Workers exposed to noxious fumes

Sometimes I wonder  how health workers, workplaces and legislators feel when all the good work that  put in over the years  finally sees positive results, feel when it is so easily undone in the name of money.

The great bipartisan union of gambling and smoking look like having  a good win at Bangaroo.

In a triumph of retrospective hypocrisy a union has decided it's ok for their workers to be exposed to a substance that  is actually illegal to be released in any building in the country!

According to a newspaper article workers at the proposed Bangaroo Casino are to be exposed to the smoke of gamblers cigarettes (Some change to legislation is going to have to happen to allow the gamblers sorry, "high rollers" to smoke inside a building).

If a piece of equipment or plant emitted the same fumes the union would organsie a walkout and the WHS authorities issue a prohibition notice. A great precedent will be set if this goes ahead and the union will lose any moral authority it may have thought it had.

Congratulations all round. Dylan was right money doesn't talk it swears.

Making friends with your Risk Register

Risk Registers can be your friend.

Is the register not your friend because its needy - every month it cries out to be updated? Once updated it goes to sleep for another month.

The Risk Register is a great summary tool whether you're presenting to the board or just want to have a look at whole of risk status.

It is flexible in that different risk matrices can be included dependent on category.
If the risks are relatively low keep the risk matrix simple e.g High, Medium, Low. It isn't always necessary to follow the full blown risk management approach. Adjust it to a workable and meaningful tool.

The risk control columns provide the summary of all applied risk controls. If details are required refer to source documents (e.g Policy, Programs, Engineer Reports) they can even be linked.


More information required? Then add a column e.g cost.
Residual risk rating is able to be compared to inherent risk rating and judgements of the value or cost benefits can be made.

Build the register in excel and filtering tools help focus on a particular risk or any other analysis you may require.

Your register just wants some attention and then you'll have a friend for life.

Thinking you wont be caught?

Some interesting data from the Safe Work Australia Comparative Performance Monitoring Report (link below). Especially for workplaces who may be thinking there are only two chances of getting caught breaching the WHS Act.

A summary of the compliance and enforcement activities show that in 2010–11 there were:

•  79,290 proactive workplace visits around Australia
•  61,588 reactive workplace visits around Australia
•  11,01 field active inspectors employed around Australia
•  57, 611 notices were issued by Australian jurisdictions
•  397 legal proceedings against businesses were finalised, and
•  Australian courts handed out  $15.5 million in fines.

 For more details hit the link below. Other data includes:

• Progress against the National OHS Strategy
• WHS Performance including- Serious claims, Long term claims,  Fatalities
• Industry information - claims by industry, Premium rates by industry.

and more.


Safe Work Australia Comparative Performance Monitoring Report

Bullying a WHS Risk?

Myths about workplace bullying.


HC online have an interesting thread regarding Workplace bullying.


It seems that there are certain workplace hazards/risks that people feel are unable to be addressed utilising the WHS Act.

They tend to fall under "people behaviour". Maybe it's because low "industrial risk" workplaces don't see a place for the WHS Act or that because it's people related and not machine, plant or heavy physical work it doesn't apply.

Under the WHS Act Sect 19 (3) (c) a person
conducting a business or undertaking must ensure,
so far as is reasonably practicable:
(a) the provision and maintenance of a work
environment without risks to health and
safety; and
....(c) the provision and maintenance of safe
systems of work;

If the systems of work are not preventing bullying then they need reassessment. Utilise the risk management process to keep it objective. The "Health" part of Work Health and Safety relates to a persons well being at work. If work is the factor or a contributing factor to a person being bullied then assess it and manage it.
It's not always easy dealing with the human side of WHS but when done well it can the more satisfying aspects.

Like help with utilising WHS to manage bullying? Send an email and we will be happy to assist.

What does the board need to know about Work Health Safety?

Duty of Officers,  Section 27 of the Work Health Safety Act 201

Do you report WHS activity to the board or any other form of "Officers"?
With the first anniversary of the introduction of the WHS Act rapidly approaching it is a good time to review what you report and whether is assists the officers meet their obligations.

What are the obligations?

Under Section 27 (1) Duty of Officers.  -->

An officer….must exercise due diligence to ensure that the person conducting the business or undertaking complies with that (WHS) duty or obligation.

Due diligence includes:

• acquire & keep up to date knowledge of WHS matters,
• understanding the nature of operations & generally of the associated hazards and risks. 
• ensure PCBU has available:
•  and uses appropriate resources & processes to eliminate or minimise WHS risks. 
• appropriate processes for receiving and considering information regarding incidents, hazards and risks and responding to them in a timely way.
• and implements, processes for complying with any duty or obligation under the WHS Act.
• The officers Verifying the provision and use of resources.

 Now is the time to review your reporting to boards and senior management. 

It is also important that the board are offered the opportunity to understand the WHS risks associated with the business operations. Don't just put it on paper give a presentation or have an expert deliver it. It need only be 15 minutes plus question time.

Check what information is provided to the board by people from other areas of risk or/and quality. This may provide a great opportunity to commence integrating risk operations.

 Work Risk Solutions can help put the presentation together and help deliver it if required.

Send an email to david@workrisksolutions.com.au for more information.  

Outdoor concert or event safety

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/arts/music/advocating-for-outdoor-concert-safety-standards.html/?_r=0

Outdoor Event Safety is a topic that may not be that well thought about. Read the New York Times Article and have something to think about before you attend or organise an outdoor concert or event.

We at Work Risk Solutions have developed systems for indoor events that utilise mobile technology. We are now giving serious thought on how to extend it to outdoor events.

Oh S***

 
 ‘Oh S…!’: New government safety campaign launched, free info sessions on offe

The Corporate Risk & Insurance e-news has an interesting story relating to the Tasmanian Governments WHS legislation awareness raising campaign. Titled oh s*** the Tasmanian government is reminding workplaces it's time to get their act together in terms of meeting responsibilities under the Work Health Safety Act 2011.

It's good to see a less dry approach to promoting WHS.

If you are concerned now is the time to get a move on. Before we know it Melbourne Cup will come and go and suddenly Santa is about to visit.

Our advice is plan first and follow the risk management approach. This may be the time to consider getting in some help.

Work Risk Solutions has found that the clients we help via planning assistance and a mentor approach have a more robust and workable WHS system than organisations that do a rush job..  The rushed method of trying to get everything done in a short time frame has the risk of  watching it all collapse when the assistance/consultant leaves.

Don't forget the "Board". The WHS Act puts fairly high expectations on boards so include them in considerations from the beginning.