The Scope and Nature of Occupational Health And Safety

KEY INFORMATION:

• The Study of Health and Safety involves the study of many different subjects including Science (Chemistry, Physics and biology) ,Engineering, Psychology,Sociology and the Law.
• There are many barriers to good standards of Health and Safety in work place:Work place may be Complex ;There are often Competing and Conflicting demands placed upon people and organisation; The good Health and Safety practice often relies on the perfect behavior of induividuals;

•  Key Definitions are:

1. Health  -  The absence of disease.
2. Safety   -  The absence of Risk of serious personal injury.
3. Welfare -  Access to basic facilities.
4. Accident  -  An unplanned, unwanted event which leads to injury, damage or loss.
5. Near Miss  -  An unplanned, unwanted event that had the potential to lead to injury,damage or loss(but did not actually do so).
6. Dangerous occurrence  - A specified event that may have to be reported to the relevant authority by law.
7. Hazard  -  Something with potential to cause harm. 
8. Risk  - The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, in combination with the severity of injury, damage or loss that might occur.