29 Apr Avoiding Injury can be as easy as training your staff and providing information
The value of safe operating procedures should never be underestimated and from the enquiries we have been receiving, many businesses are starting to realise this value to help mitigate incidences –see a recent article by WorkSafe.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 is very specific about the supply of information and the training of employees (as set out below), so the question has to be asked, “how does your business comply with this provision of the Act?”
One way to achieve this is to develop or purchase safe operating procedures for your workplace, and to use these to train your employees. There is also the added benefit of having consistency in the operation of all the tasks and use of machinery in your business, helping to mitigate risk.
It’s not an option to not train your employees – as the consequences (as so many are starting to find out) are more expensive than not investing in proper procedures to train.
Section 36 from the Health and Safety at Work Act
Primary duty of care
(1)A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of—
(a)workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking; and
(b)workers whose activities in carrying out work are influenced or directed by the PCBU, while the workers are carrying out the work.
(2)A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking.
(3)Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,—
(a)the provision and maintenance of a work environment that is without risks to health and safety; and
(b)the provision and maintenance of safe plant and structures; and
(c)the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work; and
(d)the safe use, handling, and storage of plant, substances, and structures; and
(e)the provision of adequate facilities for the welfare at work of workers in carrying out work for the business or undertaking, including ensuring access to those facilities; and
(f)the provision of any information, training, instruction, or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking; and
(g)that the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing injury or illness of workers arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking.
To view our range of Safe Operating Procedures, please click here.
Please contact us if you wish to discuss this further.