Health and Safety in the Business Workplace Free Essay Example

P2 Describe the requirements for a healthy and safe workplace, as applied to the physical environment and equipment used, in a selected business Heavy duty item/equipment should not be placed on high heights to prevent accidents that could cause harm

Those kept at high heights should be light objects which cannot cause injury to students of members of staff. Items should also be organized in a form that prevents any occurrence that could cause harm. Students should also be advised to avoid reaching items that could cause harm without permission.

Work surfaces should be sanded down to a level without sharp corners / edges to prevent harm. Sharp tools should be kept in safe areas where non-staffs cannot access. This is done to ensure that students and members of staff are well protected from any physical harm that could be caused by sharp objects. In case of emergencies, students and staff members are advised to gather in a particular field to reduce the risk of any accident.

Attendances of staff are then checked to ensure all staff members are safe. Staffs also ensure that all the students are safe for the same reason through this form. Waste in school compound should be disposed regularly by the cleaning staff. Students on the other end should ensure they use the bins correctly without messing with them considering others could be ignorant. School environment is believed to be a noisy environment. This can therefore be addressed by ensuring levels of noise made by machinery is minimized as possible.

Students are also advised to ensure they keep noise levels low while inside school buildings.

Vehicles movements in and out of the school are also regulated to ensure good working environment for both students and staff. Warning signs in schools and other institutions should be available for all occasions. Signs such as wet signs should be provided stating that the floors are wet to ensure that the students and staff are safe. Fire exits must be indicated and marked with green sign and white font. Staff and students no go zone should be indicated to ensure that students and staff do not go to restricted areas. Signs leading to safety areas should also be provided. Sign boards are therefore important for students and staff as they make working places safe. Food is sensitive and the safety of the environment where it is prepared should be observed. Only the assigned staffs have access to the area to guarantee the safety of the students since no one can accidentally tamper. The fire alarms must be well placed and loud enough to be heard from every corner of the school compound and should be tested on a regular basis. Every staff and student should be aware and equipped with the practice drills to make sure they know what to do in case of a fire. The school compound should also be provided with fire extinguishers which are fitted with sprinkler systems. The fire extinguishers should be located in accessible places and especially where fire risks are greater eg kitchen, classrooms, laboratories, etc

P3 – Explain the roles and responsibilities for Health and Safety of key personnel in a selected workplace & M2 – Analyse the roles and responsibilities for Health and Safety of key personnel in a selected workplace

At Sir George Monoux College, there are many key personnel’s who have different roles and duties in order to maintain the health and safety in a workplace. One of these key personnel’s being a facility manager. The facility manager is in charge of undertaking risk assessments around the college premises and identifying if there are any hazards or any other harmful things which could affect anyone in a harmful way on the premises. It is also their job to organise emergency procedures and ensure that they are practiced well enough in case of a real emergency. The Facility manager is also first contact in all cases if an emergency was to occur. It is also their job to ensure all the legislations of the health and safety laws are followed correctly to not face any prosecutions.

Another key personnel at the college is the department heads, the department heads who are lower down in the organisational structure, however this not being negative factor as their responsibilities are just as important as anyone in the college. The department heads have the role of making sure that all the health and safety procedures are practiced and carried out on a regular basis to ensure all parties within the college know how to act in case of an emergency. The risk assessments around the college are also taken by the department heads in their work area where they can report any hazards towards to the facility managers. The Human Resources Director at Monoux College is a significant figure in the organisation as they have a senior position especially within the health and safety area.

The HR Director has the key responsibility of creating and over checking the Health & Safety policy within the environment. During business weeks or whenever an event or an activity is scheduled to happen on the college premises the Human Resource director must ensure the activity is in line the health and safety laws and integrate with the organisational requirements for quality management also putting in mind the policies of the college environment within the normal duty of care. As well as keeping the college safe within the Health and Safety rules, the HR Director is also in charge of recruiting and selecting health and safety direct-reporting staff. A first aider being important in any business or organisation is another significant role within Monoux College. Within the college there are a number of staff who have gone through approved training course which has been paid by the college. The First aider must be able to provide swift medical attention to anyone who may need it at the given time and they must be able to contact ambulances in serious circumstances.

P4 – Plan a risk assessment for a selected administrative work environment & M3 – Conduct a detailed risk assessment of a selected Risk assessment plans are practical steps done to protect people from real harm and suffering

This plan helps workers and students comply with the state laws and focus ;on risks that really matters in their work place. Most institutions use generic risk assessment plan as it is applicable to all risks such as fire. This plan involves assessment of potential hazardous places, engaging with employees and students on the risks posed to them as well as working together with safety representatives.

To start with, it is important to identify anything that is hazardous. Employees are obligated to evaluate safety and health factors of staffs and students. Routine checks should be done to determine biological, mental, chemical and physical hazards. This is done to ensure the working place is secure and does not cause harm to anyone. Secondly, it is important to determine and consider the target population. This is done to the full time and part time students and workers to examine who could be affected by the risk identify. In a school for example, slippery places may cause harm to students at night and it is therefore important to restrict students from going to those places. D1 Make recommendations for improving health and safety standards and practices in a selected work environment To improve a working place, it is important to ensure the inspection of the working place area eg school compound. This is done to identify potential hazard or pint falls. This can be done prior to implementing new approaches to health/ safety.

Health and safety officers should conduct thorough inspection in all areas like class rooms, kitchen, etc. to ensure various measures are put in place eg they should ensure fire extinguishers and sprinklers systems are well located in case of fire. The institutions should also conduct regular meetings. This is done to ensure that the staffs from different departments raise concerns that could cause harm to the students and staff and hence make recommendation for improvement. Holding those meetings also make the workers as well as the students to realize that the management care about them hence raising their morale to find out more areas that could cause harm as they feel more valued. It is crucial for every employer to consider the health and safety of their staff. When the staff and students are in good health and safe working and learning environment, their performance and competence increases since illnesses are reduced ensuring there is no absence and financial costs of accidents are avoided. The staff should be well equipped with instructions on how to use emergency control equipment eg fire extinguishers so that they know exactly what to do when need arises.

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