Discover Why An ISO Safety Management System Is A Good Investment

It feels as if everything has a price these days, doesn't it? And in an increasingly competitive market, the first question a business will ask is, What will it cost me? And what will I get for my money?

In the same way investors look for a Return On Investment when they purchase property or land, so too do employers, when they invest in their staff.

For example, if a business owner is thinking of investing in training for his employees, he has to weigh up what he'll get in return. Increased production? Motivated staff? More skilled workers? That's understandable really.

Legal And Moral Obligation

But what doesn't seem right is when business owners weigh up the ROI on providing workplace safety! That point should be top of the agenda - especially as they have a legal obligation.

I would have thought the ROI on an ISO safety management system was, first and foremost, peace of mind! The knowledge that everyone within the workplace is protected, and the risk of facing prosecution is minimised.

However, for those who require it, it is also possible to calculate the financial gain of having a system in place. The economic cost of work-related injury to the Australian economy for the Year 2012-13, was $61.8 billion (Safe Work Australia).

Cost Of Accidents

During the period 2009-10 to 2011-12, the average cost of a serious claim in - as an example - the construction industry, was $10,200. But on top of that, there's the average 6 weeks or so that the employee will be off work recovering. So there's an additional cost in either downtime, or temporary staff, or both.

Then there's the cost of any prosecution or fine, which can run into millions of dollars.

Implement Safety Management System

Alternatively, an employer can make a call to an Integrated Safety Management system services consultant, such as Standard Consulting in Brisbane.

The consultant can put in place a recognised, accredited Safety Management System, for a fraction of the cost of a workplace accident.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

Safety Consultants In Brisbane Recommend Prompt Action

An ISO safety management system is straightforward to implement and could boost productivity.

If the safety of your employees, customers and other stakeholders is an integral part of your business, doesn't it make sense to include it in an integrated management system ISO?

Of course it does, not only in terms of protecting people, but also protecting your reputation and reducing the down time caused by workplace accidents.

Safety consultants in Brisbane believe taking the time to implement the right procedures actually saves you time in the long run.

When businesses say they don't have the time or the budget to implement management systems, they are being very short-sighted. How do they think it will affect their schedule and their finances if an employee dies in an accident at work?

Protecting your staff 

 

You can't put a cost on a human life and besides, why would you, as protecting your staff is the right and responsible thing to do.

Far from hindering day to day business, providing a safe working environment is likely to increase production. Why? Because staff like to be treated like people. They are more than happy to put in the effort if they know it is noticed and appreciated.

Integrated management services professionals will be able to fully explain the advantages and benefits of an ISO safety management system. They can also provide training to implement the system, getting all staff members on board.

Facing fines

 

Providing a safe environment for all stakeholders in your business is your responsibility - and the consequences of not doing this can, at the very least, end with you facing huge fines.

Just recently, Essendon Football Club was fined $200,000 for failing to provide a working environment that was safe and without risks to health.

And Qantas is planning a $680,000 overhaul of its workplace safety procedures after a staff member was injured at Canberra Airport.

So, it doesn't matter who you are, if you do the wrong thing you will have to face the consequences.

Safety Management System Training Should Be A Priority

What would you do if one of your employees was injured as a result of an accident at work - or worse still, died in a workplace accident? Not something you want to dwell on, right? And we all like to think that it will never happen. But sadly, it does.

As of last Christmas Eve, the number of Australian workers who were killed at work in 2015 was 186 [Safe Work Australia] - fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. It's 186 too many.

And that's why all businesses should be considering an ISO safety management system.

Safety management system training and certification is specifically geared towards creating safer, more enjoyable workplaces. And staff who feel appreciated and cared for are much more productive.


Top priority

Occupational health and safety rules are there to protect everyone - including the boss and the customers! It should be a top priority - for so many reasons.

As well as avoiding the devastation of human loss or injury, it can also save a business millions in compensation and loss of production.

Safety consultants in Brisbane are the go-to people for advice on this, and they will point out that it's not just about having a safe office or workshop, but safe tools and equipment, too.

And that includes the correct training and safety gear to operate that machinery.

AS/NZS 4801:2001 Safety Management System (Australian Standard) & OHSAS 18001:2007 (International Standard) help decrease work-related injuries, prevent accidents and improve productivity.

Legal requirements

Safety management system training also ensures that business practices are in line with all legal requirements.

An ISO safety management system can be applied to any organisation, large or small, regardless of the industry. Like all ISO Standards, safety management system certification is the result of expert international discussion and examples. That means that even the smallest Australian business can benefit from global management experience and good practice.