Welcome to our December Newsletter. In it, we bring a digest of safety and health information that is most likely to be of interest in developing and maintaining successful safety systems, with particular emphasis on ACC, audits, OSH rules and regulations, Training and keeping abreast of current trends.
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In this edition:
- Safety Humour
Let's laugh about safety - again: The ever popular humour pictures and videos have been added to again. Thanks in particular to regular contributors Murray Kennett and Trevor Hall.A word of explanation: Many pictures and videos have been received but cannot be displayed on our website. The rationale used is that the material has to be funny in its own right but if there is reason to suspect that any form of suffering was involved, it will not be published. Irreverent, not gratuitous is the order of the day.
- A few new pictures
- A couple of great video clips
- Send a safety humour story, anecdote, picture or videoCaption competition winner for that guy nonchalantly welding under his ute [ See below ]
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Shutting the Doors over Christmas
Leaving your premises for an extended period over Christmas/New Year is a risky time. Vandals, arsonists and burglars have the luxury of a quiet period and fewer pairs of eyes observing their activities. There are idle hands and alcohol induced bravado to contend with.There is also the risk of fire destroying the things you value when fire systems are left unobserved and unattended.
Without breaking the bank, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of disaster during the holiday period. [ more ]
- Risk assessment: A Waste of Time?
Do you use risk assessment tools to give managers and supervisors a better ability to weigh up the factors in safety decisions? Is this any use to anyone but the safety coordinator? Would you give a golfer an angle, distance and velocity calculator to go out on the course with? If you did, would they use it? Of course not. It's not intuitive enough and it takes too long to set up. Same with risk assessment. [ more ]
- Web based OHS system
In the last two newsletters, we have been floating some ideas about an internet based OHS system. Work has now commenced with a highly reputable web developer and the system will be ready early in 2005. Around April 2005, we will be looking for two or three willing employers to test the prototype to death over a period of maybe two months. Your reward will be complimentary membership for one year. Details of the features are below. If it sounds interesting, please register your interest by using the link provided. [ more ]
- Registered Safety Professionals
Just to close the loop (last newsletter) on the NZ Safety Council's initiative in setting up a Professional Register, the list is now published on their website. New members are applying all the time. To make your application, contact Dave Calvert: info@safetycouncil.org.nzThe current list of RSPs can be found at: www.safetycouncil.org.nz
Shutting the Doors over Christmas
Some precautions are very simple, such as moving jumbo bins away from buildings (amateur arsonists love them, particularly when full of cardboard or similar).
You should consider what other combustible materials are stored against or near your buildings. It is imperative to remove pallets, for example, because they can be easily lit when dry and burn rapidly. You might also like to consider dense trees and vegetation near the property.
It makes sense to check your security alarm. Apart from theft, many fires are started by burglars and other intruders.
If you have display windows, consider the threat of smash and grab. Keep high value items out of reach or display incomplete or part sets.
Vehicles such as fork lifts are sometimes used to "break out" with bulk goods once entry has been made elsewhere. Immobilise them or otherwise make them unavailable.
More tips and checklists >>[ Return to Top ]
Risk assessment: A Waste of Time?
Many employers are seduced by the neat little risk assessment tools available. They believe it will put a dimension into hazard management and give managers/supervisors the ability to wave a magic wand.
But do they use these tools effectively? While out and about in their daily duties, are they able to juggle the concept of severity and likelihood in such a way that makes them a better decision maker?
We're not knocking risk assessment, but it has its limitations in terms of active day to day safety management. Maybe there is a better way. [ more ][ Return to Top ]
The scoping phase is now complete and a work spec developed and agreed. The web designer has done a fantastic job of understanding the concept and providing a rationale for hosting it. The name is SafetyBase ®
Features will include:
- A "dashboard" screen, showing current status of your injuries, meetings, reviews and critical events
- A task list for your users, detailing agreed safety tasks, dependent on role and level within your organisation
- Innovative website type display, with a unique way of associating your related events while in any input or information screen. No navigating endlessly to find related topics!
- E-mail reminders for your regular safety tasks and the ability to reassign or reschedule
- Prompts to ensure you place events you are managing on the agenda of the next safety meeting
- Content Management System, so that specific procedures and legislative requirements associated with your tasks are available at the click of a mouse
- Great database and report facility
- Download library area
- Four optional levels of attainment: ACC Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, plus the "top drawer" full AS/NZS 4801. You choose the level and when to progress
- Full Implementation Guide, Audit Survival Guide and OHS Procedures Manual
This system is shortly to become a reality. If you wish to register an interest in viewing it, please click here.
If you are willing to participate in the testing and proving phase, click here.
Testing participants will receive a complimentary membership for one year.
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Caption Competition
Cassandra Ellis, who came up with this one:
" B****r - I know I hid that jack somewhere in here".
Thanks Cassandra, and all other contributors. Please now enjoy the warm glow of publicity.
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