Adoption of a Workplace Health Security and Safety Management System for Bell Labs - Example

A report on Adoption of a Workplace Health Security and Safety Management System for Bell Labs Student name Student ID Name of the person for whom the report is written Date of submission Executive Summary Within the recent years, workplace safety and health has emerged a leading concern within organizations. Hence, organizations have a task in putting policies in place to protect employees from unsafe work exposures and practices. In this context, they ought to devise policies for logical management of health and safety to effectively address and control health and safety allied risks. Most efforts endeavor at implementing workplace health safety and security measures as a key part of risk management to address the modifying legislation. Using a case study of Bell Labs, this report endeavors at adopting a workplace health security and safety management system for the company. Findings portray that adoption of WHSS MS structure for Bell Labs is vital in providing a management tool for reducing the risks associated with occupational fatalities, illnesses, and injuries. The program will be implemented through group trainings. However, the major constraints likely to occur are allied to material resources. Nevertheless, the WHSS MS program will be implemented and evaluated to check on its ability to meet the set targets. Contents Executive Summary 2 Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 5 1.1 Aim of this report 5 1.2 Corporate structure of Bell Labs 5 1.3 Background Information 6 1.4 Sources of Information 7 2.0 WHSS Overview 7 2.1 What is a WHSS MS 7 2.2 Purpose of a WHSS MS 8 2.2.2 Effective Working Milieu 9 2.2.3 Legislative Compliance 9 2.3 Benefits of implementing a WHSS MS 9 2.3.1 Reduction in claims, accidents, and lost work time 9 2.3.2 Demonstration of Regulatory and Legal Compliance 10 2.3.3 Risk Management 10 2.3.4 Augmented Entrée of Novel Business Partners and Customers 10 2.4 Possible Challenges of implementing a WHSS MS 10 2.4.1 Unexpected or Novel Hazards 11 2.4.2 Delegation 11 3.0 Suggested WHSS MS Structure 11 3.1 Overall Policy Document 13 3.2 Key Performance Area Policies 13 3.4 Training 14 3.5 Consultation 15 4.0 Implementation of the WHSS MS 15 The second stage in the development of WHSS MS is the implementation phase. This phase encompasses document control, procedures form, resources, training, and continual maintenance. Moreover, planning proves vital in ensuring every relevant person understands the requirements of the WHSS MS, and is as well confident in using it. 15 4.1 Method of implementation 15 4.1.1 Resources 15 4.1.2 Hazard Management 16 4.1.3 Implementation of a Plan for Emergency Response 16 4.2 Reasons for suggesting this method 16 4.3 Potential problems with implementation 17 4.4 Support required during implementation 17 5.0 Evaluation of the WHSS MS 17 5.1 Reasons for evaluation of the MS 17 5.2 Monitoring the MS 18 5.3 Reviewing the MS 18 5.4 Changing the MS as a Result of Evaluation 18 6.0 Conclusion 19 References 20 Appendices 22 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Aim of this report The aim of this report is to inform and encourage the executive management team of Bell Labs organization to adopt the developed WHSS MS 1.2 Corporate structure of Bell Labs Bell Labs embraces a formal corporate structure. The president lies at the top of the management. The vice presidents located at diverse sectors report directly to the president. The executive directors within separate divisions report directly to the vice presidents. Within diverse laboratories are directors who report directly to the executive directors. Ultimately, within every department are the departmental heads who report directly to the directors. The managerial structure from bottom to top encompass of department, laboratory, division, and area. Appendix titled ‘Management Structure Tree Diagram’ presents more information on organization chart. 1.3 Background Information Safety and security within workplaces are becoming progressively critical issues for every organization owing to the size of fines of non-compliance to safety rules and regulations. Researchers are stressing on employees’ right to work within environments that are free from safety and health risks Thobaben &Woodward 1996, p. 58; Granzow & Theberge, 2009, p. 82; Johnstone, Quinlin, & Walters 2005, p. 94; Finn 1978, p. 312; Marcus 1989, p. 22). The WHS Act stipulates all individuals undertaking businesses to ensure that workers as well as all people are not at risk within the workplace. This incorporates minimizing risks to safety and health. In this context, organizations should put policies in place to shield employees from unsafe work exposures and practices. As Bohle and Quinian (2000, p. 67) emphasize, it is critically vital to understand the medical outlook on health that has shaped the views of legislators, managers, workers, and public on OHS. The major emphasis is on reduction of accidents or claims as well as getting injured workers back into work. In addition, Bell Labs embraces specific duties in compliance with WHS Act, which include: Development, maintenance, and documentation of effective WHSS MS Identification of hazards as well as minimization and elimination of work-allied risks Identification of principal hazards, assessment of the risks, and preparation of control plans for anticipated hazards Preparation of emergency plans and using them when responding to emergencies 1.4 Sources of Information The sources of information evident in this report incorporate academic journals, textbooks, and class reading materials. Other sources of information include the current WHS legislation, the Work Health and Safety Act, approved Code of Practice, Bell Lab’s health and safety policies and procedures, Bell Lab’s WHSS Advisor or Manager, and WHSS hazard procedures and policies, including prevention approaches endeavored at eliminating the occurrence of task injuries. 