There’s a WHS saying that ‘prevention is always better than a cure’. This is especially true for workplace health and safety. The longer you wait to implement preventative measures, the more likely it is that an accident will happen. This is because hazards don’t recognise barriers. Once you remove or modify a barrier, the danger is free to come back and haunt you.
With that in mind, it’s clear that regular workplace inspections are critical to your business’s health and safety. You see, routine inspections carried out by specialist health and safety consultants can identify potential workplace hazards before they become catastrophic incidents. This way, you’re not only responding to the problem when it happens – you’re also preventing it from happening in the first place (showing positive Due Diligence).
Regular WHS inspections reduce workplace injuries and illness
If hazards are identified during an WHS inspection, it’s highly likely that they will be addressed during the WHS inspection. This can help to reduce the risk of an accident happening, as well as any injuries that may result. Furthermore, it can also help to reduce the costs associated with work-related illness and injury. The average cost of a work-related injury is $8,821 per employee per year. That’s nearly $14 billion in lost productivity every year in Australia. Preventative health and safety inspections conducted by third party safety consulting specialists can help to reduce these costs by up to 80%.
Regular safety audits can detect hidden hazards
Safety audits are a more thorough version of a safety inspection and. Help identify WHS gaps and especially useful when conducted non-bias experienced safety consultants like ourselves. Audits are performed to measure the likelihood that a hazard will cause an accident or health risk. A safety audit isn’t just about identifying hazards – it’s about quantifying the risk associated with them. For example, you might conduct a safety audit to identify the types and quantities of sharps waste that are generated during a particular operation. Then, you can determine the best way to manage and dispose of them to reduce the risk of an employee contracting a disease.
Routine safety inspections can build work culture of health and safety
Having a positive safety culture means more than just having policies in place. It also means that everyone – managers, employees and even the owners – understand the importance of safety. A good routine WHS inspection program can help to build a culture of health and safety among your staff. Conducting routine safety inspections can help to build a culture of WHS by reinforcing the idea that safety is paramount. This is because it encourages PCBU’s, officers and workers to take a proactive approach to workplace health and safety. Managers will take heed of any risks identified during an WHS inspection and take action to address them.
Routine health and safety inspections show employers are serious about safe practices
When a workplace conducts routine WHS inspections, it sends a message that workplace health and safety is important. It also shows that you’re serious about preventing workplace injuries and illnesses. This can encourage current and prospective employees to positively attend work understanding that the workplace is safe. Moreover, it can help to build a work safety culture that is free from harassment and other harmful workplace behaviour. A safe work environment can have a positive impact on employee health and wellbeing. It can also reduce employee turnovers, which can have a positive impact on business continuity.
Conclusion
Routine health and safety inspections can help to build a healthy and safe workplace. They can also demonstrate to current and prospective employees that your business is serious about workplace safety. These safety inspections also have the potential to reduce your work-related injury and illness rates.
While routine WHS inspections are critical, they are not the only form of workplace health and safety proactivity that you need. You should also consider regular hazard assessments, safety documentation and management system strategies and regular continual improvement as well as health and safety survey’s and WHS risk assessments, to ensure that your employees are experiencing optimal health and safety at work.
