Activity 3: Safety culture maturity model
Activity 3: Safety culture maturity model
(a) Regardless of whether your organization meets the minimum specific criteria for adoption of the model, evaluate, with reasoning, which level of the SCMM best fits your chosen organization.
Let's take the example of a manufacturing company, Eric & Sons Ltd., and evaluate which level of the HSE Safety Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) best fits this organization.
Eric & Sons Limited is a company that manufactures automobile parts and has been in operation for more than a decade. The company has implemented various safety policies and procedures to ensure the well-being of its employees. The company has a dedicated health and safety team responsible for conducting regular safety audits and inspections, as well as providing training to employees on safety practices.
Level 3 of the SCMM, the Proactive Level, is the most suitable level for Eric & Sons Ltd. to be placed in. At this level, the company has implemented systems and processes to proactively manage safety, and there is a culture of continuous improvement. The key characteristics of this level are:
Safety management systems are established, documented, and communicated throughout the organization.
Employees are involved in safety-related decision-making processes.
Safety performance is measured and monitored regularly.
The company has a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Eric & Sons Ltd. has demonstrated several of these characteristics. The company has established a safety management system that includes policies and procedures, risk assessments, and incident reporting. This system is communicated to all employees through regular training sessions and safety briefings. The company also involves employees in safety-related decision-making processes through safety committees and suggestion programs.
Eric & Sons Ltd. regularly measures and monitors its safety performance through audits, inspections, and incident investigations. The company has a dedicated health and safety team responsible for managing safety-related issues and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The team also conducts regular safety training sessions for employees to keep them up-to-date with the latest safety practices and procedures.
Eric & Son Ltd. has also demonstrated a culture of continuous improvement and learning. The company regularly reviews its safety management system to identify areas for improvement and implements corrective actions where necessary. The company encourages employees to report safety incidents and hazards through an anonymous reporting system, and uses this information to identify trends and implement preventive measures.
Proactive Approach: Eric & Sons Company actively seeks to understand and address social and ethical concerns related to its operations. It goes beyond mere compliance and actively anticipates and mitigates potential social impacts of its products, services, and practices. It takes a leadership position in sustainability, diversity, and social responsibility, and aims to positively contribute to the society and environment.
Stakeholder Engagement: Eric &Sons engages with various stakeholders, such as customers, employees, partners, local communities, and regulatory bodies, to understand their perspectives and concerns. It actively seeks feedback and incorporates it into its decision-making processes. XYZ Tech Inc. proactively communicates with stakeholders about its social and ethical initiatives and progress.
Social Impact Assessment: Eric & Sons conducts comprehensive social impact assessments to identify and address potential positive and negative impacts of its products, services, and practices on society, including issues related to environmental sustainability, human rights, labor practices, diversity, and inclusion. It takes steps to mitigate negative impacts and maximize positive impacts.
Integrated Approach: Eric & Sons integrates social and ethical considerations into its overall business strategy, operations, and decision-making processes. It embeds sustainability, diversity, and social responsibility into its corporate culture, values, and practices. It promotes responsible innovation and strives to create value for all stakeholders, including society at large.
Overall, Eric & Sons Ltd. has demonstrated several key characteristics of the Proactive Level of the SCMM. The company has established a safety management system, involved employees in safety-related decision-making processes, measured and monitored safety performance, and demonstrated a culture of continuous improvement and learning. However, there is still room for improvement, and the company can work towards implementing more advanced safety practices and procedures to reach the higher levels of the SCMM.
Activity 4: Training
(a) Comment on the strengths and weaknesses in your chosen organizations approach to health and safety training for Step 5: Check the training has worked.
The strengths of Step 5 include:
Improvement of training effectiveness: By checking the effectiveness of the training, organizations can identify areas where the training needs improvement. This helps to ensure that the training is effective and relevant to the employees.
Reduction of accidents and incidents: By checking that the training has been effective, organizations can ensure that employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their work safely. This can help to prevent accidents and incidents in the workplace.
Evaluate incident reports: The Company could evaluate incident reports to identify any incidents or near misses that are related to the use of machinery. This would help to identify any gaps in the training and provide an opportunity to reinforce the training where necessary.
Compliance with legal requirements: Checking the effectiveness of training can help organizations to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements for health and safety training.
Regular evaluations: The organization conducts regular evaluations of the health and safety training provided to assess its effectiveness in improving the health and safety performance of the organization.
Use of metrics: The organization uses metrics such as accident/incident rates, near misses, and employee feedback to measure the effectiveness of the health and safety training provided.
Continuous improvement: The organization is committed to continuous improvement of its health and safety training program and takes corrective action based on the evaluation results.