2.0 WHSS Overview 2.1 What is a WHSS MS A WHSS MS for an organization implies guaranteeing safe operation of the workplace by endorsing a fit and secure working milieu. The WHSS MS refers to the objectives and policies that account for the info and legal requisites pertaining to workplace wellbeing and safety. It conglomerates various policies and procedures to make sure it is inclusive enough to go well with the risks of the workplace operations. The WHSS MS enables the workers to exhibit management of safety and health within the workplace: To other people performing businesses or undertaking work within the workplace While searching for certification with external organizations While assessing the workplace systems against accepted industry standards The WHSS MS ought to be documented. Hence, it encompasses a documented set of actions, procedures, and plans that target safety improvements within the workplace. Equally, it must be accessible and easy to understand, thus written in simple language. The core elements of WHSS MS include: WHSS objectives, goals, strategy, and action plan WHSS overall policy (Appendix A) Legal obligation Safety and wellbeing equipment and facilities Responsibility at every business level WHSS hazard and risk list Supervision and training of employees on WHSS Document control (See Appendix 5) Emergency planning Policies and procedures for managing hazards and allied risks Appendix titled ‘WHS Management System’ offers comprehensive info on what a WHS management system. 2.2 Purpose of a WHSS MS 2.2.1 Minimization of Risks Workplace operations are hazardous with a myriad of allied risks owing to the varied and dynamic nature of tasks as well as the environment within which they are carried out. While most organizations embrace safety-allied plans, processes, and policies, the WHSS MS binds all these elements into a comprehensive system to efficiently manage the allied to safety and health of the workers. 2.2.2 Effective Working Milieu The administration of workplace protection takes a premeditated and strategic approach. The strategic concerns of security supervision within the place of work lay the base for planning efforts, and are channeled toward ensuring that protection management plans are not interim (Hopwood & Thompson 2006, p. 5). Management of WHSS ought to be endeavored at absolute minimization of injuries and illnesses at the place of work (Bohle & Quinlan 2000, p. 467). 2.2.3 Legislative Compliance A WHSS MS endorses a fit and harmless working milieu by granting organizations a framework that permits them to continually be acquainted with protection and well-being risks and assist in legislative acquiescence. As Urquhart (2011, p. 2) highlights, an efficient WHSS MS empowers employees, improves business culture, eliminates illnesses and injuries, and enhances legislative acquiescence (See Appendix Task 1). 2.3 Benefits of implementing a WHSS MS 2.3.1 Reduction in claims, accidents, and lost work time Devoting in an effectual WHSS MS aims at reducing workplace injuries and illnesses as well as minimizing costs allied to workplace accidents.. The management of an assortment of staff associated risks within workplaces enables organizations to control their insurance costs. Moreover, workplace safety proves critical in employees’ job satisfaction, thus enhancing their productivity (Hughes & Gilmour 2010, p. 129). 2.3.2 Demonstration of Regulatory and Legal Compliance WHSS MS is a strategy to address the varying worker protection legislation. An effective WHSS MS within an organization decreases the possibility of prosecution for breaching the WHSS laws. Section 19 of WHS Act stipulates that organizations ensure the safety and health of workers within the business. Likewise, organizations must guarantee that the safety and health of other people is not placed at risk owing to the work performed as component of the business. 2.3.3 Risk Management Through implementation of workplace wellbeing and protection management system, businesses attain the capability of managing and controlling health and safety-associated risks, thus improving their workplace protection and well-being performance (Meswani 2008, p. 3). 2.3.4 Augmented Entrée of Novel Business Partners and Customers Within the viable marketplace, business associates and customers are searching for keen pricing of organizational products. Hence, organizations ought to exhibit the actuality that they manage their businesses responsibly and efficiently. Moreover, they need to prove their capacity to provide reliable services with no excessive downtime emanating from work-allied incidents and accidents. 