What is a System?
A "system" may be thought of as an orderly arrangement of interdependent activities and related procedures which implement and facilitate the performance of a major activity within an organization. (American Society of Safety Engineers, Dictionary of Terms)
Take a look at Syssie, the cow. Syssie is a system, right? You can tell she is a cow because she looks like one: she has "structure." She needs food, air, water, a suitable environment, tender loving care, and other "inputs" to function properly. We know she has respiratory, digestion, circulation, and many other "processes" inside. Finally, she produces outputs like milk, waste products, and behavior.
Just like Syssie, the Construction Safety Management Systems are composed of the same four basic components:
- Structure: The CSMS may be formal, informal, simple or complex, depending on the size and nature of the organization. The structure is reflected in the organizational chart.
- Inputs: Inputs include money, people, materials, equipment, and time.
- Processes: Processes include inspections, training, investigations, safe procedures, and recognition.
- Outputs: Examples of CSMS outputs include safe/unsafe behaviors, products, services, morale, and quality.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. Which of the following would be an output of the construction safety management system (CSMS)?
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