Health & Safety management

The care for good working conditions has been regulated by act and the execution is supported by a large number of technical aids. However, it is not only a matter of rules and technology but also of attitude, behaviour and communication. The dealing with the requirements from the Health and Safety-act demands expertise, caution and attention. Employees are aware of their right to good working conditions and the pressure from society that companies should exercise sincerity in this, increases. The Health and Safety act supplies a guideline for the policy to be carried out by the managers. This act compels employers and employees to cooperate in the promoting of care for safety, health and well-being within the company. However, it is difficult to prescribe cooperation, it requires communication, insight and consensus. These are matters which come up for discussion in a management system.

The many-sidedness of policy aspects makes it clear that the care for working conditions is not a matter of a number of specialists such as a company doctor or safety expert, but a management concern. A strategy, quantified targets, responsibilities and assignments of tasks will have to be established. It requires training and the making available of means and budgets. The aspects outlined in fact demand the implementation of an Health & Safety management system. Such a management system makes it possible to find the right balance between regulations, technology and attitude and behaviour; in short to control and to govern the desired Health and Safety circumstances in the framework of internally and externally interested parties of an organisation.