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Occupational Health And Safety and the role of the Work Method Statement thumbnail

Occupational Health And Safety and the role of the Work Method Statement


January 26, 2012

A gung ho attitude has no place in any work site, as the well-being of employees is not a matter to be taken lightly. As a result, having a OHS policy template is not enough. Every employer need to set up an extensive document which satisfies the legal requirements and actually ensures the safety and health of everybody in the workplace.

A company organization has several facets. It is a provider of goods as well as services for the local community. It’s also an income generator for the actual owners. An equally important role of a business entity is that involving an employer, that has a responsibility to keep its workforce safe within the place of work.

The significance of occupational health and safety is not stressed enough. Any person should certainly not have to risk life and limb whilst at work. There are a lot of ways of being sure the well-being of employees. Different safety programs could be introduced including safety instruction, supervision as well as regular inspection.

Work Method Statements could also help raise awareness among employees, which could reduce workplace injuries and deaths. Importance of Work Method Statements A Work Method Statement is a set of directions to help prevent avoidable hazards for people whilst in the workplace. Whether it’s laying down guidelines on using equipment or providing the correct procedure for a particular task, a Work Method Statement can easily significantly decrease incidents of injuries and deaths at work.

More often than not, gov departments centering on occupational health and safety require employers to create and implement a Work Method Statement. Having Work Method Statements in place is normally required before a small business can operate.

The absence of the required work method statements usually leads to penalties. In some instances, it can lead to suspension as well as cessation of business operations. The real reason for these sactions is clear: with out these measures, the government may incur charges in the form of medical treatments or social security payments for injured employees. Even without the government mandate, it is incumbent on any company to put together work method statements for each task executed and equipment used on the job.

Encouraging a safe work environment impacts not only the workforce and their families, but the company’s clients, suppliers, and nearby communities as well. Having a set of work method statements may also serve as a continuous reminder to employers to make safety a priority. For staff members, it may possibly affect behaviour on the job by making them a lot more conscious of their own well-being. For the organisation overall, it might cultivate a culture in which values safety above anything else. Crafting an Effective Work Method Statements It would seem straightforward to make a work method statement.

However, it is not as simple as it looks. It requires dealing with important issues. Are the instructions in-depth enough to allow the safe performance of a task or use of a certain equipment? Does it include instructions on the steps to take just before and after operation? Does it examine the necessary personal protective equipment a worker has to put on or have? Does it consist of specific instructions on what the training and supervision of workers are conducted? Is it frequently updated to meet the most recent regulating or legislative requirements? Many of these questions have to be considered to achieve one goal: to guarantee the worker’s safety all the time.

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