Risk Management Framework

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The management of risk is defined by a framework of control measures which prioritise the highest forms of protection down to the lowest. This risk management framework, or hierarchy as it is also known, breaks various risk control methods into three levels ranging from most effective to the least reliable. Under OHS laws and regulations, duty holders are required to work through this framework when conducing risk management in construction.

This is a fundamental part of knowing how to perform a risk assessment.

Level 1 of risk management strategies

The best way to reduce risk in a workplace is by eliminating all hazards completely. For instance, if there is a risk of falling from heights then the best risk management strategy would be to work from the ground level instead. The same applies for hazards like dangerous chemicals or trips and slips.

The rule of ‘reasonable practicality’ states that if eliminating the hazard makes it impossible for the construction service to be delivered then the risks associated with the hazard should be eliminated. An example of this would be wearing a safety harnesses and having a supervisor while working at heights (see level 2).

Level 2 of risk management strategies

If eliminating a hazard or all of the risks associated with it is not reasonably practicable then there are several other approaches that can minimise the involved risks. These risk management tools and techniques include:

  • The use of risk assessment engineering controls (eg warning signage, noise barriers, maintenance of machinery)
  • Substituting the hazard with a safer alternative
  • Isolating the hazard from workers and other affected persons

Level 3 of risk management strategies

This is the least effective and least reliable risk management system because it relies on human behaviour and supervision. When used in isolation, level three of the risk management framework should be carried out in line with appropriate administrative controls (eg rest breaks, job rotations) and with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

In regards to the proper use of PPE, regulation 44-47 of the Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice state that the equipment must be:

  • “selected to minimise the risk to health and safety”
  • “suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work”
  • “maintained, repaired or replaced so it continues to minimise the risk”
  • “a suitable size and fit and [be] reasonably comfortable for the person wearing it”
  • “used and worn by the worker, so far is reasonably practicable”
  • worn “…in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction.”

It is recommended that level 3 risk management strategies be used in conjunction with methods from level 2 or 1 where possible.

For more information on occupational health and safety regulations or on the risk assessment process, check out the SafeWorkPro Blog.

Risk Assessment Tools

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The risk assessment workflow traditionally associated with high risk construction work has a major flaw that many in the industry don’t know exists.  Paper-based risk assessments, although standard industry practice, have a significant time-cost that cuts into business productivity and complicates safe work practices. Yet there are risk assessment tools available that can remove this issue without undermining workplace health and safety.

These tools are widely known as safety compliance software but are called other names including risk management tools and construction risk assessment software. All these tools relate to the risk assessment process – ie how construction workers identify hazards and implement control measures.

Although vital to safe work practices, risk assessment paperwork is a burden on employee workloads and backend administration. It takes up time on the worksite and back at the office when the paperwork is completed and filed. Yet as software alternatives continue to develop, new risk analysis tools are entering the market and they have the ability to streamline this entire process.

These digital tools take the paperwork out of the risk assessment process. Automated forms take the user through the risk assessment process step by step – just like in a traditional risk analysis table – but every entry is saved and can be used in a future worksite of a similar nature. At every point in the various stages of risk assessment, risk assessment tools like software aim to increase time efficiency and in turn business productivity.

There are many software alternatives to the paper-based risk assessment process in the market but SafeWorkPro was developed in direct consultation with electrical contractors and workers. For more information on the SafeWorkPro software, you can read What is SafeWorkPro? or you can checkout our blog.

Learn How To Create a Safety Culture with Software

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Imagine being able to devise, use and share even the most complicated safety documents on your smart phone?

Well you can stop imagining. This will soon become a reality.

Recent innovations in occupational health and safety software mean that safety paperwork like health and safety performance indicators and a material data sheet for chemicals can now be created by individual businesses. The range of safety documents applicable to this new system is almost unlimited which means workers of any type will be empowered to address their workplace’s safety culture and risk.

Software like SafeWorkPro provides workers and managers alike with the tools to create their own safety documents, regardless of their type of work involves. This tool removes the hassle of paperwork from OHS policy and procedures while promoting a safer work environment.

The benefits for workers are quite clear.

Provides a flexible OHS management system

  • SafeWorkPro provides workers with the ability to create safety documents that can be designed to best suit an individual worksite. This means safer work practices and an improved level of compliance. It also means that workers won’t be wasting time with documents not suited for their specific working environment.

Cultivates a strong safety culture

  • By having workers directly involved in the creation of safety documents, SafeWorkPro reinforces the importance of proper health and safety practices into their daily working habits. This in turns brings safety to the front of each worker’s mind, maintains an active knowledge of safe work practices and fosters an improved workplace safety culture.

The involvement of workers in the creation of safety documents is key to the success of SafeWorkPro. As outlined in the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022, “Within organisations, leaders promote positive cultures by demonstrating a commitment to…role clarity, worker involvement and workgroup cohesion.”

This is the cornerstone of SafeWorkPro – empowering workers with more efficient and flexible safety software systems.

