Many people think that occupational health and safety, and workplace safety, only applies to specific industries such as the mining and construction industry, and not the traditional administrative office space, where a lot of people work. The Occupational Health and Safety Act is applicable to all workplaces, employers and employees and mandates that all employers are legally obligated to create a safe working environment. There are hazards and risks in every working environment, such as loose electrical wiring in the administrative work environment, to the unstable mining rock face in the mining environment.
Being proactive about reducing health and safety risks and hazards and looking after the wellbeing for both your employees and yourself, implementing an occupational safety and health management system or workplace safety program as well as safety procedures should be a point of pride for your business and its employees.
Ensuring the wellbeing of your employees involves more than just implementing an occupational safety and health management system or workplace safety program. It extends to fostering a culture that prioritises safety through measures like taking regular breaks, providing personal protective equipment, identifying emergency exits, and encouraging employees to report unsafe conditions promptly. Incorporating these practices not only safeguards against potential hazards but also demonstrates a commitment to a safe and secure work environment for everyone involved.
Being compliant with the OHS Act reduces the risk of possible fines and criminal liability from the Department of Labour for non-compliance. Compliance also has a host of other benefits such as reduced absenteeism due to injury, increased productivity due to a positive and safe working conditions. Being OHS compliant is not an option, it’s an obligation which all CEO’s and employers must enforce and implement to avoid workplace injuries.
Why Workplace Safety is Important in All Industries
Any organisation that has employees has the responsibility of keeping them safe by adhering to the OHS act requirements and establishing an active H&S Committee which manages, drives and ultimately ensures a safe working environment. Workplace safety starts with senior management buy-in and commitment, involving employee input and representation and sending specific employees to complete health and safety training to up-skill and empower them. Since workplace safety is largely to keep employees safe, making sure they’re empowered through training and extra responsibilities, ensures that everyone is on the same page with just how important occupational health and safety is.
Courses You Can Complete
First Aid Training
First aid training is an important OHS act requirement and sometimes a life skill for employees to have, not only for the office but also for their personal life as well. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires companies to train employees in First Aid, thereby ensuring that the workplace is prepared to treat any injuries or unexpected emergencies. All of our First Aid courses are also administered by registered paramedics within field operational experience.
FA1 – First Aid Level 1
The accredited first aid training at Absolute Health Services includes a wide range of theoretical and practical content, ranging from scene safety, primary and secondary survey, bleeding control, wounds, fractures, burns, shock, CPR, medical and trauma emergencies and more.
FA1 – First Aid Level 2
The First Aid Level 2 course is seen as an extension with additional modules or content learnt in the First Aid Level 1 course. Some of the additional content and skills covered in level 2 include:
- Medical Emergencies
- Heart attacks, strokes, asthma and diabetes
- Poisoning, Bites and Stings
- Poisoning, Insect, snake and marine bites and stings
- Chest Injuries
- Environmental Emergencies
- Heat cramps, exhaustion and heat stroke, hypothermia and frostbite
FA1 – First Aid Level 3
First Aid Level 3 is the last phase of the First Aid training chain and covers some of the more advanced techniques needed such as:
- Childbirth and delivery
- Triage and mass casualty management
- Blood pressure assessment
- Water related emergencies – drowning and rescue
- Spinal immobilisation techniques.
FA1 – First Aid Level 1, 2, 3
The first aid level 1, 2 & 3 course combines all three levels from a beginner to an advanced First Aider responder.
Fire Fighting Training
Every year, there are over 300 workplace related fires in South Africa. Which indicates the importance of having staff trained in firefighting techniques and preventative measures to create a safe working environment.
FF1 – Fire Fighting
The Fire Fighting 1 course is aimed at understanding the theory of fire, alongside techniques of how to implement a fire prevention program and how to extinguish the different types of fires using different extinguishers.
FF2 – Advanced Fire Fighting
The advanced firefighting course offers additional theoretical information as well as exposure to additional firefighting equipment and extinguishing methods. Delegates also attend a practical firefighting venue on the second day of the advanced firefighting course, where they are exposed to bigger fires in different scenarios.
Health and Safety Training
The OHS act requires employers to send their employees on various health and safety training course, which will assist these employees in maintaining a safe and healthy and prepared working environment.
H&S1 – H&S Representative
H&S Reps represent employees interests at H&S committee meetings and together with management, formulate and drive H&S within the company. It is an OHS Act requirement to have trained health and safety representatives in the workplace, to create a safe workplace.
H&S2 – H&S Incident Investigation
This course empowers the Incident Investigator with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct investigations correctly and confidently. When workplace accidents occur, they need to be investigated to determine the cause and then preventative measures need to be implemented to prevent re-occurrence.
H&S3 – H&S HIRA Risk Assessment
This course empowers the Risk Assessor with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct workplace risk assessments, which focus on identifying workplace hazards and risks and their priority and formulating a preventative management plan, thereby creating a safer and better-prepared working environment.
H&S4 – H&S OHS Act
This course is aimed at highlighting and navigating the important parts of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, as well as ensuring that delegates are confident with the content and implications of the OHS Act as a whole.
H&S5 – H&S 16.2 Workshop
This short H&S workshop covers the important sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, so that your company’s management team can be briefed and be familiar and comfortable with the applicable sections, content and implications of the OHS Act.
H&S6 – H&S Supervisor
The company’s Chief Executive Office and their executive team are often busy running the business and consequently appoint an H&S Supervisor to represent their interest in H&S. This course covers incident investigation, risk assessment and the OHS Act and enables the supervisor to better understand Health and Safety in general and how it can be implemented.
Employee workplace safety is critical for all employers. Do you need occupational health and safety services? Why not try out our Speedy Assessment tool to get a quick and easy look at where you stand and what you need to become compliant!
