Work Health and Safety
Winning Safety are risk management specialists and usually commence this process by conducting an audit within a workplace. Some of the specialists areas which are used to achieve compliance are:
- Safety Management Systems
- Workplace Risk Assessment
- Confined Space Audits
- Height Safety Audits
- Contractor Management
- Hazards Chemical Management
- Manual Task Risk Assessment
- Plant Risk Assessments
- Safety and Risk Managements Systems
Some of the sectors who have recently benefited from our services are Facility Managers, Site Managers, Operators Managers, or Project Managers. These services have included:
- Legislation for Construction
- OH&S Communication
- Specific Construction Hazards
- Systems to Manage Safety
- Emergencies
- Inspections, Audits and Safety Equipment
- Dealing with Health & Safety Issues
- Incidents, Accidents and Compensation
- Contractor Management Requirements
- Duty of Care and Employer Responsibilities
- Minimising Company Liability
- Tender Analysis, Interviews and Selection
- Inductions and Contract Supervision and Monitoring
Safety Management Systems Audit
An occupational health and safety management systems audit has a wider scope, and although addressing hazards and risk controls, it also looks at organisational structures, planning activities, responsibilities, implemented procedures, review cycles and measurement and evaluation issues.
A basic occupational health and safety management system has some of the following characteristics:
- Existence of a health and safety policy that is communicated to staff
- Management commitment
- Allocation of responsibilities and accountability for health and safety matters
- Controls for suppliers, sub-contractors and purchasing
- Health and safety consultation
- Hazard identification, evaluation and control
- Provision of information and training of staff
- Incident recording, investigation, analysis and review
- Measuring and evaluating workplace health and safety performance.
Many organisations undertake these audits on an annual basis as the amount of resources and time required to conduct a management systems audit can be substantial. These audits can be undertaken by appropriately trained internal staff or by an external third party.
A detailed workplace risk assessment is the most effective way of assessing a task that has been identified as having a higher than acceptable injury risk. Isolating and quantifying the risk inherent in a given task allows us to target specific areas of the job with our risk reduction strategies guaranteeing the most effective action is taken.
- a detailed task description
- frequency classification
- quantified measurements of forces involved in the task
- an easy to read report with the risk assessment
- an action plan to track the effective implementation of the risk reduction strategies
To assist in the development of new confined space procedures and secondly to conduct an audit of confined spaces. Our team has many years of experience working in a wide variety of confined space environments. Let Winning Safety assist you in setting up your confined space operations.
- Some of the services we provide include:
- Confined space identification
- Hazard identification
- Site auditing for compliance, safety and continual improvement
- Site risk assessments
- Safe work method development and implementation processes
- Emergency response, rescue and retrieval plans
- Site inductions
- Rescue management plans
- Gas monitoring
- Development and implementation of permit systems
- Complete site management
- All our work is industry best practice and Australian Standards compliant (AS 2865)
The Winning Safety objective of all Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation is the same in all states, being to prevent workplace related injuries and deaths. The Acts outline the basic requirements of the law to prevent work related injuries and illnesses. These obligations relate to both the persons conducting a business (PCBU) and their workers. By implementing and following our recommendations from audits you will be able to enjoy a safer work environment and be able to prove that you have discharged your obligations under the current Act. Our comprehensive understanding of current legislation and our ability to translate this into language that everyone can understand will assist you in making the often necessary changes to your workplace safety culture.
Our detailed safety reports include a review of the following:
- current work methods and systems
- PPE
- rescue and retrieval plans
- worker qualifications
- currency and compliance with relevant legislation including Australian standards
Many organisations rely heavily on the outsourcing of a number of activities, including maintenance and construction works. The work activities of contractors have the potential to result in injury to not only contractors but also employees, and/or members of the public. To mitigate this risk, it is essential that there are appropriate processes implemented to control, review and supervise OHS aspects of contractor works.
In addition to this, organisations has a legislative obligation to ensure that risks associated with its operations and activities, including those performed by contractors, contractor employees and subcontractors are managed.
The framework of Winning Safety’s contractor management systems in order to ensure appropriate minimum standards of OHS for contractors, including the effective management, monitoring and control of these standards in the performance of contractor works or services.
The audit outlines the basic principles for managing the storage and use of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, carcinogens and poisons.
The overarching principle is to provide a systematic method for identifying and controlling potential chemical hazards in order to minimise the risk of adverse health and safety effects to persons, the environment or property. It includes activities such as working with the substances, storing them, or supervising the use or storage of such substances.
Each area will be inspected in the workplace to ensure that procedures are being followed and a high standard of housekeeping is being maintained.
