Safe Work Method Statement

There are a lot of jobs out there that are putting the lives of the workers at risk. In accomplishing their tasks, they are exposed to different dangers. Construction workers face the risks of falling and tripping while carrying out their tasks. Miners face the risk of being buried alive in digging and mining. Demolition workers face the risks of being hit by falling objects when they begin the demolition activities. These are just some of the risks that different workers face for them to do what they are required by their job.

Because of these risks and hazards, safe work method statements are created. They are documents that are written to ensure workers of a safe workplace and ensure that the workers will be safe, so long as they follow what the document says. Safe workplaces are what attract loyal employee bases. Moreover, if the workplace is safe, the costs involved in high-risk tasks are reduced. A safe workplace doesn't only help promote a positive work environment. It also gives physical benefits. If you want to know what these benefits are, it would be best if you continue reading this article.

REDUCED ACCIDENTS

One of the physical benefits of a safe workplace is the reduced number of accidents that take place in the workplace. Because of an SWMS, necessary control measures are done to prevent as well as reduce accidents that could happen while workers are carrying out their tasks. If the workers are working in a workplace that features a well-maintained equipment, easily accessed operating instructions, functioning electrical systems, and safe surface areas, then they would be free from accidents and the overall pain and suffering will be reduced.

AIR QUALITY

If there are harmful chemicals in the workplace and if the breathing condition in the workplace is unhealthy, there will be a higher chance that workers will have chronic coughs, lung infections, colds, and other medical complications. But with the implementation of safety control measures and safe work methods, the workplace will be free from dangerous pollutants and the air quality of the workplace will improve. Workers will be able to breathe easier in workplaces that are free from chemical pollution, dust, asbestos, smokes, and other allergens.

REDUCED STRAIN

Workplaces that are promoting safety use different strategies to make sure that their workers are kept safe from all the workplace hazards. Safe workplaces will promote correct posture with the right tools and equipment to reduce the strain when they're using them. Furthermore, workers benefit from working with healthy eyes, wrists, knees, and spines while using office furniture that reduces strain. Because of this, employers will notice that there is an increase in employee productivity, that is, if the workplace is optimized for physical comfort.

REDUCED STRESS

If the workplace is unsafe, it could cause unhealthy stress levels to workers who are afraid of threats from their co-workers, persistent problems related to workplace hazards, and more! Because of this, workers who have high stress levels could have an increase in blood pressure. They could also have lower immunity to colds and other viruses and they could suffer from headaches and migraines for several hours. Once the workers know that the management implements an SWMS to ensure them of a safe work environment, their stress levels could be lowered!

These are all the things that workers who are carrying out high risk tasks will benefit from. However, dangers in the workplace don't only refer the dangers that are present when workers are carrying out high risk tasks. They also refer to other dangers like sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace, workplace theft and robbery, and many more! Because of this, aside from implementing an SWMS, employers should make sure that they do the necessary actions to prevent such things from taking place. At the end of the day, if the workplace promotes safety in the workplace, workers will be healthier and more productive.

Employers need to implement a Safe Work Method Statement and safety rules and regulations in order to protect their workers from hazards that are present in carrying out their tasks and the hazards that may be caused by violence, harassment, theft, and more! These are both essential to make sure that the lives of their workers aren't at stake.

Tips in the Workplace

Woodworking is a rewarding hobby that can be dangerous as well. But if you pay attention and learn to follow a few simple rules, it's no more dangerous than baking a cake. Certainly, the first step is to maintain a healthy respect for the tools you are using, especially power tools. Take a minute to review these safe work methods in the workplace:

·         Stay Sober -- This should be a no-brainer; alcohol and sharp tools do not mix. Even some over-the-counter medications can make you feel sleepy so staying away from them is a good idea when you're in your workshop.

·         Slow Down -- It's a natural tendency, especially with beginners, to want to hurry up and finish the project as fast as possible. Slow down and take your time. For some, this is something that has to be learned over time. Just don't learn it the hard way. This is one of the best safety tips in the workplace.