2.4 Possible Challenges of implementing a WHSS MS A myriad of factors may inhibit implementation of WHSS MS within organizations. According to Wang, Wu, Song, Tse, Yu, Wong, and Griffiths (2011, p.3), these challenges include dramatic urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth. The challenges specific to Bell Labs include: 2.4.1 Unexpected or Novel Hazards The unexpected or novel hazards that may present substantial challenges to supervisors and other workers may require unique processes to evaluate. Such processes may not be in place thus compelling the organization to devise them, which may be quite expensive. 2.4.2 Delegation The implementation of a WHSS MS stipulates delegation of tasks. In this context, some people may not be in a place to assume the tasks, thus deeming it difficult to implement the plans. 2.4.3 Inadequate inductions and training 2.4.4 Lack of organizational concern toward safety and health issues 2.4.5 Limited capacity of the organization to pass appropriate regulations and rules allied to WHSS 2.4.6 High costs allied with provision and maintenance of measures of risk control within the organization 2.4.7 Lack of acceptance of the system by the workers 3.0 Suggested WHSS MS Structure The chief purpose of the WHSS MS structure for Bell Labs will be to offer a management tool that aims at reducing the risks associated with occupational fatalities, illnesses, and injuries. However, as ANSI/AIHA Committee (2005, p. 2) highlights, the public and organizations may make out additional benefits of implementation of WHSS MS beyond reduction of illnesses and injuries. Among these benefits could be reduced employee recompense costs, dwindle in lost workdays, acquiescence with regulations, and augmented productivity. The WHSS MS structure will contain stakeholder involvement, an effective audit, a constructive safety and healthy culture, and continual improvement. A constructive safety and healthy culture This culture encompasses of pledge and leadership to protection and wellbeing throughout the organization. Leaders should accept that elevated standards of safety and wellbeing are attainable. Stakeholder involvement For the wellbeing and protection policies and their allied management systems to emerge successful, they must embrace realistic goals as well as involvement and support of all management levels within an organization (Hughes & Ferrett 2013, p. 20). Therefore, involve all external and internal stakeholders who have an influence and interest in the founding and development of WHSS MS who include trustees and directors, safety and health professionals, insurance companies, investors, regulators, customers, and the workers. An effectual audit According to Collins (2007, p. 52), audits aim at considering the scrupulous performance indicators. Hence, the WHSS MS audit comprises of legislative requirements and performance standards, illness and accident data, and overall achievements of premeditated objectives. Planning is the initial stage in development of WHSS MS. Planning endeavors at identifying the hazards and risks to be allotted. It is simple and inclusive, practical, creates room for description, analysis, and improvement, and encourages simple language. Moreover, the planning stage ought to devise the means of reviewing and testing the WHSS MS in a structured manner to enhance identification of improvement opportunities, such as modification of workplace activities and development of novel technology. The WHSS MS will incorporate the overall policy document, which stipulates adherence to the WHSS Act & Regulation. 3.1 Overall Policy Document Hughes and Ferrett (2009, p. 525) suppose that a well-considered document is critical in business effectiveness and continual improvement within organizations. The policy document will aid in minimizing financial losses emanating from preventable accidents. Moreover, it will demonstrate to the employees that accidents are not faults of individual members of the workforce. Furthermore, the policy document will portray the commitment by management to improvement of workplace safety and health. The document will lay down the measurable targets and objectives that guide the management toward improving workplace safety and health. 3.2 Key Performance Area Policies The policy will encompass the senior management’s commitment to improvement of the workplace safety and health. The policy will incorporate measurable targets and objectives aimed at improving workplace safety and health. The policy will be documented and conveyed to workers as well as other interested persons, such as community groups, regulators, and committee members. Ultimately, the policy will be evaluated often to make sure it maintains its appropriateness and relevance to the altering circumstances. This policy plan will encompass setting and carrying out performance standards via an effectual WHSS MS. The plan will be founded on risk assessment strategies to settle on precedence and set objectives for reducing risks and eliminating hazards. There will be generation of an evidence record that will incorporate training, incident management, and document control. 