Workplace Safety Awarness

National Safe Work Month - Workplace Safety Awareness

27/10/2015BY: Tracey Mesken

​Safety awareness is required in everything that we do on a work site. Hazards can be found in the simplest of tasks. Below are examples on what to look for and information on how to reduce hazards in the workplace.

  

Workplace House Keeping

Housekeeping includes office, site, tool sheds, kitchen, printing rooms, walkways, factories, yards, etc.

  • What can cause slips, trips and falls in your workplace?

  • Is your area and equipment organised before you start your task?

  • Are spills cleaned up as they are made?

  • Are you storing chemicals and PPE in its designated areas in their correctly labelled containers?

  • Are floors and emergency areas cleared from obstruction?

  • Are the latest Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available?

  • Are your areas too hot or cold or susceptible to weather conditions such as rain, frost or sun?

Plant and Equipment

  • Are you hanging and storing lifting equipment correctly? E.g. Slings and chains.

  • Can you see that the equipment is clean and ready for use?

  • Are you reporting faults/ issues to your supervisor or safety representative?

  • Are the relevant guards in place on all machinery?

Electrical

Electrical covers any power cables, cords, points, stations, appliances, substations or anything that can carry a current within an electrical zone.

• Are all electrical devices tested, tagged and dated?
• Are electrical devices repaired by a qualified and experienced electrician?
• Have you isolated the power to your area if you are working on electrical appliances?

Vehicles
Vehicles  i.e. cars, trucks, forklifts, road trains, trailers, vans, utes, 4x4, etc.

  • Are daily Pre-starts conducted on your vehicles?

  • Are vehicles parked according to workplace/site procedures?

  • Are you reporting any faults using relevant site procedures?

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

This includes evacuating from your area, buildings, vehicles, plant, visiting areas, sites, etc.

  • Do you know your evacuation procedures in your area?

  • Do you know your muster point?

  • Are you aware of your wardens in your area?

 

So how do we act effectively to be aware and react, eliminate or reduce hazards in the workplace?

 

Stop

Understand the task and get it right.  Information, tools and equipment, work safe instruction, procedures, consider people/systems affected, environmental impact, safety access and alternative methods.

Think about the Hazards

Will hazards arise due to; Pressure, mechanical equipment, posture, manual handling, electrical, uneven surfaces, temperature, heights, mobile equipment?

Access the risk

What is the consequence if it does happen? How likely is it to happen?

Respond

Remove the hazard, isolate the hazard, barricade the hazard, and wear PPE.

 

This month is National Safe Work Month and is a great opportunity for all of us to focus on promoting safety in the workplace to reduce death, injury and disease, so be proactive in managing workplace safety awareness.  Remember to always ask yourself;

What can go wrong?
What can cause it to go wrong?
What is the risk of it going wrong?
What can I do to stop it?

Take the time to stop and think.
WorkPac is focused on Zero Harm, the safety of our people is our absolute priority.  To report a safety incident or hazard call us on 1300 967 572.

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