Minimising Workplace Hazards

Hazards are everywhere and the workplace is no exception. From equipment, to materials, tools, and debris, there are a number of ordinary objects that could potentially turn hazardous without the proper care resulting in serious injuries to workers. Some incidents could even be fatal.

In fleet and vehicle workplaces, equipment such as bulldozers and big-rigs can also cause injuries and fatalities even at low speeds when not properly managed or maintained. Nowadays, more and more businesses and professionals acknowledge the fact that falling objects in the workplace pose serious and life-threatening risks to employees which is why more companies are instilling rules to make sure they are doing the necessary and proper precautions for their employees.

The Health and Safety at Work Act from 2015 states that every business needs to comply with the workplace safety law in order to prevent accidents and injuries from happening. One of the threats that must be prevented are falling objects.

Who is Responsible for Your Safety at Work?

It goes without saying that you need to be careful at all times and look after yourself at work. However, if you are employed by a company, then, there are other people that are also responsible for your safety aside from yourself.

These are the following duty holders recognised by the HSW:

• PCBU
• Officer
• Worker
• Other persons at workplace

What is a PCBU?

A PCBU or ‘person conducting business or undertaking’ could be an organisation or an individual whose primary responsibility is to ensure employee safety in a workplace.

The PCBU’s Preventative Measures

It is the PCBU’s main responsibility to prevent accidents from happening in the workplace, including falling objects. If completely eliminating the risks isn’t possible, it has to at least be minimised with the following:

• Substitution – This means replacing the hazard with something that poses a lesser risk. In the case of warehouse tools, it could mean placing them on lower surfaces or shelves so they are easy to reach and pick up.
• Isolation – To keep people away from the hazard itself. In vehicle and fleet workplaces, this means limiting access to areas where equipment are placed.
• Engineering control measures – Making sure that processes or mechanical devices come with physical control measures.
• Administrative control measures – Making sure that everyone in the workplace are fully informed of workplace safety measures in every work process and procedure. For example, educating all workers on how to handle and store heavy tools safely.
• Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – This is one self-explanatory. No worker should be allowed to start his/her shift without his/her complete PPE.

In the case of the threat of falling objects, these are the HSW Act’s requirement from your PCBU:

• Prevent objects from falling
• If not possible, arrest the freefall
• If both prevention and arresting of the freefall can’t be assured, introduce a ‘no-go’ zone

Protecting the People Around You

People who work at heights need to be trained on safety measures. That way, they will be conscious and cautious of their movements to protect not just themselves but also the people they work with. Below are safety measures all workers need to be aware of:

• Keep everything away from edges
• Secure tools and materials and fixate them
• Keep the work area clean and tidy
• Use chutes to place debris into the skip area that needs to be on a low surface

When moving a heavy load from one place to another, take note of the following:

• Secure and balance the load before lifting it
• Check the weight and the external factors like wind
• Check if equipment is fully operational
• Establish a ‘no-go’ zone while moving the objects

What If Someone Got Hurt?

The last thing you want to be is unprepared. First Aid Kits must be kept updated and fully stocked at all times and places strategically around areas where accidents are more likely to occur like in your vehicles and your office space. Make sure that your First Aid Kit is compliant to all the legal requirements.  

It is much better to rent your First Aid Kit for a very low price than to risk being fined up to $3,000,000 for not being First Aid compliant. Moreover, you cannot put a price on the safety of your employees.

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