SafetyWallet’s 15 elements of OHS compliance for businesses in Port Shepstone

OHS compliance is therefore a legal obligation and ensures that risks and legal liability employers may face, are reduced. SafetyWallet offers 15 elements of OHS compliance that can help cultivate a healthy and safe environment that can benefit both employers and employees.

SafetyWallet Health and Safety Compliance Audit and its process

The 15 elements of OHS compliance is contained in the audit conducted by SafetyWallet once employers become subscribers. Even though audits are not a legal compliance, they come highly recommended and are one of the best ways in which organisations can monitor and manage their OHS compliance.

Audits are an in-depth assessment of the work environment and involve the identification, control and minimising of any non-compliance identified. The SafetyWallet Health and Safety Compliance Audit consists of a “parent-child” concept. The relationship takes the form of a tree structure, where all questions in the audit link back to the overriding or parent question; whether the employer provides a healthy and safe working environment.

The 15 elements of health and safety encompass the different systems of work which ensures a healthy and safe workplace, and are observed during the audit.

Each has its own element in the audit and all questions connect to the parent question.

Risk assessment

This element involves the following:

• General risk assessment details
• Hazardous chemical substances
• Lead
• Asbestos
• Hazardous biological agents
• Major hazardous installations
• Construction details.

Contractor and/or supplier management

The contractor and/or supplier management element involves the following:

• Contractors
• Suppliers
• Visitors

Furthermore, it also includes the general administration requirements and a breakdown of the Permit to Work and other relevant aspects which links it to OHS.

Organisation and structure

The following components are indicated under this element:

• Health and safety appointments.
• The use of health and safety committees.
• The responsibilities of health and safety representatives.
• The use of health and safety procedures.
• General health and safety duties of interested parties.

General requirements and communication

This element covers the general requirements and communication with the Department of Labour. It consists of registration with COIDA and Return of Earnings, requirements of the organisation and any interactions with the Department of Labour. It also includes the reporting of all occupational injuries, Section 24 incidents and occupational diseases.

Emergency procedures

This element involves all aspects of buildings and the provision of the following:

• Emergency evacuation
• Access for fire services
• Emergency plans
• Fire equipment and systems
• Fire precautions
• Evacuation drills
• First aid treatment.

Buildings and infrastructure

In this element buildings and infrastructure are covered, relating specifically to those the business or organisation occupies and makes use of. It also includes electrical and physical aspects of facilities. Furthermore, it includes aspects relating to:

• Housekeeping
• Air quality
• Ergonomics
• Noise
• Temperature

Machinery and equipment

This element concerns the broad spectrum covering electrical, driven and general machinery found in the workplace. It also includes supervision of:

• Machinery
• Machinery in hazardous places.
• Machinery types in the workplace.
• Use of lifting machinery.
• Use of pressure equipment in the workplace.
• Use of lifts and passenger conveyors.
• Use of cranes and mixing plants.
• Use of heavy vehicles and mobile plant.

Chemicals and biologicals

This element focuses on employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, lead, asbestos and hazardous biological agents. It encompasses the duties of employees, the control of exposure and the correct, safe use and disposal of these substances. The element also covers flammable substances in a separate section under main by-laws. It includes the requirements associated with the use of flammable and chemical storerooms.

Health and safety training

This element is associated with mandatory and crucial training aspects in both health and safety. It also includes the requirements of induction training required in certain, specialised situations.

Personal protective equipment

This is concerned with the provision and the correct and safe use of PPE in various workplace environments.

Surveys and medical surveillance

This element covers the surveys that must be conducted in workplaces with hazardous chemicals, lead, asbestos and hazardous biological agents. It also covers surveys on environmental temperatures, illumination, ventilation and noise.

Health and safety inspections

This element relates to inspections that must be conducted in workplaces, including facilities, buildings and the use of machinery and equipment. Specific health and safety inspections are covered under this element, which are linked to checklists in occupational health and safety. Other inspections covered include:

• Lift and passenger conveyor inspections
• Inspections necessary for construction sites.

Working at heights

This relates specifically to the general requirements associated with working at heights, including:

• Rope access work
• Suspended platforms
• Material hoists and several others.

Construction site work

This element covers a variety of requirements associated specifically to sites where construction work is being done. This includes the duties of the following participants:

• Clients
• Designers
• Principal contractors
• Contractors
• Subcontractors, and others.

Additional construction work covered includes site management, electrical installations, housekeeping, excavation work and demolition work.

Management systems

The Management Systems element is yet to be reviewed and will be covered as soon as the ISO 45001 standard has been incorporated.