It is of the utmost importance for all employers to be aware of the following when in the process of planning your occupational health and safety management system:

• The different categories of people that you should protect; and
• The regulations concerned with occupational health and safety applying to you and your business operations.

You first have to realise the importance of the above before policy statements are written, risk assessments conducted, or safety systems developed.

Different Categories of People and the Points to be addressed for each Category:

Employees

• Before employees carry out tasks an account should be taken of their capabilities. This includes their size, physical strength, sex, age, and their competence and experience regarding the tasks they are expected to perform;

• As soon as they are appointed, adequate training should be provided;

• It is your duty as employer to provide them with information regarding changes in procedures and systems of work on a routine refresher basis; and

• It is your duty as employer to provide them with information regarding the risks to health and safety associated with their jobs, their obligation regarding health and safety, the health and safety control measures, the accident, fire, and emergency procedures, the safe systems of work to be observed, and the results of any monitoring and health surveillance.

Employees with known disabilities

In addition to the points regarding employees:

• You as employer should ensure that employees do not handle substances or perform tasks that present certain risks for them; and

• It is a good idea to implement a staff health surveillance scheme. Pre-employment health checks and on-going records of employee absence, sickness, and complaints are included here. This scheme will help in identifying existing disabilities.

Trainees/Students/Temporary Workers

This is a particularly high risk group due to their inexperience and unfamiliarity.

• The same degree of protection as for full employees should be provided;

• Special provisions for trainees regarding your systems of work should be stipulated; and

• You as employer should demonstrate the point at which special provision is no longer needed for trainees for each system of work.

Visitors and the General Public

You as employer should ensure that your premises and activities do not present a risk to visitors or the general public.

• Visitors should not be left unaccompanied or gain access to hazardous areas;

• Appropriate safety notices, instructions, and directions should be displayed;

• You as employer should ensure that offices, changing rooms, and toilets used by visitors are at all times tidy and clean;

• All visitors should be provided with sufficient safety information;

• Sufficient protective clothing should always be available for use by visitors;

• You should ensure that you have a plan for the premises available if emergency services are deployed. The positions of hazardous areas (dangerous chemicals, gas cylinders, high voltages) are important; and

• You should consider your impact on the general public with regard to environmental hazards (fumes, noise, dust), as well as physical hazards (mud on the road, heavy works traffic).

Contractors

In addition to the points regarding visitors/general public:

• All contractors should be competent and their equipment should comply with statutory provisions;

• You as employer should ensure that contractors are fully informed of the hazards and risks to health and safety which they are exposed to on your site; and

• It is your duty to inform contractors of the measure taken by you and the measures they should take in order to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and your systems of work.