Business is always looking to improve workplace safety performance. But how do they do so when often working within a highly regulated environment?
 
The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. Last week the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 focused on enhancing social dialogue towards a culture of safety and health.
 
With this in mind, Helia EHS is committed to assisting in the planning, review and discussion of safe projects. Our clients want to keep everyone safe, from the initial phase right through to project completion, and our service of reviewing safety and environment documentation does exactly this. Our service covers off not only the legal requirements of each project, but is also the corporate social responsibility of the client.
 
Here are the key steps for reviewing any safety and environment documentation and encouraging dialogue between all parties to promote a safe and healthy workplace and work site.

PLAN –

Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)
Site Emergency Response Plan (SERP)
Take 5 – Are people trained (competent) on-site accordingly?

These are a few important questions to address during the planning phase:

Are contractors’ Job Safe Analysis (JSA) or Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) specific for the Site and Project?

Are licenses, certificates, registrations, etc current and ensuring only appropriately inducted individuals and appropriate plant/equipment operating on-site?
DO –

Now is the time to identify whether the contractors are doing what they say they’re doing in the documentation (JHA, SWMS). This should be implemented in daily toolboxes informing all site personnel on daily/weekly logistics, changes to site conditions, and that all contractors are on the ‘same page’ in terms of safety and environment.

Daily toolboxes are also a great opportunity to start a conversation with all personnel on health and safety topics such as accident prevention and reporting, behaviour and consideration for others, eye protection, excessive noise control – even asking the basic (often-forgotten) question: “How are you feeling today?”
CHECK –

Ensure all safety systems are in place prior to operations and that controls are being undertaken and supervised. In general, review all the systems in place to ensure that the client’s operations are being performed in accordance with its controls; this will minimise hazards on-site and identify any potential risks that may occur during operations.

ACTION –

Are all personnel implementing the recommendations (where warranted) from a safety professional? Are personnel responsive to feedback and any suggested changes on-site where it can make the project safer?

At Helia EHS , we believe that a safety (and environment) professional being present on-site, sends a clear message to all involved that the overarching client is serious about safety and environment. As clichéd as it sounds, a safe job is a happy job!

As safety and environment professionals, we can be involved in the project from the outset, making independent and impartial observations whilst providing advice/recommendations where necessary.

Helia EHS. Certainty delivered.