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Safety as a Lifeline:

How ISO 45001 Can Transform Workplace Well-being

It was the 15^th August, 2023 when my Mum phoned me. I could tell she was upset so I knew something was wrong. She then told me that my brother, had rolled his semi-trailer early that morning and was in a coma in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and at that stage they didn’t know if he would make it. I’m going to be honest here and admit that up until that point I didn’t have a close relationship with my brother, however I struggled with this news.

I was actually quite shocked at how upsetting it was for me, let alone his partner and adult children and grandchildren. Mum continued to give me her updates on how he was going until he was back at home. He proved everyone wrong and is here to tell the tale (much to some people’s disappointment my brother says!).

It wasn’t until a few months later, that I received a message from my brother asking for my help. You see, the physical injuries were one thing, however it is the emotional and unseen injuries that are the hardest to express and get people to take seriously. Over a year later, I am still, what my brother calls his personal assistant when it comes to anything administrative with doctors’ reports, Workcover and his employer.

There is a lot I cannot talk about still as he is still recovering, however I have learnt and experienced a lot about how these types of issues are managed and the dark side that workplace accident victims can go to without support, with all of the overwhelming boxes to tick and people to deal with just to get some help to recover and return to work in some capacity.

Safety as a Performance Driver

A concept to consider with safety is the influence it has on other performance drivers in the business. Research across various industries highlights the link between safety and business performance. One study involving over 11,000 customers across nearly 1,800 companies revealed that strong safety practices led to a 9% increase in customer satisfaction, driving a 13% boost in sales.

Another study in 2024 on B2B purchasing decisions found that businesses with superior safety training were more likely to be chosen as vendors. Additionally, companies with better safety records for both employees and customers saw higher customer satisfaction and long-term financial success, including stronger sales growth, bigger margins, and improved shareholder returns.

You can reference the full article for further insights: Safety Should Be a Performance Driver.

Know Your Duties – A Tool for Working Safely

This easy-to-use resource helps you quickly identify the WHS responsibilities for workers, officers, and other key roles in the workplace. Whether you're a manager, team leader, or employee, understanding your legal obligations is essential for creating a safe and productive work environment.

The Worker-Centred OH&S Framework

Like I always do when I need some guidance, I turn to an ISO Standard to see if the clause requirements can transfer to support me in a solution. ISO 45001 is the obvious choice for this. Each of the sections in the model tie directly back to the key principles of ISO 45001, ensuring a proactive, worker-centric approach to occupational health and safety.

By addressing expectations, consultation, participation, hazard identification, risk management, and incident response, this model promotes a comprehensive and resilient safety culture in the workplace which is using ISO 45001 to create the foundations of your OH&S system.

I think something we do have to remember is that these requirements haven’t only been established for the prevention of incidents, however should also be used for the post-incident actions and support of workers.

Worker Care (Central Focus)

At the heart of the model is the focus on worker care. ISO 45001 emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of workers, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Worker care involves proactive consultation, participation, and understanding of hazards, ensuring that workers are protected from occupational health and safety (OH&S) risks.

Expectations (Clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties)

Clause 4.2 of ISO 45001 focuses on identifying and understanding the needs and expectations of workers, stakeholders, and other interested parties. This is essential to ensuring that the OH&S management system is relevant and meets the requirements of all those affected by workplace activities. It encourages businesses to stay aligned with the expectations of workers regarding safety and well-being.

Consultation (Clause 5.4 Consultation and participation of workers)

Clause 5.4 highlights the need for organizations to actively consult with workers and engage them in discussions about the OH&S system. This ensures that workers have a voice in decisions that impact their safety and are involved in identifying risks and solutions. Consultation helps foster a culture of safety where worker input is valued and used to improve processes.

Participation (Clause 5.4 Consultation and participation of workers)

In addition to consultation, Clause 5.4 emphasizes worker participation in the OH&S management system. Participation means that workers are not just consulted but also actively involved in the implementation, decision-making, and continuous improvement of safety practices. When workers participate, it enhances ownership and commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.

Hazards and Risks (Clause 6.1.2 Hazard identification and assessment of risks and opportunities)

Clause 6.1.2 focuses on identifying hazards and assessing risks and opportunities. This clause is crucial for proactively identifying situations that could cause harm to workers and taking action to mitigate these risks. Organizations must continually assess their work environment, processes, and tasks to identify new hazards and address them before they result in injury or illness.

Manage Hazards and Risks (Clause 8.1.2 Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks)

Clause 8.1.2 outlines the steps required to eliminate or reduce OH&S risks. This clause is action-oriented, ensuring that organizations take specific measures to control or remove hazards from the workplace. The goal is not just to identify risks but to implement effective controls that minimize their likelihood or severity, thus protecting workers from potential harm.

Incidents and Corrective Action (Clause 10.2 Incident, nonconformity, and corrective action)

Clause 10.2 deals with how incidents and nonconformities should be managed. It mandates that organizations investigate incidents, determine their root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.This continual improvement approach ensures that lessons are learned from incidents and that the safety management system is improved over time.

Next Steps for OH&S Worker Care

1. Implement proactive safety measures: Prioritize the identification and elimination of hazards before incidents occur, as outlined in ISO 45001.
2. Engage workers through consultation: Actively involve employees in safety discussions and decision-making processes to improve participation and ownership.
3. Ensure effective incident management: When accidents happen, investigate thoroughly and apply corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

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