3.3 How the WHSS MS achieves Expected Outcomes To realize the projected outcomes, the WHSS MS is supposed to produce an attitude that leads to increased job contentment, mutual aid, and employee output. Moreover, there will be exhibition of superior management concern in the WHSS MS. Besides, an effectual WHSS MS will manifest systematic strategy to hazard evaluation and allotment of sufficient resources to the structure. 3.4 Training Training will be critical in briefing staff members on the hazards, emergency procedures, and rules associated to their work milieu. There will be implementation of a health and safety training program for employees, which is endeavored at endowing the employees with a general idea of the requirements and purpose of workplace wellbeing and safety. The overall idea will encompass the manner in which workplace health and safety is capable of improving workplace activities. Accordingly, employees will be capable of describing the aim of workplace wellbeing and safety management system. Besides, they will attain the capacity of elucidating the requirements and purpose of workplace health and safety, the means of ensuring continual improvement of health and safety standards, and the allied legislative framework. Training will incorporate a myriad of seminars, training courses, and workshops, (See Appendix 2). 3.5 Consultation The WHSS Act stipulates the person carrying out a business to consult with all workers likely to be influenced by work safety and health matters. Workers will be involved in identification of hazards, risk assessment, selection of appropriate control measures, workplace modifications likely to influence their health or safety, consultation procedures, and monitoring procedures. Safety and health representatives will be involved within the consultation of safety and health concerns. 4.0 Implementation of the WHSS MS The second stage in the development of WHSS MS is the implementation phase. This phase encompasses document control, procedures form, resources, training, and continual maintenance. Moreover, planning proves vital in ensuring every relevant person understands the requirements of the WHSS MS, and is as well confident in using it. 4.1 Method of implementation 4.1.1 Resources The resources will encompass appropriate authority, time, financial delegation, and personnel with specialized expertise. A WHS officer will be elected to ensure people conducting businesses comply with their safety and health obligations. To develop personnel with specialized expertise, the implementation of WHSS MS will incorporate training. Training will cover the prerequisites of WHSS MS, adjustments to maximum employee protection, and means of maintaining it. The training programs prove effective as compared to other strategies because they emphasize the objectives of WHSS MS in illnesses and injuries prevention. Moreover, the training technique proves effective because it is cost efficient. Trainings will cover a large scope since they will encompass seminars and workshops (See Appendix 4). 4.1.2 Hazard Management The WHSS MS’s hazard management aspect will illustrate the procedure for identifying the chief hazards and allied risks, record the suitable controls for eliminating risks, and illustrate the maintenance practices for effectual control. The Appendix ‘Incident Management’ portrays the procedure of providing preventative measures, immediate responses, and follow-up actions for dealing with hazard incident. 4.1.3 Implementation of a Plan for Emergency Response The emergency plan will pull together various controls chosen from the numerous risk evaluations that stipulate urgent activation subsequent to a hazard occurrence. The plan will be documented and incorporate the process for activating the controls that are capable of minimizing the implications of a hazard occurrence. Furthermore, the plan will specify the resources vital in case of a hazard occurrence, training of expertise personnel, and emergency instructions. 4.2 Reasons for suggesting this method Trainings embrace statements that can be communicated to all stakeholders. Besides trainings are used for supervision, instruction, and hazard control. Because trainings enhance understanding of protection and healthy procedures, they are effectual means of communicating the WHSS MS info to all stakeholders. Hazard management is vital in addressing the features of the allied risks. Moreover, it is core to examination and evaluation of the implications of the hazard. The plan assigns the probability and rigorousness of the premeditated harm prior and subsequent to implementation of the controls. A plan for emergency response is essential in planning for effective measures of dealing with any anticipated hazard and its allied risks. It ensures that all resources are in place to cope with emergent hazards. 4.3 Potential problems with implementation Cost constraint Human and material resources might not be readily available to the organization Lack of inspection, testing, and maintenance of emergency at standard intervals The system may be too complex for the workers 4.4 Support required during implementation There is a prime requirement for the senior management to get involved within the training programs. This will enable them devise effectual means of instructing their juniors, planning for instructions, and explaining to the workforce the need for the WHSS MS. Besides, support of an experienced safety and health worker will be vital in the training program. Moreover, support will be required in the inspection, testing, and maintenance of emergency equipment. 