PRINCIPLES

EVERY HEALTH & SAFETY

REPRESENTATIVE

SHOULD KNOW

10

Working in occupational

health & safety means having

a lot of responsibilities

Safety PRINCIPLES are there to help you keep on top of things, do your job correctly, and keep the workplace safe and healthy.

Working in occupational

health & safety means having

a lot of responsibilities

So here are

every OHS Representative should know and follow

10 PRINCIPLES

ALWAYS FOLLOW

PROTOCOL

1

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Health & safety laws, policies,

rules, guidelines and

regulations

are there not only to protect employees, but to protect the OHS representative as well.

Health & safety laws, policies,

rules, guidelines and

regulations

are there not only to protect employees, but to protect the OHS representative as well.

If you don’t follow set protocols and something goes wrong, you will be the one in trouble!

Health & safety laws, policies,

rules, guidelines and

regulations

ELICIT

VISIBLE AND ACTIVE

COMMITMENT

FROM THE TOP

2

Employees need to know

management is concerned

for their health and safety.

It’s the OHS representative’s role to facilitate effective communication between them.

Employees need to know

management is concerned

for their health and safety.

Employees need to know

management is concerned

for their health and safety.

It’s the OHS representative’s role to facilitate effective communication between them.

EDUCATE AND

ENGAGE

THE

WORKFORCE 3

Engaging the workforce is key to

achieving safe and healthy

workplace conditions.

A health & safety representative needs to educate employees on health and safety regulations, protocols, and practices.

Engaging the workforce is key to

achieving safe and healthy

workplace conditions.

A health & safety representative needs to educate employees on health and safety regulations, protocols, and practices.

Organise training sessions, workshops, and regular drills in the workplace.

Engaging the workforce is key to

achieving safe and healthy

workplace conditions.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN

REACTION

4

Identify health and safety

risks, before they can cause

an incident.

Identify health and safety

risks, before they can cause

an incident.

You need to constantly assess, monitor, and report on potential risks.

You need to constantly assess, monitor, and report on potential risks.

You also need to seek out competent advice regarding each risk you encounter.

Identify health and safety

risks, before they can cause

an incident.

KNOW HOW

TO RESPOND

TO INJURIES

5

A workplace injury requires you to:

1. Respond with First Aid measures.2. Report the injury immediately.3. Identify the source of the injury.4. Implement prevention measures for similar

incidents. 5. Compile a thorough report on the event.6. Maintain medical surveillance of injured

parties.

A workplace injury requires you to:

1. Respond with First Aid measures.2. Report the injury immediately.3. Identify the source of the injury.4. Implement prevention measures for similar

incidents. 5. Compile a thorough report on the event.6. Maintain medical surveillance of injured

parties.

A workplace injury requires you to:

ENSURE EVERYONE WEARS

APPROPRIATE

CLOTHING

6

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Always make sure all employees

adhere to the safety gear and

clothing regulations.

Safety gear might include:

Industrial boots, hardhats, safety goggles, reflective vests, disposable or heavy duty gloves, leg protectors, and face masks.

Always make sure all employees

adhere to the safety gear and

clothing regulations.

CREATE,

AND USE, CHECKLISTS

7

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OHS representatives should have

checklists they can go through for

different occasions and events.

For each workplace event, you should have a pre-set health and safety checklist you can use to make sure all due processes are followed to ensure safety, and that all regulations are adhered to.

OHS representatives should have

checklists they can go through for

different occasions and events.

For each workplace event, you should have a pre-set health and safety checklist you can use to make sure all due processes are followed to ensure safety, and that all regulations are adhered to.

You can also have a daily checklist to make sure the workplace is consistently safe.

OHS representatives should have

checklists they can go through for

different occasions and events.

FOLLOW THE

WASTE MANAGEMENT

PLAN

8

The OHS representative should put

procedures in place to ensure:

• Waste segregation• Recycling• Cleaning of waste areas• Appropriate packaging of waste• Proper storage of waste • Adequate transportation of waste• Decontamination of waste areas • Cleanliness of working environments

The OHS representative should put

procedures in place to ensure:

BE AWARE

OF ISSUES

SUCH AS

HIV/AIDS

9

Especially in countries such as

South Africa, HIV/AIDS is a big

workplace issue.

Confidentiality is important to protect HIV-positive employees from discrimination, but you should also make efforts to educate employees on prevention.

Especially in countries such as

South Africa, HIV/AIDS is a big

workplace issue.

Confidentiality is important to protect HIV-positive employees from discrimination, but you should also make efforts to educate employees on prevention.

Be aware of the particular issues your workers face, and address them appropriately.

Especially in countries such as

South Africa, HIV/AIDS is a big

workplace issue.

REPORT

INCIDENTS

CORRECTLY AND

COMPLETELY

10

Incident reporting is

extremely important.

A report of any incident, risk, injury, or safety-related issue should be made and kept on record. It should also be handed over to the appropriateauthorities or management representative.

Incident reporting is

extremely important.

A report of any incident, risk, injury, or safety-related issue should be made and kept on record. It should also be handed over to the appropriateauthorities or management representative.

The report and description of the incident should always be as complete as possible.

Incident reporting is

extremely important.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

STARTING A

CAREER IN OHS

Oxbridge Academy offers a range

of top occupational health &

safety training courses:

Short CoursesCertificatesISO-aligned Courses

Oxbridge Academy offers a range

of top occupational health &

safety training courses:

Safety ManagementOHS ManagementSecurity ManagementSafety Audit InspectionSHE Awareness

in

Oxbridge Academy offers a range

of top occupational health &

safety training courses:

Short CoursesCertificatesISO-aligned Courses

Safety ManagementOHS ManagementSecurity ManagementSafety Audit InspectionSHE Awareness

in

Oxbridge Academy offers a range

of top occupational health &

safety training courses:

…and more!

Short CoursesCertificatesISO-aligned Courses

“As a Safety Officer by profession, the knowledge I gained on this course (OHS) is

out of this world. The things I always needed to know were in the modules!”

-Neshala Eric, Oxbridge Academy student

“As a Safety Officer by profession, the knowledge I gained on this course (OHS) is

out of this world. The things I always needed to know were in the modules!”

-Neshala Eric, Oxbridge Academy student

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME

AN OHS REPRESENTATIVE BY STUDYING

VIA DISTANCE LEARNING

http://www.oxbridgeacademy.co.za/find-a-course/safety-occupational-health-and-safety-management/

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME

AN OHS REPRESENTATIVE BY STUDYING

VIA DISTANCE LEARNING