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129 Workplace Fatlities – Stop it Rising!

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Worker Fatality

As of mid-September, 129 workers have been killed in Australian workplaces in 2014. While this number is down 11% on 2012 it is up 3.2% on 2013.

28% of 2014 workplace fatalities have came in transport, postal & warehousing, 24% in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing and 14% in Construction.

In light of these statistics a number of industries have been identified as a priority for health and safety by Safe Work Australia.

The areas identified are:

  • Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
  • Construction
  • Health and Community services
  • Manufacturing
  • Transport & Storage

If we are to create safer workplaces for Australian workers it is vitally important that business owners. Directors and managers take responsibility for taking steps to improve the health and safety of employees at their workplaces.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

The Liability Bomb

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bomb1

The question of liability is passed between developers, principle builders, managers, contractors and employees like a bomb with a rapidly burning fuse.

Merely ‘passing the buck’ won’t carry much weight in the event of an investigation by the workplace safety watchdog in any Australian state.

Persons in Control of Businesses or Undertakings (PCBU’s can include developers, principle builders, businesses responsible for work premises and others) must be aware that it is not as simple as pointing a finger or ‘passing the buck’ if an accident resulting in injury that occurs at their undertaking is investigated by the workplace safety watchdog. PCBU’s should be aware that they can never completely hold themselves harmless in the eyes of the watchdog.

However, with an effective and well managed Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management system that clearly identifies the responsibilities of principle builders, senior managers, contractors and employees and requests contractor’s commitments towards OHS in the form of OHS management plans, OHS policies and Safe Work Method Statements.

PCBU’s while never holding themselves harmless can certainly go a long way to sharing the liability of adverse events during sub-contracted parts of their undertaking (project/production cycle) by justifiably obtaining the sub-contractors written commitment to conducting their works safely.

Also, it has been proven that clearly identifying roles, responsibilities and sub-contractor OHS requirements prior to the commencement of any physical works on site notably increases the awareness of OHS requirements and commitments to safe work practices on all levels.

Therefore the liability bomb may never even go off leaving all parties from developer to worker unharmed.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Moving Goalposts Mid Game Frustrates All

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Goalposts1

The Construction Industry is a competitive one. A large project can be a lot like a game of footy with teams consisting of managers, tradesmen and labourers competing and working together to achieve a common goal.

All games need rules and in games rules are monitored and enforced by umpires. In the construction Industry workplace law and standards outline the rules and it is the turn of the safety professional to play the role of umpires in monitoring and enforcing the laws and standards.

However, safety professionals have a different challenge to that of footy umpires as time and time again due to lack of effective communication at the commencement of the game (project) not every team (contractor) is aware of the rules (laws and standards) expected of them until the game has kicked off.

As a result time and time again, safety professionals are seen by contractors as nuisances that move the goalposts (change the rules) after the game (project) has started.

The culture in the construction industry must change so all teams (contractors) know where the goalposts (rules) are before the game (project) starts so safety professionals are not continually seen by contractors as unfair rule changers after the game has already started.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

perth, ohs, safety, swms

Recent Presentation Blitz

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In Action! Cathal Uniacke, Founder of Custodian Safety Services speaking at a free information seminar on why smart businesses invest in Occupational Health and Safety Services in Northbridge, Perth.

Custodian Safety Services have recently done a number of presentations on why smart businesses invest in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), the type of OHS consulting services we have provided to date and how we can make life easier for small to medium enterprises with regards to their OHS management and obligations.

In April Cathal Uniacke, founder of Custodian Safety Services presented to a full house at the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast in Café De Tuscany in Melbourne’s Central Business District.

In May we presented to a full house at the Business Network International (BNI) networking session in the Keysborough Golf Club, Keysborough and in June we completed our recent blitz of presentations when we held a free OHS information seminar in Rosie O’Grady’s, Northbridge, Perth.

“The presentations went really well and a number of solid leads have been generated so hopefully we can start to assist more and more SME’s with OHS management difficulties they may be experiencing.” Said Cathal, commenting on the recent presentations.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

4 Reasons Businesses Invest in OHS

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Ethics

It may come as warm and welcome information that in the current Australian business world of high insurance premiums, active and aggressive workplace safety watchdogs and militant and uncompromising worker unions the number one reason our OHS consulting services have been utilised by businesses is the business owners and managers desire to keep their employees and persons under their control safe when at work and ensure they return home to their families and loved ones in the same condition as they left.