5.0 Evaluation of the WHSS MS 5.1 Reasons for evaluation of the MS It will be vital to evaluate the WHSS MS program to determine its effectiveness and weaknesses. The evaluation will assess if the program has met its targets as well as the cause of under-performance that might be evident. The evaluation process incorporates audits and reviews of the WHSS MS, which indicates whether corrective action is necessary as well as the appropriate recommendations. The outcome of the monitoring process is documentation of corrective actions fundamental in preventing occurrence of similar of more serious hazard incidents. 5.2 Monitoring the MS Regular monitoring of the MS will encompass vigorous evaluation strategies. Active strategies include work-based audits and inspections, regular protection and wellbeing committee meetings, and feedback from the training sessions. Any recommended preventive and remedial actions subsequent to investigations will be monitored frequently. 5.3 Reviewing the MS This will comprise a constant review of the risk assessment. Besides, the review will rely on records pertaining to accidents, ill health, and work-allied injuries as well as any emerging protection and wellbeing enforcement notices. 5.4 Changing the MS as a Result of Evaluation Subsequent to evaluation, the effectiveness and weakness of the MS program will be identified. A WHSS MS ought to embrace continual improvement (Hughes & Ferrett 2009, p. 525). Hence, if after evaluation the MS program proves ineffective, there will be a prime need to alter it. Moreover, any effort to alter the MS stipulates feedback from the staff. The feedback from the staff enhances reduction of risk levels as well as effectiveness of WHSS MS. The staff must be informed of the anticipated changes, the rationale behind the changes, and eventually approve the need for the change. Otherwise, failure to seek the staff’s approval may lead to the collapse of the entire change process. 6.0 Conclusion Organizational prosperity and yield is highly linked to protection and wellbeing within the organization. To enhance eminence of life and sustain the blazing economic growth, protection and wellbeing proves vital to economies. A well-organized and structured WHSS MS is vital for continuance of high protection and wellbeing standards within organizations. An effectual WHSS MS addresses workplace peril and is owned by the employees. A WHSS MS is prone to failure if the organization does not embrace protection and fit culture and does not involve all stakeholders. Consequently, failure of the WHSS MS may lead to development of loopholes in future development of effectual WHSS MS. Accordingly, the organization will not consider its efforts as the best practice. Likewise, the failure may lead to lack of effectual means of dealing with workplace hazards and allied risks. Hence, there may be emergent of future illnesses, injuries, and even death. Therefore, it is critical to execute a WHSS MS that will endorse corrective action where necessary. The WHSS MS may be employed as a reactive tactic subsequent to hazardous occurrences within the workplace. It is thus vital that an audit is conducted to check whether the safety behavior within an organization mirrors the required WHSS MS. Ultimately, for the WHSS MS system adopted, there ought to be continual improvement for it to succeed in the long term. References ANSI/AIHA Committee 2005, ‘American National Standard: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems,’ Virginia, AIHA. Bohle, P & Quinian, M 2000, ‘Managing occupational health and safety: a multidisciplinary approach,’ South Yarra, MacMillan Publishers Australia PTY LTD. Collins, D 2007, ‘Health and safety strategies 2007: case report,’ California, Workplace Law Group. 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Johnstone, R, Quinlin, M & Walters, D 2005, ‘Statutory occupational health and safety workplace arrangements for the modern labor market,’ The Journal of Industrial Relations vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 93-116. Marcus, A 1989, ‘Occupational health and safety in Turkey,’ Middle East Report no. 161, pp. 21-23. Meswani, H 2008, ‘Safety and occupational health: challenges and opportunities in emerging economies,’ Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 3-9. Thobaben, M & Woodward, W 1996, ‘Workplace security for home health care employees,’ Home Health Care Management Practice, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 58-65. Urquhart, J 2011, ‘Workplace health and safety management systems,’ Bloomington, Balboa Press. Wang, X, Wu, S, Song, Q, Tse, L, Yu, I, Wong, T, & Griffiths, S 2011, ‘Occupational health and safety challenges in China-focusing on township-village enterprises,’ Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 1-11. Appendices Appendix A: Corporate structure of Bell Labs Appendix C Read More