Conduct surveys: The Company could conduct surveys to gather feedback from employees on the effectiveness of the training. This would provide valuable insight into the employees' perception of the training and any areas where improvements could be made.
Measurement of effectiveness: The effectiveness of this improvement can be measured by comparing the results of the evaluation before and after the implementation of the improvement.
Weaknesses
Lack of resources: Some organizations may not have the resources to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the training. This can result in a lack of understanding of the effectiveness of the training, leading to the continuation of ineffective training.
Over-reliance on feedback: Some organizations may rely solely on feedback from employees to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. While employee feedback is important, it may not provide a comprehensive picture of the training's effectiveness.
Incomplete evaluation: Some organizations may not conduct a complete evaluation of the training, which can result in a failure to identify gaps and shortcomings in the training.
None Conductive of observations: The Company could observe employees using the machinery to ensure that they are following the correct procedures and using the safety equipment provided. This would help to identify any gaps in the training and provide an opportunity to reinforce the training where necessary.
None Evaluation incident reports: The Company could evaluate incident reports to identify any incidents or near misses that are related to the use of machinery. This would help to identify any gaps in the training and provide an opportunity to reinforce the training where necessary.
None Conduct surveys: The Company could conduct surveys to gather feedback from employees on the effectiveness of the training. This would provide valuable insight into the employees' perception of the training and any areas where improvements could be made.
No corrective action: The organization does not take corrective action based on the evaluation results, and there is no commitment to continuous improvement.
No formal follow up process: There is no formal process for following up on identified areas for improvement to ensure that corrective action is taken.
Employee based feedback: The evaluation process relies heavily on employee feedback, which may not always be reliable or accurate.
Limited Data analytics: There is limited use of data analytics or other objective measures to assess the impact of training on safety outcomes.
Activity 5: Monitoring and measuring Audits
Compare the manufacturing company against each of the ten requirements from the Audit Standard. Here are some possible observations:
The manufacturing company does have a documented quality management system in place, which is available to all employees and is regularly updated.
The manufacturing company has a process for identifying and addressing non-conformances, which is documented and regularly reviewed.
The manufacturing company has a process for identifying and addressing corrective actions, which is documented and regularly reviewed.
The manufacturing company has a process for identifying and addressing preventive actions, which is documented and regularly reviewed.
The manufacturing company has a process for identifying and addressing customer complaints, which is documented and regularly reviewed.
The manufacturing company has a process for measuring customer satisfaction, which is documented and regularly reviewed.
The manufacturing company has a process for monitoring and measuring product conformity, which includes regular testing and inspection of products.
The manufacturing company has a process for monitoring and measuring process performance, which includes regular data collection and analysis of key performance indicators.
The manufacturing company has a process for conducting internal audits, which is documented and includes regular audits of key processes.
The manufacturing company has a process for conducting management reviews, which is documented and includes regular reviews of the quality management system and key performance indicators.
Analyze the results of the comparison to determine if the manufacturing company meets the requirements of the audit standard. Based on the observations made above, the manufacturing company appears to meet all ten of the selected requirements from the Audit Standard.
Legislative requirements
There are several pieces of legislation that may be relevant to contractor management. Some common areas of legislation that may apply to contractor management include:
Labor and employment laws: These laws govern the relationship between employers and workers, including contractors. They may cover areas such as wages, hours of work, employment contracts, discrimination, health and safety, and workers' compensation. Examples of labor and employment laws that may apply to contractor management include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the United States, the Employment Standards Act in Canada, and the Fair Work Act in Australia.
Tax laws: Contractors are generally responsible for their own tax obligations, including income taxes and self-employment taxes. However, there may be specific tax laws that apply to contractors, such as requirements for withholding taxes, reporting income, and issuing tax forms. These laws may be governed by national, state, or local tax codes, and it's important for organizations to ensure compliance with relevant tax laws.
Occupational health and safety laws: These laws aim to protect the health and safety of workers, including contractors, in the workplace. They may include regulations related to workplace hazards, safety standards, training requirements, and recordkeeping. Examples of occupational health and safety laws that may apply to contractor management include the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in the United States, the Occupational Health and Safety Act in Canada, and the Work Health and Safety Act in Australia.
Contracting and procurement laws: These laws govern the process of engaging and managing contractors, including contract formation, performance, and termination. They may cover areas such as contract requirements, procurement processes, performance evaluation, and dispute resolution. These laws may be specific to the industry or sector in which the contractor is engaged, such as construction, IT, or consulting.
Licensing and certification laws: Depending on the nature of the work being performed, contractors may be required to hold certain licenses or certifications. These laws may specify the qualifications, training, and ongoing requirements for contractors to legally perform their work. Examples of licensing and certification laws that may apply to contractor management include professional licensing boards for engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, and other trades.
