All Categories - Custom Safety & Engineering

Custom Safety Update

23/11/2014

Its not often that I write a personal piece but I have an apology to make. I have been a little busy of late working on some projects on the home front, which unfortunately have distracted me from the Safety Nerd Blog. However I am excited to share that my husband Adrian and I have created another little human. Little Jordan is now 11 weeks old and is being loved and smothered by his two older brothers. Yes it is a little full on in our house with three active boys aged 4 and under!

Despite this in the last few weeks I have been busy developing more Workplace Safety and Health templates for small to medium sized businesses. These templates are designed to take the headache out of Safety Systems Development for small business. They are user friendly and fully customisable for your business. I do have a long list of templates on my wish list for development however if you have any suggestions or requests for templates please let me know via the comments below or our contacts tab. We currently have a sale on for all our Facebook and Twitter friends so join us on FB or Twitter to find our more. The sale ends soon so get in quick.

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to find out about product releases and sales. http://www.customsafety.com.au/opt-in--subscribe.html

Photography by Therese Miller @ Vintage Blue

Photography by Therese Miller @ Vintage Blue

PPE Register Template at our Online Store

Thanks to Therese @ Vintage Blue Photography for our lovely family pics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Blue-Photography/503690023003033?ref=br_tf

Fatality Risks - Higher for the Self Employed

15/7/2014

The self employed are 3 times more likely to be fatally injured at work according to a 2014 Safe Work Australia study released today. The study explored work-related traumatic injury fatalities in 2013. This kind of information is really important for people to take note of especially if you are self employed or work in one of the high risk categories. The study found that self employed workers tend to work past the average retirement age of employees and work in higher risk environments like farming, transport, and construction. Some further questions need to be considered for the self-employed including are the self-employed more likely to:

Take more risks in general
Take more risk under pressure / or be under more pressure
Be less exposed to safe work practices (incl. team based safety approaches)
Have less access to safe work practices and fit for purpose equipment

If you are self employed or employ the self employed these factors need to be considered and managed so all workers can have access to the same level of safety in their workplaces. Granted self employed workers generally with have access to minimal capital so some interventions / risk mitigations will be less fancy. As a self employed worker myself it would be great to see more/more available government education and intervention provided for these workers.

Stretching in the workplace

8/7/2014

Many people spend long hours at the computer, weather it be for work or at home, but they forget the most important factor - Stretching! Stretching is designed to improve blood flow throughout the muscles and release muscle tension to support a full range of movement. Many workplaces over look the cost of injury associated with sedentary desk work generally because it is not considered to be high risk. However the cost associated with loss of productivity and lost work days (sickies) from back soreness and headaches as a result of not adequately stretching is impacting most if not all workplaces. Not to mention the cost of more significant long term injuries as a result of repeated, long term exposure to poor office ergonomics (the way we set up our work stations) which can result in people having permanently disabling injuries.

Prompts to help you stretch
Work Safe SA Have released a desk-top card that can be displayed on your desk or printed as a poster for your wall. This serves as a reminder to regularly stretch. Owning my own business and spending long house at the computer I have been a culprit for not stretching, not because I don't want to but because I get so caught up in my work. So a prompt like this is fabulous, if you can put in near your computer work station in a location visible to you while you work its a great trick. While its good to get up and walk around these stretches are designed for you to do at your workstation, which means that you can get them done quickly and get back to it!

Another other good tip is to consider using your computer calendar reminders every 1-2 hours to pop-up (audible and visual) and remind you to stretch, especially on those days where you know you are going to have your head glued to the computer screen. Some workplaces have started dedicated stretching sessions, run by stretching champions (persons trained by the company to lead stretching sessions) which combine both static (stationary) and dynamic (movement) stretches at pre-determined intervals i.e. start of shift, mid morning etc. Additionally some companies have put stretching pictures on screen savers for computers, the only problem is these generally only appear when your computer has been left for a while, but they are still a good reminder.

