Health and Safety

Health and Safety for Managers & Directors

Why do senior executives need to know about health and safety at work?

Managing health, safety and the environment is just like managing any other business function - you need objectives, plans, implementation, measurement and review. Unlike many other business functions, the consequences of getting it wrong can literally be fatal.

Four reason for 'doing something about safety' are the high cost of failure, the threat and consequence of prosecution or other enforcement action, the potential loss of future business, and the moral imperative - the expectations of society and the workplace. The fifth and most significant reason is the incalculable cost of human suffering, much of which is so easily preventable.

1. ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND CONTROL

• Accident prevention objectives
• The basic concepts of accident, hazard and risk
• Health and safety management
• People problems
• Control priorities
• Risk assessment
• The health and safety policy
• Training for health and safety at work
• Sources of advice

2. DIRECTORS, MANAGERS AND THE LAW

• Common and statute law
• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Management liability
• Manslaughter
• Insuring against liability
• What senior managers must do
• Directors in the dock - two examples
• Summary of the key principles