What is the plan do check act process? Two widely recognized management systems ILO-OSH 2001 and ISO 45001:2018 are based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act management cycle. The ISO 45001:2018 standard, the PDCA Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle is applied throughout its implementation in the organization when you write health and safety policy. We are applying the planning stage when defining our own Occupational Health and Safety policy and identifying the objectives.
After that, we identify the processes to be carried out to achieve these objectives. This action represents the second stage of the objective cycle of this article, that is, the “Do” stage. Finally, when it is applied the revision and adjustments are carried out, proceeding with the last two stages of the cycle.
With the above, we want to highlight that even in the determination of the organization’s Occupational Health and Safety policy, the methodology of the PDCA Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle is being used, although in its construction we are not fully aware that we are using it. As we can see, it is a really useful tool, and it can be much more beneficial if used consciously and constructively.
What is the plan do check act process Hse?
However, A basic and essential element in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 is the famous Plan-Do-Check-Act PDCA. This cycle is not only usable in such standards, but is also widely considered in the OHSAS 18001 standard. The PDCA Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle is a widely accepted work methodology. Now, it is worth asking in what specific area this cycle is applied, within an Occupational Health and Safety Management System by the OSHAS 18001 standard.
Given the above, we see the interdependence between the four parts of the cycle. So, if any of them is not carried out properly, it will result in low performance of the organization and non-compliance with the objectives related to the Occupational Health and Safety policy. This highlights the paramount importance of the correct completion of the cycle.
In addition to achieving these benefits of optimizing performance and meeting objectives, the execution of the cycle in support of the organization contributes to protecting its employees and other interested parties, as well as helping to improve the commercial image.
Plan Do Check Act definition
In general terms, this logical and staged procedure that allows the continuous improvement of ORGANIZATION includes four steps or components:
Plan: plans must be drawn up to improve the health and safety of workers, defining what is being done incorrectly, or what can be done in a better way. It is the central axis of the management system. ?
Do: carry out the actions that have been planned
Check: examine the actions and procedures to check if the expected results are being achieved
Act: implement improvement measures to increase the effectiveness of all actions in the field of safety and health at work. ?
Let’s look at each stage in detail.
Planning: the central axis of the management system
In this first stage of the cycle, the necessary objectives are established, as well as the processes to be developed to achieve the results established in the Occupational Health and Safety policy of the organization itself.
Planning lays the groundwork for identifying threats, assessing associated risks, and establishing controls. A vital phase in any Occupational Health and Safety Management System, given that if such planning is not carried out correctly, the achievement of the objectives of the Organization is jeopardized, giving rise to incidents.
Planning is the axis on which all other actions are mounted. It is a stage that answers questions such as: What will be done to ensure the health and safety of workers?
- How will it be done?
- When?
- Where?
- With who?
- How will it be evaluated?
- With what data?
Planning is in itself a logical and staged procedure that allows continuous improvement of health and safety management systems.
Do: consolidate, inform and document
Implementation and execution: here the resources to be used are defined and the processes are built. According to the deficiencies in this part, the greater or lesser performance of the ORGANIZATION is evidenced. This has been the second stage of the cycle, “Do”.
The “Do” component includes all those actions aimed at specifying or carrying out what is defined in the plans. In other words, execute as planned. This step also includes actions such as collecting all the data and information necessary to monitor and evaluate the process.
Likewise, “doing” includes the documentation of everything that is done and what has not been done.
Check: review and detect voids and fractures
Verification: the process of supervising the performance of the ORGANIZATION and the evaluation of the data is defined, to take them as references to undertake improvement actions. This would correspond to the “Check” stage of the cycle
This stage consists of making a follow-up that allows taking an evaluation of the process and seeing the fulfilment of the Occupational Health and Safety policy, the objectives and legal requirements, to report on the results obtained from the said evaluation.
The verification process is an important step within the logical and staged procedure that allows continuous improvement. It is defined as a review of the actions and procedures implemented, to assess whether or not the expected results have been achieved.
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The essential questions to guide this important process are:
- Was the plan carried out?
- What mechanisms are in place to check the application of health and safety?
- What was the impact of the plans in reducing incidents, accidents and work-related illnesses?
Act: the essence of continuous improvement
Finally, with the continuous improvement requirement on which the OSHAS 18001 standard is based, the “Act” stage would be fulfilled. Specifically, and within this standard, we have the clauses that refer to the same “incident investigation”, “internal audit” or “corrective action”.
Acting, in the PDCA cycle, is a crucial step for the system to progressively improve itself and come closer to the ideal model of zero fatal accidents and the minimum possible occupational illnesses. In this phase, actions are developed to increase the benefits in terms of health and safety for workers.
The questions that guide this process are:
- What was learned after the implementation of the plan during a certain period?
- What failures or errors cannot be repeated?
- What needs to be improved?
- How can it be improved?
What is the logical and staged procedure?
ACT requires compliance with 10 steps. These steps are adjusted to a logical and staged procedure that allows continuous improvement. They are completely consistent with the PDCA cycle and correlate as follows:
PLAN
Step 1. Initial evaluation of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Step 2. Identification of hazards, Evaluation, Risk Assessment and Management of the same.
Step 3. Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Objectives
Step 4. Annual Work Plan for the Occupational Health and Safety Management System and allocation of resources
DO
Step 5. The training program, training, induction and re-induction in OHS.
Step 6. Prevention, preparation and response to emergencies.
Step 7. Report and investigate incidents, work accidents and occupational diseases.
Step 8. Documentations
CHECK
Step 9. Evaluation and evaluation of OSH management.
ACT
Step 10. Preventive or corrective actions.
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