Work Method Statements - What’s their role in Occupational Health and Safety

A small business organization has countless facets. It’s a provider of products and services for the local community. It is also a profit generator for the business owners. An equally important role of any business entity is that regarding an employer, which has a responsibility to help keep it’s staff protected whilst in the workplace. The significance of occupational health and safety cannot be stressed enough. Anyone should certainly not need to risk life and limb while at the workplace. There are many of ways of making sure the well-being of workforce. Various safety programs may be introduced which includes safety instruction, supervision and frequent inspection. Written documents such as work method statements may also help raise awareness among employees, which can minimize workplace injuries and deaths. Importance of Work Method Statements A Work Method Statement is a set of instructions to help you avoid unnecessary risks for people whilst in the workplace. Whether it’s laying down instructions on the usage of devices or presenting the appropriate process of a particular task, a Work Method Statement can certainly considerably decrease incidents of injuries and fatalities at work. Most of the time, government agencies working on occupational health and safety require companies to generate and put into action a Work Method Statement. Having Work Method Statements in place is often required before a business can operate. The lack of the necessary work method statements usually leads to fines. Occasionally, it can lead to suspension or even cessation of business operations. The reason behind these sactions is clear: without these measures, the government may incur charges in the form of medical treatments or social security payments for injured employees. Even with no government mandate, it’s incumbent on any employer to setup work method statements for each and every task executed and equipment used on the job. Cultivating a safe work environment impacts not only the workers and their families, but the company’s clients, suppliers, and nearby communities as well. Having a set of work method statements may also serve as a constant reminder to employers to make safety important. For staff, it might affect behaviour on the job by making them more conscious of their own well-being. For the business all together, it can cultivate a culture which values safety above anything else. Crafting an Effective Work Method Statements It seems straightforward to generate a work method statement. Nonetheless, it’s not as easy as it looks. It involves dealing with important issues. Are the instructions thorough enough to allow the safe performance of a task or use of a certain equipment? Does it include instructions on the steps to take just before and after operation? Does it examine the required personal protective equipment a member of staff has to use or have? Does it consist of precise instructions on how the education and supervision of personnel are conducted? Is it regularly updated to meet the latest regulatory or legislative requirements? Most of these questions should be considered to achieve one goal: to guarantee the worker’s safety at all times. A gung ho attitude has no place in any work place, as the well-being of employees is not a matter to be taken lightly. Thus, having a work method statement is not enough. Every employer must set up an extensive document that satisfies the legal requirements and also ensures the safety and health of everybody in the workplace.