I must inform you there has been a diversion of proceedings and under our safe operating guidelines there must be a reestablishment of OHS practices by everyone who under normal circumstances have GONE MAD.
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Go for it and good luck.
I hated it when they bought in longs and I was working in middle of WA in 45 degrees (open pit mine). But I guess they were worried that someone was gonna claim for skin cancer, but it's impossible to prove its from work, so where's the logic? Especially when the companies supply sun screen which would be ample PPE for a legal defence of such a claim...
Workplace agreements make it hard to defy a 'safety direction' such as clothing, company could commence disciplinary action or just dismiss you for deliberate misconduct. I'd be interested in how you go with your plan.
I see both sides, where OHSE has gone too far, then step over a gangway and it's non existent.
The results are very different though. One you get delayed or have to wear closed shoes from the car to the changeroom ,with the other people get killed or seriously hurt , they even go so far as wearing Face masks or balaclavas so they can't be identified if they stuff up!
You are totally correct. The more paperwork (paper trail) and the more people that they can spread blame towards then more chance of the insurance companies paying up and not contesting. Risk management is what it is all about (to minimise each persons risk).
In my work I now lose a lot of control of projects due to 'specialists' having to do certain tasks I used to design thus held to ransom by their time frames and not mine.
The system now produces people with pretyped SWMS (which means no one takes note of them) and everyone on site is in a hivis shirt so we don't notice each other as it is now just a uniform so no real use in dangerous situations as was the original idea.
Was at dinner with some friends tonight. One of them mentioned a new OHS rule where they work. Can no longer carry a cup of tea or coffee unless it is in an insulated cup with a fixed lid. They have all been issued with the type of coffee cup you use in your car on a journey to keep your drink warm. This is to deal with the potential trip and spill hot liquid danger posed by an open china mug. There have not been any such instances in the company living memory.
The other side of the coin is that you can be taken to court, both the employer/ operator/ employee as deemed by ACC, the difference is that only ACC can take you to court. And many have been taken to court and not only fined but jailed as well.
The money side is different as well. If I recall correctly. if you are off work you get 80% of your wage. until you return to work or are retrained etc etc.
non work accidents are also covered by ACC, in the same way. the only difference is that there is a 2 week stand down on wagers paid. IE if the accident happens at work your employer pays the first two weeks wages then ACC takes over. a non work accident you have to wait out those first two weeks.
I was on a site as a contractor (1 week job) just before Easter. We had an unannounced 1 hour toolbox meeting on how to drive, how to manage fatigue, how to change tyres safely and how to tow a trailer for the Easter break. That one hour of useless waddle into what to do when your not at work cost me 5 hours of lost production which the company wouldn't pay for.
There were around 30 people on site so you can imagine the overall cost and did anyone take any notice? Highly unlikely....