Christmas Season Work Health and Safety

Posted on 12/12/2024 by Caroline Kingston

Christmas can be a busy time at work, but it’s also a time when workplace health and safety should not be overlooked. Whether it’s an office party, seasonal decorations, or increased workloads, there are a number of health and safety considerations for employers and employees to keep in mind. Here’s a rundown of key areas to focus on:

Workplace Decorations

Safe Decoration Practices:

Avoid blocking exits, fire alarms, or emergency equipment with decorations.
Ensure that Christmas lights or electrical decorations are in good condition, used safely, and switched off when not in use to prevent fire hazards.
Use non-slip mats or adhesives for decorations on the floor to avoid tripping hazards.
Secure decorations properly so that they don’t fall or cause accidents.

Christmas Parties and Social Gatherings

Alcohol Consumption:

If alcohol is served at office parties, ensure there are non-alcoholic options available and consider providing guidance on responsible drinking.
Remind employees to arrange safe transport home if they’ve been drinking (e.g. taxis, public transport, or designated drivers).
Avoid any inappropriate or unsafe behaviour and ensure the environment remains professional.

Physical Safety:

If the party involves dancing or other physical activities, ensure the area is free from obstacles that could lead to slips, trips, or falls.
For events held outside the workplace (e.g. at a restaurant or venue), ensure the venue has sufficient safety measures in place, such as lighting, parking, and first aid.

Ergonomics and Overwork

Managing Stress and Workload:

The holiday season can bring increased workloads due to end of year deadlines or additional customer demand. Employers should ensure employees are not overworked and have clear guidance on managing workloads to avoid stress-related injuries or burnout.

Office Setup and Ergonomics:

Ensure employees have ergonomic workstations to avoid back and neck pain, especially if they are working longer hours during the holiday season.

Fire Safety

Christmas Trees and Lights:

Use fire-safe Christmas trees (artificial or real) and ensure that decorations, especially lights, are UL-certified or comply with relevant safety standards.
Ensure that all electrical items are switched off when not in use to prevent fire hazards.
If using candles for decoration, they should be placed safely away from any flammable materials and never left unattended.

Mental Health and Well-being

Support for Employees:

Christmas can be a stressful time for some, with tight deadlines, financial pressure, or family issues. It’s important to offer support through employee assistance programs (EAPs) or mental health resources.
Encourage employees to take breaks and manage their time well to reduce stress.

Work-Life Balance:

Respect employees’ need for time off during the holiday season and ensure everyone is able to take breaks and recharge. Flexible schedules can help manage the seasonal workload while still allowing time for rest.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Reviewing Health and Safety Policies:

Before the holiday season begins, review your workplace’s health and safety policies and procedures, particularly in light of any seasonal activities.
Conduct a risk assessment for any Christmas-specific events or decorations and implement strategies to mitigate those risks.

Employee Training and Communication

Clear Communication:

Remind staff about safety practices leading up to the holidays, especially if your workplace involves physical activities, events, or travel.
Ensure that all employees are informed about safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and how to report hazards or incidents during the holiday period.

By keeping these tips in mind, employers can ensure that the workplace remains a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment throughout the holiday season, allowing employees to celebrate while minimising risk.

SWMS – Reviewing and Updating Safe Work Method Statements

Posted on 09/12/202409/12/2024 by Caroline Kingston

Reviewing and updating Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) is crucial for maintaining workplace safety and ensuring that work is carried out in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Here are some key reasons why this process is important:

Ensures Compliance with Legal Requirements

Legislation, regulations, and industry standards can change over time. Regularly reviewing and updating SWMS ensures that your organisation remains compliant with the latest laws and guidelines related to work health and safety.

Reflects Changes in Work Practices

Work processes or equipment used in a task may change at times. New tools, techniques, or materials might be introduced that could alter risks. Updating the SWMS to reflect these changes ensures that the document remains accurate and relevant.

Addresses New Risks

New risks or hazards can emerge, particularly if the work environment changes (e.g., construction sites, factories). A review ensures that these risks are identified and mitigated by revising safety protocols in the SWMS.

Improves Safety Outcomes

Regularly reviewing SWMS ensures that safety measures remain effective. If certain hazards have not been addressed effectively, the review process allows for the introduction of additional controls, protective measures, or procedures.

Ensures Effectiveness of Control Measures

Sometimes, control measures in place may not be as effective as initially thought. Reviewing the SWMS gives an opportunity to evaluate the success of existing controls and improve or replace them if necessary.

Adaptation to New Technology or Equipment

With advances in technology or the introduction of new equipment, existing SWMS may need to be updated to account for different operating conditions or safety considerations that new tools may present.

Ensures Worker Training and Understanding

Workers may need to be re-educated or retrained on updated procedures. A review of SWMS ensures that the document remains relevant for the specific tasks being performed, improving workers’ understanding and compliance.

Promotes a Safety Culture

Continuously reviewing and updating SWMS demonstrates a commitment to safety and shows employees that safety is a top priority. This promotes a safety-conscious work culture and can encourage workers to take an active role in their own safety as well as others around them.

Responds to Incident Feedback

After incidents or near misses, it’s essential to review and update SWMS to reflect lessons learned and prevent similar events from occurring in the future. The review process ensures that the SWMS is dynamic and responsive to the evolving risk landscape.

Increases Efficiency

An up-to-date SWMS can streamline the work process by clearly identifying hazards and outlining the most effective safety procedures. This reduces confusion and improves workflow, contributing to both safety and productivity.