·         Has Adequate Lighting - Don't be afraid to turn on the lights. Try to set up your workshop to receive as much natural light as possible.

·         Be on Guard -- Your power tools have guards for a reason. Don't take off the guards or try to figure out some way of getting around them. Unfortunately, many experienced woodworkers develop a false sense of security over time and begin to take shortcuts with their guards. If you're just starting out, learn to be safe above all.

·         Eliminate Clutter - Keep your workspace clear and free of clutter. Stack your lumber in a rack or somewhere off the floor. Keep your tools in their proper places and return them to their homes when you are finished. Keep power cords out of the way.

·         Protect Yourself -- There are three things you need to be concerned with in your workshop: eye protection, hearing protection and breathing protection. Always wear safety glasses or goggles when working with wood. When using power tools, ear plugs should be worn. They're inexpensive so always keep several sets in your workshop. Woodworking creates a lot of dust so breathing protection is a must. It's a good idea to use dust masks in the workshop. You may even want to consider buying a respirator. They're pricier than dust masks but more effective.

These safety tips in the workplace are important in order to learn how to be safe at work. Putting safety first should always be your first consideration before starting any project. Try to develop good habits by following the correct rules and procedures and you will not only be a competent woodworker but a safe one as well.

Importance of Health & Safety at Work

The importance of health and safety at work cannot be overstated. The employer has both a moral and a legal obligation to ensure that his employees work in both a safe and healthy environment.

Morally no worker should be forced to work in an environment where his welfare is at risk. It also makes good business sense to ensure that workers are both safe and healthy during working hours. Sick or injured workers lead to a drop in production and a subsequent loss of profits. Moral issues aside, there are strict laws and regulations governing health and safety at work, and should an employer transgress these requirements he could find himself being prosecuted and having to pay out large sums in compensation.

Good work practices effectively pay for themselves as production remains free from disruption, insurance costs are minimized, the workforce remains contented and customers are delighted with a regular and prompt supply of fulfilled orders.

In the United Kingdom the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) are in change of health and safety regulations in the workplace. The HSE not only enforce these regulations, but will also prosecute employers when they are contravened. While this is very necessary, it puts an enormous strain on employers whose first concern, quite naturally, is to run their businesses as efficiently as possible.

While the HSE produces plenty of information on the regulations, which are often updated, the typical busy employer or manager often has little time to read through them, let alone fully understand them. It is because of this that agencies have emerged that advise employers, managers and key employees just what the law demands and how to comply by keeping your work premises and practices as safe as possible. These agencies also run courses on various aspects of health and safety, many of which are certificated.

One of these courses is the IOSH Working Safely Certificate. This course meets the HSE's requirements as a safety certificate. It defines and identities risks and hazards and looks at ways of improving safety performance. The course also looks at safe systems of working, and considers personal responsibility for safety in the workplace, as well as the protection of staff in the working environment.

The fact that such courses exist emphasizes the importance of health and safety at work in the modern world.

Occupational safety solutions are accredited training providers, providing a range of Health and Safe work method statements training from Sydney.

Tips to Relieve Stress at Work

Do you feel stress at work? Do you carry your stress home with you at night?

Here are some tips that will help you achieve success over stress. You can reduce stress on the job.

1. When making phone calls, as you pick up the phone and dial, take three slow deep breaths. Concentrate on pushing tension out of your lungs as you exhale.

2. Sit down to eat. (Do not eat while standing or driving in your car) Focus on relaxing and enjoyable talk at lunchtime. If co-workers only insist on rehashing all of the negative stuff at work, insist on eating alone.

3. When you drive your car to your business or your job, listen to something enjoyable or motivating.

4. On the way home from your business or your job, listen to enjoyable or relaxing music.

5. Take a few minutes each day to thank God, in whatever form is consistent with your belief system, for the glorious sunrise. At sunset, do the same. If you are at work while the sun is setting, take a quick break to watch the sun set and again, thank your concept of "God" for the glorious sunset.

