödyntäen osallistuvaa kehittämistä. Sisäisillä hyvillä käytännöillä ja ulkoisella esikuva-analyysilla voidaan tukea kehittämistä. HSEQ-johtamista, muutoksenhallintaa, sisäistä ja ulkoista standardointia sekä tietoteknisiä järjestelmiä pitäisi hyödyntää.

The current research was a cross sectional research and was designed to assess the performance of the selected wind power company on compliance with health and management system OHSAS 1800:2007. One wind power company in Pakistan was selected for the research purpose. To collect quantitative data survey was conducted based on Questionnaire. For finding gaps within the existing practices and also for effectiveness of the research check list was designed. Questionnaires were distributed to the employees and one check list was given to the top management. The questionnaires were distributed randomly to the employees and out of fifteen questionnaires twelve were received back. After analyzing the data from the eleven questionnaires, the results shows that overall employees are 61 % strongly agree, 30 % agree, 2% disagree and 1% strongly disagree that the requirements of the system OHSAS 18001:2007 are met. 6% did not decide about it. The check list was received from top management after analyzing data from the check list results shows that top management of the subjected wind power organization is 74% strongly agree, 23% agree and 3 % undecided about the implementation of the system OHSAS 1800: 2007. From the results it can be concluded that both employees and top management of the subjected organization are agree with the fact that the H&S system OHSAS18001:2007 is being implemented well within the organization.

Countries seek to control exposure to hazardous substances and environments by the enactment of legislation. In the past thirty years, two major different approaches to occupational health and safety legislation have been devleoped by countries around the world. The performance-based legislative approach has been linked with the emergence of occupational health and safety management systems but no research has previously been done to determine whether or not the legislative approach taken by government influences the introduction or form of occupational health and safety management systems used by organisations. Similarly, although the reasons why Australia and other countries have moved to performance-based legislation have been explained in terms of social, political and economic factors that influenced the change, little research has been done on the effectiveness of this approach compared with the prescriptive approach of countries such as Korea. -I- The overall aim of this research is to develop a conprehensive understanding of the management of expusre to heavy metals in selected industries in Korea and Australia. The specific objectives of the study are to determine: The effectiveness of heavy metal exposure management in the fluorescent lamp manufacturing industry in Korea, and an Oral Health Service, and lead-risk workplaces in Queensland, Australia; The management of the legislative arrangements for health surveillance in Korea and Queensland, Australia; The characteristics of the occupational health and safety management systems that are in use in the heavy metal industries in Korea in Australia; and The effectiveness of prescriptive and performance based legislative systems in protecting the health and safety of workers in heavy metal based industries. Secondary analysis of biological monitoring data from 6 fluorescent lamp manufacturing companies (8 workplaces) in Korea was used to examine the extent of mercury exposure and the effectiveness of the health surveillance system in that country. A survey of dental workers in an oral health service in Queensland provided data on the extent of mercury exposure to the workforce and workers' attitudes to the management of occupational risks. The efficiency of the lead health surveillance in Queensland was examined by way of a questionnaire survey of lead designated doctors in the state. A survey of registered lead-risk companies and the oral health servies in Queensland, and 5 of the fluorescent lamp manufacturing companies in Korea provided data on the occupational health and safety management systems in place in these organisations. The health surveillance system for mercury exposed workers in Korea was found to have reduced the incidence of workers with biological levels of mercury above the Baseline Level from 14% in 1994 to 7% in 1999. Bilogical testing of dental workers in Queensland discovered no workers with biological levels of mercury approaching the Baseline Level and air monitoring failed to locate any areas where workers were likely to be exposed to levels approaching the Workplace Exposure Standard. The staff of the Oral Health Service were generally aware of the occupational health and safety management systems in place but only 43% felt that mercury management in the workplace effectively prevented exposure. The lead surveillance system in Queensland was found to be inadequately managed with approximately 37% of registered doctors no longer practicing in the field and their being no way for the government to collect reliable data on the extent of lead exposure in workplaces. The occupational health and safety management systems in the companies surveyed in Queensland and Korea were found to be influenced by the legislative arrangements in place in each of the locations. The Korean systems were more geared to meeting the regulatory requirements whereas the Queensland systems were geared more towards a risk management approach. However substantial differences were also noted depending on the size of the organisation in each case. Legislative arrangements in Korea and Queensland were found to provide reasonable protection from heavy metal exposure to workers however improvements in both systems are needed. The legislation was also found to influence the occupational health and safety management systems in place with performance-based legislation producing systems having a wide risk management focus while a narrower regulatory based focus was noted in Korea where more prescriptive legislation is in force. A confounding factor in the nature of the occupational health and safety management system in place is the size of the organisation and particular attention needs to be paid to this when legislative approaches are considered.

