Tag Archive for: advice

Learn how to stay safe while working alone during the holiday season

For many, the holiday season means long periods of leisure and time spent in the home surrounded by family and friends. But for some, work continues as usual through these periods. However, we do not always consider that health and safety risks around the holiday season not only change but are likely to become more prevalent and heightened due to bad weather conditions (even in summer) and human risk.

So what are the increased hazards and what can we do to stay safe over the holiday period?

Click below to read on…

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1 in 6 wouldn’t report a workplace hazard

A new survey published by Accident Advice Helpline, has revealed that hazards aren’t always being reported in the workplace. 1 in 6 said they would not report identified workplace hazards despite 25% admitting that they or someone they worked with had been harmed at work.

When asked why, the respondents gave the following answers;

  • 29% said they didn’t have the time
  • 24% felt the hazard didn’t affect them
  • 23% said it wasn’t their responsibility
  • 23% didn’t know who to report a hazard to
  • 13.2% worried about getting in trouble
  • 7.5% were told not to report an issue

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Creating a positive safety culture

Humans by nature are highly influenced by our environment and those around us. When entering a new workplace, we are likely to adapt to our surroundings rather than go against the flow, even if it means ignoring the rules that are in place.

This is why creating a positive safety culture is crucial in establishing lasting behaviours in our staff. If the majority of our colleagues are behaving safely and following rules, the rest of the workforce are likely to follow suit. Read more

Guide to getting employees on board with safety devices

Introduction

Providing your lone workers with a safety solution like StaySafe is a great step to take as a business. But whether you have just begun your search or have already rolled out a solution, you may be concerned about experiencing resistance from your workforce.

For many, resistance comes from a lack of understanding or fear of the unknown. Your employees may feel they do not need a safety solution, do not have time for it or simply do not understand how it works. Yet there are simple steps you can take to break down some of these barriers and get your employees on board with their new lone worker devices.

Your employees may feel they do not need a safety solution, do not have time for it or simply do not understand how it works. Yet there are simple steps you can take to break down some of these barriers and get your employees on board with their new lone worker devices. Read more

Employer vs. employee: where does H&S responsibility lie?

Health and safety legislation around the world clearly states that every business is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their employees. However, there is often mention of employees taking responsibility for their own safety and that of those around them. But if something goes wrong and someone is injured or killed at work, where does the responsibility lie in the eyes of the law? Read more

Tips for ensuring employee wellbeing

Much of the debate around lone working focuses on physical safety and ways to keep employees protected remotely. However, lone and remote worker mental wellbeing often remains unaddressed.

Yet remote workers miss out on a number of factors that benefit our mental health such as colleague interaction, physical support and office provisions. Lone workers operating on isolated sites can easily go the whole day without interacting with anyone and many lead unhealthy lifestyles as they often go for the quickest and most accessible food and drink options. Read more

The New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Act 2015: A year on

Today (April 4, 2017) marks a year since the introduction of New Zealand’s new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and employees are beginning to see positive changes in their workplace.

A survey of 776 industry professionals conducted by Safeguard, has provided some insight into the changes the legislation has driven and the areas that still need addressing. Read more

Staff training is a crucial step in successfully implementing a lone worker system

For lone working staff, training is particularly important as they work in environments where there are no colleagues around to provide a helping hand or point out a mistake that could lead to an accident.

News stories regularly point out a lack of training as a contributing or sole factor for serious workplace injuries and fatalities. Just last week an incident was reported in the news of a lone worker being crushed by a falling vehicle. Aside from a lack in proper risk assessment, it was also found that the staff member involved was not properly trained or experienced to carry out the task in hand safely. Read more