Top 5 ranked services to Become Health and Safety Compliant

Industries across South Africa are held to high standards where health and safety compliance is concerned in the workplace. The term "safety compliance" refers to the act or process of adhering to or conforming to specified safety standards and legislation.

Why is Health and Safety Compliance Important?

By adhering to health and safety legislation, the danger of health problems and mortality may be minimized or avoided, when possible. Workplace health and safety is not voluntary but mandatory.

What can employers do to ensure that they are Health and Safety Compliant?

There are several tools that employers can use to evaluate and ensure that their procedures and methods are effective, these include:

1. Health and Safety Compliance Audits
2. Health and Safety Risk Assessment
3. Health and Safety Training (OHS Training)
4. Health and Safety Monthly Consulting
5. Workmen’s Compensation Compliance

1. Health and Safety Compliance Audit

All employers must conduct a Health and Safety Compliance Audit to verify their workplace is compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations as well as any other applicable legislation.

As a gap analysis or a Health and Safety audit, this audit has two purposes: it may be used to identify whether a company's OHS program is on track to meet health and safety requirements, and it can be used to verify that the employer qualifies to obtain their annual health and safety certificate.

Pros:

• It offers a clear indication of the company’s compliance status in terms of Health and Safety in the workplace
• It offers an in-depth list of findings on a detailed report
• The findings from the audit can be traced to specific legislation
• The audit can be accessed through a dedicated OHS Online Health and Management Systems
• The audit will show management’s commitment towards Health and Safety
• There is overall improved health and safety performance if corrective action is applied
• There are decreased costs associated with incidents and accidents
• There is an overall improvement in staff relations and morale, should high standards be applied
• Business efficiency is increased
• The public image and public relations are improved with evidence of continued Health and Safety improvements that stem from the audit
• The audit is Industry Specific
• Legislative compliance is tested to be maintained
• It can add to efficient corporate and social responsibility
• The SafetyWallet Reward-based incentives ensure that subscribers have access to a cost-effective audit
• The employer receives feedback in 3 to 5 working days after the audit
• There are several solutions identified in the audit that can boost compliance
• After the audit, the subscriber will receive a detailed audit report that lists all the findings and recommendations
• It can easily

Cons:

• The audit time can stretch over a few days
• The employer must provide adequate evidence for the audit
• There is always the possibility of non-compliance at the end of the audit process

Pros and Cons Analysis:

An external team conducts a safety audit, which examines the organization's facilities and activities from a health and safety perspective, assesses the current level of prevention, protection, and emergency management preparedness, and then prepares a report to improve Health and Safety practices to prevent accidents and limit their consequences.

Management methods and systems are audited using suitable records in a well-planned, unbiased, and rigorous way. It is done to help keep a company's health and safety risks in check and manage them as they change. An audit's primary goal is to make sure the company's workers get the full benefit of health and safety-related resources.

An audit is a proactive measurement that is used to ensure that all systems, procedures, and preventative measures are in place and that they are working effectively, which not only provides an advantage for legislative compliance, but also the overall business operation.

The audit will provide employers with an in-depth analysis of their current operations, health, and safety systems, and it will also offer the ideal solutions when there are areas of concern.

However, it should be noted that audits can take time depending on the size of the operations and size of the company, the level of risk involved with tasks, the number of areas to check, and so on. Thus, it can be a lengthy process.

With audits comes the task of providing evidence and documentation for the audit, which can be a tedious task. Therefore, the employer must have an adequate filing and recording system for the proof needed in the audit.

2. Health and Safety Risk Assessment

When it comes to the safety of your workers and contractors as well as those who come to visit your premises, a Health and Safety Risk Assessment is an invaluable tool. Employers across all industries in South Africa have a legal obligation to ensure that the health and safety of their employees are safeguarded.

Not only do OHS risk assessments control occupational risks, but they also provide valuable information to employees alongside OHS training, they also set out the control measures required for Hazards that are identified, and the risk they pose.

