Page 16 - IGC BOOK

Insurance Companies - major role played to enforce health and safety in an organisation, they
carry out inspections and audits on regular intervals. Insurance companies can influence in
increasing standards in an organisation as they can increase the insurance premiums or deny
insurance coverage completely, unless required standards are fulfilled.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The consequences of non-compliance will be based on
the powers of the enforcement agencies. The following
consequence may be applicable if an employer breaches
a health and safety legislation.

• Issuing enforcement notices: which insists the
employer to improve health and safety in the
workplace, especially where high risk activities
being carried out, the improvement notice may
warrant to stop continuing with high risk activities Breach of health and safety law
lead to legal actions
until improvements are made. Failure to comply
with enforcement action can lead to criminal offence may result in taking action to
prosecute.
• Fixed penalty fine: given by the enforcement agency without the need to prosecute in the
criminal court.
• Prosecute the employer in the criminal court: this might result in fines, imprisonment,
continued prohibition of unsafe actions until risks are improved.
• Withdrawal of License: enforcement agency can withdraw license which is required to
carry out specific activity.

Other National and International standards

International Standards

International Organisations for standardisation are a non-governmental organisation, they
develop management standards.
Standards that ISO has developed includes:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Standard (QMS)
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System (EMS)
• ISO 12100 – Safety of Machinery

These standards are not legal documents but still they are adopted by many countries globally,
these standards demonstrate good management practices. The ultimate objective of an
organisation is to achieve management quality and environment.
There is also an international standard for occupational health and safety management:

• ISO 45001:2018
• HSEG65

ENSIGN| Unit IG1 – Element 1 – Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and 8
Safety