SafeAs Blog

Every year in Australia severe storms are responsible for more damage than tropical cyclones, earthquakes, floods or bushfires. When it comes to storm safety, preparation is key. Follow these 7 steps to ensure you are storm ready on your site.

1. Keep up-to-date with the weather forecast

Regularly monitor weather conditions and the work environment. There are various websites and tracking devices to assist you with this (e.g., the BOM website for the Queensland region or the Queensland Government website for alerts and warnings). It’s a good idea to convey weather information to workers via SMS text alerts or email blasts. Accompany weather updates with brief reminders regarding important safety tips. Establish an emergency alert system for your workers, so workers and employers alike are aware of the key steps that must be taken in the event of a weather-related emergency.

2. Develop a Storm Policy

Storms can occur with little or no warning, and it is important to be prepared for storm hazards before they occur. Ensure your Storm Policy identifies the hazards, risks and appropriate control measures. The policy should cover storm readiness (what do I need to ensure all the necessary materials and plans are in place?), preparedness (what checks do I need to make before the storm arrives?), response (what happens when the storm hits the worksite?), and recovery processes (when do we return to site and what checks are necessary before work can begin?). The policy should also clearly outline the conditions under which work on site will cease to ensure the safety of workers and adequate preparation time.

3. Train your workers

Once you have established a Storm Policy, make sure you take the time to step through the policy with your workers. Ensure workers know how to respond and are aware of the potential hazards if a weather-event occurred. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the local evacuation route(s). Contact your local emergency management system for more information.

It is also important to train your workers to learn to identify wet weather related hazards and illnesses and the appropriate control measures to minimise risks.

4. Be prepared

Prior to the storm’s arrival, check and maintain a the necessary items to prepare the site for high winds, lightening and heavy rain. It may be beneficial to have a a Storm Ready Kit on each site incase you and your workers get stuck during a storm. If preparing a Storm Ready Kit it may include:

• flashlights
• emergency first aid kits
• bottled water
• batteries

5. Respond in a systematic manner

Use a Storm Response Checklist before the storm arrives to ensure appropriate safety control measures have been implemented. Prior to the storm’s arrival, take photos of the projects progress, secure any equipment/materials, recheck your Storm Ready Kit, and secure/protect pipes, drains and glass openings or windows. If it is still safe to work, reorganise activities so that workers remain in dry, sheltered areas until the weather clears.

6. Return to work safely

After the storm, ensure you have established inspection guidelines that must be conducted before work is resumed on site. Assess what works needs to be done following the storm, and identify any risks or hazards that may arise during the clean up and repair work (if applicable). Make sure you organise the order of the work to be conducted carefully so that new risks are not introduced.

Again, using a Site Re-commencement Checklist is a great way to adhere to safe return to work practices (example items). Checks may include ensuring any asbestos containing materials or dangerous chemicals are stored properly, correct equipment is available and is in good working order, water is swept or pumped away where ponding, appropriate first aid, clean drinking water and amenities are available to workers. Electrical hazards are one of the most recognisable dangers associated with wet weather so be sure to conduct the necessary electrical checks before beginning work. For more information on electrical safety during storms see the WorkSafe Queensland.

7. Support your workers

It is important to check in with your workers. Check with workers as to how they fared personally to the storm. Highlight any counselling services are available and encourage their use (if needed). Check that individuals allocated to perform work are not fatigued.

Stay Safe

As many of you are aware it is Work Safe Month in October 2017. It is a great time to ensure that your business has a Safe Work Month, and is incident and injury free. Workplace Health and Safety are conducting a range of events and information sessions across the state and SafeAssure encourages anyone to attend and hear some of the stories and initiatives that are presented.

For more information go to https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safe-work-month and find materials to support your communication and consultations in your workplace.

Great to listen to Libby Tricket and other special guests at the Safe Work Month Breakfast. Such an interesting insight into personal and family mental illness. Having known Libby’s family through the junior swimming community and watching her very closely rise to such great heights in the pool to now understand further the anguish that she and family members have suffered.

Libby Trickett speaking at today’s breakfast

It is very important to remember that what you see on the outside is not what may be going on internally and behind closed doors.

As most of my friends and family know I lost my very best friend through suicide when I was 18 and unbeknown to me he was suffering from mental health issues. I regret every day that I didn’t ask him how he was and that I didn’t tell him how important his friendship was to me.

Please take the time to reflect on your behaviours and treatment of others always ensuring you treat them the way you like to be treated. Look for the signs in your friends, family and coworkers to make sure they are OK and ask them RUOK as you don’t want it to be too late.

#worksafe #mentalhealth #ruok #reachout #itsoktobehuman #safeassure #hutchinsonbuilders

SafeAssure has been operating for three years now and has been very lucky to be involved with some amazing clients and very interesting and challenging projects. As we continue to grow as a business we strive to improve our services, skills and outcomes for our clients.

SafeAssure has been involved in lead investigations, providing expert reports, developing management systems (quality, safety, environmental) auditing and compliance, insurance claims and developing enforceable undertakings to name a few.

The business has added value across a range of industry sectors including construction, mining, manufacturing, food, aged care and education.

Beyond the services we have offered and the systems we have delivered SafeAssure can confidently say that the companies that we have worked with have safer workplaces as a result of our relationship. This is something we are very proud of.

This is just the beginning for SafeAssure, and we can assure you that we will continue to grow. Not only in size, but with our National footprint increasing every day.

We look forward to partnering with you into the future and thank those who have supported us over the last three years.

GD