Fire and Safety Australia’s purpose is to forever change safety in the world, one experience at a time and to do so we have outlined 7 ways you can improve safety in your workplace.
Most workplace injuries are preventable and occur because of factors such as negligence or poor infrastructure. It is crucial that you survey your workplace to ensure all measures have been taken to provide a safe working environment for everyone on site.
Here are 7 ways to improve the safety of your workplace:
1. Assess your Workplace
Every workplace is different and has different safety requirements, assessing your workplace and its safety requirements allows you to identify the training requirements of staff and ensure you have the correct equipment onsite.
After assessing your workplace you are then also able to implement basic procedures for dealing with incidents that may take place in the workplace. All employees should be aware of the procedures and know what steps to take in the case of an emergency.
2. Evacuation Plans
All evacuation plans should be clearly and prominently displayed at a premise, a copy should also be available to all employees. It is crucial that all employees are familiar with the evacuation plans, it should never be assumed that they know what to do or where the emergency exits are. Having trained Fire Wardens also assists with leadership and direction in the case of an emergency.
Emergency exits should be well lit and kept unobstructed at all times. Regular checks should be made to ensure these are safe as even momentary obstruction can be dangerous when disaster strikes.
Regular fire drills should be conducted to ensure the accuracy of evacuation plans and also test the employees on their knowledge of the plans and what to do in the event of an emergency.
3. First Aid Officers
Every workplace should have a First Aid Kit onsite, it is also beneficial to have a trained First Aid officer on site during work hours. This is especially important for risky activities such as mining or construction.
A trained First Aid officer is able to effectively administer first aid in the event of an accident, ensure that the first aid facilities at the workplace are properly stocked and adequately maintained and keep accurate informed records of any incident that may occur.
An assessment of your workplace can confirm what level of first aid facilities you require and how many first aid officers you should have trained onsite.
4. Fire Combo Training
It essential to have fire equipment, particularly a fire extinguisher on the premises in the event that a fire breaks out. Larger workplaces are likely to require more than one fire extinguisher. If you are unsure of what your site requires, speak with one of our Safety Consultants.
Anyone who may be operating a fire extinguisher should attend training and familiarise themselves with the sites safety requirements. It is crucial that fire extinguishers are checked and maintained regularly to ensure they are in working order.
5. Health and Safety Representatives
It is important to have trained Health and Safety Representatives within your workplace. It is the role of these Health and Safety Representatives to work together with both the employer and employees on important work health and safety matters.
Having Health and Safety Representatives lets the employees feel represented within the workplace and lets them know their health and safety is important to their employer.
6. Health and Safety Committee
A Health and Safety Committee creates a forum for workers to come together and discuss important work health and safety matters. Having a health and safety committee allows employers and employees to identify and resolve any work health and safety issues in the workplace.
7. Safety Culture
The safety culture of a company is determined by the way employers and employees view safety in their workplace. Having a positive safety culture means for fewer accidents and safety concerns in the workplaces. Employers should set clear safety goals that they work towards, which will, in turn, motivate their employees to do the same.
Fire and Safety Australia can assist you with improving safety in your workplace. Employers have a duty care to provide a safe working environment for their employees and to equip them with the relevant training for an emergency.
Contact Fire and Safety Australia to speak with one of our Safety Consultants for more information.
Sources:
- SafetyBlog News. 2013. Reducing the Risks of Serious Injury in the Workplace [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.safetyblognews.com/reducing-risks-serious-injury-workplace/ [Accessed 17 April 2019]
- Australian Government Comcare. 2011. Health and safety representatives [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.comcare.gov.au/preventing/governance/health_and_safety_representatives_hsrs [Accessed 19 April 2019]