Pro-Active Workplace Safety Enforcement Body

Australia and in particular Victoria where we conduct majority of our consulting is home to a very proactive workplace safety enforcement body, Worksafe. In times of high employment, job creation and job growth an efficient and effective workplace watchdog is paramount.

However, as an employer the outcomes of OHS related enforcement notices, fines and court action against businesses can be extremely detrimental to ongoing business, growth and development and can leave a lasting black mark against any business.

Injury Claims Resulting in Increased Insurance Premiums

In business protecting the downside is of key importance. Insurance cover against potential financial losses due to property damage, theft, legal proceedings or worker injury claims is essential.

However lodging insurance claims and in particular worker injury claims which are known to spiral upwards in costs and continue for long periods can have knock on effects with regards to future insurance premiums paid by businesses.

This is due to algorithms being created by the insurance companies for each claim and tagged to the claimant (business). As a business grows so too do the algorithms/s meaning the businesses insurance premium also increases.

Threat of Industrial Action by Unions

Australia and in particular Victoria where we conduct most of our consulting is home to some of the most militant and uncompromising unions. Unions can at times when they are not being heard look to pick holes and find gaps in businesses operating procedures and service equipment with regards to OHS and use these instances of ‘non-compliance’ as political leverage in an attempt to be better heard.

It is important that businesses commence works and maintain works while keeping up with all OHS procedures during operations and maintaining all plant and equipment required during services so to reduce the likelihood of unions focusing on OHS related holes or gaps in their business operations and causing what are sometimes unnecessary delays.

For smart businesses it’s not about the costs of effective OHS management systems and procedures, it’s about the costs of not having effective OHS management and procedures.

 Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Drug and Alcohol Screening – Victoria

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Drug & Alcahol

On 6 February 2014 the Victorian Premier, Denis Napthine, announced the intention to

“…require construction companies to implement comprehensive drug and alcohol screening measures to ensure the safety of workers to be eligible to tender for Victorian Government construction contracts.”

The Coalition Government in Victoria will introduce amendments to the Implementation Guidelines to the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry, and the revised guidelines are expected to be in place by mid-2014.

“Reports of illicit drug use and distribution on Victorian construction sites are widespread,” said Victorian Premier Denis Napthine.

The CFMEU’s Victorian Secretary John Setka has stated that

“There is no epidemic of drug taking on construction sites…. Our Health and Safety representatives who look out for workers’ health and safety are not reporting a problem.”

CFMEU occupational health and safety manager, Gerry Ayers, also said that there is no evidence of accidents on building sites due to rampant drug use

Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO, Radley de Silva, welcomed the announcement and said anyone interested in the safety of construction workers should back the policy.

“Ordinary drivers on our roads are randomly drug tested, so why those working on dangerous construction sites among heavy machinery shouldn’t also be tested?” de Silva said.

“Drug testing has already happened on the Thiess M80 Ring Road project, despite the objections of the CFMEU and is occurring in the civil construction, aviation and transport industries to name only a few.

“The construction industry is not being singled out, it is simply following what is justifiably already the norm in many other high risk industries.” said De Silva.

The on-site screening for drugs and alcohol in the construction Industry has been a hot topic for government, employers and unions in recent years.

In light of the most recent statements by the Victorian Premier the CFMEU secretary and the Master Builders CEO the ‘political football’ surrounding the topic looks set to continue past the revised guideline date of mid 2014.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Importance of Trust in OHS Consulting

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Trust

As Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management continues to diversify and evolve it is difficult for OHS consultants/consultancies to constantly remain up to date and current across all industries. I believe it is vitally important for the image of OHS consulting as a whole that when a consultant/consultancy is presented with consulting opportunities that do not fall within their current capabilities that the consultant/consultancy refers the client to a more suited service provider.

This referral has a number of benefits; firstly the client receives a better service with regards to their initial issue, secondly the consultant/consultancy that made the initial contact does not risk damaging their image by working outside of their capabilities and delivering poor service and finally a positive image of consultants/consultancy is maintained or even improved.

Our consultancy recently faced a scenario where a client approached us about the provision of a service outside of our current capabilities. We referred another consultancy within our network whose capabilities matched the client’s needs. This referral resulted in the three benefits listed above. The direct benefit we received was that the OHS consultancy we referred repeated the process and directed a client to us whose needs were within our capabilities. The aforementioned scenario was a win for both clients and consultancy.

