The one time it’s safer to jump
We seem to be bombarded with messages about workplace safety at the moment: there’s a growing media interest in changes to safety laws across Australia, a suite of government ads encourage us to stay safe at work … and an increasing number of businesses are making changes to their practices.
Perhaps you have recently attended a free safety information session on the new workplace safety laws …. and left feeling completely confused, with even more questions weighing you down than when you walked in?
As a result of these messages, you are probably feeling under more pressure than normal to “fix” your safety issues – especially when those TV ads remind you that “OH&S” could become “Oh Sh**” for you very quickly! (I like that ad!).
Chances are you are in safety-message overload, and asking yourself how this sudden increased legal and cultural focus on safety impacts your business.
In pondering this question you’ve most likely felt a little lost. You are most likely “sitting on the fence”; part of you wants to ignore the looming changes and hope for the best. You don’t want to add to the already busy workloads of employees by burdening them with “safety stuff”, and it’s more than likely you are already working more than you would like to (the last thing you want is more “admin work” eating into your precious family and leisure time).
But then there’s that other nagging part of you; the responsible business owner who wants to protect a business which has taken years, or even decades to build; the “good boss” who actually gives a damn about his or her employees, and wants to protect them against injury. Not just because of the time and money that’s been invested in training, but because it’s the right thing to do.
What would I know?
I know this is how you probably feel because I have been there.
The first time I went to a free information session about workplace safety (back in 1994) was when I was operating my first business in plumbing and roofing. I left confused and feeling very alone, with a hell of a lot to learn quickly.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe information sessions are absolutely essential and certainly have their place in the broader scheme of developing a safety culture in your business. However, this style of session generally provides limited information that covers basics rather than explaining how you can comply with legislation in your particular business or industry. Alternatively, the session may focus on sectors where the law has vastly different applications to the industry you are working in. Then you leave the session and are met by industry consultants handing you information (yes I know I have been one of those guys, sorry people! But I have your best interests at heart!)
Take a breath, and calmly climb off the fence
Taking my safety consultant hat off, and speaking to you as a fellow business operator who has been there, what is certain is that our society has had to do some serious catching up when it comes to safety legislation.
Not enough has been done in the past to protect workers and businesses. So, rather than seeing changes as “red tape” put in place by the government to make life difficult for business operators, try viewing it as a positive; a harmonised system of laws is being rolled out across Australia to make sure the states and territories are on the same page when it comes to safety. This means if you choose to expand your business into another state, you will already know how to comply with the laws, and can pretty much superimpose the same safety systems. When you deal with another business in the course of your operations, you know that they are subject to the same laws as you.
Finally, you know that if you are compliant, and a safety incident occurs, you, your business and your employees are covered, and the damage is not made worse by legal action, reputation loss … or living with the knowledge that you didn’t do everything you reasonably could have to prevent an incident.
The cop outs that just don’t cut it any more
We don’t have a choice whether to opt in or out of safety compliance. The best thing you can do is climb off the fence and start getting active in safety. The excuses that it’s “too hard”, “too much extra work” or “it cost too much” are – without pulling any punches – bull!
I challenge you to go to any workplace … or any mother, husband, father, son or daughter that has seen a loved one or employee experience serious injuries; or has lost an employee loved one, and ask them if workplace safety is “too hard”, “too much extra work” or “too expensive”.
Yes, you need to invest a little time and capital – a negligible amount of capital compared to the potential cost of safety – to get safety systems up and running in your business or enterprise. But when you weigh it up against protecting what’s important, and what will happen if you don’t, the decision should be easy.
Keeping it real: some home truths about safety
What I know about safety is that you can’t:
- ignore it as it will never go away
- start it up … and then let burn out, workplace safety never finishes
- Pretend you have it under control. You know if it’s real or if its smoke and mirrors – keep it real!
But when you do introduce a safety plan, you will see enormous positive benefits to your business now, and in the long term.
Workplace safety needs to be part of your business culture and you as the owner or manager (PCBU) need to be its knight in shining armour. You need to drive it, support it and enforce it. That means that you need to practice what you preach – if you expect to implement a safety system that applies to your staff but not you, you are never going to successfully integrate safety into your workplace culture.
Honesty and transparency in everything you do is key: in the event of an accident or serious incident all will be revealed, no stone is left unturned, and blame will be apportioned to those responsible.
But in making sure that you have a plan in place, checking you are complying with workplace laws, involving employees in the process and remembering a few “home truths” about safety, you will find a number of unexpected benefits to your business. Employees generally appreciate being asked for their input, and as a result, feel more valued, contributing to a more positive and productive workplace culture. You will have less worry in relation to workplace injuries knowing that your employees are trained, and that your business is covered from a legal standpoint.
Which side will you choose?
When sitting on the “safety fence” you really have two choices: you can ignore safety and suffer the consequences; perhaps find yourself telling an employees’ family member that you did not have time for safety; the loss of your livelihood; the loss of your business and professional reputation built up over years … or a lifetime commitment you embrace to become a better version of the successful business operator or manager you are, respected by your employees, clients and the wider community.
The choice is yours. And if you need some help, contact us for fuss-free advice on safety from the right side of the fence.