What does your workplace do to encourage stretching?

#Workplacesafety #customsafetyau #workplacestretching

Dealing with Change - Change Management

17/6/2014

Many people seem confused by the concept of change management, it seems that many companies have treated change management as a bolt-on or additional system to risk management. In reality change management is a subset of risk management.

I don't under estimate that the management of change is significantly important, however I do believe it is an aspect of risk management, that in some respects we have tried to over-complicate! We have all heard that change is the only constant, change is inevitable. Likewise risk is inherent (def: existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute) and shall always exist its just how we manage and control the risk. Change is just like any other risk that needs to be managed in a daily task, or business.

Just as pre-start risk assessments help us manage risks, the extension of these systems to encourage employees to consider changing environments in their tasks are just as important. Many incidents occur as a result of unexpected or non identified change. Likewise many companies succeed or fail due to their inability to manage change. How does your workplace manage change and changing environments.

Bush Fire Survival Plan App

20/1/2014

Its fire season in Australia. The NSW RFS have now released a bushfire survival plan app to make it easier for families to create their own bushfire survival plan. Failing to plan could put your lives in danger. It is important that you prepare your home, family and business to prevent you from making 'rushed and dangerous decisions' at the last minute.

If you have made one for you home, what about your business? The devastating fires across Australia this fire season are a timely reminder. If you don't think you need one then check out the questions on the rural fire service website which I have put below...you might be surprised. http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=4073

Do you need a bush fire survival plan?

Planning for Workplace Safety

14/1/2014

Most companies will develop an annual plan for financial and business growth needs, but how many actually take the time to develop a detailed Health and Safety Plan. Health and Safety planning is essential it can help businesses significantly improve occupational health and safety performance and ultimately business productivity. Recently a Qld government department report that for every $1 spent on health programs there was a return of $5.56 find out more. So heres some simple steps to help you get your planning started!

1. Make time to set a plan - book a meeting, get the right people involved. A health and safety committee is a great group to get involved, if you don't have one of these get together a group of employees and supervisors who can add value. Its best to start early and time it with just before budget planning cycles, but if you missed that boat start now!

2. Do your research - review your last years performance, check out your leading and lagging indicator performance. This is best done and prepared for use at your planning meeting. You can use this to establish your improvement opportunities.

3. Establish improvement opportunities - from your research brain storm or mind map improvement opportunities with your group during the planning meeting. You can highlight priorities at the conclusion of the meeting by reviewing the topics identified. Generally priorities should be set based on risk or bang for buck (that is what is going to get the most improvement the quickest!)

5. Build your plan - take the findings from the meeting and develop / document your plan. If you get stuck checkout our website store for a cheap plan template (or checkout other products on sale now). Your plan should include a description of the action and the desired outcome, as well as responsibilities. Some tasks won't require a budget, where this is required

6. Review your plan - have your group review the plan and get it approved. You should establish regular dates throughout the year where you sit down to check on the progress of your plan. i.e. quarterly. Those responsible for actions should be present to identify the status of actions.

#WorkplaceSafety #AnnualPlans #CustomSafety #SafetyTemplates

Custom Safety OHS Annual Plan Template (Click Picture to see it on our Online Store)

Dazzling Lights - Hidden Danger!

12/12/2013

If your like me, you feel like a big kid at Christmas time and love to cover your house and workplace in Christmas lights. Then you need to take a moment to check this out.

Every year fire fighters are called to fires as a result of faulty or poorly installed Christmas lights. So if you have already installed them its time to check they are installed safely if you plan to start here!