6. Take a few minutes at work to think of people who may have harmed you in any way. Breathe deeply, relax, and push out all of the tension surrounding those thoughts. Fill your heart and your lungs with forgiveness for the person or persons who have harmed you. Wish for them the same success and happiness you wish for yourself.

7. Live today as if it where your last day. Make your last day, your best day!

Summary:

Use the seven tips to relieve stress at work and enjoy your job and your life.

Occupational Health and Safety

During the year 2008, 5,071 workers died on their work. That is an incredible figure, especially if we grasp that this happened in the US alone. 80% of those fatalities were due to these identified causes:

·         Lack of supervision

·         Not following proper procedure

·         Improper interpretation of instructions

·         Lack of potential risk analysis

·         Poor risk assessment

·         Risk taking personalities

There is a very interesting approach to Occupational Health and Safety Programs: Neuro Coaching. And what is it? It is just coaching with a twist: Basic principles of Neurosciences that when applied, they enhance learning focus on the task, a sense of well being, and most of it all, a deep sense of self-care and care for others.

Foreman and supervisors know procedures very well. What they need are tips and training to enhance their leadership skills, so they can teach and nurture safer behavior to the members of their teams. We always thought that, since cannot withdraw from influencing one another in this world, we might have as a mission to transform lives towards excellence and happiness. In a HSE environment, this goes well beyond our mission. Together we save lives. What could be more inviting and engaging than that?

Some powerful keys to create a successful OHS Management plan, with emphasis in Health, Safety and Environment - HSE, are:

·         An open dialog with workers

·         Team building activities

·         Being on the lookout for bullying outbursts

·         Positive reinforcement of proactive behaviors

·         A coaching program

It's amazing how simple tweaks in day to day interactions can make a big difference in the quality of work, and accident statistics.  If 84% of incidents, accidents, fatalities are due to human error, we are talking about human behavior. That is exactly where we should focus our efforts: modify, change, transform behavior, and reduce risks. We might end up saving a few lives. Would not it be worth the effort?

Clients' OHS Duty of Heed for Contractors

As far as OHS management plan is concerned the law makes no distinction between responsibilities for employees and contractors working on-site for an organization. These laws are primarily state based but they differ very little. For more information go to the relevant work safety website in your state.

The general safety requirements apply to the IT industry as to any other. Computer safety issues apply such as ergonomic chairs, non-glare screens and safe lifting and moving of computer equipment.

All people working on electrical equipment should receive written material outlining safety procedures regarding electric shock and related hazards. This information should include avoiding electric shock such as procedures for indicating whether wires are live (carrying current) or not. Also advice should be provided as to what action to take if someone is suffering an electric shock. Other safety considerations include not working on live equipment where an employee or contractor could bang their head on a sharp object such as a shelf.

A Contractor OHS Management System consists of four main stages in the contracting process. These are:

1. Writing tender and contract specifications.

2. Evaluating tenders.

3. Pre-commencement planning of work.

4. On-site control and monitoring.

When writing the tender and contract specifications you should comply with OHS legislation and obtain demonstrated evidence, such as company forms and records, of the tenderer’s own OHS management system and OHS performance record. This information should be used in evaluating the tender. For medium to high risk contracts (which may include work on computer hardware) the tender and contract should require the contractor to develop a project specific Health and Safety Management plan before starting the job. This plan must be developed in consultation with site management and set out the OHS practices and procedures that will apply during the contract. Once approved by management, the plan becomes the basis as a work method statement inspections and internal and external audits for the duration of the contract.

Various Aspects to Work Safety

Every good boss should try to maintain the health of his employees. It's just a good thing to do. If the moral arguments aren't good enough, then you should realize that work-related accidents aren't exactly a boost to morale. Not ever safety issue involves stopping a catastrophe though. Some are fairly minor things that you might not even think of when it's time to talk about safe work method statements.

