HSE Procedures

Why do you need health and safety procedures in the workplace

Workplace health and safety is the responsibility of every business and any individual with controlling power over a work area. Safe work starts with effective, known, and understood safety procedures across all levels of staff

Procedures provide workers, supervisors, and officers with steps that they must follow in specific environments or situations, or when utilizing pieces of equipment for work tasks

What Are Safety Procedures in the Workplace

Health and safety procedures in the workplace are the core of any HSE management system. The procedures provide systematic steps for complying and performing tasks in compliance with company policies, HSE management system, and the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act

QHSE Culture can consider these procedures a set of actionable steps for managing risks and creating a safer work environment. WHS procedures outline the requirements for complying with both external and internal compliance requirements. Company policies are often published and distributed to workers, ensuring that everyone understands his or her role in following the accepted work procedures some of the areas covered may include high-risk activities, such as

Work at heights procedures

Hazardous chemicals procedures

Infectious diseases procedures

These procedures often incorporate WHS policies and procedures. For example, the steps outlined in working at heights training course provide the basis for assessing and managing risks when working at heights. Organisations then implement these standards in their own set of policies

Why Do You Need Safety Policies and Procedures

The primary goal of safety policies is to protect workers from foreseen or unforeseen risks. Every organization has at least some form of a policy in place for assessing the safety of a work site and dealing with potential hazards. Along with these policies, there are governmental regulations that also need to be followed

For many years, businesses followed the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws in their States or Territories. Due to variations between these laws, the government has developed a 'harmonized' process within the Work Health and Safety Act. The Act provides greater consistency in establishing workplace safety procedures for the identification and mitigation of risks

The WHS Act also creates specific requirements for all types of businesses. Every person conducting a business or undertaking has a responsibility to identify hazards and mitigate or eliminate risks. Safety policies and workplace procedures assist workers and organizations fulfill their responsibilities under the Act

What is a safe operating procedure SOP

A safe operating procedure (SOP) is a written document that provides step-by-step instructions on how to safely perform a task or activity which involves some risk to health and safety. A safe operating procedure is sometimes referred to as a safe work procedure or safe work method statement.