Workplace Safety in Focus: Identifying and Addressing Hazards in Compliance with Safety and Health At Work Act - A 2024 Review

Risk Assessments

Routine documentation of risk assessments is essential for implementing appropriate controls to protect employee safety. These assessments should be comprehensive, evaluating the potential risks of harm to anyone who may be exposed to a hazard.

When conducting the evaluation, all aspects of the workplace must be inspected. This includes details such as the frequency of office furniture or carpet changes, reviews of equipment service logs, and elevator maintenance records. Additionally, the company’s accident history should be analysed to gather data on frequently reported incidents.

The safety committee must be unbiased. During an assessment, committee members must remain discrete until authorised to divulge the findings of a risk assessment, to eliminate compromise or prejudice to the rights of the employer or employee.

All findings from the risk assessment must be thoroughly documented, as the safety committee may be required to justify the conclusions in a report.

Company Training

Safety training is essential. Employees must be trained in spotting potential hazards and the reporting procedure when a risk is identified.

The training materials disseminated must be relevant to the industry and nature of the business. The training offered for a restaurant will vary from that offered for a hospital. All training must be adapted to fit the nature and culture of the business. The peculiarities of every industry must be researched before company training.

Employees should also be informed of their rights regarding requests made to access specific information.

Safety is a team effort

The responsibility for safety in the workplace lies primarily with the employer. However, employers cannot identify and manage all potential hazards on their own. Therefore, safety is a collective effort, and fostering a “brother’s keeper” mindset is essential within the workplace.

To enhance safety, employers should appoint safety committees or safety delegates as a proactive measure against hazards. Building strong relationships with staff members can significantly aid in the identification of potential hazards.

Employees who feel valued and respected are more likely to engage in protecting their work environment. Ultimately, the success of a safety system depends on the employer’s ability to create an atmosphere where employees feel comfortable communicating about safety concerns.

Remember the Bigger Picture

The success of a company goes beyond end-of-year profits and extends to its ability to protect the physical, mental, social or financial wellbeing of those employed or contracted to work for the organisation.

Improvements to the health, safety and wellbeing of an organisation are unlikely to occur overnight. Commitment to the safety process is thus paramount to fulfill the moral, financial and legal duty owed to a worker. Additionally, for this to succeed, a mindset shift is required where employers acknowledge employees as valuable assets to the company’s success.

Robin K. A. Prescod is an attorney-at-law.