Workplace injuries don’t just cost people’s safety. They cost organisations a lot of time, money and productivity as well. This risk is heightened if the correct policies are not maintained. That is why Work Health Safety policies are the best measure to prevent injuries.
Furthermore, legislation requirements within WHS in Australia need to be managed carefully. So it’s essential, as an employer, that you implement and monitor these WHS policies:
Keep employees informed about WHS policies
At a fundamental level, it is the responsibility of the employer to keep workers safe. Keeping them informed about the potential hazards in the workplace is the best way to do this.
There are multiple methods of providing this information:
- Provide you WHS policies and procedures as printed documents which they are expected to read, understand, and sign.
- Produce instructional manuals
- Publish reports – such as hazardous material reports.
- Provide specific training workshops
- Or diffuse the information electronically via an integrated WHS management system.
Whatever medium you choose to communicate safety information, it’s recommended that you use a professional and empathetic approach and voice. You might even want to create employee-led forums where questions and concerns can be aired.
Do A Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
Running TNA helps you uncover the gap between the necessary skills and the current knowledge level of workers. It is the beginning of the process of ensuring employees have the capacity to perform their role safely and effectively.
TNA can be carried out by using various techniques:
- Using feedback from supervisors
- Questioning the team about their work tasks
- Directly observing whilst workers perform their task
- Referring to employment records
- Conducting formal interviews
Once you have completed the analysis, and targeted what employees need to know, you can start to create a training plan.
WHS Training
Many instances of injury or accident can be prevented through the implementation and monitoring of WHS training programs. Training programs are a brilliant way to provide WHS knowledge. And, by using Learning Management Systems, you can tailor training modules to best suit your employees needs…
Effective training programs instil the relevant knowledge, but also instills within workers the skills to actively monitor their work procedures and report any abnormalities that might be a cause of danger.
When in the development phase of training, consider:
- All the correct legislative and regulatory requirements
- Making suitable provisions for specific job task training
- Hazard identification, risk control, incident reporting procedures
- Consulting all the relevant parties that will be using the program
WHS Record maintenance
Maintaining and updating the workplace health and safety records requires an effective system. With this in place, you can ensure that all the organisation’s records are kept correctly and continuous with the current WHS policies.
Remember, all these steps have the prevention of life-changing injuries as their foundations. The safest sites to work on have good site records, providing a knowledge of what has gone on in the past, and how best to keep from similar incidents occurring again.
Because of this, all employers are required to provide proof of these steps. And this is an ongoing process of compliance.
Records are best kept electronically, using audit software, which allows them to be accessed, updated and shared much more quickly.
Collaborate to manage WHS policies
Despite the huge role safety software can play, there is still a lot to be said for engendering a culture of safety in the workplace. This is where collaboration between different teams and departments is a cornerstone.
Make sure to utilise various different strategies, such as meetings and in-person training alongside your electronic WHS program. This will have a positive impact on the outcomes of your program. Focus on the entire organisation’s culture, not only on the nitty-gritty of single parts of the workplace.
Most importantly, make sure the WHS information you are providing is correct and gives your workers the best chance of staying safe in their place of employment.
