This is the third week of National Safe Work Month, highlighting our ongoing commitment to fostering secure work environments – every job, every day. Throughout October, we’re progressively unravelling the risk management process, emphasizing how integral tools like the Bluesafe WHS Management System are in facilitating this. Building upon hazard identification and risk assessment we’ve tackled over the first two weeks, we now turn our collective attention toward the paramount task at hand – containing and mitigating risks.
Your approach to control measures should be driven by both the likelihood and the severity of identified risks from your preceding assessments. It is incumbent upon employers to manage WHS risks, which invariably includes implementing appropriate controls. Still, it’s crucial that this process is enacted in consultation with your team, ensuring they comprehend how to utilise equipment safely, for instance. Guidance from your local WHS regulator can also be invaluable in adhering to specific regulations germane to your state or territory.
Obviously, there will be certain hazards you can readily identify, evaluate, and mitigate – such as a liquid spill on a tiled floor. For these well-known and understood risks (like potential falls leading to musculoskeletal injuries), immediate controls (like displaying wet floor signage and cleaning up) can be put into effect without necessitating a comprehensive risk assessment.
All workplaces have their unique idiosyncrasies. Optimal control measures should thus be tailored to align with your organisation’s size, nature, and work activities. Comprehensive safety practices, such as adopting the Bluesafe SWMS and other policies, can significantly help streamline SHW risk management during routine operations and unforeseen emergencies.
Stay connected with us here on our website, and keep following our social media channels for further insights, activities, and resources as we continue practicing safety: every job, every day throughout this National Safe Work Month.
Original article link: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/national-safe-work-month-2025-week-3