Pros:

• A health and risk assessment consists of a comprehensive list of tasks and activities
• It can Be easily obtained from My Safety Shop
• The risk assessment offers a comprehensive list of risks and hazards according to each activity
• The risk assessment ensures that there are control measures for every task
• By conducting a risk assessment, employers can create SOPs accordingly
• Carrying out a risk assessment ensures compliance with the OHS Act.
• Risk assessments identify and control hazards that are present in the workplace
• They help to create awareness among employees, and they can be used as a training tool
• By carrying out a risk assessment, employers can set the risk management standards according to acceptable safe practices as well as legal requirements
• When risks are effectively identified and minimized/eliminated, incidents will be reduced
• They help to reduce the costs involved with incidents and accidents because they are a proactive tool to stop incidents from occurring

Cons:

• There is the chance that the risk assessment methodology may not be understood
• Risk Assessments must be conducted by a competent person / Team
• The process involved in drafting and carrying out a risk assessment can be lengthy
• There are challenges with communicating the risk assessment and approving control measures
• Implementing the control measures can be a daunting and tedious task
• The pre-and post-evaluation of the risk controls can be a lengthy process and it can take a long to identify whether risk mitigation is effective.

 Pros and Cons Analysis:

There are several inherent advantages to carrying out an effective risk assessment, especially because it provides employers with early warning systems that allow them to prevent some injuries and damages. However, there are inherent disadvantages that relate to the effort involved with risk assessments.

Risk assessments can be labour and resource-intensive. However, once employers have a proven risk assessment system, it will become easier to carry out. Several inherent threats in the workplace pose a risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees namely physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic threats.

While not all these factors are prevalent in all industries in workplaces in South Africa, at least one or more can be found despite the business’ nature of business, size, or activities. The primary reason for a risk assessment is to investigate, identify, evaluate, and offer reasonable recommendations on how to manage the risks that are identified in any workplace, as well as to comply with legislative requirements.

When a risk assessment is carried out and it is effective, employers and employees will benefit, and it will be noticeable in the production and bottom line of any business.

3. Health and Safety Training

To maintain a safe, healthy, and productive workplace for all workers, employers must give all employees the necessary knowledge and training.

Pros:

• The knowledge and reassurance that the employer is compliant because providing health and safety training is a legal requirement.
• It ensures that employees are educated.
• It allows for the creation of legal appointments.
• It can lead to the prevention of serious incidents.
• With adequate health and safety training, the reputation of the company can be improved.
• It can increase the overall productivity of the business.
• It ensures that there is increased job satisfaction in addition to employee motivation and overall engagement.
• Employees can improve their knowledge and skills.
• It ensures that good workers can be retained.
• It provides improved knowledge of legislative requirements company-wide.

 Cons:

• Training all employees can be a lengthy procedure with a significant time commitment.
• There may be a lack of interest from the employees’ side.
• Training is something that must be done frequently.
• It requires employees to be away from work.
• Even though the training is provided it may not guarantee employee retention.

Pros and Cons Analysis:

When employers provide updated, frequent health and safety training, they may ensure that there is a significant reduction in injuries and incidents in the workplace. This not only benefits the company, but it ensures that there is a safety culture created among employees, which they can follow even when they are not at work.

Providing employees with information and training is a legal obligation that can increase the overall job satisfaction, motivation, and morale of employees. However, there are some attitudes and behaviours that may not be changed despite the level of training provided.

Employers must ensure that there are measures in place to mitigate unsafe behaviours that persist despite the adequate provision of health and safety training. Despite the time that it may take to ensure that the workforce is trained, the benefits will outweigh the intense time and resource commitment that employers may have to make from time to time.

If there is a dedicated training schedule, employers can easily work around these commitments to ensure that operations are not halted.

4. Health and Safety Monthly Consulting

Maintaining an organization's Health and Safety Program is made easier by a Health and Safety Consulting Service that covers both the implementation and maintenance stages.

Despite having legal obligations towards ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees, employers need not take on this massive task alone. SafetyWallet is a Health and Safety service provider that not only supports its subscribers but offers them the tools that they need to implement an effective health and safety management system.

Management of risks and accidents is made easier using the safety management system along with the sources of an experienced Health and Safety Expert.

