Get It Right with An Integrated Safety Management System

Queensland’s peak advisory Board to the Government on work health and safety issues, the Work Health and Safety Board, has launched a five-year plan to improve work safety throughout the state.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the plan reflected contemporary thinking on work health and safety and identified four main areas to be focused on over the next five years. These include designing healthier, safer workplaces, fostering a culture of health and safety and regulating effectively.

Integrated Safety Management System

Largely instigated by the Dreamworld and Eagle Farm tragedies in October 2016, the plan will increase pressure on businesses to ‘get it right’. And yes, that will mean more Red Tape. But there is a way of achieving all this with minimal disruption, and that’s implementing an ISO integrated safety management system.

ISO management systems across the board are recognised as the best systems in the world. These are doable management systems based on real situations. The advantage of an integrated system is a reduction in documents and duplication. It will also put workplace safety at the core of your operation.

Safety Management System Training

Integrated also means that it will use the best of your current systems and will be tailor-made to suit not only your industry, but also your goals and expectations. A key part of all this is safety management system training, to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

An integrated safety management system is suitable for any sized organisation, in any industry. Once implemented, you can apply for certification, which make you stand out against other businesses. It will also make you an employer of choice, ensuring you attract and retain the best employees.

Using the ISO mark on your packaging and marketing tells consumers that you take workplace health and safety seriously. There is proof that such accreditation will boost your business, with around 55% of consumers globally saying they will pay more for products produced and sold by socially responsible organisations.

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.