What is occupational safety and health (OSH)? What is the risk assessment? Do I have to deal with these, at all? And if so, how seriously?

These are the questions business leaders wonder about, when they first time hear the phrase “occupational safety and health“.

LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING…

The purpose of OSH is to avoid and prevent accidents and health damage, which is supported by the development of safe working conditions and the basic knowledge of the OSH regulations.

Of course we will help you with learning of OSH rules and regulations.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW!!! … that the below article only contains an extract of the basic tasks, and does not cover all the OSH tasks, as a business shall meet diverse regulations during its operation. We do not mention here among others the handling of hazardous substances, safety coordination in the construction industry, etc…

1. Risk assessment

The employer must have a risk assessment in which the risks to the safety and health of employees are analysed. This must be done before starting the business. Risk assessment can only be carried out by an OSH professional.

You can learn more about risk assessment here.

2. Medical examinations

The employee must undergo a preliminary job aptitude examination before taking up employment. Thereafter, the examination shall be repeated with the frequency specified in the “medical examination regulations”. The procedures and results of these examinations shall be documented in written form by the employer.

3. Safety induction

Occupational safety and health induction shall be provided to employees when taking up employment and repeated annually, and shall be documented. Within the framework of theoretical education, the employee must get information on the regulations, standards and rules of conduct relating to safe and healthy working. The acquisition of general and occupational safety and health knowledge necessary to the workplace, role and function shall be ensured. The training shall also include the appropriate behavior in an emergency case or extraordinary working conditions.

You can learn more about the safety induction here.

4. OSH representative

An OSH representative must be elected at employers with more than 20 employees. The OSH representative represents the interests of employees and participates in consultations. They also cooperate with the employer to develop a safe and healthy working environment.

5. Personal protective equipment policy

Providing employees with personal protective equipment is the obligation and responsibility of the employer.

The personal protective equipment policy is defined by the employer in writing. Carrying out this task is qualified as professional occupational safety and health activity.

Act XCIII/1993 on Occupational Safety and Health 56. §

6. COMMISSIONING OF HAZARDOUS MACHINERY

Who shall get safety induction training?

Every employee is required to undergo occupational safety and health induction, regardless of the type of work they do (office, agricultural, industrial, etc.…)

WHY IS SAFETY INDUCTION NECESSARY?

During the safety induction, employees get theoretical and practical knowledge of safe work. They get acquainted with the applicable occupational safety and health rules, regulations and instructions related to their work.

When shall safety induction be provided?

a) when taking up employment,

b) at any change of workplace, function, or safe working conditions,

c) when transforming a work equipment or installing a new work equipment,

d) when launching new technology

Act XCIII/1993 on Occupational Safety and Health 55. § (1)

… so if your company has been so far, for example, working on a project in Karakószörcsök, and people are going to another project from there, e.g. to Ököritófülpös, they shall receive safety induction.

It is the same when, for example, a new production line has been set up in the production hall of your company.

It is important that safety induction shall always be provided in the normal working hours.
/OSH Act 55.§ (1) d)/

WHO CAN PROVIDE SAFETY INDUCTION?

Anyone. OSH induction for your employees can be provided even by you or an assigned person.

However, the educational thematics (that the education is based on) must be prepared by a certified OSH professional.

Types of safety induction:

• Preliminary : shall be done before taking up employment
• Periodical : its purpose is to maintain the already acquired knowledge
• Extraordinary : occurs in the event of a major occupational accident or extraordinary incident

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT SAFETY INDUCTION?

Not only theoretical but also practical knowledge (e.g. how to use a fire extinguisher, how to put on safety harness, etc…) must be provided during the training.

Must make sure, that the OSH induction is effective (asking back or test, etc…)

The training must be documented and the documentation must be kept for at least 5 years. The documentation shall include a reference to the educational thematics and be signed by all the participants.

Induction must be repeated from time to time. The frequency is determined by the employer (periodical OSH training).