Safe systems of work combine different elements in the workplace that need attention to ensure your organisation provides a safe working environment. Our sister company, Big Yellow Safety can assist you to get it right.
In Australia, businesses, no matter what size they are, have the primary duty of care for workplace health and safety.
Business owners, PCBUs or those who make decisions that affect the business must exercise due diligence and ensure they are complying with health and safety obligations. There are many aspects to creating and maintaining a compliant safe working environment, and this can be overwhelming for inexperienced business leaders. Reaching out to a professional can often be far more cost-effective, safe and time-smart than trying to muddle through yourself.
What is a Safety Management System?
Safety management systems make health and safety an integral part of the business’s core operations. By designing, developing and implementing an effective safety management system, your business will have methods for managing reporting, responsibilities, planning and resourcing to create a safer workplace.
A safety management system must be tailored to your workplace. This includes the size of your business, the type of work that you do and the workers that are working for you. Buying a cheap off-the-shelf package often leads to disaster, so it’s always recommended that a fit for purpose safety system is operating in your workplace.
The elements of a safety management system include:
- management commitment and safety policy;
- training and supervision;
- risk management;
- incident and injury management;
- monitoring and auditing.
Remember, it is not enough to simply adopt a safety management system and “set and forget”. You must also actively implement that system in your workplace and maintain it. To do this, you must ensure that:
- workers comply with procedures and instructions;
- workers are appropriately trained; and
- workers are subject to ongoing supervision
and ultimately, your workplace needs to be doing the things that your safety system documents say they are doing.
Read more on what Comcare says about Safety Management Systems here.
Why does your business need one?
Yes, all businesses must have a safe system of work in place – it’s the law! Safety management systems help businesses to continually improve their safety performance and compliance to meet health and safety legislation and standards. In doing so, businesses establish safer working environments that protect people at work by eliminating, or better managing, health and safety hazards.
Benefits of using the Safety Consultant team at Big Yellow Safety.
There are several benefits to having an effective safety management system. These include:
- complying with Australian legislative requirements and standards and avoiding fines;
- creating a safer work environment so that your employees don’t get injured as often;
- lower absenteeism rates, such as sick days;
- fewer business disruptions, by keeping your production going;
- more motivated and productive workers, because they feel safe and valued;
- improved bottom line by lowering your compensation costs; and
- a more successful business by improving your reputation.
Business Owners, CEOs and Senior Managers have a vital role to play when it comes to leading safety. When workers know their employer places high importance on workplace health and safety, they are more likely to be motivated to follow safety procedures and raise safety issues.
You can book your Free 30-minute Consultation directly with Big Yellow Safety here. Or call 07 5655 4048.