Hazardous Substances audits should also be periodically carried out to check that systems and procedures are being followed. These audits should do spot checks on registers, look for completed risk assessments, check for the adequacy of emergency facilities etc.
Manual Task Risk Assessments & Manual Task Awareness Training
Manual tasks are part of nearly all work done by workers. They include any activity where workers grasp, manipulate, carry, move (lift, lower, push, pull), hold or restrain a load or object. Manual tasks can contribute to injuries affecting all parts of the body, particularly the back, shoulder and wrist. These tasks account for half or more of the:
• cost of workers’ compensation claims
• number of days lost from work
• absences from work over six months
This course is part of Winning Safety’s facilitated learning series called “Clear Guidelines = Better Decisions” The training element is part 2 of a 4 part strategy for minimising Manual Task injury and impact in the workplace. Winning Safety provide a manual task awareness program for your workplace. Among other benefits of the program, we help you:
• Control and minimise the costs of workplace injuries from manual tasks
• Comply with workplace health and safety legislation
• Enhance worker health and wellbeing.
• Improve productivity and performance
Based on sound risk management strategies, and the National Code of Practice for Manual Tasks, we work with your business to identify and manage hazardous manual tasks; develop a set of clear guidelines and measurable outcomes, and tailor a strategic action plan to achieve them.
The purpose of the Manual Task Awareness training program is to provide individuals with the relevant skills and knowledge relating to manual task direct risk factors to be able to safely perform manual handling techniques within the workplace. The course is conducted over 4 hours including 1 hour classroom session and up to 3 hours practical observation assessment of each of the participants in their work environment.
Topics include;
• What are manual tasks
• How manual tasks cause injury
• Identifying manual task direct risk factors
• Basic biomechanical principles
• KPI for managing unsafe practices
Winning Safety offers this course as an instructor led face to face classroom and workplace training option to be delivered at the client’s site. Part of the training is delivered in a classroom environment mode and requires suitable training facilities including a whiteboard & adequate seating and desk area. In some workplaces it is a requirement that the trainer be escorted while on site. This is a great opportunity to mentor a supervisor to also identify and assess the manual task awareness KPI’s.
Businesses who have participated in the Manual Task Awareness program have report benefits including;
• Cost effective
• Reduction in lost time injuries and sick leave
• Reduction in Workers Compensation claims
• Compliance with OH & S legislation
• Lower insurance premiums and fees associated with claims
• Capacity to challenge fraudulent claims
• Increased staff retention and morale
• Enhanced company profile
• Improvements in safety culture across the organisation
Plant Assessor is an innovative Australian solution focused on delivering practical, thorough and cost effective plant hazard assessment & control solutions for users of plant & equipment.
Hazard assessment and control are the fundamental building blocks of all modern safety systems. Occupational Health and Safety legislation in every State and Territory of Australia requires employers to follow the process of:
- Hazard Identification
- Risk Assessment
- Hazard Control
Plant is defined in the Regulations to cover items such lifts, cranes, pressure equipment, machinery, hoists, powered mobile plant, amusement structures, lasers, turbines, explosive-powered tools, scaffolds and temporary access equipment.
The Regulations require the identification of hazards, assessment of risks and control of risks posed by plant and associated systems of work. The regulations apply to designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant, employers and self-employed persons. The code explains what these processes mean and how they can be performed by designers and employers.
Safety and Risk Management Systems
A health and safety management system is a set of plans, actions and procedures to systematically prevent accident, illness, injury or fatality on the farm. It works by eliminating or controlling hazards instead of dealing with a mishap after it occurs.
Good businesses actively endorse their health, safety and welfare management system to achieve a safe and healthy workplace equally for employees, contractors and family members, through:
- identification of workplace hazards, assessment and control of all risks;
- active involvement in health, safety and welfare matters by all farm people; and
- provision of information, instruction and training at all levels.
A successful health and safety management system should start with setting up a safe work environment and establishing safe work practices. This is the best way to reduce the risk of injuries and ill health to people and damage to property. A safety management system that relies only on safe work practices is risky because people can forget procedures or make mistakes. This risk can be reduced if workplace hazards are removed or controlled. A safe environment should always be supported by safe work practices.
The key steps to manage the environment and people elements of farm health and safety are:
- Consult with workers – there must be a system in place for workers (and others on the farm) to contribute and participate in the farm’s health and safety program.
- Identify hazards in a systematic way.
- Assess the risks associated with those hazards.
- Eliminate or control the risks to prevent injury and ill health.
- Track results and review steps 1-4 on a regular basis.
- Keep records of all these processes.