Critically analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of health and safety management systems (HSMS) in an organisation of your choice. Among other things, this analysis should specifically consider the various stages of HSMSs and the ways in which the effectiveness of such systems can be analysed and measured.

1. ZANKO, M. and DAWSON, P., 2012. Occupational Health and Safety Management in Organizations: A Review. International Journal of Management Reviews, 14, pp. 328–344.

2. AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU, 2012. A systematic review of the effectiveness of safety management systems. Canberra: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

3. YOON, S. J., et al., 2013. Effect of Occupational Health and Safety Management System on Work-Related Accident Rate and Differences of Occupational Health and Safety Management System Awareness between Managers in South Korea’s Construction Industry. Safety and Health at Work, 4, pp. 201-209.

4. PODGORSKI, D., 2015. Measuring operational performance of OSH management system – A demonstration of AHP-based selection of leading key performance indicators. Safety Science, 73, pp. 146–166.

5. SINELNIKOV, S., INOUYE, J. and KERPER, S., 2015. Using leading indicators to measure occupational health and safety performance. Safety Science, 72, pp. 240–248.

                                                        SAMPLE SOLUTION

Effective safety management system consists of four essential elements including identification of safety hazards within the organizational setting and associated risk exposures to workers and the public; an elaborate remedial action focused on maintaining safety performance; continuous and regular assessment and monitoring of safety performance and; continuous improvement of the safety management system’s overall performance. It important to note that the concept of safety management system has historically evolved from a haphazard collection of activities considered as best practices to promoting safety across a wide range of industrial contexts. Notably, occupational health and safety is critical in maintaining workers health and wellbeing that positively impacts the productivity and economic efficiency of an organization through reduced occupational accidents and diseases. This can be achieved through effective occupational health and safety management system; a health and safety program that is focused on health and safety systems, policies, standards, as well as records, and that incorporates health and safety activities and program into the organization’s other business processes. Indeed, an effective occupational health and safety management system underpins the ability of an organization to continuously monitor, assess and identify hazards and control risks. Epworth HealthCare has a very effective health and safety management system that is comprehensive and integrated as regards the control measures adopted by the organization concerning the occurrence of incidents at the facility