Pros:

• Businesses are given the necessary basic health and safety components that form part of a comprehensive health and safety management system by a skilled Health and Safety Professional
• Easily obtainable via My Safety Shop
• These systems allow the employer to take both logical and structured actions to improve health and safety within the workplace.
• The consultant can help measure and monitor health and safety compliance.
• An effective health and safety management system provide monthly compliance feedback that can be measured.
• There are monthly site inspections that help to identify any new hazards and risks.
• By using a health and safety monthly consulting employers can receive updated and relevant professional advice when it is needed.
• By using a consultancy service along with the support provided SafetyWallet the employer has access to skilled professionals at an affordable price, with added benefits.
• Because employers save money on infrastructure, workforce, hiring costs, training costs, and other components, it will reduce the overall expenses of the business.
• It helps the business focus more on its core functions.

 Cons:

• There may be significant time and cost constraints involved with initial consultancy services and setting up the OHS management system for the first time.
• There must be a dedicated person on-site to liaise with.
• There is a lot of commitment needed from senior management to ensure that the system is implemented and maintained.

 Pros and Cons Analysis:

While it can be an extremely large leap of faith for employers to use a consultancy service to help them with their OHS management system if the business uses a trusted provider such as SafetyWallet and its partners they are safe.

There are several inherent advantages to hiring a health and safety consulting company to help implement an effective occupational health and safety system, especially considering that there is an in-depth analysis that must be done on several factors such as existing systems, the hazards and risks, training needs, and many others, which the employer may not be able to do on their own.

With hiring a consultancy service comes the professional help, advice, and personnel that can assist every step of the way, ensuring that the employer can work towards being fully compliant with OHSA and all other relevant legislation.

However, it is important to note that this factor also carries some disadvantages, especially with the commitment required from senior management, the overall cost and time, and the fact that a dedicated person must remain on site.

5. Workmen’s Compensation Compliance

Because of COIDA's requirement that employers be registered with Workmen's Compensation and have a Letter of Good Standing, COIDA encourages reporting of accidents that may result in compensation.

While an effective health and safety management system cannot always eliminate the likelihood that injuries will occur, it can minimise the severity and the rate at which they can occur. However, when injuries occur, employers have a legal obligation to ensure that their employees receive the care and treatment necessary to ensure that they get better.

Workmen’s compensation is crucial, and all employees must be covered in the case of an accident, illness, or occupational disease when they are at work.

Pros:

• The employer is fully compliant with WCA if all requirements are adhered to
• These services are easily obtainable from My Safety Shop
• There is adequate assistance when there are claims, registration, and administration of claims, ensuring that they are processed promptly.
• There is adequate assistance in assessment.
• Every three years, employers can apply for rebates, by skilled professionals a SafetyWallet
• Legal requirements and compliance assistance.
• If claims must be re-opened, employers have assistance with this.
• While the administrative process is tedious, employers have the support and assistance they need with reimbursement from the Commissioner.
• There is adequate assistance offered during audits
• Case management workload is alleviated, especially considering that this part is time and admin intensive.
• There is effective communication with the employee about the progress of the claim.
• There is ongoing reporting and detailed feedback with all parties involved.

 Cons:

• There may be challenges with the annual return of earnings that must be paid.
• The process involved in reporting incidents can be time-consuming and tedious.

 Pros and Cons Analysis:

When employers have an effective OHS management system it means that they will have an incident and accident reporting system that is effective, effortless, and rapid. This will help when there are claims following incidents and accidents where employees are hurt, where they may contract an illness or occupational disease, or where they succumb to an injury, illness, or occupational disease.

Compliance with workmen’s compensation not only safeguards the employer from legal consequences, but it shows commitment to ensuring that employees are well looked after. The effort that it takes for an employer to register with WCA is far less than the effort involved with the consequences of non-compliance.

SafetyWallet assists and supports its subscribers every step of the way where Workmen’s Compensation compliance is concerned, ensuring that employers are compliant with COIDA and all other legislative and regulatory requirements relating to it.

To find out more about the Comprehensive array of Health and Safety Solutions we have to offer you, please feel free to Contact Us.

Christopher Guy - National Strategic Support and Operations Director at SafetyWallet with 14 Years of experience in the Health and Safety industry is passionate about people and about changing the mindset and behaviors when it comes to Health and Safety in the workplace. He serves a purpose to aspire to lead by example and empowerment through active proven intervention.