How safe is your workplace?

Seems to be the week for workplace accidents. In just the last few days I've heard from three of my clients who've had an employee injured at work. Simple things like one woman tripping, hitting her arm on a table  and breaking a bone!

Every year in Australia, according to Safe Work Australia, it's estimated that more people die from workplace accidents and injuries than on our roads. Then there are thousands of people who have time off work because of sickness or injury incurred.

As a small business owner, you are legally required, under Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation, to adrere to specific regulations and codes of conduct. The expectation is that you have to make every effort to keep you and your team safe and healthy at work.

It's vital that you're OH&S compliant, no matter how big or small your business is. In The Small Business Success Guide, I run through where to start with OH&S issues.

My top tip is:
* Talk to your staff: "If people are expected to carry out tasks in a certain way, they should be given a say in the procedures," says Dr Maree Bernoth, an OH&S researcher and lecturer at Charles Sturt University.

Once you identify what's needed, you can organise training through your state WorkCover organisation (see my book for a list of contacts).

How safe is your workplace?

Margie