Most of us are familiar with key health and safety laws such as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Australia) and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (New Zealand). These laws aim to reduce serious, work-related injuries and fatalities. As a manager, business owner, or health and safety officer, you might often wonder where to begin. Health and safety responsibilities extend across your organisation — to employers, workers, and even visitors.

The goal is clear: be proactive. This means taking preventive measures to identify and manage risks before they lead to harm. This involves assessing not only physical injuries but also potential work-related health conditions.

Understanding risk in the workplace

The importance of managing risks from day one

From the moment a staff member steps into the workplace, their safety needs to be managed. Risks should be addressed whether your employees are working at a central office or offsite, and even during travel for work-related duties.

Common work-related risks include:

• Vehicle accidents: Whether employees are in a company vehicle, using their own for business, or commuting.
• Health-related risks: Chronic health conditions or injuries that could occur over time.
• Environmental factors: Sudden changes in weather or unsafe working environments.

Prioritising risks

When performing a risk assessment, prioritise the most critical risks — those that could result in severe injury, chronic health issues, or even death. High-probability risks (e.g., daily incidents) should also be prioritised, but don't overlook the potentially more catastrophic events that are less frequent.

Once risks are identified, they should be mitigated or eliminated where possible. However, it's important to remember that some risks may always remain, and ongoing vigilance is required.

Specific risks to consider

Remote and lone workers

Certain roles come with elevated safety risks. For example:

• Remote Workers: Those working alone in isolated locations or traveling for work are face a heightened risk of falls, vehicle accidents, or being stranded due to bad weather. They may not be able to call for help in traditional ways, increasing the potential for harm.
• Lone workers: Workers without immediate support are more vulnerable to accidents like losing consciousness, as there may be no one nearby to raise an alarm or assist.

Workers in hazardous environments

For workers handling hazardous substances or working in high-risk environments (e.g., dealing with fire or chemicals), standard communication devices like mobile phones or radios may not be reliable. Specialised safety solutions may be necessary to ensure these workers remain protected and connected in emergency situations.

At-risk roles in the workplace

Certain roles inherently involve more exposure to risks. These often include compliance and enforcement positions where employees are in regular contact with the public. Examples of at-risk roles include:

• Fisheries Officers
• Parking Compliance Officers
• Environmental Health Officers
• Investigators and Inspectors (Building, Health and Safety, etc.)

These ‘front-line’ roles face a range of personal safety risks. Most of these risks involve public interactions or exposure to environmental hazards. The nature of the job often means workers face unpredictable situations that could lead to personal injury or safety concerns.

Solutions for managing health and safety risks

Engaging workers in safety conversations

An effective way to identify and manage risks is by engaging directly with employees. Ask them about their health and safety concerns and the tools or resources they feel would help mitigate risks. Involving staff in these discussions can not only highlight potential hazards but also improve morale and promote a safety-focused culture.

Learning from industry peers

Take the time to benchmark your safety practices by looking at other businesses in your sector. What solutions have they implemented to manage health and safety? Observing what’s working for others can provide you with valuable ideas and help you implement similar practices in your own workplace.

Identifying gaps in health and safety coverage

A typical challenge for many organisations is that no single supplier can address every aspect of a company's health and safety needs. It may be helpful to group staff roles and assess the risks specific to each group. By doing this, you can create a ‘Requirements Document’ that outlines your unique needs and can be shared with potential suppliers to receive targeted solutions.

Key questions to address

When assessing safety needs and seeking solutions, consider these questions:

• Are your employees lone workers or are they at greater risk?
• Do workers spend a lot of time in vehicles or remote areas with poor cellular coverage?
• Do you need solutions that include ‘man down’ alerts, duress signals, condition checks, or messaging features?
• When driving, are there concerns about driver behaviour, such as speeding or high impact events like rollovers?

Within Australia and New Zealand, there are suppliers that provide some or most of the solutions an organisation may require.
Look for suppliers with proven track records delivering these services to organisations in industries such as yours. Some suppliers have more success in particular sectors such as government, utilities, not for profits, etc. Ask around the sector you operate in to identify the top suppliers.

Resources

In Australia, WorkSafe has several resources that are accessible from its website. These include Quick Guides, Fact Sheets, Tool Kits and Case Studies. There are also companies within New Zealand that specialise in tailored health and safety audits, reviews and advice.

Conclusion

Workplace health and safety is an ongoing process that requires careful planning, risk assessment, and continuous improvement. By engaging with employees, learning from industry peers, and choosing the right suppliers and solutions, you can build a safer workplace that complies with legislation and effectively manages risk. Ultimately, the key is to be proactive in addressing risks, ensuring that your workers are protected, and fostering a culture of safety at all levels of the organisation.