WHS Safety Consultants & Training Blackwater

Our WHS consultancy services provide value to various industries. Typically WHS is most prominent in high-risk industries like construction and mining. However, there are significant risks faced in almost all industries. For example, workplace stress is now the leading cause of extended workcover claims and this hazard is present in ALL industries. Some of the industries we service include:

• Construction
• Mining and Energy
• Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics
• Agriculture
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Health and Aged Care
• IT and Professional Services
• Education
• Retail
• Government and Not-For-Profit

Legal duties are generally the same regardless of the industry, however if you are engaged in a low-risk industry there are usually some simple and cost effective steps you can take to manage your legal compliance obligations and enhance worker safety. Simple steps to identify hazards in different working environments, basic WHS auditing and safety controls / training for potentially hazardous situations are all effective steps your business can take to mitigate the risks faced by your workers.

Effective WHS management is an essential and integral part of contemporary organisations. Effective WHS management brings numerous benefits to businesses from reducing downtime and improving organizational culture, here are some of the advantages businesses enjoy when they prioritize WHS management in their workplace:

• Legislative Compliance – Reduced liability and penalties for non-compliance
• Employee Safety and Wellbeing – Healthy workers are productive workers
• Cost Savings – Reduction in injuries, re-staffing and rehabilitation costs
• Reputation – Companies with high safety standards have positive reputations
• Improved Morale – Workers are happier when they feel their safety is a priority

Well-designed WHS management systems helps in identifying hazards and mitigating them before they cause harm. Incident and near miss reporting / investigation is not only a legal requirement but also assists in determining what went wrong and how to prevent it from occurring again.

Development of comprehensive WHS policies and procedures can assist safety managers and team leaders manage staff and internal processes as well as setting a baseline for acceptable behavior and providing guidelines for ethics.

Work safety is best managed at the operational level. This means that frontline employees are the best tool businesses have to improve the safety of their working environment. Training in workplace safety helps educate workers in risk management practices and ensures workers are conscious of the risks posed by their work. WHS training can provide the following benefits:

• Improve Employee Engagement
• Improved Safety Culture
• Reduction in Incidents and Accidents
• Increased WHS Legislative Compliance
• Increased WHS Awareness

Safety training may also be a legal requirement, for example General Construction Induction training or Working at Heights for workers who conduct these types of work. Workplace safety training is generally divided into 2 categories:  accredited and non-accredited.

Accredited training is training that standardized and regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and generally has a unit code (e.g. Working at Heights BSBWHS204).

Non-accredited training is not subject to regulation and includes internal training and other training not included under the ASQA framework (e.g. Manual Handling or Chemical Awareness).

Both accredited and non-accredited training can be tailormade to suit each businesses unique circumstances and cover a wide range of topics like emergency response, ergonomics management and bullying and harassment.

We offer many WHS training courses in Blackwater region. WHS training courses can help you create a safer work environment, reduce risks, enhance employee well-being and improve overall organizational performance. Some of the courses we offer include:

• Licence to Operate a Forklift Truck
• Enter and Work in Confined Spaces
• Work Safely at Heights
• Health & Safety Representative
• First Aid
• General Construction Induction Card

Safety training for workers is of utmost importance as it equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify hazards, respond to emergencies, and prevent workplace accidents, ensuring their well-being and fostering a culture of safety.

By investing in safety training, employers demonstrate their commitment to the health and safety of their workforce, leading to increased employee morale, reduced incidents, and improved productivity.

Our WHS consultants use a systematic and proactive approach to WHS risk management. Risk management is a vital process and requires input from senior management to ensure effectiveness throughout the entire organisation. Legally,  WHS risk management should be done in line with the Code of Practice. The following steps are key elements of successful WHS risk management within an organisation:

• Hazard Identification
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Control
• Review and Monitor

Hazard identification can include consultation with workers and workplace inspections. Once hazards are identified, they are usually assessed by reviewing the risks posed by hazards and scoring them with a “risk matrix”. Risk assessment aids in prioritizing risk management. Then, we develop risk controls aimed at eliminating or minimizing risk as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Finally, ongoing monitoring and review is required to ensure safety controls remain relevant and effective.