Getting Started

Check cords, bulbs and plugs for signs of damage before you plug them in
Turn the power off before replacing bulbs
Don’t overload power points or power boards
If your home doesn’t have a safety switch, use a power board with one built in
Turn your lights off before leaving home or going to bed
Don’t move or adjust lights while they’re switched on
Make sure you have a working smoke detector installed

Christmas Tree

Lights should go on the tree first followed by other decorations, they should not touch each other.
Keep tinsel and other decorations away from lights, electrical cords and connections
Position your tree away from curtains and other flammable furnishings

Outdoor lights

Only use lights specifically designed for outdoor use
Attach lights to your home using tape, cable ties or clamps don't use nails
Take care if you are working at heights or on a ladder
Switch off your lights when it rains
Make sure joins in extension cords aren’t exposed to the weather
Fully unroll extension cords to keep them from overheating
Make sure your extension cords don’t create a trip hazard or run across driveways

Finally where possible always use low voltage lights, we have recently replaced all of our Christmas lighting with LED lights which are much safer and more cost effective!

Make sure your lights dazzle this Christmas and avert any hidden dangers by checking your lights today!

#christmaslightsafety #homesafety #workplacesafety #christmaslights

Pretty cool safety video

2/12/2013

I must say I was wowed by this video... Virgin America have gone all out and made a new safety video. Clearly they have a budget bigger than most small businesses, but this is a grey example of how you can make safety fun and catchy! It also is great advertising for them. At the time I clicked on this video it had over 7 Million viewers so it was probably worth every sent they spent on it!

Next time you are launching a new training package, procedure or promoting health and safety think about how you can use technology to promote your message. It does not need to be this fancy but most people have access to record video or even audio. Or try exploring you-tube and google maybe someones already made a video or pod cast you could use. How can you incorporate video and audio in to your training?

Know of a great safety video, share the link by using the comments section below.

#VXSafetydance, #workplacesafety, #safety

Behind every good Hazardman

25/11/2013

Yep I think you know this one…. is Safety Woman! So this is another Character from WorkSafe Acts Hazard Man comic. I must say I am a fan of hazard woman. She does appear to make some sense. This is one of her messages

"Workplace safety isn’t really about work. It’s about everything you do when you’re not at work. It’s about time with your friends and family, hobbies, holidays, having fun and everything that’s important to you. Because that is what you could miss out on if something goes awfully wrong. So don’t miss out. It’s easy to stay safe if you know what hazards to look out for, and how to fix them."

Do you agree? Have you got a safety tip to share?
#workplacesafety #hazardman

Gas Well High Risk Incident Alert

19/11/2013

The NSW Mine Trade & Investment Mine Safety Investigation Unit have release information regarding a gas well incident on a decommissioned gas well earlier this year. While no workers were injured the incident sure had potential to cause serious injuries.

Below you will also find a copy of the original safety alert issued the recommendations for decommissioning wells include

A suspended well should be left with a kill string to facilitate conventional killing of the well as well as to enable isolation of the reservoir from surface when installing a BOP stack.

For more recommendations check out the Investigation Information and Safety Alert Below

drill-string-ejected-from-gas-well.pdf
File Size:	1496 kb
File Type:	pdf

sa13-08-drill-string-ejected-from-hole.pdf
File Size:	72 kb
File Type:	pdf

Author

Alaine Trevor is an OHS Professional, the Director of Custom Safety and Engineering she has been involved in the safety profession for over 10 years. Her experience includes senior management safety and HSEC (Health, Safety, Environment and Community) roles in both underground coal and open cut coal mining for two of the world’s largest mining houses. Click here to read more about Alaine.

Be the first to receive the Safety Nerd Blog, Subscribe to our RSS Feed.

CHECKOUT OUR STORE

Tweets by @AlaineTrevor

Archives

December 2017
August 2017
October 2016
May 2016
April 2016
September 2015
July 2015
March 2015
December 2014
November 2014
July 2014
June 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
August 2013
May 2013
February 2013

Categories

Experienced Professional

Mining
Small Business
Industrial
Trades & Services

Valuable Resources

Mining
Small Business
Industrial
Trades & Services

Quality Service

Project Management
Management Systems
Risk Management
Audit

Custom Safety Pty Ltd ACN : 161 755 255