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RESOURCES

Legislation imposes obligations on employers to ensure a safe workplace and effective management of health, safety & welfare associated with the workplace. To fulfill these obligations, the employer must develop and implement an effective health and safety program that suits the work undertaken.

There are two key aspects to RESOURCES MANAGEMENT in relation to health and safety.

Human Resource Requirements

  •  Delegates Responsibilities
  •  Competency Requirements
  •  Communications and Reporting
  •  Induction
  •  Performance Appraisals

Physical Resource Requirements

  •  Purchasing & Subcontractor Management
  •  Pre-qualification
  •  Purchasing
  •  Induction
  •  Plant & Equipment

Resources management identifies the need for commitment by the company executive and defined accountabilities and responsibilities at all levels throughout the company.

Accountability of Health and Safety

The person with the ultimate responsibility and accountability is usually a senior person within the organisation. This person must have the authority to make decisions and determine both policy and practice.

Such accountability will include:

  • signing off on policy
  • reviewing and agreeing to practices
  • ensuring such policies and practices are being followed
  • reviewing their ongoing effectiveness
  • updating as necessary
  • Designate and Document Responsibilities for Health and Safety

The person in control of a workplace, on behalf of the company, must also have defined responsibilities and accountabilities communicating back to the person with ultimate responsibility and authority.

Such responsibility will include:

  • reporting on status of safety of the site
  • participating in reporting on implementation of policies and practices
  • acting as the communicator for safety between employee and management

Resources Allocation

An effective health and safety system must be supported and driven from the top. It must then involve everyone in the business. The employer and senior management must clearly demonstrate commitment.

Senior Management must have in place:

  • adequate resources to meet safety requirements
  • mechanisms to management training and competency
  • systems to manage safety when purchasing and subcontracting
  • effective consultation and communication

To comply, you will need to.....

  • Review and assign roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for safety and injury management
  • Review job (position) descriptions to reflect the new roles
  • Introduce pre-qualifications to subcontractors
  • Include induction for all staff and subcontractors
  • Review purchasing and subcontracting to include safety considerations
  • Ensure safe work procedures identify accountabilities and responsibilities
  • Identify training needs and initiate training for the above

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