📖 Introduction
A policy and organisation structure are only useful if they are put into practical action.
This is where planning and implementation come in. Employers must plan how risks will be controlled,
resources allocated, and safe systems established. Without proper planning, safety remains only on paper.
In this lecture, we explore the role of planning, risk assessment, setting objectives,
and implementing control measures to build an effective health and safety management system.
🎯 Learning Outcomes
- Understand why planning is essential in health and safety management
- Describe the role of risk assessment
- Explain the hierarchy of control measures
- Recognise how to set objectives and allocate resources
🗂️ The Importance of Planning
Planning ensures that risks are identified, evaluated, and controlled before
they cause harm. It prevents reactive management, where action is taken only after accidents occur.
Effective planning includes:
- Identifying hazards and assessing risks
- Setting health and safety objectives
- Deciding on control measures
- Allocating resources (people, time, money, equipment)
- Creating safe systems of work
⚠️ Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is the foundation of planning.
It is a systematic process to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine suitable controls.
Steps in Risk Assessment:
- Identify hazards
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- Record findings and implement them
- Review and update assessment as necessary
📊 The Hierarchy of Control
When planning risk control measures, employers should follow the hierarchy of control:
- Elimination – remove the hazard entirely
- Substitution – replace with a safer alternative
- Engineering controls – isolate people from hazards
- Administrative controls – change work practices
- PPE – provide personal protective equipment (last resort)
👉 PPE should never be the only solution unless other controls are not possible.
🎯 Setting Objectives and Targets
Clear safety objectives guide planning and help measure performance. Objectives should be:
- ✔️ Specific
- ✔️ Measurable
- ✔️ Achievable
- ✔️ Relevant
- ✔️ Time-bound (SMART)
For example: “Reduce manual handling injuries by 20% within the next 12 months.”
🔧 Implementation of Controls
Implementation means turning plans into action. It includes:
- Assigning responsibilities
- Providing necessary training and supervision
- Ensuring equipment and resources are available
- Establishing safe systems of work
- Preparing emergency procedures
🏢 Case Snapshot
A manufacturing company planned to reduce noise exposure.
Through risk assessment, they identified high-noise machinery.
By installing noise barriers and rotating staff shifts, noise levels fell below legal limits,
demonstrating how planned controls improve workplace health.
📝 Mini Quiz (Self-Check)
- What are the five steps of risk assessment?
- List the hierarchy of control measures.
- Give an example of a SMART health and safety objective.
🔑 Summary
- Planning and implementation make health and safety policies practical.
- Risk assessment identifies hazards and ensures proper controls.
- The hierarchy of control prioritises elimination and substitution over PPE.
- Objectives and targets give direction and allow performance measurement.
- Implementation ensures resources, training, and procedures are in place.
🚀 What’s Next in IG1
Lecture 7: Measuring Health and Safety Performance
We will explore how organisations check whether their plans are working through active and reactive monitoring.