Setting Health and Safety Goals

10 Oct Setting Health and Safety Goals

Those who work in/for businesses that have ISO 9001, 1400, or 45001 health and safety systems in place, will be aware of the requirement to have documented and measurable business goals/objectives in place to meet the relevant standards.

Those businesses that went down the ACC Workplace Safety management practices route will also know the requirement to have their health and safety objectives in place.

So, let’s clarify what health and safety goals and objectives are, how they are different, and how they can be applied to your business.

Setting Health and Safety Goals

A misconception is that goals and objectives are the same thing, but applied in different ways.

The key point here is that they are both applicable, and thought has gone into their development, for the benefit of a business, health and safety, or for personal life.

What is a goal?

They are simply a list of dreams, ideas, or intentions that are documented in a prioritized list to work towards.

To better describe this, consider the word GOALS as an acronym:

G = Gameplan

O = Of

A = Achieving

L = Life’s (the health and safety plans)

S = Successes

The usual point of difference between goals and objectives is measurement, and both of these two planning documents should be written down and reviewed on a scheduled basis to measure their progress and completion.

Business and Health and Safety Objectives

The key difference in these plans are that they include different strategy and completion measurements, like:

1. Quality;
2. Quantity;
3. Time;
4. Cost; and
5. Value and other quantifiable factors.

When writing clear and concise objectives, consider the SMART approach of making your objectives:

Specific – to the point of what you want to achieve;

Measurable – see the five previous measurement points;

Achievable – don’t develop objectives that are too far out there that they can’t be met;

Realistic – do you have the ability or capability to meet the timelines for the objectives?

Time bound – allocate realistic time frames and responsibilities from others to meet their outcomes.

Allocation of Resources

The allocation or delegation of resources (the man power, skills, machinery or materials to met the outcome of the objectives) is a major factor to achieve what is expected.

The Health and Safety Budget

Another key factor for the success of the business objectives is having an adequate budget to achieve the objectives.

Review each objective, allocate adequate budget to it, measure the expenditure, and be prepared to allocate additional monies to it.

The Review Process

This process should be on a scheduled basis by the PCBU (management team),where it is reviewed and discussed as part of the management review process for the completion dates as allocated.

Nobody plans to fail, so why fail to plan?

Other suggested articles:

• Do I need ISO 45001 for my business?
• Health and Safety for Contractors Onsite
• Reviewing your H&S Documents
• What is a Health and Safety Policy?
• Using a Software Solution for Health and Safety Management
• How Often Should Hazards be Reviewed?

Please contact us if you would like to discuss.