MNO2603 EXAM PACK

Safety Management mno2603 STUDY UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY MANAGEMENT 1.1 Introduction Managing safety in all contexts of life requires specific knowledge, skills and intentions in order to prevent unsafety and ensure safety. Unsafety implies harm to people or damage to property, equipment, business operations, natural environment or environmental ecosystems. 1.2 Historical developments before the Industrial Revolution (i) Code of Hammarubi This code introduced the practice of noticing and dealing with injuries in the workplace. Payments were made to physicians who treated such injuries, while workers who injured others were charged financially or punished on an eye-for-eye basis. (ii) Rameses II Rameses introduced an industrial medical service for workers, regular cleansing of workers by bathing in the Nile River and isolating injured workers. (iii) Romans The Romans improved the general quality of life and workplace standards by building aqueducts, sewerage systems, public baths, latrines and ventilated houses. 1.2.1 Employer liability During Industrial Revolution, no prescriptions governing safe working conditions existed. In the second half of the 19th century, laws for making the workplace safe were passed. These laws introduced employer liability and government inspection programmes to oversee their implementation. 1.2.2 Making equipment safer During the late 19t century, efforts to enhance safety in the workplace took a different form. The use of child labour declined and was later abolished. Safety measures for the design and maintenance of different types of machines became a legal requirement. Fire escapes became mandatory. 1.2.3 Employee compensation This legislation determined that an employer’s compensation to the injured employee did not depend on whether either party had been negligent or not. The assumption was that both parties were jointly responsible. 1.2.4 Safety regulations and inspections The second half of the 20th century saw a drastic increase in government regulations pertaining to security. The compliance with legislation set a clear direction for ensuring safety in the workplace. Government inspections of focused on identifying and rectifying fau