Safety Systems Assessment Tool

Michelle Davidson

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Overview

• What is a Safety Management System?• Safety Management System Assessment

Tool• Elements assessed• Examples/learnings• Other relevant tools

What is a safety management system?

• Set of linked policies, procedures and practices in place to manage workplace health and safety risks

• AS 4801 “gold standard”

What should an effective safety management system do?

• Set out OHS policy and objectives • Establish, assess and review the

effectiveness of procedures which give effect to OHS policy and objectives

• Achieve conformance with OHS policy and objectives of the organisation; and

• Demonstrate such conformance to others (via self-declaration or certification/ registration as appropriate)

Safety Systems Assessment Tool

Elements of the tool

• Management and Leadership Commitment• Planning and Reporting Safety• Consultation, Communication and Safety

Climate• Risk Management• Safe Work Procedures, Training and

Supervision• Injury Management

Management and leadership commitment

Demonstrations of commitment include:• Leading by example• Communication safety responsibilities to workers• Allocating time and money to safety• Making safety a priority• Implementing safe systems of work• Encouraging reporting of incidents• Valuing worker contributions

Planning and Reporting Safety

• Procedures for workers to make reports of hazards, incidents, illnesses and injuries

• Workers encouraged and supported to report hazards, incidents and near misses

• Acting on reported issues and incidents• Reviewing reports to identify trends and

take appropriate action• Reporting to statutory authorities (WHSQ)

Consultation, Communication and Safety Climate

• Process for consulting with workers about health and safety matters

• Consultation arrangements structured so all workers have access to the consultation process

• Workers know about their entitlements to elect WHSR and ask to set up work group

• Access to information which helps to raise awareness of safety issues and solutions

Risk Management

• Structured approach for identifying hazards

• Risk assessments conducted for uncontrolled hazards

• Control measures for all identified risks (controls developed in relation to relevant legislation, codes of practice, Aust Standards)

• Emergency preparedness and response

Safe Work Procedures, training and supervision

• Safe Work Procedures developed for all tasks in workplace (where risk of injury or illness identified)

• Regular review of Safe Work Procedures• Structured Induction program • Training, including Safe Work Procedures

relevant to their job• Supervision to ensure Safe Work

Procedures are being followed

Injury Management

• Procedures to follow if injured at work• “Stay at work” and return to work/suitable

duties plans developed for workers injured at workplace

• Resources to support and assist injured workers

Examples from industry

Common themes:• Consultation

– Toolbox talks for ancillary staff– WHS Committee– Communication across organisation eg via

newsletter• Hazard identification/reporting system

– Formality/structure of system• Risk Assessment/Safe Work Procedures• Injury management processes

SASB - safety management system

Safety Management

System

Management Commitment Consultation

Safe Work Procedures

Training & Supervision

Reporting Safety

Workers Compensation

Return toWork

SASB - self assessment

Online safety benchmarking tool (OSBT)

• Self assessment tool • Confidential• Includes guidance for improvement• Results against:

– Set criteria– Business size– Other business in industry group

OSBT report

Injury cost calculator

• Initial, overlooked, and uninsured costs:– incident– investigation– damage– replacement – productivity costs

+ existing examples

Questions?

www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

1300 369 915

Contact us

What’s your most important reason for workplace safety?

Work safe. Home safe.