Other safety policy considerations

The inclusion of an organisation chart can be helpful, especially in larger organisations, to clarify the reporting lines between different functional areas of the business. 

Circulation/distribution of the policy is important - it must be brought to the attention of all the employees . This means that it must be read and understood by all those affected by it. How this is best achieved v4ll be a matter for discussion. 

In some organisations, a complete copy is given to each employee. In others, a shortened version is given out, with a full copy available for inspection at each workplace. Members of the management team should be familiar with the complete document. If it is likely to be revised frequently, a loose-leaf format v/ill be advisable. This is especially true if the names and contact phone numbers of staff are printed in it these are likely to change frequently. 

A growing problem is the increasing use of workers whose native language is not English. It is hard to see how a document can be brought to someone s attention if they are unable to read it, and this implies translation of the policy into relevant languages. 

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Any action used to introduce the safety policy statement must be done after consideration of current and past policies, actions, and events that have been implemented. If other policies are not enforced, then the safety policy statement may also follow the same fate. In addition, be aware of resistance to following policy in the form of cynical comments by employees that can indicate lack of acceptance or rejection. The key to a successful safety policy statement is to periodically involve all employees in its review. 

To co-ordinate and achieve these objectives, the keystone is a safety policy statement. The design and other considerations for this policy are discussed in the next chapter. 

Amongst other things then, CHIP required that suppliers classified the substances they supplied according to the extent of hazard they represented to human health. It required they used the R-phrase rating system to do so and that suppliers state the appropriate R-phrase on the Safety Data Sheets they were obliged to provide when supplying chemicals or preparations for use at work. These measures were to be of considerable significance in relation to the future policy expectations... 

ALARA is an acronym that stands for as low as reasonably achievable. It is a policy that means making every reasonable effort to maintaining exposures to radiation as far below the dose limits as is practical consistent with the purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed materials in the public interest. 

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