ASSOCIATIONS
19
Safety alert —
back to basics
Many would agree that we need to move with the times
— and change is one of them.
By IOPSA
This is true in some instances but can be damaging in other respects. EHS Today stated: “Often, perhaps too often, safety people
are on the hunt for ‘what’s next’; sometimes even abandoning the steps they’ve taken that have been yielding successful results.”
STOP – THINK – ACT
Each aspect of this safety
slogan — Stop–Think–Act
— can help us to re-evaluate,
readjust, and reaffirm.
Stop
This first step to a successful safety
management system, or even just
having a safe workday, is:
• Ensuring you have a
good understanding of
all the facts.
• Knowing and
understanding the area
you are working in.
• Having clearly defined
procedures for the scope
of work.
• Addressing the needs of
the employees.
This means that you need to
stop and evaluate the current
state of your system or
process. How? Simple! Ask
yourself: “Does it measure up
to minimum requirements?”
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
What to do? Audit. Realistic
answers to questions outlined in
a compliance assessment will
give you the facts. system is to keep you
safe. So, if that is not
happening, then the
system is not working.
Think
Do we need to reinvent the
wheel with the newest trend or
latest offers? Think holistically:
“What do I need?” “What does
my job require?” “How can it be
done safely?” “How are others
affected?” When you are out
working, think about how
the procedure says it
must be done, and the
practical way of doing it.
Make suggestions, put
forth your solutions, and
then listen to advice.
Having this type of approach
to your safety system will
give you an understanding
on how to improve attitudes
and behaviours and it fosters
trust and open communication
among co-workers.
Remember: It cannot be done
alone!
Act
After taking the time to
establish where you are, and
understanding what it is you
need to do, do it!
• Document your procedure
and follow through.
• Use the P–D–C–A (plan–
do–check–act) approach
and monitor the outcome.
• Never give up; saving one
life is worth it!
TWO THINGS TO DO
1. HIRA (hazard
identification and risk
assessment)
This process should be
done by involving as many
people as appropriate.
Don’t overcomplicate it;
remember to think of the
basics.
It is best done at the site,
around the work area,
or in front of the work
equipment. Whether you
are in an office, on a
construction site, or at a
client’s home, the HIRA
process can be done
continually and its findings
noted down later.
2. Incident and
accident prevention
Your success will be
reflected in the ratings of
your incidents. The whole
purpose of a safety
We are all responsible
for health and safety,
which means we all have
a say. But our motivation
should be for a stronger,
more effective system;
not to make our
paperwork less.
FINAL NOTE
Having a system in
place is one thing;
ensuring employees
understand the
basics is another.
One way to achieve
a higher standard of
communication is to hold
regular safety meetings.
Keep them short and to
the point, and ensure you
make an effort to end off
on a positive note. PA
March 2019 Volume 25 I Number 1