How to ensure your WHS processes are effective
Whether in an office or on a construction or mining site, every organisation needs to have work health and safety processes to ensure their employees are safe and that their business complies with WHS legislative requirements — particularly when managing a contractor workforce.
Most businesses will have WHS processes in place, but that does not necessarily mean that those processes are effective. So, what do effective WHS processes look like?
WHS Policies and Procedures
Generally, businesses would have developed WHS policies and procedures that sit within what is called a ‘safety management system’ or ‘plan’. The larger or more complex the business, the more comprehensive the safety management system will be.
It is interesting to note that WHS legislation does not require an organisation to have a safety management system as such. However, it does require businesses to have safe systems of work. This is to ensure that all businesses, large or small (referred to in WHS legislation as a person conducting a business or undertaking — PCBU), will carry out their work safely.
The legislation, however, specifically requires a risk management approach to managing work health and safety. Let us look at how we can apply this in practice.
Risk management
The basic principles of risk management are to identify, assess, control and review hazards or risks.
All processes will invariably encompass all or some of the following components:
People — this includes workers, visitors and the general public
Equipment — the plant and equipment that is required to complete the work
Materials — the materials used in the work, e.g., hazardous materials
Environment — the environment, including the work environment
The above is classically referred to as the PEME concept and is an effective way of ensuring most (if not all) hazards are identified.
Work processes must be conceived, and the resulting safe system of work (e.g., safe work method statements — SWMs) may be developed using the PEME concept in consultation with impacted workers. Identify the steps in the work process, consider the impact of PEME on each step in the process and allocate the most appropriate controls.
Important note: Safe Work Method Statements need to be developed for high-risk work activities only.
Here are some typical examples of hazards associated with PEME and the likely required controls.
People
-
Hazard/Risk
Unqualified, inexperienced, or new workers
Controls
Tertiary/trade qualifications, licenses, inductions, PPE, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
Unfamiliar site — exposed to site hazards
Controls
Visitor inductions, restricted access, workplace signage, PPE, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
Exposed to work hazards
Controls
Restricted access, barricades, signage, etc.
Equipment
-
Hazard/Risk
Exposure to moving parts, noise, heat, etc.
Controls
Guards, emergency stops, marked hazard zones, signage, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
People and plant interaction
Controls
Restricted work areas, audio/visual alarms, signage, barricades, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
Exposure to moving parts, electric shock, trip on wires, etc.
Controls
Guards, RCDs, workplace housekeeping, etc.
Materials
-
Hazard/Risk
Exposure to hazardous materials
Controls
Training for workers in SDs, signage, PPE, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
Collapse
Controls
Proper storage, restricted access, signage etc.
Environment
-
Hazard/Risk
Working at heights, confined spaces, exposure to the sun, exposure to noise, etc.
Controls
Work permit system, training for workers, signage, PPE, etc. -
Hazard/Risk
Emissions to air, water contamination, release to storm water drains, etc.
Controls
Control and monitoring equipment, training for workers, signage, etc.
So, there you have it. For WHS processes to be effective, they must first be developed using a risk management approach encompassing PEME, as detailed above. There is no point in having well-developed SWMs, the value is in ensuring they are effectively implemented through training, consultation, and communication. They must be continually monitored for effectiveness through observation and audits and continually improved where deficiencies are identified.
Now that we have discussed how to ensure you have effective WHS processes, would this also apply to your contractor workforce? Absolutely. Contractors are PCBUs and must ensure they provide their workers with safe systems of work.
Managing a contractor workforce comes with its own risks and liabilities. To ensure you are covered, we suggest adopting a contractor compliance management system like Conserve.
To learn more about how Conserve can help your business with its WHS process to achieve your compliance goals, head to our ‘What we do’ page.
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