SAFETY COMMITTEES

Occupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of all occupational safety and health programs is to foster a safe work environment. As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-workers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment. 
Definition
Since 1950, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have shared a common definition of occupational health. It was adopted by the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health at its first session in 1950 and revised at its twelfth session in 1995.

The definition reads:

"Occupational health should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job

The main focus in occupational health is on three different objectives: (i) the maintenance and promotion of workers’ health and working capacity; (ii) the improvement of working environment and work to become conducive to safety and health and (iii) development of work organizations and working cultures in a direction which supports health and safety at work and in doing so also promotes a positive social climate and smooth operation and may enhance productivity of the undertakings. The concept of working culture is intended in this context to mean a reflection of the essential value systems adopted by the undertaking concerned. Such a culture is reflected in practice in the managerial systems, personnel policy, principles for participation, training policies and quality management of the undertaking.

Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

The International Labour Organization (ILO): published a standard in 2001 titled ILO-OSH 2001, which is similar to OHSAS 18001. The system is based on five steps Policy, Organizing, Planning & Implementation, Evaluation, and Action for improvement. This is supported by auditing with an emphasis on continuous improvement. The ILO management system was created to assist employers to keep pace with rapidly shifting and competitive industrial environments. The ILO recognizes that national legislation is essential, but sometimes insufficient on its own to address the challenges faced by industry, and therefore elected to ensure free and open distribution of administrative tools in the form of occupational health and safety management system guidance for everyone. This open access forum is intended to provide the tools for industry to create safe working environments and foster positive safety cultures within the organizations.

OHSAS 18000 is an international occupational health and safety management system specification. It comprises two parts, 18001 and 18002 and embraces a number of other publications. OHSAS 18000 is the internationally recognized assessment specification for occupational health and safety management systems. It was developed by a selection of leading trade bodies, international standards and certification bodies to address a gap where no third-party certifiable international standard exists. This internationally recognized specification for occupational health and safety management system operates on the basis of policy, planning, implementation and operation, checking and corrective action, management review, and continual improvement.

The British Standards - Occupational Health and Safety management Systems Requirements Standard BS OHSAS 18001 was developed within the framework of the ISO standards series. Allowing it to integrate better into the larger system of ISO certifications. ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System can work in tandem with BS OHSAS.

Occupational Health and Safety Responsible.

Occupational health and safety officers visit places of employment to detect unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing workplace safety. Duties Occupational health and safety officers employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments inspect a wide variety of workplaces (for example, construction sites, offices, mines). They may specialize in inspecting a particular type of workplace but, in general, officers: inspect workplaces to ensure equipment, materials, and production processes do not present a safety and health hazard  investigate health and safety related complaints enforce health and safety laws and regulations  review and make decisions regarding situations where a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger exists, or the work will cause danger to the worker provide advice regarding the development of safe and healthy practices encourage managers, supervisors and employees to participate in occupational health and safety programs  investigate workplace fatalities, serious injuries and near misses. These duties require health and safety officers to have a thorough understanding of legislation relating to safety standards and the ability to advise corrective action and facilitate change to improve the health and safety culture of workplaces. Health and safety officers also must keep informed about changes in technology.