OH&S

Every October is National Safe Work Month – a time for Australian and New Zealand workplaces to showcase and promote work health and safety. By Craig Salter, Action OHS Consulting.

It is a time of celebration, and it’s a ‘calendar’ marker to prompt workplaces, their leaders and their workforce to take some time to reflect on their safety program. It’s a time to actively listen to workers about their experiences and focus on those safety-related activities that can be missed or relegated to ‘next time’ in workplaces where safety maturity continues to evolve.

Following Action OHS Consulting’s engagement with members over the last 18-months via the Help Desk, we have seen how members once provided with direction have been able to bring their safety practices to life. In the spirit of these interactions, we have created the master list to support you to get the most out of Safe Work Month this October.

The hardest thing about getting started is getting started.

1Plan We all know that a goal without a plan is just a wish. So, to get the most out of Safe Work Month, start to talk to your teams and schedule actively. Starting now will allow you to build excitement. Put up some signage. Get talking! Giddy up.

2Listen (…then talk) Identify ways that you can interact with key stakeholders. l For workers, schedule a ‘Safety

Month’ event – morning teas and

BBQ’s are often well attended *wink*; otherwise, you can incorporate them into an existing team meeting. Authentically ask:

“What opportunities are there for us to improve your safety, or the safety of our customers” – then listen (and take notes).

Don’t refute. l For clients, reach out via a survey [online or at reception]. Have them provide a 5-star rating for: “How safe do you feel when coming to our site?”; followed by an opportunity for them to provide comment/s.

3Do Given the energy generated from your planning, Safe Work Month provides a great time to schedule safety activities: l Review your Safety Manual and documents. Does it reflect the work you do? Yes – ✔. No – You need to decide: (i) Do you update the document to reflect the work? Or (ii) Do you change the work to reflect the document? Or (iii) Can you take a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B. l Safety Walk-through Inspection – Is signage, line marking, lighting, walkways, and equipment in good condition? Ensure you actively look, this way you will see things that you have missed as opposed to when you look passively. l Gather a group and make a list of the “things” that could injure workers and customers. Once created – make a list of the things you are doing to prevent the injuries. Is there more that you could or should do? l Schedule any annual training or communications – for example, re-induction to workers and contractors.

4Upskill Safe Work Australia and your state regulator (one of WorkSafe, SafeWork, WorkCover) will have a calendar of events during Safe Work Month. ‘Look’ and ‘Book’ now – don’t have us return to the getting started quote from earlier.

5Search Look for ways that you can make safety a part of your business as usual. Cloud-based platforms such as Safety Champion Software have taken off over the last 18-months and allow you to schedule, report and track your safety activity. Importantly, you know your team, so find ways to have fun. How management presents will be the most significant determinant of your success. l

Want to find out more? Check out the SSAA Health & Safety Handbook on the Member Services Portal, SSAA website, or contact the SSAA OHS Help Desk via admin@selfstorage.com.au | 1800 067 373.

The OH&S Help Desk has been established by the SSAA to support its members. This advisory service is free. Free call 1800 067 313 (Australia); 0800 444 356 (New Zealand); or emailadmin@selfstorage.com.au.

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