An employer that delivered a major government project six months early and 10 per cent under budget - after creating a safety culture where even the smallest incidents were reported and dealt with - has been recognised at the eighth annual Safe Work Australia Awards.
A new permit-to-work system, which requires plant operators to authorise work undertaken by others in their area, is just one element of a Tasmanian employer's award-winning EHS management system.
The success of an OHS strategy hinges on convincing all workers and other stakeholders that they affect health and safety, and getting "informal" leaders on board, says harmonisation "architect" Barry Sherriff.
Employers in the construction and landfill industries and other high-risk sectors will be targeted under a NSW plan aimed at reducing the risk of asbestos-related diseases.
Many employers resort to "blaming and retraining" workers when an OHS incident occurs, but improving safety hinges on improving leadership, says Norton Rose Lawyers partner Michael Tooma.
Employers that have zero-harm programs could be setting themselves up for failure, and putting their credibility on the line, according to a geoscience and risk consulting manager.
Managers must carefully consider the language they use when discussing safety issues with workers, and avoid giving negative feedback, a CSIRO health and safety expert told the SIA National Safety Convention in Melbourne yesterday.
In light of the recent sacking, for safety reasons, of up to 15 workers at a Barminco gold mine in Western Australia, a workplace relations lawyer has advised employers to ensure their OHS policies are "fit for purpose" and address specific hazards.
A Western Australian employer that plays safety messages on workplace monitors - as part of its award-winning safety management system - has seen its LTIFR tumble.
