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With new health and safety regulations, as well as more vigilant government monitoring of it's implementation, there's no longer a choice whether your company should consider health and safety - it's a necessity! Implementing an organization wide health and safety plan can be a time consuming and costly process, so here are a few tips to make the process a little easier: Learn about your industry's requirements. Visiting the government websites devoted to health and safety will help you to learn both general requirements, and those unique to your industry. This can help avoid unnecessary spending, and also make sure you comply. Health and safety consultants are another good idea. Many of these will visit and spend time in your business, identifying your unique needs, and creating a plan for you. While this may be a more costly option, it does avoid using your own time and resources, and since the consultant is an expert, will ensure all your bases are covered! Get your employee's input. Your employee's are the people on the ground, so to speak. While health and safety committees and staff involvement are to a degree legislated, take this a step forward, by getting them actively involved. Buy quality equipment and safety garments. Cut price equipment and clothing will not only leave you spending more in the long term, they may not be legally compliant. Rather choose high quality, durable and approved equipment and clothing, and cover your bases! Make sure your staff are trained. There's no quicker way to damage or lose health and safety equipment or safety garments and work wear, than to avoid training your staff! Make sure they know the correct use procedures, and avoid costly accidents and breakages. Go high tech with management. Managing health and safety equipment, high visibility work wear and safety garments can be an administrative nightmare! Consider implementing an electronic management system to help reduce the labour and time required to maintain your system. Appoint a dedicated manager. If you have a large workforce, or complex health and safety requirements, having a staff member dedicated to implementing and managing your OH&S requirements is a very good idea. Consider rental options. There are companies that offer equipment and safety garment rental at reasonable rates, or for one time fees. Opting for this arrangement can save lots of time in terms of sourcing, ordering and managing your needs, and as the old saying goes: "time is money!" Aside from any legislation, or potential fines and penalties, which may even include a total cessation of production in extreme cases, always remember that there are human lives at stake. If your health and safety plan is not up to scratch, if your staff aren't correctly outfitted, they may be at risk of injury, or even death.
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