Working Your Environment
Did you know that 53% of all worker’s compensation claims in Victoria are the result of musculoskeletal injuries due to hazardous manual handling practices?
If you are responsible for employees in your business, that is a huge number to contemplate. Awareness of Occupational Health and Safety standards in the workplace and training your staff in these, could mean huge benefits to your business by avoiding litigation, preventing loss of staff due to injury, higher morale amongst staff, and not to mention savings across the board with regards to the immense cost of recruitment or temp agency fees.
With this in mind, doesn’t it make sense to review your workplace safety before it is too late? Let’s take a look at some measures that can be implemented now to assist both you and your employees from loss of productivity and financial distress, which will ultimately result in a happier, healthier work environment.
Educate and Inform
The first and most important step to workplace safety is to educate all staff including management on best work practices. A perfect starting point is with a manual handling trainer such as (http://www.work-active.com.au/manual-handling-training.html). These training programs are comprehensive and include:
- Explaining best practice manual handling techniques and principles for your unique environment
- Explaining reporting protocols to your staff members
- Warm-up exercises specifically suited to your employees’ tasks
- Input from staff regarding manual handling solutions
- Coaching staff on anatomy and posture practises
- Assessment of Risks and Hazards
Plan to Protect
Do you have safety guidelines in place? Create a health and safety induction sheet and make sure every employee has undertaken this and signed off on it. Each business is different, so this plan will need to be carefully drawn-up and customised to cover any unique areas of concern. If you are not comfortable conducting this yourself, you can call in experts, who will conduct an independent review and report on your behalf.
Job Matching
Does the job match the individual? When making decisions regarding employee suitability for particular tasks, ensure that you assess things like the employees maturity and physical capabilities. This allows for appropriate placement of staff, which ensures less workplace injuries due to employee’s physical or mental disparities – this includes overqualified staff not being challenged by a position and becoming complacent.
Maintenance Monitoring
Is your equipment regularly being maintained and serviced? Ensure things like vehicles are being regularly inspected to circumvent problems before they arise. Employees will often try to avoid bringing issues to a manager’s attention as they don’t wish to appear to be complaining or unable to cope. Make sure that your company is seen to be approachable and proactive about safety concerns. Ensure all safety signage, line markings and equipment are regularly inspected.
Provide the Right Equipment for the Job
Is your FF&E up to scratch? A big area of workplace safety is ensuring that your furniture, fittings and equipment are all suited to their use. Ergonomic office furniture, a well designed office layout and reliable and maintained technological equipment are all vital components in protecting your staff. Ensure that each employee is issued with the full range of protective equipment for their job and that safety equipment meets all the legal guidelines required.
With the far reaching ramifications regarding workplace safety including the long term health, wellbeing and morale of your employees plus the financial costs of lost productivity and extra staffing and possible legal charges – you cannot afford to take risks. If you have any doubts about your workplace safety, call in the experts and get it done right the first time.
