ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses upon the consideration which needs to be given to establishing an effective organizational framework to underpin successful health and safety management. Contracting organizations, like organizations in many other business sectors, have had to respond to considerable changes within their respective marketplace. In so doing, many have established management systems in response to particular demands, such as quality assurance, environmental impact and, indeed, health and safety. It is not uncommon for the term 'system' to be confused with 'management'. In this chapter the concept of the organization establishing a parent management system and specific management concepts being the subsystem functions, of which health and safety is one important function, is presented. The chapter provides the basis for appreciating the fundamental aspects and issues associated with organizational framework and sets the scene for considering management structure and health and safety management system development.
