HEALTH AND SAFETY 31
PDCA – The how-to guide
By
Chris Coetzee of OHSS Consulting
Health and safety is managed in the same way as any other aspect of business . Management control is typically exerted through a cycle of Planning , Doing , Checking and Acting ( PDCA ).
Planning , Doing , Checking and Acting cycles require leadership , commitment and participation of workers , and where they exist , health and safety representatives , from all levels and functions of the organisation .
The organisation is required to determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcome of the management system . This includes :
• Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties .
• Determining the scope of the management system taking into account relevant external and internal issues and the workrelated activities performed .
Top management is required to demonstrate leadership and commitment by taking overall responsibility and accountability for workers ’ health and safety , ensuring that safety management system processes and requirements are integrated into the organisation ’ s business processes , ensuring that the necessary resources are available , as well as developing , leading and promoting an appropriate health and safety culture .
Management involvement ensures the establishing , implementing and maintaining of an effective OHS policy and related objectives , directing and supporting workers and managers , ensuring the active participation of workers ( or their representatives ) through consultation , and the removal of obstacles to participation , communicating the importance of effective occupational health and safety management .
Due to their authority and drive as management , they can ensure continual improvement of the occupational health and safety management system .
Once commitment has been established and all persons who will be involved in the system are prepared to take responsibility and ownership of the safety system , we can start with a P . D . C . A system .
2 . Hazard identification and Risk Assessment . Processes are required to ensure the effective , on-going proactive identification of hazards . We can think of things such as routine and non-routine work , emergency situations , social factors as well as other key areas within our organization .
3 . OHS objectives and planning to achieve them . OHS objectives must be established at relevant functions and levels to maintain and improve the safety management and to continually improve performance .
D – There are five main areas of support Chris Coetzee and operation ( DO ).
• Resources - Needed for the establishment , implementation , maintenance and continual improvement of the OHSMS must be determined and provided .
• Competence - The organisation is required to determine the necessary competence of person ( s ) doing work under its control that can affect health and safety performance . This competence must be based on appropriate education , induction , training , or experience . Organizations must retain appropriate documented information as evidence of competence .
• Awareness - Workers must be made aware of the safety policy , their contribution to it , and the implications of not conforming with the system requirements , as well as the outcomes of incident investigations , hazards and risks that are relevant to them .
• Information and Communication - The organisation must determine the need for communicating with and providing information to internal and external stakeholders . What needs to be communicated to who , when , and how . Diversity aspects such as language , culture , literacy and disability must be taken into account .
• Documented Information - Document control is required to ensure that information is not lost and is readily available when required .
Images by Chris Coetzee
P - The planning phase is broken down into the following three sections : 1 . Actions to address risks and opportunities . When addressing that broad range of risks and opportunities that face the organisation the following should be considered : health and safety hazards , risks and opportunities , legal and other requirements , planned changes and record keeping .
“ Management can ensure continual improvement of the occupational health and safety management system ..”
September 2024 Volume 30 I Number 7 www . plumbingafrica . co . za