Playing it safe at work

Playing it safe at work Playing it safe at workPosted October 13, 2011, by Mike Kermode When I was younger, my skateboard had a sticker somewhat ironically brandished on it. Safety is an attitude, not a process, it read. While neither my skating nor myself were exactly governed by this dictum, modern occupational health and safety (OHS) is undeniably about both a way of thinking and a highly systematised process. As Australia, along with the rest of the world, has become increasingly safety-conscious, the onus is on every manager and administrator to have knowledge of OHS practices to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their staff. Many industries are also in need of qualified OHS specialists who can bring workplace practices into line with current legislation. Here, that legislation is about to become nationally streamlined. As of the 1st of January 2012, were all technically going to be as safe as each other as the states harmonise their hitherto incongruous OHS laws. This makes i t an opportune time to get back to basics and ask what is OHS all about, anyway? Why is it so important? And what sort of opportunities are there in OHS for the ambitious and the safety-conscious? What you need to know about OHS One of the first things to realise about OHS is that it spans every industry. Not just those like construction or mining, where youd expect it, but every industry. Occupational health and safety principles apply to every workplace, and every business needs workers who are versed in OHS policy. The World Health Organization defines OHS as The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health OHS is about preventing these departures from health for employees, customers and the general public by keepin g hazards and risks in check through hyper-vigilance. Keeping safe premises, having safe machinery and materials, providing safe systems at work, having sufficient training and supervision, and a suitable working environment OHS encompasses all of this. OHS draws on a host of different subject fields, including occupational gesundheitspflege and toxicology, public health, safety engineering, chemistry, health physics and law. Its big. In workplaces all over the country, it manifests in the presence of personal protection equipment (PPE) like helmets, gloves and goggles first aid kits on worksites the signage of hazardous substances and machinery ergonomic furniture a safe and comfortable office set-up and general safety standards and regulations. OHS procedures and laws are also designed for the protection of employers. How? By protecting them from losing productive workers and production time, losing the goodwill of a happy and healthy workforce, from workers compensation claims, and from the negative public perceptions that would arise if that employer was seen to be negligent when it comes to employee safety. The heart of OHS Modern OHS, then, is considered vital to the success of a business. For it to do its thing in a workplace, however, it requires two core processes hazard identification and risk assessment. And this gets to the heart of what OHS professionals do. A hazard is any situation that could potentially cause or result in harm to people or property (like a skateboard on the office floor). A risk is the chance of the hazard causing an injury (busy office = high risk). Then there is the severity of the outcome (potentially serious). Its the compiling of all the hazards, risks and their outcomes that enables a business to structure its approach to safety systematically. Its an important role, and one that must be performed by a safety expert. Safety in numbers Go on SEEK.com.au, and youll find hundreds of jobs for OHS specialists. The numbers attest to the importance placed on safety today, and also the extent of demand for qualified professionals. OHS manager/officer/coordinator Whatever the name, the brief is the same safety professional. unterstellung people are in charge of keeping employees aware of OHS procedures, keeping policies up-to-date, conducting safety audits and training, and promoting a safe work culture generally throughout a business. In close communication with management, theyre responsible for monitoring and modifying safety practices as work environments change identifying hazards and assessing risks. Injury management Sometimes the above brief is combined with incident investigation and injury management or return-to-work management. These professionals ensure that an injured worker receives the treatment they need to return to work, as well as income support during rehabilitation. Opportunities here include return-to-work coordinator, injury management advisor, case manager and injury claims con sultant. Consultancy and training Some organisations outsource their OHS management, relying on independent advice on how to best implement and standardise their health and safety practices, and train in-house OHS coordinators. There are many opportunities for these mobile safety pros. Products For those with the right background (be it medicine, engineering, industrial design or public health), there are also opportunities in the production of OHS infrastructure and equipment, ensuring that they meet safety standards and provide a high level of protection and usability. This encompasses products like safety signage, hi-vis clothing, tools, fire safety equipment, barriers and first aid kits. Safety qualifications To work as a safety professional, youll need a qualification in OHS. This could be anything from a statement of attainment to a certificate, diploma or advanced diploma, and you can even do graduate studies in OHS and become a highly qualified workplace safety specialist. Youll also need a fine set of communication skills. Youll be dealing with many employees from managementlevel to shop floor and youll be supporting, training and managing staff in their workplace practices. If its a higher level position, getting yourself a training and assessment certificate can help you become an OHS training leader in your workplace. Most importantly, youll need up-to-date knowledge of OHS legislation, which means understanding the changes to your states legislation in line with national harmonisation. There are also new safety products coming onto the market all the time, so knowing which are in step with safety standards is a must. Getting a qualification in OHS can be a valuable add-on to your role as a manager, HR professional or administrator, or can pave the way to a career specialising in workplace health and safety. In todays safety-conscious environment, a job in OHS is a sure bet youre virtually guaranteed a well-paid job, and youll be helping Aus tralian businesses function as safely and productively as possible. If you want to gain qualifications in occupational health and safety, see our range of OHS courses. Diploma of Work Health SafetyStudy modeansprechbarPayment optionsPayment planUpfront paymentCourse guide+ FREE eBrochureEnquire Online Enquire OnlineWHS ResourcesHealth and safety advisor sample resumeHealth and safety advisor sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?AuditorOccupational Health and Safety (OHS) OfficerWHS officerSafety InspectorSafety AdvisorPopular Career Searcheshow to become a child safety officer queenslandbachelor of occupational health and safety onlinegovernment funded certificate iv of occupational healthhow to become a child protection officerfast track graduate certificate in ohsWHS CoursesMaster of Occupational Health and SafetyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Occupational Hygiene and ToxicologyEnquire Online Enqu ire OnlineMike KermodeRelated ArticlesBrowse moreEMPLOYER RESOURCESWHS5 Skills You Need To Succeed In Work Health And Safety (WHS)Effectively planned and executed work health and safety (WHS) practices are good for a business and especially good for its staff. 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