| 1. Policies Just Aren't Enough | | | | |
| | | | So staff turnover decreases and productivity |
| It isn't enough to have written policies if | | | | increases which equals increased profits. |
| you let them sit in a folder until it's time | | | | |
| to review them. Policies are the foundations | | | | 5. Accidents Don't Just Happen |
| on which your entire safety sits so: | | | | |
| | | | Despite what we have all come to believe |
| They must be visible. | | | | accidents don't just happen. Accidents |
| | | | happen because of things like: |
| Easily accessible and. | | | | |
| | | | Complacency. |
| Staff need to be trained to use them. | | | | |
| | | | Inaction. |
| Just because your policies cover all | | | | |
| legislative requirements, doesn't give you | | | | Poor performances in safety programmes. |
| protection from prosecution in the event of | | | | |
| an accident. | | | | Lack of training, reporting or listening. |
| | | | |
| You need to prove that you've done everything | | | | By avoiding trigger factors for accidents we |
| possible to: | | | | can easily build a workplace that is safe. A |
| | | | commitment to safety first by management will |
| Remove the risk. | | | | lead to a commitment to safety first by |
| | | | staff. |
| Substitute another product if possible. | | | | |
| | | | And only by total commitment will safety be |
| Safety guards etc in place to protect people. | | | | achieved. |
| | | | |
| Administrative controls - procedures to keep | | | | 6. Show, Don't Tell |
| people safe. | | | | |
| | | | Safety systems have to be clearly understood |
| Issued Personal Protective equipment. | | | | by all the people using them. From the |
| | | | general manager to the newest apprentice, |
| 2. History Doesn't Repeat | | | | safety must be clearly understood. |
| | | | |
| Just because you haven't had an accident | | | | Having policies and procedures that are not |
| doesn't mean you are running a safe | | | | clearly understood is a waste of time and |
| workplace. | | | | money. |
| | | | |
| It actually could put you at greater risk of | | | | The best way to impart the knowledge is with |
| having an accident due to management or | | | | posters, charts and diagrams. Print them |
| worker complacency. Unless you are actively | | | | off, laminate them and place them in all work |
| looking for unsafe situations or problems you | | | | areas as well as places like the meal room. |
| won't find them. And if you don't find them | | | | Having them displayed prominently instead of |
| someone will. | | | | sitting in a folder on a shelf will have the |
| | | | effect of keeping the safety culture in your |
| Possibly with tragic consequences. | | | | workplace alive which keeps your workers |
| | | | alive. |
| 3. Making Money With Safety | | | | |
| | | | 7. Analysts Help |
| Making money with safety might seem like a | | | | |
| strange concept but if you think about it for | | | | You've done everything right. You've got |
| a while it isn't. | | | | OH&S committees, you do safety inspections, |
| | | | you listen to your employees when they |
| Think about the costs involved with: | | | | mention safety issues, so you don't need an |
| | | | external analyst do you? |
| Retraining of staff due to high turnover. | | | | |
| | | | WRONG. |
| Insurance premium increases due to safety | | | | |
| issues. | | | | Having an analyst come in is the same as |
| | | | going to your accountant. A safety analyst |
| Decrease in productivity because workers are | | | | specializes in safety. They are able to see |
| worried. | | | | things from a different perspective and |
| | | | seeing things through a different perspective |
| It will cost to put a safety system in place | | | | is good for your business. |
| but the long term benefits are huge. | | | | |
| | | | Another benefit of having an analyst is they |
| 4. Healthy Workplace = Happy Workers | | | | keep current on all legislative changes. An |
| | | | analyst is amongst the first to know what |
| Ensuring a safe workplace makes your people | | | | changes have taken place at a state and |
| feel valued. And employees that feel valued | | | | federal level. They are able to explain |
| are more likely to stay with the company and | | | | exactly what they mean to your business or |
| want the company to succeed. | | | | industry. |
| | | | |
| Bad employees will tend to leave of their own | | | | Just like an accountant keeps on top of |
| choice because they won't fit with your | | | | financial matters a safety analyst keeps on |
| company. Your company will gain a reputation | | | | top of safety matters, leaving you free to |
| for being a great place to work and you'll | | | | run your business. |
| find good employees easily. | | | | |