, SMA4803 ASSIGNMENT 4 ANSWERS
DUE DATE: OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1:
Documentation Examined When Evaluating a Safety Management System [10 Marks]
A Safety Management System (SMS) can only be evaluated effectively when the
organisation's relevant safety documentation is examined systematically. Documentation
provides evidence of whether safety policies and procedures exist, whether they are
implemented in practice, and whether management is actively monitoring workplace risks.
An effective evaluation should therefore examine both formal documents and records that
demonstrate actual safety performance.
The first document that should be examined is the organisation's occupational health and
safety policy. The policy should clearly communicate the organisation's commitment to
protecting employees and maintaining a workplace that is safe and without risks to health.
In South Africa, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 places a general duty
on employers to provide and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a working
environment that is safe and without risks to employees' health (Republic of South Africa,
1993). The policy should therefore not merely be a statement displayed on a wall; it should
provide direction for the organisation's safety objectives, responsibilities and procedures.
The evaluator should also examine risk assessments and hazard identification records.
These documents show whether the organisation regularly identifies hazards, assesses the
likelihood and severity of harm and determines appropriate control measures. Hazard
identification should be an ongoing process because workplaces change when new
equipment, materials, technologies, processes or employees are introduced. OSHA (2026)
recommends reviewing existing hazard information, conducting workplace inspections,
investigating incidents and prioritising hazards according to their severity and likelihood.
Another important category is job safety analysis (JSA) or job hazard analysis (JHA)
documentation. These records demonstrate whether the organisation has examined
DUE DATE: OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1:
Documentation Examined When Evaluating a Safety Management System [10 Marks]
A Safety Management System (SMS) can only be evaluated effectively when the
organisation's relevant safety documentation is examined systematically. Documentation
provides evidence of whether safety policies and procedures exist, whether they are
implemented in practice, and whether management is actively monitoring workplace risks.
An effective evaluation should therefore examine both formal documents and records that
demonstrate actual safety performance.
The first document that should be examined is the organisation's occupational health and
safety policy. The policy should clearly communicate the organisation's commitment to
protecting employees and maintaining a workplace that is safe and without risks to health.
In South Africa, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 places a general duty
on employers to provide and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a working
environment that is safe and without risks to employees' health (Republic of South Africa,
1993). The policy should therefore not merely be a statement displayed on a wall; it should
provide direction for the organisation's safety objectives, responsibilities and procedures.
The evaluator should also examine risk assessments and hazard identification records.
These documents show whether the organisation regularly identifies hazards, assesses the
likelihood and severity of harm and determines appropriate control measures. Hazard
identification should be an ongoing process because workplaces change when new
equipment, materials, technologies, processes or employees are introduced. OSHA (2026)
recommends reviewing existing hazard information, conducting workplace inspections,
investigating incidents and prioritising hazards according to their severity and likelihood.
Another important category is job safety analysis (JSA) or job hazard analysis (JHA)
documentation. These records demonstrate whether the organisation has examined