Risk Mitigation

As risks evolve or new hazards are identified, SWMS should be updated to include the necessary risk control strategies. This helps prevent accidents and injuries by ensuring that all foreseeable risks are covered.

In summary, reviewing and updating SWMS is essential for maintaining a safe and compliant workplace. It ensures that safety protocols evolve with changes in work practices, technology, and regulations, ultimately reducing risk and promoting a culture of safety.

With Sherm Software, SWMS are available in the Documentation module for workers to access anytime with Sherm’s Mobile App. Retraining of new or updated SWMS for workers is made easy with the Training and Competency module and can be scheduled for workers to complete anytime with Sherm’s Mobile App or Web App. Notifications are sent when training has been completed so employers can ensure relevant SWMS have been read and understood.

What are Health and Safety Representatives?

Posted on 06/12/202406/12/2024 by Caroline Kingston

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are individuals elected by workers in a workplace to represent their interests in matters relating to health, safety, and welfare. Their role is a key part of occupational health and safety (OHS) systems in workplaces where there are legal frameworks in place to ensure worker safety and engagement in safety practices.

Key Responsibilities of HSRs:

Represent Workers: They act as a liaison between workers and management on matters related to health, safety, and welfare.
Identify Hazards: They work with employees to identify potential health and safety risks in the workplace.
Raise Issues: If hazards or safety concerns arise, HSRs can raise these issues with management or relevant authorities to address them.
Participate in Safety Inspections: They may participate in regular workplace safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments.
Promote Safety Culture: HSRs help create a workplace culture that prioritises safety and health, encouraging workers to follow safe practices.
Training and Education: They often help educate and train fellow workers on health and safety protocols and best practices.
Consultation and Investigation: HSRs are consulted about proposed changes to work processes or environments that could impact worker health and safety.

HSRs is defined under workplace health and safety legislation. Workers can elect HSRs, and the employer must consult with them about safety matters. HSRs have certain powers, including the ability to issue provisional improvement notices (PINs) or stop unsafe work if a serious risk to health and safety exists.

WHS Entry Permit Holders

WHS Entry Permit Holders are individuals, usually from trade unions or health and safety organisations, who are authorised to enter a workplace to investigate health and safety issues.

Key Responsibilities of WHS Entry Permit Holders:

Investigate Health and Safety Issues: They can enter workplaces to investigate safety concerns raised by workers or reported issues regarding workplace health and safety.
Inspect Workplaces: They are authorised to inspect work sites to ensure compliance with WHS regulations, looking for potential hazards and unsafe practices.
Issue Notices: WHS Entry Permit Holders can issue notices, such as Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) or even direct a work stoppage if they believe there is an immediate threat to workers’ health and safety.
Consult with Workers and Employers: They may consult with employees to gather information about hazards and health concerns and then raise these concerns with management.
Advocate for Workers: Often, these individuals represent trade unions or other worker organisations, advocating for better safety practices and conditions.

WHS Entry Permit Holder must hold an official permit ensuring they meet specific qualifications to perform this role. The purpose of WHS Entry Permit Holders is to ensure that workers’ safety is monitored and protected, especially in situations where there may be reluctance from employers to address safety concerns.

Both HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holder roles are vital to ensuring safe work environments and fostering collaboration between workers, employers, and regulatory bodies in maintaining workplace health and safety standards.

Important changes for HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holders

On 29 November 2024, important workplace health and safety changes commenced for Queensland’s HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holders. The following changes have immediate effect:

Ceasing unsafe work

Health and safety representatives are now required to issue notices to cease unsafe work directly to workers, and not to a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU).

When directing workers to cease unsafe work, health and safety representatives are still required to:

first consult with the PCBU to attempt to resolve the health and safety issue, unless it’s unreasonable to conduct consultation because of the serious and immediate nature of the risk
prepare compliant written cease work notices
post the notices in a prominent place for all workers to see, and
provide a copy of the cease work notice to the PCBU.

Right of entry

WHS entry permit holders inquiring into a suspected contravention will be required to provide at least 24 hours’ notice to exercise their right of entry to a workplace, unless there is an immediate or imminent risk to the health and safety of a worker.

Guidance and support

The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) will develop material to support Queensland workers and businesses understand these changes, including guidance on use of the amended right of entry requirements.

The first of this guidance will be made available on the WorkSafe website by the end of 2024. OIR will consult with industry and unions in early 2025 to identify any further practical elements of the right of entry requirements that would benefit from more explanation, and this will inform the development of more detailed guidance.

Sherm Software is the perfect tool to assist your HSR to fulfil their responsibilities. With the use of Workplace Inspections, Issues Management, Incident Management and Hazard Reporting Modules, identifying potential health and safety risks in the workplace is easily managed.

End of Year Staff Function

Posted on 02/12/2024 by Caroline Kingston

It’s that time of the year again

Everyone is ready to let their hair down at your end of year staff function, it’s well deserved of course after working tirelessly throughout the year. Just remember, you owe a duty of care to your workers and other guests at work functions.

Keep it simple with Sherm HSEQ Management System Software

Give your workers a refresher on relevant company policies and procedures prior to your work function, for example Drugs and Alcohol and Sexual Harassment, and remind workers that disciplinary action can be taken for any breaches of these policies and procedures. Sherm Software has all company documentation available at anytime, anywhere to all of your workers so it’s as easy as sending out a notification through Sherm to brush up on company policies and procedures.

Schedule training for workers through Sherm and you can be sure your obligations have been met

Schedule training on company policies for workers through Sherm Software and you will be notified of their attendance, ensuring everybody is aware of their obligations.

Month: December 2024