The purpose of this essay is to describe the legal conditions of the two legal rights the safety representatives upholds, the right to suspend work and the right to request investigations. Furthermore, it should be investigated and explained what obstacles and problems the safety representatives may face when it comes to exercising these rights. The aim is also to give the essay a diversity perspective with the help of a study of language problems among migrated workers and if this can be a safety hazard in the work and how it then can be related to the safety representatives legal rights mentioned above. As occupational health and safety issues also are regulated by EU law, the purpose of this essay is also to give a brief account of how EU bodies affects the law concerning occupational health and safety issues. In order to answer the essays research questions and to achieve its purpose, I have worked with the legal method and also performed a qualitative research interview.   I have concluded that the right to request investigations and the right to suspend work are two powerful tools that a safety representative has at its disposal. However, there are several aspects that can affect how they can be used and for what. Furthermore, I also came to the conclusion that there are certain obstacles affecting safety representatives possibilities  to work with its right, in the form of knowledge, time for education and also fear from negative consequences applied from the employer. Finally, I would like to present my conclusions concerning language problems and that they could be considered a safety hazard in the work and that the right to request investigations and the right to suspend work could be relevant in the particular case.

Occupational Health and Safety is largely determined by the creation of a Safety Culture that minimises risk. In South Africa the construction sector is the second most hazardous industry after mining. This study focuses on two exemplary construction firms in the Western Cape. The main research question is "How do the companies ensure coherent safety management practices that create a safety culture?" Based on a modification of a Balanced Health and Safety Scorecard for the Construction sector five sub-questions address safety management practices from a Management Perspective, an Operational Perspective, a Learning Perspective and a Client and Compliance Perspective. Data has been gathered from company documents, semistructured interviews, together with on-site observation. In conclusion the study reveals that management commitment, active communication and employee acknowledgement contribute positively to creating an effective safety culture on-site. Further studies are recommended with a specific view on small and medium companies in the construction sector. / Magister Commercii - MCom

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Risk management is a widely used term meaning different things to people in different economic sectors. To some, it refers to auditing and, to others, it means Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), compliance or any risk management activity dominant in the user’s frame of reference. Risk management probably includes all these associations. Viewing this study field from different angles prevents the visualisation and grasping of the whole. Business schools do not lead the way in overcoming this fragmented study field, as an all-inclusive theory basis and course outline are not yet available. The whole is taken to be the complete answers to a list of very basic questions, namely who must do what, how, when and why, and what then. This introductory study starts with the what question. Risk management activities within a sample of companies from banking to mining and manufacturing were researched. The result is a proposed map of common risk types and sector or industry-unique risks dominant in a specific environment. Three risk management training programmes were evaluated to determine whether or not the basic questions are addressed: the UNISA Advanced Programme in Risk Management, the USB Programme in Risk Management and the Enterprise Risk Management Integrated Framework developed by COSO. These programmes were assessed to determine whether they address the practical risk management questions of who must do what, when and why, and what then. A combination of some of the strong points of the courses is proposed as a starting point for overcoming the theory gap. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Risikobestuur is ʼn algemeen gebruikte term wat verskillende dinge vir verskillende gebruikers beteken. Vir party verwys dit na die ouditfunksie, vir ander beteken dit beroepsgesondheid en -veiligheid, wetlike voldoening of enige ander risikobestuursaktiwiteit wat deel van ʼn persoon se verwysingsraamwerk vorm. Risikobestuur sluit waarskynlik al hierdie assosiasies in. Die benadering van die studieveld vanuit verskillende verwysingspunte maak dit egter moeilik om die studieveld as geheel te sien en te begryp. Bestuurskole neem ook nie die leiding om die gefragmenteerde aard van die studieveld te oorkom nie, want ʼn omvattende teoretiese grondslag en raamwerk is nie beskikbaar nie. Die geheel word geag te wees volledige antwoorde op ʼn paar basiese vrae, naamlik wie moet wat, wanneer, hoe en wat daarna doen. Hierdie inleidende studie fokus op die wat vraagstuk. Risikobestuursaktiwiteite in ʼn steekproef van firmas vanuit die bankwese, mynwese en vervaardigingsektor word ondersoek. Die resultaat is ʼn voorgestelde raamwerk van algemene asook omgewingsunieke risikosoorte. Drie risikobestuuropleidingsprogramme, naamlik UNISA se Gevorderde Sertifikaatprogram in Risikobestuur, die USB se Risikobestuursprogram en COSO se Ondernemingswye Risikobestuursprogram, is geëvalueer om te bepaal in watter mate hulle op die praktiese risikobestuursvraagstukke, naamlik wie moet wat, wanneer, hoe en wat daarna moet doen, ingaan. ʼn Kombinasie van die verskillende kursusse se sterkpunte word uiteindelik as beginpunt vir die oorbrugging van die gaping in die teorie voorgehou.

