It is common for businesses to treat health, safety and broader compliance as a matter of process.
As a result, it is also common for employees to consider health and safety as a tick box exercise rather than something meaningful.
The reality is that compliance isn’t just an operations issue, it’s a culture issue.
In the transport industry potential risk factors are well recognised.
Time pressures causing stress, fatigue and other environmental factors can impair a worker’s ability to operate in a safe manner.
Creating a process to manage and reduce risk is relatively simple.
What is less straightforward is building a company culture that fosters a sense of proactivity and positivity regarding health and safety.
The 2018-28 Health and Safety at Work Strategy is the most current directive for.The strategy identifies seven key factors that facilitate a health, safety and compliance system that works for the employee.
This includes: A positive workplace culture, effective communication and the ability to influence, well understood rights and responsibilities, appropriate training, knowledge and the capabilityto do the work, the right physical environment and equipment, clear and effective processes, policies and systems and support when injury and illnesses occur.
Leading health and safety training provider Safety ’n Action says business partnerships are an important part of creating culture, and there are two things to look out for.
“Company culture can only be cultivated through authentic action, which means as a manager, you need to be careful who you pick to work alongside,” Safety ’n Action chief executive Chris Hunter says.
“Firstly, you need to know that the company has the expertise to deliver the service you require.
Secondly, you need to be sure that your values align – that when you are working together, you are going to have complimentary environments and standards of communication.”
*Go to safetynaction.co.nz for more information.
