The hierarchy of controls is a framework used to prioritise safety measures in the workplace.
It is generally considered that the most effective way to control workplace hazards is to eliminate them entirely, followed by substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) as the least effective option.
PPE is considered the least effective option because it only protects the individual user and does not eliminate or reduce the hazard itself.
Additionally, PPE can be uncomfortable and may interfere with the ability to perform certain tasks, so it is generally only used as a last resort when other control measures are not feasible.
Want to measure your organisation's performance?
Positive Performance Indicators (PPIs) are a great way to manage and evaluate your activities.
Positive performance indicators (PPIs) measure those actions that provide good Workplace health and safety (WHS) outcomes.
PPIs are a measurement of the success of good WHS practice.
PPIs are POSTIVE because they measure the POSITIVE steps your organisation is taking to PREVENT incidents.
For example PPIs can include:
• the number of workplace inspections that have been completed in a business
• corrective actions that have been put in place in a business to improve WHS, and
• the number of employees trained in WHS.
PPIs should be used in conjunction with standard WHS performance measures, such as the number and frequency of injuries.
You can use PPIs to measure if you, as a business operator, are carrying out agreed management control processes and if those processes are effective in reducing the number of fatalities, injuries and diseases in
the workplace.
Providing feedback to staff about their performance, be that positive or negative is what the performance management process is all about. The feedback provided to staff needs to:
Be direct and clear - don’t’ leave the employee wondering what you are talking about
Be base the on actual facts and examples provided – especially if in regards to something negative
Be actionable if negative – the staff member needs to know what they can do to improve
Remember that providing feedback to staff about their performance should not just be limited to the annual performance review.
Continuous feedback throughout the year (especially if poor performance is an issue) can assist with mitigating larger problems later due to that employee’s poor performance.
Whether you’re at a crossroads with a decision, or you’ve got a problem that’s wearing you down, if you approach the issue proactively, you can avoid those feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness. <p></p><p></p><p>Focus on what you can do, instead of the things that are out of your control, and feel satisfied that you’ve done the best you can.Here are seven-steps for an effective problem-solving process.
Identify the issues.
Be clear about what the problem is.
Remember that different people might have different views of what the issues are.
Understand everyone's interests.
Interests are the needs that you want satisfied by any given solution. .
The best solution is the one that satisfies everyone's interests.
List the possible solutions
This is the time to do some brainstorming.
Separate the listing of options from the evaluation of the options -that comes later
Evaluate the options.
What are the pluses and minuses?
Select an option or options.
What's the best option, in the balance?
The best option may be a combination of several options.
Document the agreement.
Don't rely on memory.
Agree on contingencies, monitoring, and evaluation.
Conditions may change, and you may need to be flexible.
How will you monitor compliance with your agreement?
As always, we continuously re-evaluate what we implement
PPE refers to anything used or worn to minimise risk to workers' health and safety. This may include, but is not limited to:
boots
ear plugs
face masks
gloves
goggles
hard hats
high visibility clothing
respirators
safety harnesses
safety shoes
sunscreen.
In certain circumstances, the model WHS Regulations require businesses to work through a hierarchy of risk control measures when managing risk.
Workplaces are required, under WHS legislation, to engage in risk management and conduct assessments of risk, the use of PPE is often required as a safety measure. It is, however, something of a ‘last resort’. All other necessary measures must be taken before implementing PPE.
Under WHS laws, PCBUs are responsible for eliminating health and safety risks, and PPE is often one such control measure.
While the provision of PPE can fall under either the duty of the employer, or the workers themselves, wearing PPE when instructed, in light of a risk management scheme, is required by law. Keeping aware of workplace requirements in this regard is the responsibility of everyone on site.