The Key Points of “Must Do” Risk Management

Key Points of "Must Do" Risk Management

Every organization is required to manage health and safety risks in their workplace and the WHS regulation clauses 34 to 38 clearly set out what must be done. The key points of these clauses are that a PCBU must;identify reasonably foreseeable hazards

eliminate risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable and if that is not possible, must minimize those risks so far as is reasonably practicable
apply the hierarchy of risk controls that is detailed in clause 36 to minimize the risks
maintain the risk controls so that risks remain minimized
review and revise those risk controls as necessary to deal with a change in circumstances

This is an ongoing essential process in an organisation’s health and safety management system. You may find it useful to consider the key points above and make a note of any point that you feel needs to be applied more effectively in your workplace. Team Work Successful application of the key points above and achieving a safe and healthy workplace is very dependent on teamwork in your workplace - Managers, Supervisors, Team Leaders, HSRs, Health & Safety Committee members, workers and others. And of course, the PCBU and its Officers. They all have an important part to play and have a legal duty or role under the WHS Act to play their part. You may find it useful to consider whether there are any areas in the team that could be improved. How can that be done? Are they suitably trained to take effective action? Do they understand the importance of the key points above and can they actually do the actions to make that happen? If you research a number of WHS prosecutions you will usually find that a workplace fatality or injury happened because;

the hierarchy of control was not used, or
it was only partially used, or
it was used but the risk controls were not always applied.

Solutions Health and safety risk management is everyone’s responsibility. All WHS duty holders must be knowledgeable and competent about Clauses 34-38 in identifying hazards, the initial control of risks, maintaining risk controls, and the review of health and safety risks and their controls. Possible options that you may like to consider are:

Courtenell’s newly updated, Management of WHS Risks Course. In this course participants learn the legal requirements, who the duty holders are and how they are supposed to work together to comply with the risk management requirements of WHS Law. It’s the course you would put your supervisors, managers, team leaders on, including contractors, subcontractors and persons who are responsible for the actions of customers, contractors, and visitors in your workplace. This course is for everyone. We deliver it as a public course and as an onsite course. The course aims to raise the awareness and certainty of participants about why and how the risks of hazards in their workplace must be eliminated or minimised so far as reasonably practicable in accordance with requirements of the WHS Act and WHS Regulation specific to the management of WHS risks.
Courtenell’s newly updated, Specialised WHS Risk Assessment Course. This course contains minimum theory content and maximum practical application. It focusses on what the participant needs to do about eliminating or minimising WHS risk in their workplace. It is an onsite course. The course aims to provide or improve the knowledge and skills of participants to identify, assess and control the WHS risks in your workplace, using your documentation with a view to implementing what is needed in your workplace to help eliminate/minimise WHS risks and maintain/review effective risk controls as required by the WHS Act sections 17–19, and WHS Regulation clauses 32-39.