Monthly Archives: February 2022

7 Golden Rules

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Improving the health, safety and wellbeing in your organisation is easier said than done. Right? How can it be kept simple and straightforward? How can you develop a culture that is proactive in occupational safety and health?

The International Social Security Organisation (ISSA) is campaigning for Vision Zero for safety, health and wellbeing at work says there is a practical answer.

So, let’s take a look at the 7 Golden Rules.

  1. Take Leadership – demonstrate commitment by having visible competent leadership

  2. Identify Hazards – control risks. Evaluate risk management and learning from unplanned events.

  3. Define Targets – develop programmes. Do you have workplace and job induction? If you have targeted programmes are you evaluating them?

  4. Ensure a safe & healthy system – be well organised. Pre-work briefings. Planning and organisation of work.

  5. Ensure safety & health in machines, equipment & workplaces. Innovation and change. Procurement.

  6. Improve qualifications – develop competence. Initial training. Refresher training.

  7. Invest in people – motivate by participation. Listen to suggestions for improvement and recognise the good ones by rewarding them.

For each of these rules, two proactive leading indicators(PLIs) were developed. A guide explaining the use of the PLIs can be found here. All of the 14 indicators will help you identify opportunities for improvement for safety, health and wellbeing.

Proactive leading indicator/key activity checklist

Health Safety Wellbeing Total
YES NO YES NO YES NO YES
1.1 Do leaders visibly demonstrate their commitment to HSW in their work processes and behaviour?
1.2 Are new leaders selected based on their intrinsic motivation for or proven record in HSW?
2.1 Are HSW risk-reduction measures evaluated?
2.2 Are reported unplanned HSW events followed up by leaders for investigation, HSW learning/improvement, and feedback to those directly involved?
3.1 Are H, S and W an integrated part of induction processes?
3.2 Are targeted programmes and their HSW improvement goals evaluated?
4.1 Are H, S and W an integrated part of discussions in pre-work meetings?
4.2 Is the organisation systematically considering H, S and W when planning and organising work?
5.1 Are technological or organisational innovations used to reduce HSW hazards and risks in the design stage?
5.2 Is the promotion of HSW included in procurement processes?
6.1. Are H, S and W covered in initial training?
6.2 Are H, S and W covered in refresher training?
7.1 Are worker suggestions for improving HSW followed-up adequately?
7.2 Are workers given recognition for excellent HSW performance?
 YES total

In short, there are 3 options for using PLIs. For example, option one, the Yes/No Checklist, provides you with an easy way to get insight into the proactive activities it performs (or not). This is useful for small and medium-sized companies. It can also be used in larger organisations too within different departments. Why not try it now to explore possibilities for improvement?

It may be helpful to have people in different areas and positions (managers, supervisors, line staff) of the company use the checklist. When people come up with different answers, then meaningful conversations can be held. For every ‘No’ on the checklist, this will give you an opening to make an improvement.

Let’s say the ‘Yes’ score is higher for health and wellbeing is higher than safety. Well, the organisation experience with improving health and wellbeing can be used to improve safety in a similar way.

A scientific paper that focuses on current thinking for ISSA was published in Safety Science.

Invest in the training and skills of your employees, and make sure that they have the required knowledge for their workplace. The workplace is constantly changing. In light of this, the skills and knowledge of your workers must be refreshed regularly.

Now, more than ever, providing training and continuing education is a must, while leadership and management need to be learned too!!!!

So, how do things look in your enterprise?

Email us: info@bridgetrainingservices.ie

 

COVID-19 Templates, Checklists and Posters

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“The COVID-19 Response Plan template and Good Practice checklists have been prepared to help employers, business owners, and managers to continue running their workplaces safely, and to help workers, in particular, the Lead Worker Representative understand what they need to do to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.

The template and checklists have been drafted, based on the Government’s advice and the Transitional Protocol – Good Practice Guidance for Continuing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.

The Transitional Protocol reflects the most recent public health advice, and it is the current guidance for the safe return and continued safe operating of workplaces.

The template and checklists should be read in conjunction with the guidance. Employers, workers, and their representatives are encouraged to continue working together to help continue to keep workplaces safe. The Response Plan template and Good Practice Checklists will help you to do that.” – HSA

It’s important to follow protocols and is crucial in ensuring all employees are safe in the workplace. Our COVID captured world seeks to look after our safety and well-being. So, create and maintain a culture that does that. It isn’t just about the checklists. It’s also about attitude.

Firstly, ask yourself what is your relationship like with your team? Secondly, is the safety and well-being of your people a priority?

Take a look at how healthy and safe your organisation is.

Thirdly, could you do better? (The answer is always yes).

How?

By adding value to your training and boost occupational safety and health. Make your company vision one of zero harm in the workplace.  Most importantly, having your team work together to create and maintain a safer environment to work in will create a clear targetted path to your people feeling secure. They are being safeguarded and protected.

Safety briefings that are delivered consistently can help raise the awareness of safety and brings people together.

So, create a culture that prioritises the well-being of your people. As a result, this will relieve stress and raise productivity and efficiency. It will help them focus on what’s important. Don’t let checklists become a tick the box exercise.

Following the tick the box method is not the approach that should be used.

Instead, use them as a tool to see how you are doing. Let them help you keep your team safe. Use them to guide you into being an organisation that takes care of its people. Make your company a great one.

Contact us to learn how we can help you create that vision of ZERO HARM in the workplace at info@bridgetrainingservices.ie

Further information can be found at gov.ie, hse.ie, hpsc.ie and hsa.ie .

COVID-19 response plan template

 

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