Notification systems and risk management

Résumé

In an occupational context, “Notification” understood as “the act of telling someone officially about something, or a document that does this”, (in Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus), may reveal a management approach. The ILO Code of Practice on Recording and Notification of Occupational Accidents and Diseases provides practical guidelines for establishing and use a national system for recording and notification of occupational diseases.

In the European Union, there is a legal obligation to report occupational accidents and diseases. Such is the case, e.g. with RIDDOR making reporting certain incidents a legal requirement. The report informs the enforcing authorities about deaths, injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences. Mandatory notification procedures may also arise from certain types of specific hazards, such as exposure to biological agents.

Also relevant are reporting procedures in non-compulsory management systems, namely the ILO Guidelines on OH&S management systems, when considering performance monitoring and measurement, clearly states that “Reactive monitoring should include the identification, reporting and investigation of: (a) work-related injuries, ill health (including monitoring of aggregate sickness absence records), diseases and incidents(…)”.

Findings from a case study over a 5 year period, based upon a notification system from one organization alone comprehending 736 records and 915 workers directly involved, supports a main conclusion. A notification system is not by itself enough in prevention terms. The validity of the required information and the way it is demanded is also fundamental to obtain the best adequate records. The statistical data treatment is a critical stage, for changes regarding preventive actions and measures are based upon such findings and conclusions.

Statistical treatment of data is fundamental to achieve adequate use of the data collected. Multiple correspondences analysis privileges tables of relevant size comprising simultaneously variables of distinct nature: quantifiable and qualitative and it helps in describing the complex relationships that may exist among variables, both independent and dependent (Dohoo, 1996).

The mentioned study comprises a total of 47 management variables and a set of multiple sub-variables, resulting from the notification system analysed. The results obtained identify management variables that may be considered transversal to other economical sectors, from the workers’ point of view (gender, professional classification and others) and specific to the sector if the employers’ point of view is considered (day of the week, type of accident, communication procedures, contributive factors, (…)).

This study aims to design, implement and validate notification system as both a transversal and sectoral information system in OH&S risk management. A notification system should provide effective and adequate flow of information within a proactive prevention context.