Job Safety Analysis Forms

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Everyone hates paperwork but even in this digital age of instant messaging and computer technology, it remains a necessary evil. Job safety analysis forms are an essential part of the risk assessment process and crucial to job safety.

Although OHS legislation Australia is complicated and the job safety analysis process is lengthy, the paperwork itself is easy enough to understand. Just have a look at this job safety analysis example taken from the Victorian WorkCover Authority.

This job safety analysis sheet is simple enough. The high risk work, associated hazards and the control measures are listed next to each other while there’s space for the responsible duty holder to sign off. At the top of the job safety analysis form are the company and workplace details, date, activity description and space for the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to approve the job risk assessment.

So job safety analysis forms are pretty easy to understand but they are still one of those annoying tasks that just have to be done regardless of how stressed the paperwork makes you feel.

But there is a better way.

Job safety analysis software takes the paperwork out of the risk assessment process and gives you more time to get on with other work. This software solution is even easier to understand than the job safety analysis forms. Click here to learn more.

Workplace Safety Checklist

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Across all industries and workplaces here are common factors that should be included in a safety checklist. These are vital safeguards that work not only to normalise a culture of safety but also to prevent workplace accidents. But what exactly does a safety checklist look like? Well for starters it is more than just a […]

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The SafeWorkPro Safety Management Dashboard

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No matter the type of industry, whether it’s mining, construction, manufacturing or even basic labour, risk is a constantly evolving threat. Dangers associated with any type of work threaten not only the well-being of workers, but also how productive and profitable a business can be.

The logic is simple. An effective and efficient OHS management system will result in quicker, safer and more compliant safety procedures. This means workers spend less time writing safety documents and more time getting the job done. Moreover, an efficient management system gives safety managers the tools to improve safe work practices and boost productivity.

Therefore safe systems of work need to be established which are smart and flexible enough to adapt with continually changing workplace environments. Previously on the SafeWorkPro Blog, we’ve written about how our software empowers managers and workers to create their own safety documents but now there is another feature which produces even better OHS results.

The Dashboard: using data driven decision-making to improve OHS procedures

A decision that is backed up by strong data will always produce better results. That’s why the dashboard feature has been implemented into the SafeWorkPro software. The dashboard is a place for managers to track the progress of their OHS policies and procedures, and see how well these are actually being implemented. Data relating to what safety document was used for a job, who completed it and the risk involved, are just some of the business insights that the dashboard feature provides. In all, four components break the data down into easy to understand terms.

1: The number of safety documents for each site

Understanding what safety documents are being used for which job site is important for helping managers keep their finger on the pulse of a business. The image to the right is taken from the Dashboard of an existing SafeWorkPro user and shows which jobs have the most risk assessments associated with it. This information can tell a manager where most of their workforce is being used and which jobs require the most occupational health and safety procedures.

The benefit of this tool is that managers and workers alike can see in real time just where the bulk of safety documents are being completed and whether worksites with fewer completed risk assessments are being undervalued. This is especially beneficial for filling any gaps in safety management before an incident occurs.

2: The cumulative safety document count

This line graph shows the number of risk assessments a business has produced over a long period of time. The data is broken into monthly figures, which provides managers with an insight into the number of completed safety documents as well as any rise or drop that strays from the overall trend.

3: Today’s safety documents

Knowing who is doing a job is just as important as knowing what the job is. This part of the Dashboard shows which worker completed the safety document (in this case a risk assessment) for which job. The steps associated with the safety document are listed as well as the number of hazards. This instantly shows which job is the most risky and allows managers to review the completed safety document, thus improving the efficiency of how documents are shared and complied with.

This feature also allows managers to search for specific dates and find the safety documents associated with any job no matter how long ago it was finished. Moreover, a PDF of the document can be downloaded which makes satisfying compliance requests as easy as sending an email.

4: The safety document count

This line graph examines the number of safety documents completed on each day of any given week. It provides a short term insight into daily safe work practices conducted by workers as well as the OHS demands of each job on the respective day that it’s being worked on. For instance, on the left graph the number of completed safety

documents drops sharply to one on the 23-03-15 before jumping up sharply again the day after. This in turn will tell managers that only one safety document was completed on that day which was actually a Sunday. Although such a statistical variation is to be expected, it does display how this tool can show managers when workers may have skipped safety documents or failed to adequately complete one.

Summary

Although occupational health and safety is often viewed as a drain on time, it does not necessarily have to be. The Dashboard is the perfect place for managers looking optimise or streamline parts of their business. It benefits management by offering in-depth data that can be used as a basis for future decision making while it provides workers with an easy to use platform that tracks their current and past safety documents. In all, the Dashboard is another great feature for users of the SafeWorkPro software. If you would like to boost productivity without compromising workplace safety, try SafeWorkPro for free.

Improving Workplace Safety Without Safety Consultants

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Unfortunately not every business can afford safety consultants. This is only a problem in so far as it means productive solutions to workplace safety issues are not being regularly sought after. However just because your business is too small or under resourced to hire safety consultants, doesn’t mean you can’t get the most out of a consultation process. The goal is improving health and safety in Australia without hurting productivity.