Working clothing is one aspect. This is fairly standard talk for a number of machinists, but your other employees should be aware of it too. You do not need ties or any type of loose clothing around the machine. If loose fabric is caught in the gears, then it will be a blessing to get away with all of one's body intact. For these purposes, you may want to look into buying some temporary work clothes for those visiting the floor. There are a number of simple jumpsuits that work as safe clothing which also minimize the effects of stray chemicals and oils.

Continuing on the trend of safety clothing, you should really pay attention to safety glasses. These are really important for any job involving machinery or chemicals. A lot of people have their vision damaged by fairly simple accidents because they're eyes were not properly protected. The biggest problem is often the worker though, as many do not like to wear the annoying safety glasses. You can help the situation by making sure you buy new models regularly and clean the old versions to prevent smudged lenses and uncomfortable wear.

Finally, you may not think about it much, but you need to provide sunscreen for your employees. If any of your employees are out working in the sun for long periods of time, then you need to make sure that they are protected properly. A lot of people simply forget about the potential skin cancer risks from prolonged and continuous exposure to the sun. Sun burns aren't good either. If you want to keep them protected, just buy some individual sunscreen packets and distribute them to the team. This will let you know whether they're actually using it or not and make the handouts a lot quicker than sharing a bottle. It couldn't be easier to keep them safe as a work method statement.

These are just a few specialties that you should consider when making decisions about workplace safety. You have plenty of ways to get it right.

Team Work in Business

As clichéd the statement - 'united we stand, divided we fall' may be, it is the secret behind every success story. The importance of teamwork gets doubly highlighted in the realm of businesses. Delving deeper into the issue of teamwork we see that irrespective of the size of a particular business venture, teamwork among the partners, staff or employees, as may be the case, is of immense importance. Even if it is a small scale business with a modest start up, constructing professional relationships and working together as a team, goes a long way in achieving dynamism and success.

A one man army entrepreneurship is sure to betray a business at some point or the other. Most successful businesses get help and support both from those within and outside the peripheries of the venture. The owner of a business venture must highlight the importance of teamwork by blending it with the company's culture and business methods. Effective networking and working together with other business leaders is a fool proof method of successfully promoting a small scale enterprise.

Incorporation of Teamwork in your Business:

Teamwork involves the combined efforts of two or more people contributing different skills but sharing the same view point and working towards common aims and goals. Employees of the business must be made aware of the goals set for the enterprise and must work in such a way that catapults the business closer towards meeting these aims and targets. Mutually beneficial interactions and networking with other small business owners can be the perfect antidote to a future of long term struggle.

It is very crucial to incorporate and blend teamwork into one's business culture and a work method statement. Teamwork incorporates mutual respect for each other's opinions and capabilities, injects a sense of ownership and thus accountability within the employees and allows for honest communication and discussion about the issues dealt by the company.

Importance of Teamwork in the Marketing World:

One mutually beneficial activity that has gone completely unnoticed over the years is the concept of co-marketing. Co-marketing opens up numerous marketing opportunities making it a highly beneficial game plan. Pulling it off however requires high creative and organizational skills, but be rest assured that once it hits the mark, your business will well be on its way to the `seat of success'. Co-marketing involves sharing of customers by tagging up with other businesses that target the same market, in a complimentary manner though instead of a substitutable manner. This establishes a strong referral and mutually beneficial relationship between two ventures.

Teamwork thus seems to be the key ingredient in the recipe of a successful enterprise, be it small or large. Mutually beneficial activities like networking and co-marketing are what you should include in your game plan, if you want your business to be catapulted to success!

Project Management Plan Template: Key to Success

A good project management plan template holds the key to any project's success. Planning is the primary phase of project management and it should not be neglected. Poorly planned projects end up leaving staff members and investors very frustrated. A project plan is a tool that clearly presents the processes and procedures of planning. This tool guides the project's progress through completion. The plan will serve as the foundation for the project team and it will show the step-by-step process for project completion.

