Managing Health and Safety through Conversations
Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws across Australia place a duty on employers and PCBU’s to consult with workers about work-related health and safety matters.
When asked by managers how best to manage safety-related risk in the workplace, I will always respond with questions aimed at determining the degree to which they have conversations with their people – those who actually do the work.
Safety management does not involve:
Being the ‘Safety Police’, and treating workers as if they are less aware of the risks than those not at the front line.
Adding more documents and checklists to the work to be done – only those that are necessary.
Lecturing and pontificating to workers that they’re fully responsible for workplace incidents and injuries.
Rather, I’ll recommend that they do more listening than talking, and ask open and engaging questions to those performing the work.
Regularly check in with your people, and consciously observe how they’re performing their work.
If you see something that is unusual or doesn’t look right, approach them and ask if they can explain the situation to you. It could just be the case that your initial impressions are incomplete or incorrect.
Ask them if they have any ideas or suggestions about how to improve the way that work is done, recognising that they’re in the best position to make contributions.
Share good ideas around the team, and generate constructive conversations.
Share the results of good initiatives across your team, and acknowledge those who made them happen.
The Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice for WHS Consultation, Cooperation and Participation has been adopted across State and Territory jurisdictions, and provides additional guidance in this area.
