Latest and greatest article by George Robotham. In his words: “I think this is the most potentially useful to other safety people paper that I have ever produced”
Major safety technical lessons learnt
In my 38 years in OHS I have helped my employers cope with the aftermath of 13 fatalities, one case of paraplegia, one major stress case and a very serious burns case. Speaking from personal experience the most devastating thing that can happen to a company and its workers is to have an employee killed or seriously injured. The financial and more importantly humanitarian costs are immense.OHS is a joint responsibility of management and employees. My focus is the prevention of permanently life altering personal damage.
Download The Full Article Here: Major Safety Technical Lessons Learnt (614)
Contents:
Introduction
OHS problems
Major Lessons Learnt
Get your rear end out of the office and in the field
L.T.I.F.R.
Emergency Response Plans
The Compliance with Common Law (in states where applicable)
Lock out
Zero Harm
Induction training
Tool-box meetings
Moura disaster
Behaviour-based safety
Accident ratio studies misdirect safety
Auditing
Marketing of OHS
Learning
Coaching and mentoring
Commercial Safety Management Systems
Problems with 4801
Education for OHS personnel
Manufacturers
Accident investigation
Critical incident recall process
Honesty
Research
Keep your feet on the ground
Project teams
Internal standards of OHS excellence
Job Safety Analysis
Hazard identification / risk assessment /hazard control training
Safety champion
Safety communications
Safety benchmarking
Safety Committee
Safety as part of performance appraisal
Safety management plans
Class 1 personal damage
Management of Organisational Change
Leadership
Force-field analysis
Haddon’s 10 countermeasures
Teambuilding
Management commitment
Risk assessment
Safety Management System
Displacement activities
Management focus
Set the example
Paperwork
Conclusion
Excerpt:
Introduction
The paper Lessons Learnt From My Safety Jobs talks about the OHS and OHS related things I have learnt from my safety jobs. In this paper I elaborate on the major safety technical lessons learnt.
OHS Problems
Some of the problems I currently see with Occupational Health and Safety in Australia include these-
- There is only half-hearted leadership from government, unions and many companies with regard to safety. Admitting to being a cynic I suggest the rhetoric is not always accompanied by action. I suppose it is naive to think the tripartite partners can put aside their industrial and political agenda when discussing safety.
- There is a poor understanding in the community of the reasons why accidents occur. We are quick to make the assumption that the worker was careless, when one examines accidents carefully one identifies a range of work system factors that contributed to the accident as well, most of these work system factors are the responsibility of the employer at both common and statute law. Blaming workers for their careless behaviour is an emotionally appealing approach that is usually not all that productive in the bigger picture of preventing personal damage at work.
- It is often said about safety that it is just common sense, if this is the case why are we doing such a poor job of managing it in this country? I am reminded of an un-named Chinese philosopher who was reported to have said “The trouble with common sense is that it is never common and rarely sensible”
- The media emphasises personal fault in news releases about incidents and does not consider design and system issues that contribute to incidents.
- We do not have a centralised, consistent method of reporting and recording incident and disease statistics. How can we examine the beast and learn from it if we do not record and report it in a consistent manner?
- In business vast amounts of money can be spent on safety without really defining desired outcomes (I am not doubting peoples motives however, just their effectiveness)
- Government, unions and many companies treat safety as a second priority and industrial relations issues dominate.
- The standard of Occupational Health and Safety practitioner may not be as high as it could be
- The messages of past incidents are not utilised enough in safety decision making. For this to happen past incident information has to be collected,presented and organised in a useable manner.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi George.
I enjoyed the article, although most of what is listed are fundimentals around safety management for a seasoned professional (and I use the term professional instead of opportunist as has been the case with the influx of personnel practicing this craft recently).
There were a few items that sparked my interest, including the ‘Coutermeasures’ as a proactive and reactive tool instead of the oft preached Heirarchy of Control. I could see that gaining good use and traction as it is more functional.
I also enjoyed reading and agreeing with some of the statements in the articel, especially the eternal pursuit of the holly grail in that LTAFR at the deteriment of everything else to do with safety. Short sightedness with ultimately negative returns in sustainable changes to beliefs, values and principles.
It was a well written article. Thanks
Not sure what is going on there mate – I will email you a copy
Dave
For what ever reason my computer is preventing me downloading this article. Is there anyway I can obtain article please? I am also very keen to read anything about the methodology with regards to incident investigations by various methods.
Cheers,
Andrew
Try Roger Kahler at Brisbane based safety consultants Intersafe, they run training on A.R.T.T.
Hi, I really enjoy your site. I am just entering my first OH&S job after graduating, Would you be able to tell me where I could find more info on the Tree Trunk Method of accident investigation