An effective safety and health management strategy is a central component of a modern organisation’s corporate social-responsibilities. There is also considerable evidence of the financial benefits to be gained from effective safety and health management such as:
- Increased productivity when using safe operating procedures
- Reduced insurance premiums
- Less sickness-related absences and training costs for replacement staff
- Better staff retention and morale
In setting the strategic aims for the business, directors must have an understanding of the role that safety and health performance plays in the overall running of the business.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, responsibility for safety and health is placed directly on those in charge in the workplace. In other words, directors and managers who control the work being done, must take on this responsibility.
Boards of directors are responsible for good corporate governance and perform this task by setting corporate objectives and targets and taking strategic decisions on all business issues, including safety and health management.
Effective OSH management protects organisations and Board members from the adverse publicity and potential legal actions that serious incidents bring. Directors and senior managers will also wish to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, harmful situations for employees and customers due to poor safety and health management.
This course provides an overview of the responsibilities and key tasks that board members should carry out in ensuring that they accept collective responsibility and meet their legal safety and health obligations.