Safety tips in the workplace are all well and good but they will do little to improve your OHS policy in the long term. Having consultative arrangements permanently in place can assure that changes to routine safe systems of work or safety equipment do not come at the cost of workplace health and safety. Let’s run through a hypothetical example to show how a consultative arrangement works.

The Scenario:

A small electrical contractor business employs 12 workers, 8 of whom are fully qualified electricians. Traditionally, the workers have informally told the office of any defaults or issues they come across with their equipment. Due to several small but significant issues not being reported through this method, the manager has decided to implement a safety audit checklist to be completed by workers as they return equipment.

Before introducing the safety checklist the manager consults with his workforce to ensure their needs are being addressed. Without doing this, there is a good chance that the manager may miss key issues that only workers on the job would be aware of.  Specifically the manager needs worker input for the identification of health and safety hazards and risks, control measures and risks assessments, and for proposing changes to workplace routines.

In the lead up to the weekly business meeting, the manager supplies all 8 of the employees with a draft version of the proposed safety audit checklist. When the meeting takes place, the manager opens to floor for discussion regarding the checklist and takes employee suggestions into consideration. Due to some concerns that the checklist may add another layer of red tape and become inefficient, the manager agrees to trial the new system for one month. This is a vital stage of the consultation process as it allows for certain safeguards to be put in place and ensures business productivity does not take a hit.

A top down approach to implementing changes to safe work practices is likely to result in inefficient strategies that cost business productivity. Consulting directly with workers will remedy this situation and provide the best OHS solutions that work on paper and in practice. There are obvious benefits to having professional safety consultants on hand but consultative arrangements provide a cost effective alternative that can still improve workplace health and safety.

Safety Templates Free

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Everybody knows how difficult it can be to use safe work method statements (SWMS’s). Seriously, they are a nightmare for many reasons. Firstly, if you don’t have a method statement for a specific construction work procedure, trying to develop one from scratch is time and resource intensive. Most manages from construction businesses will search online for safety templates free to download. The good news is that we have work method statement template free for you over here.

Wait! Before you take off we want to run something past you. We are trying to create a free SWMS document repository for all to share. So far we have had several businesses give us their method statements free. We then transfer them over to the new template format from Safe Work Australia, rewrite them to remove all traces of your company, and make then available for everyone to use. Imagine a world where everyone made their SWMS’s available! Instead of a huge number of construction companies throwing safety into the too hard basket, we could lower the barriers of adoption and make a safer environment for all. So, if you are inspired and would like to share your SWMS’s we would really appreciate it.

Software Risk Assessment: what is it?

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What is risk assessment software?

Simply put, risk assessment software, such as the one offered by SafeWorkPro, is a more time efficient and cost effective way to comply with workplace health and safety laws. Think of it as a form of safety management software that aims to streamline the risk assessment process by replacing the traditional paper-based method with a digital alternative. Instead of writing your risk assessment on paper, you do it on your smartphone or tablet device. This saves time and money but also maintains the highest standard of workplace safety.

Knowing how to write a risk assessment quickly is half the battle when it comes to improving productivity, but to achieve this in a way that will not undermine your safe operating procedures is difficult. This is where construction safety software becomes useful in that it takes the risk assessment methods you are already familiar with and converts them into an efficient risk assessment program.

But not all risk assessment software is created equal. Some just provide a digital copy of safe work method statements that are neither easy to use nor more compliant. Implementing new risk assessment tools into your workflow is disruptive enough without the added pain of insufficient safety management software. So it’s worthwhile taking the time to research your options – something we are completely familiar with at SafeWorkPro. Our risk assessment software was developed in conjunction with contractors to ensure the software meets the real needs of construction workers in a quick, safe and compliant way. It can be installed on any smart phone or tablet device making it transportable, practical and easy to use.

You can read more out our software solutions right here.

Download a Free Method Statement Template

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Personal safety at work revolves around conducting consistent and compliant OHS procedures. This involves tools like proper signage, a clear safety procedure, training but for businesses, especially the small operators, this can be a drain on resources. Add on the cost of paperwork like a safe work method statement (SWMS), and then compliant OHS procedures become a serious consideration businesses need to make.

Obviously skipping any of these processes will not only put workers at risk but also invite harsh penalties from regulators. Here at SafeWorkPro, we believe that by maximising efficiency with health and safety documents, we can drastically improve the cost of conducting high risk construction work to highest safety standard possible.

The first step to this is getting a free SWMS template, something that is surprising difficult to find. SWMS are mandatory under Australian workplace health and safety laws so using them properly not only makes OHS sense but also means you can display compliance with these laws and regulations.

So for your convenience and in the hope that it will boost your workplace safety record, SafeWorkPro is offering you access to a free safe work method statement template. This is a safe work method statement sample based on the examples offered by Safe Work Australia. Although it is just a template, the free download will provide a basis for future SWMS across a diverse range of construction jobs.

If you would like more information on SWMS, risk assessment of OHS policy, refer to the SafeWorkPro Blog.