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Thursday February 23rd 2012

Work Method Statements and their Role in Occupational Health and Safety

A gung ho attitude has no place in any work place, as the well-being of employees is not a matter to be taken lightly. Hence, having a Work Method Statement just isn’t enough. Every employer should set up a comprehensive document that fulfills the legal requirements and also guarantees the safety and health of everybody in the workplace.

A company organization has lots of facets. It’s a supplier of products together with services for the local community. It is also an income generator for the owners. An equally important role of a business entity is that regarding an employer, which has a obligation to help keep its workers safe whilst in the work environment.

The importance of occupational health and safety can not be stressed enough. Anybody should not need to risk life and limb whilst at the job. There are several of ways of making sure the well-being of workers. Different safety programs can be introduced that include basic safety instruction, supervision along with regular inspection.

Ohs policy and procedures could also help raise awareness among personnel, which could greatly reduce workplace injuries and deaths. Importance of Work Method Statements A Work Method Statement is a set of directions to help you prevent unnecessary dangers for people while in the workplace. Whether it’s laying down guidelines on using devices or presenting the proper procedure for a certain task, a Work Method Statement could significantly decrease incidents of injuries and fatalities at work.

Most of the time, gov departments working on occupational health and safety require organisations to create and put into action a Work Method Statement. Having Work Method Statements in place is normally required before a business can operate.

The absence of the necessary ohs policies and procedures usually leads to penalties. Occasionally, it can lead to suspensions as well as cessation of business operations. The reason for these sactions is clear: with out these measures, the government may incur costs in the form of medical treatments or social security payments for injured workers. Even with no government mandate, it can be incumbent on any employer to setup work method statements for every single task executed and equipment used at work.

Cultivating a safe work environment impacts not only the staff and their families, but the company’s clients, suppliers, and neighboring communities as well. Having a set of work method statements may also serve as a continuous reminder to employers to make safety important. For staff members, it could possibly affect behaviour on the job by making them much more conscious of their own well-being. For the organisation in general, it may possibly cultivate a culture that values safety above anything else. Crafting an Effective Work Method Statements It seems straightforward to generate a work method statement.

However, it is not as simple as it looks. It will involve dealing with important issues. Are the instructions in-depth enough to allow the safe performance of a task or use of a certain equipment? Does it include instructions on the steps to take just before and after operation? Does it go over the necessary personal protective equipment a worker has to wear or have? Does it include specific directions on what the education and supervision of personnel are conducted? Is it frequently updated to satisfy the latest regulatory or legislative requirements? All of these questions must be considered to accomplish one goal: to guarantee the worker’s safety at all times.

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