Referring clients to other OHS consultancies may not appear too appealing to the consultancy at first, however, with the underlying benefits of doing so apparent, I believe it is important to trust that the referred consultant/consultancy will do the same and create an ongoing win for client and consultancy and reinforce the value of having OHS consultants across all industries.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

OHS Management Plan

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Mnagement System

What is an OHS management Plan and what should it include?

An OHS management Plan is a combination of commitments from company management in the form of policies, organisation arrangement, assigning of responsibilities to internal company management and specific details and methods in the form of procedures and administrative documentation on how these commitments will be realised.

A typical contents page from an OHS Safety Management Plan can be seen below:

·         Document Control

·         Organisational Structure

·         Project Details and Introduction

·         Sub-Contractor Management

·         Company Policies

Health & Safety Policy

Environmental Policy

Industrial Relations Policy

Harassment Policy

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Rehabilitation Policy

Alcohol & Drugs Policy

·                                Roles & Responsibilities

            Managing Director

            Works Supervisor

·                                Risk Management

            Risk Rating

            Safe Work Method Statements

                         Hazard Reporting

·                               Safe Work Procedures

            Company Induction

            Incident & Accident

            First Aid

            Emergency Procedure

            Hazardous Substances

            Electrical Equipment

            Manual Handling

            Permits to Work

            Personal Protective Equipment

            Environmental Impacts

            Worker Health Issues

            Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

            Young Workers

·                               OHS Training

           Training & Toolbox Talks

           Employee Consultation

           Health and Safety Representatives

·                               Performance Monitoring

           Statistics

                        Performance Evaluation     

·                              Corrective & Preventive Actions

           Corrective action

                        Preventive Action

·                              Forms & Registers

           SWMS01 Template

           FOR-01 Worksite Accident/Incident Report Form

           REG-01 Incident/Accident Register of Injuries

           REG-02 Chemicals Register

           REG-03 Plant Register

           REG-04 Electrical Test & Tag Register

           REG-05 PPE Register

                       FOR-02 Toolbox Talk

 

An effectively implemented OHS management Plan will:

·         Identify and minimize hazards associated with your organisation’s business

·         Reducing incidents, accidents and injuries in the workplace

·         Reducing risks of legal action for worker’s compensation and liability claims

·         Providing due diligence evidence should an incident or accident occur

·         Boost Staff Morale

·         Allow staff to concentrate on basic business activities

·         Improve performance and productivity

We hope you found this blog enlightening. If so, please don’t be afraid to comment below. Thanks for reading.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Aged Care – Australia’s Riskiest Industry?

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Aged Care

It may come as a surprise but the Victorian Aged care Industry has the highest percentage of workplace injury claims in Victorian according to the major insurers.

However, unlike many of the cases in other industries such as construction and manufacturing the Injuries claimed for in the Aged Care industry are of a chronic nature and are often carried into the most recent workplace from previous employment.

Unfortunately for Aged Care Facilities due to the current WorkCover system in Australia, the most recent employer of the injured employee will have to take on the burden of administering & managing any claims made by employees on their pay roll at the time of the claim.

With this in mind Aged Care facilities need to be fully aware of their OHS obligations towards their employees and ensure every workplace risk management control is considered and put in place where practicable.

Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

A Lesson from Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction?

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Vince Vegas

Ineffective insurance claim management in businesses and insurance companies can result in the handling costs of any adverse event experienced by a business to far exceed what was initially anticipated.

The one thing nobody can do is stop the clock and rewind. With this in mind the only option is adverse event containment in the form of quickly assessed, managed and closed out cases.

There is a movie scene that always comes to my mind when I think of this process. The scene is part of Quentin Tarantino’s hugely successful Pulp Fiction from 1994. The particular scene involves Vince Vega, played by John Travolta, who accidentally shoots informant Marvin in the face (adverse event). His partner that day, Jules Winnfield, played by Samuel L Jackson, knew that stopping the clock and rewinding was not an option so he called in The Wolf, played by Harvey Keitel (Claims Manager). The Wolf, an experienced and knowledgeable claims manager contained the situation.

This scene, if a little grotesque, is an example of effective adverse event management. All businesses and insurance companies should have access to their very own ‘Wolf’ to act quickly in assessing, managing and effectively close out unforeseen adverse events.

If businesses and insurance companies follow Jules Winnfield’s example and bring in the right guy at the right time, the consequences and handling costs of adverse events can certainly be contained.

 Posted By: Cathal Uniacke – cathal@custodiansafety.com.au

Irish Chamber of Commerce