Occupational Safety and Health Council

Communication and Understanding

Everyone needs to be clear about their respective obligations under a safety management system, both to themselves and to their colleagues. The active participation and involvement of both employers and employees is fundamental to turning good policy and procedure into health and safety at work.

Employers should develop:
	A safety organization to ensure that each persons role and responsibilities are understood, and that management commitments to safety can be met
	Safety training to equip all staff with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to perform their duties in a safe manner.
	A Risk Assessment programme which identifies the actual and potential risks of each individual, with the aim of providing suitable equipment and use of it to ensure that risks are minimized.
	A working environment that is safe and without risk to health.

Employees should:
	Follow the safety rules and work procedures set out in the safety management system.
	Take an active part in attending safety and health training.
	Report to your employer any potential job hazards.
	Make suggestions on safety improvement to your supervisor ad employer.
	Cooperate with the relevant authorities in reporting breaches of statutory requirements.

Additionally, employers should consider the following elements:
	A Health Assurance programme which commits administrative and technological resources to the ongoing task of protecting workers from health hazards.
	A Safety Committee to take on formal responsibility for safety and health, with wide representation, including employees, from all major aspects of the operation.
	Safety promotion to increase the awareness and enlist the support of everyone at work in safety management.

The Government has the duties to

Legislate - enact and improve workplace safety and health legislation.

Enforce- provide adequate resources to inspect workplaces and to advise employers and employees to comply with the law and codes of practice.

The Occupational Safety and Health Council and the Labour Department are ready to support employers and employees in creating a safety culture. Our support includes:
	Advice and Encouragement - for enterprises on how to comply with statutory requirements, and arrangements for occupational health and hygiene matters.
	Training & Education - accrediting and monitoring safety training organizations, organizing courses, seminars and workshops.
	Standards & Guidance - putting together guides to legislation and approving codes of practice.
	Publicity & Promotion - promoting safety culture through mass media and other channels.
	Others- research, safety audit and consultancy services.