Safety at work
Spotting risks to Safety at work
Spotting risks associated with alignment to criteria, requires reference to workplace data, and by talking to workers. In this way, it becomes necessary to assess whether the SGB has permits and licenses, are formally registered, have requisite certifications, and are up-to-date with any fines and penalties.
Look at the Checklist (below) to explore the key questions to review with your intermediary.
See Control & Preventative measures
Supporting Safety at work
The establishment of actual plans will require that they are implemented, or in the least their implementation is supported through linkages with experts, advisory which involves supporting the SGBs leadership and team in achieving OHS and employment outcomes as agreed upon. Suggestions of support areas include supporting SGB Safety Culture Continuum, Leadership coaching to increase commitment to E&OHS, and Adequate training roles of employees and employers in the workplace.
1. SGB Safety Culture Continuum
Culture refers to “the way we do things around here.” It includes shared practices, attitudes, and perceptions that influence behaviour. In an organization with a positive health and safety mindset, the managers, supervisors, and workers share common values that make worker health and safety a priority.
2. Leadership coaching to increase commitment to E&OHS
Health and safety start at the top. Intermediaries can provide coaching opportunities for business owners SGB leaders. Promoting safety at workplace requires specific leadership principles and strategies can empower a workforce to become self-accountable for injury prevention and actively care for the safety and health of others.
3. Adequate training roles of employees and employers in the workplace
When it comes to health and safety, everyone in the workplace has distinct responsibilities. Whether you’re an owner, employer, supervisor, prime contractor, or worker, you have a role to play in keeping the workplace safe. Intermediaries can play a role in providing capacity to SGBs on their roles and responsibility promoting a safe work environment for all.
SGB Safety and Culture Continuum
Different SGBs depending on their maturity view culture differently and follow a continuum from a compliance culture to safety to committed culture safety, intermediaries can assess safety culture of SGBs through.
Intermediaries can holding SGB focus group discussions, management interviews, and observation of normal operating procedures as appropriate methods for assessing safety culture. A best practice approach would use a combination of these methods.
According to OSHA, developing a strong safety culture has the single greatest impact on accident reduction of any process. Having a strong safety culture within an organization promotes more than safety; it benefits worker confidence and retention, organizational behavior, and even productivity.
Supporting Safety at work
In order to monitor progress, intermediaries are encouraged to periodically visit the SGBs workplaces or have virtual follow up sessions.
1. Integration within business operations
At exit and post engagement with SGBs, intermediaries should ensure that safety and health systems are integrated within business operations for the business to success.
2. Check in questions to support continuous improvements
A successful safety system needs continuous checks guided with the following sample questions:
- Are the changes making a difference to your work?
- What do your co-workers think?
- Do the solutions reduce risks and prevent injury or illness in your workplace?
- Do they create new hazards or increase the risk of existing ones?
3. Control measures monitoring and review
Control measures should remain effective, be fit-for-purpose, be suitable for the nature and duration of the work, and be used correctly. SGBs should regularly monitor control measures to confirm that the measures are effective. A successful system will be part of your overall business operation and is as important as the other things you do to succeed in business.