The project team should work together to create a detailed plan. There are standard formats of project plans; the team can use these formats to base their plan creation. They will just have to modify their formats according to the type of their project and other priorities. In creating a plan, the team should have vigorous negotiations, most especially the decision makers. The decision makers are the ones who will finally decide on what are the things that should be prioritized first, the strategies, resources, and budget to be used, as well as the project schedule.

Project managers are among these decision makers. They should be careful in making decisions because the project plan will serve as the basis of any activities or serve as safe work method statements that need to be implemented during planning implementation and completion. If ever there are wrong decisions made in the planning phase, the result can be seen after the implementation of the decision, as a result it would be difficult for the team to prevent errors in the project's progress.

With the use of a detailed project plan, the overall activities can be tracked down to see if there are possible changes to be made during the creation phase. The team could also anticipate the outcome of the activity by merely looking on its structured plan. If the plan is smooth flowing, and the details were arranged properly in accordance with the project schedule, greater chances that the project will be completed successfully. The procedures of the project creation, project schedule, and other aspects of the project should be documented in the plan. After the creation of the project management plan, project managers should make sure that the plan is to be followed by the team. The activities should be based on the plan, and the extent for a certain activity should be followed in order to avoid overtime. Indeed, project plan truly holds the key to attain project completion on time, with successful outcome.

Environmental Management Plan System History

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is formed in order to make it possible for a company, organization, or government reduces the amount of impact that they have on the environment. The term can be restricted only to the operation of buildings, or it can include the life cycle of products as well. As an example, if you were to own five different buildings that are located in five different places, you would have a total of five environmental management systems.

In order to simplify the process, typically you would want a master document to be created that would review all of these systems together in concert with one another so that a picture of the entire operation could be formulated. As another example, if there were five different buildings that could all be found in the same location, they could all be included as a single Environmental Management System.

When implementing an Environmental Management Plan System, it needs to be reviewed periodically so that it can be adjusted and improved with time. This means that the implementation of an EMS has a cyclic nature to it. The procedure starts with identifying what operations exist and how they affect the environment, deciding what can be done about it. The second step is when these changes are put into practice. The third step is to see how effective the changes were. The fourth step is to determine further changes that need to be made. Before formal standards were laid down, EMS was still implemented by several companies in a less formal way. These procedures were followed in order to have compliance with many separate, individual regulations instead of combining them together into one system. These systems would be reviewed any time that there was some question as to whether or not compliance was being followed, or if the regulations changed.

The ISO 14000 series offers a guide to the proper implementation of EMS. ISO 14001 lays down a series of 17 basic requirements that are required in order to be compliant with the voluntary organization's standards:

• The company is required to have an environmental management plan policy that is clearly stated and followed.
• Products, services, and activities must be analyzed in order to determine the impact that they have on the environment.
• Obviously, the company is required to meet the legal requirements and regulations relevant to the area or areas in which it operates.
• A set of environmental goals needs to be laid down. A plan for how to reach those goals must also be put in place.
• Environmental roles and responsibilities are then defined by the organization.
• Steps need to be taken in order to ensure that the workforce is well aware of the guidelines put in place so that they can meet their responsibilities.
• A process of communication must be set up in order to discuss environmental issues both inside and outside of the organization.
• The organization is required to document information related to the EMS procedure.
• Documents regarding procedures and other elements of EMS must be effectively managed.
• The operation of the EMS must be effectively planned and managed. This includes the policy, objectives, goals, and so forth.
• The organization must also develop plans in order to effectively prevent and respond to emergency situations that could result in negative environmental impacts.
• Key activities need to be measured and monitored regularly.
• Compliance must be regularly evaluated
• Problems must be identified, corrected, and prevented from happening again.
• Records of EMS performance must be kept.
• The EMS must be audited on a regular basis.
• Management must periodically review the EMS.