The 10 elements of the ASA system

The FCOS ASA system enables companies easily to fulfil their obligation to continuously improve safety in the workplace. An ASA system in accordance with FCOS Directive 6508 (ASA Directive) consists of the following 10 elements:

Clicking on the graphic will take you to the individual points of the ASA system.

• 1 Safety guidelines and safety targets

  1 Safety guidelines and safety targets

  

  Safety guidelines and safety targets are the starting point for every improvement. They include

  • a declaration of intent/mission statement from the management;

  • quantitative and qualitative targets.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • sets out this commitment in the form of a mission statement;
  • defines targets for occupational health and safety. 

  Further details can be found here

• 2 Safety organisation

  2 Safety organisation

  

  The safety organisation regulates the tasks and competencies by means of

  • organisational chart;

  • job descriptions,

     

    and regulates in particular

     

  • the involvement of ASA specialists;

  • cooperation with other companies.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • defines the processes, competencies and responsibilities in the company with a safety organisation;
  • regulates the tasks of the safety officer and line managers in job descriptions;
  • involves occupational safety specialists, particularly in the case of special hazards.

• 3 Training, briefing, provision of information

  3 Training, briefing, provision of information

  

  Planned and documented training, briefing and provision of information ensure that everyone in the company can work safely and correctly. This includes

  • briefing of employees;
  • further and ongoing training of the safety officer;
  • training for special hazards;

  • inclusion of temporary and third-party companies.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • systematically briefs employees and documents the instructions given;
  • facilitates further and ongoing training for the safety officer;
  • delegates work with special hazards only to appropriately trained employees;
  • carefully and comprehensively familiarises new employees and temporary workers within their area of responsibility.

  Further details can be found here

• 4 Safety rules

  4 Safety rules

  

  Safety rules set out the guiding principles for working safely in the company. Work instructions, operating instructions and general operating rules can be used to regulate the following areas in particular: 

  • personal protective equipment (PPE);
  • procurement and operation of work equipment;
  • maintenance;
  • conduct in the event of operational changes.

   

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • applies all relevant safety rules;
  • procures safe work equipment and ensures that it is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s information;
  • organises safety data sheets for all hazardous substances;
  • proactively obtains information in the event of operational changes and updates the safety regulations.

  Further details can be found here

• 5 Hazard identification and risk assessment

  5 Hazard identification and risk assessment

  

  Hazard identification and risk assessment ensure that the hazards in the company are known and that the necessary rules are in place. As part of this process,

  • all hazards in the company are systematically identified and documented;
  • all adverse incidents are investigated;
  • priorities are identified;
  • rules are drawn up or revised.

   

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • regularly, proactively and systematically identifies all hazards in the company;
  • evaluates the hazards;
  • carries out a risk assessment if required;
  • investigates incidents (accidents, near misses and property damage) in detail.

  Further details can be found here

• 6 Planning and implementation of measures

  6 Planning and implementation of measures

  

  Suitable measures are taken to eliminate or reduce the identified hazards. As part of the planning and implementation of measures,

  • the right priorities are set according to the S-T-O-P principle;
  • the most effective measures are selected;
  • the responsibilities for implementation are defined.

   

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • systematically plans and implements measures;
  • incorporates their findings into the safety system.

  Further details can be found here

• 7 Contingency planning

  7 Contingency planning

  

  Contingency planning minimises damage by ensuring that

  • the correct procedures are followed in an emergency;
  • alarms are sounded;
  • first aid is administered;

  • the expertise is in place for dealing with natural disasters.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • draws up a contingency plan based on all operational hazards.

  Further details can be found here

• 8 Employee involvement

  8 Employee involvement

  

  The employee involvement process turns those affected into stakeholders. It means that

  • employees are granted the right to have a say;

  • employees are encouraged to get involved.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • involves employees in the hazard identification and the implementation of measures;
  • gives employees a say in the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) and work equipment.

  Further details can be found here 

• 9 Health protection

  9 Health protection

  

  Health protection measures take into account the long-term effects of work on the health of employees. The topics to be considered include:

  • working environment/work materials;
  • workstation design/ergonomics;
  • infectious diseases;
  • staff facilities;
  • working hours;
  • psychosocial risk factors;
  • protection of special groups.

   

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • includes hazards to health in the hazard identification;
  • ensures that special protections are in place for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young employees.

  Further details can be found here

• 10 Audit and inspection

  10 Audit and inspection

  

  Audits and inspections are carried out regularly to verify 

  • the ASA system;

  • the achievement of targets.

     

  Someone who is committed to occupational health and safety

  • conducts tours of inspection of the premises with defined priorities;
  • reviews the company ASA system based on their observations;
  • adjusts the targets. 

  Further details can be found here