Occupational health and safety (H&S) is important to the design, construction, maintenance, refurbishment and demolition of buildings and facilities in all branches of industry, business and commerce. H&S issues have been a major consideration in construction. Far too many people get hurt, injured or die even though the situation has improved over recent years. Accident and fatality rates continue to be significantly higher than other industry sectors. Although all parties involved in the construction industry may address their respective responsibilities, the lack of integration between each organization often results in communication problems which jeopardize H&S. Of particular note is the communication during the design phase. All information pertaining to the project must be readily accessible for all parties, to ensure smooth and hitch-free project execution. This research reviews the challenges in the communication of health and safety information in the design phase of construction projects. It characterizes the various aspects of collaborative communications at this stage and highlights the problem area. The research was conducted in the UK based on a combination of qualitative research methods including literature review, interviews and analysis of focus group interviews data. Observations on documentation and interviews are used to investigate the current industry practice. The literature reviews revealed that communication industry is facing challenges with its communication system due to the nature of industry itself. The construction industry is a fragmented and complex industry with too many parties involved in a project. These parties come from various backgrounds and involved in the project in a temporary duration. The parties who become team members must be able to establish a relationship in such a short period of time and create a communication system that enables all of the parties to collaborate and interact with each other.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that the UK construction industry has approximately 80 fatalities per year, making the construction industry one of the most dangerous industries when compared to other industries. The reduction of construction accidents in the construction industry has led to the need for thoroughly analysed construction environment information which can be effectively utilised in formulating construction health and safety planning strategies, thus enabling the construction industry meet accident reduction targets. However, existing approaches to information analysis mainly focus on factors within construction health and safety information during analysis and do not shed light on the influencing socio-economic and spatially influenced issues within which the industry’s accident contributory factors are rooted. It is also clear that limitations of information usage in the construction industry are due to the fragmented nature in which health and safety information is availed to practitioners for ultimate utilisation in the construction process. There is, therefore, a need for more appropriate decision-support mechanisms that can take account of spatial contributory factors to accident occurrence. There is also a need for mechanisms that enhance the management, analysis and utilisation construction environment information from varied sources for integration in the construction process. The failure to utilise information from varied sources in the construction industry, means that adequately analysed information is lacking for integration in construction health and safety planning strategy formulation process. This study was initiated as a response to this challenge. This prompted further research into the utilisation of health and safety information and its integration in the construction process. A survey involving 215 construction stakeholders was conducted to establish the limitation and requirements of health and safety in the construction industry. Results derived through qualitative analysis further emphasised the need for enhanced health and safety information analysis and integration for use in decision making. The research explored how the spatial element present in all in construction environment information could be utilised to account for accident contributory factors. This led to the exploration Geographical Information System (GIS), a mechanism that takes into account spatial aspects of bodies of information of the phenomenon being explored, for its potential capabilities in management and analysis of construction environment information. The implementation of the GIS-based system known as Geographical Information System for Accident Prevention (GISAP) is then presented. The evaluation of the system by prospective end-users reveals the limitations and benefits of the system implementation and recommendations made for further research. In conclusion, it was clear from this study that this approach has the potential to provide a quick referencing GIS success that can link, organise, analyse and display accident data and other construction and non construction environment data. This can assist stakeholders in decision making during formulation of construction health and safety strategies. The approach can improve understanding of analyses and can enhance the handling of queries related to accident data and other data. This innovative approach can also offer an extra dimension of safety information management, identify trends and areas for effective accident preventive action and ultimately enable development and directions of future work and to engender wider debate.