The workplace is a dangerous place because there are things that can cause harm to workers when they are not controlled effectively. Companies that know what they ought to do always set arrangements to ensure that workplace risks are managed properly. One of the things they do is to set up a safety management system (SMS) to cater for all their safety needs.
Not all organisations have a safety management system. Those companies that are safety-conscious have a good safety management system, and these differentiate them from non-safety-conscious companies.
What is a safety management system?
SMS is designed to manage occupational safety and health risks in the workplace.
There are various combinations to the SMS. Some companies may decide to establish a Safety and Health Management System (SHMS or HSMS). In this case, the system contains elements of management of longer-term health impacts and occupational disease with that of Safety.
Safety Management System serves a lot of benefits for those companies that establish that in their firms. Some of the benefits of having a Safety management system in place include the following:
Benefits of Safety Management Systems.
1.Improved Safety.
A safety management system helps to improve the safety of an organisation. The actions and activities detailed in the safety management system, when followed judiciously, will have an overall positive impact on an organisation. With this, a culture of safety is improved, and every worker will be safe while working.
2.Demonstrate management commitment to safety.
Building a safety management system in a workplace comes from the top management. When this is available, it shows the management’s commitment towards safety. Management is the driver of the safety process. Their actions will always trickle down to every worker in the workplace. Management commitment is essential as the regulations and legislation place a responsibility on all management to protect all workers and ensure a safe working environment.
3.Increase the confidence in risk control.
There is this confidence that comes from having a safety management system in place. People in the workplace will notice that there is something good that their organisation is doing in order to manage risk, and this, in turn, will equally help in risk control in the workplace.
4.Share knowledge.
Knowledge of safety can be easily shared through having a safety management system in place. Workers will be exposed to various activities and actions pertaining to safety in the company.
5.Promote Safety awareness in an Organization.
Safety awareness is key. Without an awareness of safety, most people will not know what is happening in the workplace. Being aware of safety is one step away from having an accident in the workplace. If you’re aware of a hazard, the consciousness of following a precaution will definitely come by.
4 Components of a Safety Management System.
There are four main components of a safety management system. What this means is that they have to be present in a Safety management system for it to be complete. They are Safety Policy, Risk management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.
1.Safety Policy.
Safety policy is an integral part of every safety management system. Having a Safety policy demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to safety, and safety matters to the organisation. A written safety policy is what every organisation should have, and it should be structured in a way that establishes the methods and processes to achieve safety goals. The policy should be clear enough to be understood. When written, it should be accessible to everyone. The contents shall comply with relevant laws and regulations.
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2.Risk management.
Safety Risk management helps in identifying and mitigating risks and safety hazards. There are lots of risks that should be captured in this component of the safety management system. Risks are prevalent and should be mitigated using various means and methods. Risk assessment and control are often conducted in various worksites to control risk.
3.Safety assurance.
Safety assurances involve monitoring and improving safety through various means, such as engaging in safety audits and incident reporting. These are actions being put in place that Ensure that safety performance is monitored and improved.
4.Safety promotion.
These involve using various means to promote a culture of safety and the safety programs in place, such as embarking on training, creating awareness through safety seminars, creating avenues to reward workers’ safety behaviours, etc.
Conclusion on Safety Management System.
It’s not enough to have a safety management system in place, but making sure that everything in the system is followed is the key. Those who have engaged more in providing such a system in their workplace will always benefit from it. But for some that are yet to do so, they will definitely not enjoy the benefits. If you have established a safety management system and have enjoyed the benefits in your organisation, we would like to hear from you and know how you are implementing it daily in your firm. Could you give us a reply in the comment section?
Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
