| Compliance with OHS laws is becoming more and | | | | Implement Your Plan |
| more critical for companies of every size, in | | | | Implementing a OH&S plan, based on your |
| every sector. This is due not only to increased | | | | risk assessment involves purchasing and issuing |
| government vigilance in terms of compliance, and | | | | the necessary equipment, high visibility work wear |
| stiff penalties for non compliance, but also to the | | | | and safety garments, as well as training your |
| startling increase of workplace injuries and | | | | staff in their use. |
| fatalities. | | | | You may want to implement a roster system, |
| As companies become more production oriented, | | | | where all of your employee's sign acceptance for |
| and implement newer machinery and processes | | | | their own personal protective equipment, thereby |
| to speed up production rates, the risks of injury | | | | ensuring that they have received it. It's also a |
| increase accordingly. | | | | good idea, in terms of compliance, to use an |
| Proper implementation and management of your | | | | attendance register at training sessions, as training |
| OH&S equipment, including first aid kids, high | | | | is important in terms of the law. |
| visibility work wear, safety garments and other | | | | Manage Your Equipment |
| personal protective equipment is a multi level | | | | Once your plan is in place, your equipment |
| process. Here's what you will need to do: | | | | purchased and issued, and your staff trained, your |
| Assess Your Needs | | | | work does not end there! |
| Examining OH&S legislation for your area and | | | | Management of health and safety equipment, |
| industry will tell you the minimum you need in | | | | work wear and safety garments is an ongoing |
| order to comply with the law. | | | | process, requiring you to keep track of stock |
| Performing a risk assessment is another good | | | | levels, replace torn or damaged clothing, or worn |
| idea. This is a process whereby you examine all | | | | or broken equipment. |
| areas of your company's production, whether on | | | | Your safety equipment is also stock, so |
| site in a factory, or off, as in the case of a | | | | maintaining records of your assets in this area |
| construction company. | | | | may be necessary for your accounting |
| Once you've identified the potential risks of every | | | | department. |
| step of your manufacturing process, you devise | | | | Designing, implementing a comprehensive and |
| methods of mitigating the risk, including the use of | | | | effective health and safety system can be time |
| proper protective equipment. | | | | consuming, however, it is critical, both in terms of |
| Source Products | | | | your employee's well being, and your compliance |
| Using your risk assessment as a guide, your next | | | | with the law. |
| step will be to source suppliers of the products | | | | Opting for rental services for some or all of your |
| and safety garments you will need to implement | | | | equipment needs may be a solution in terms of |
| your plan. | | | | time and cost, and is well worth looking into. |
| Remember to take both price and quality into | | | | Whatever you do however, make an effort |
| account, as choosing cut price products can end | | | | today to get, and stay, compliant. |
| up costing you a lot more in the long run! | | | | |