Why do we need a WHS strategy?

Health & Safety

Top 8 Health and Safety Myths Busted Across Industries

Health and safety is critical in every workplace across all industry sectors, but it's often clouded by persistent myths. These beliefs can lead to complacency, misconceptions, inadequate protective measures, and, ultimately, serious injuries or fatalities. Regardless of whether you work on a busy construction site, a bustling hospitality kitchen, an office space, or a demanding healthcare facility, debunking these top 8 myths is essential for creating a safe work environment. Myth 1: Accidents are part of the job This comes in at number one because it’s perhaps the most dangerous myth. The belief accidents are inevitable in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, and farming can create a culture of acceptance over prevention. The majority of workplace incidents are preventable. They are typically caused by identifiable hazards, poor training, unsafe procedures, or management failures. In farming, the high incidence of quad bike and tractor-related fatalities is often due to a lack of rollover protection, inadequate training, or maintenance issues. All these are controllable factors. A proactive approach, including regular risk assessments regular training updates, and safety drills, is key to moving from a reactive mindset to a preventative safety culture. Myth 2: Health and safety only applies to high-risk industries There’s a perception serious health and safety risks are only relevant for industries like mining, construction, farming, or manufacturing. While the hazards are different, office workers and those in the hospitality sector face their own type of health and safety risks. A liquid or food spill in an office kitchen could result in an employee slipping and suffering a serious physical injury. A less obvious safety concern but no less serious for office workers is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These can develop over time and result from poor ergonomics (incorrect desk, chair, or monitor height) and are recognised as a major health issue. In restaurants, commercial kitchens, and other hospitality venues, slips, trips, falls, and burns are constant hazards. When you own or manage a hospitality business it’s essential you provide a safe environment for your guests and employees. While psychosocial hazards, such as excessive workload, poor job control, stress, and workplace bullying and harassment affect all industries, it is increasingly seen as significant risk to health and safety. Myth 3: Personal protective equipment and safety signs are all you need For sectors like construction or fabrication (hard hats, safety boots, high-vis clothing and material handling gloves) and healthcare (gloves, masks, gowns), relying solely on PPE is not adequate enough to protect employees. The most effective safety measure is hazard elimination. Safety signs are a good reminder for employees and can help prevent some accidents from occurring in the workplace, but they should not be the only safety measure. Relying solely on safety signs can create a false sense of security and may lead to employees becoming complacent. Every workplace will have different needs, but safety signs and warnings should be utilised in conjunction with regular training and proper equipment maintenance as part of a comprehensive safety strategy. These protocols not only help protect employees but can empower them to take an active role in maintaining a safe work environment. Myth 4: Only the business owner is responsible for safety Safety is a shared responsibility. The misconception only the business owner is responsible for safety allows employees in all sectors, from floor staff in hospitality to senior management, to free themselves of accountability. While employers have the primary legal duty to provide a safe work environment, every employee is responsible for following safe work procedures. They should use any provided safety equipment, report hazards and near miss incidents. In an agricultural setting, a farmhand seeing a worn-out guard on a tractor must report it, just as a hospital nurse must report a faulty IV pump. A thriving safety culture depends on the active participation of every single person. Myth 5: Experienced employees don't need safety training This myth is a major contributor to incidents, particularly in fields like farming and agriculture, manufacturing, mining and seasoned construction tradespeople. Experience can lead to complacency. While an experienced employee has job knowledge, they may be less aware of changes in safety regulations, new equipment, or better safe work methods. Regular refresher training, toolbox talks, and updated inductions are crucial. This is particularly true for high-risk, non-routine tasks in construction or when new technology is introduced. Safety training should be seen as an ongoing process, not a one-time event for new employees or apprentices. Myth 6: Safety is simply common sense The old saying that common sense isn’t all that common can be especially true when it comes to workplace safety. Where some people are naturally cautious, others may be risk takers. And while health and safety principles may seem like common sense, not all hazards are easily identified. Not everyone thinks or behaves in a reasonable way which is why proper training and risk assessments are necessary to identify and mitigate potential risks that could lead to a workplace accident or severe injury. Being familiar with the working of a piece of machinery could lead to removing an obstruction without stopping the machine. Not only is this a lack of common sense it could result in a severe or even fatal injury. Myth 7: Regulation compliance is all that’s needed Complying with minimum legal safety standards is often mistaken as a guarantee of a safe workplace. This should be considered the baseline starting point, not the ceiling. Regulations cover the most common and known hazards, but they can't account for every unique scenario, weather condition, or combination of equipment use or failure. Effective risk management requires your organisation to go beyond compliance by proactively assessing site-specific or task-specific risks. Protocols and emergency procedures should an incident occur must constantly be reviewed and improved, not just strictly following the minimum required standard. Myth 8: Safety slows productivity This myth is often heard in fast-paced environments like construction and hospitality, where meeting deadlines or serving guests quickly is prioritised. A workplace accident can lead to costly consequences. You may need to completely shut down a work site for an investigation, close your restaurant early to menage an incident, or stop production when an employee is injured. When safety protocols are not adhered to, you can lose workdays, see an increase in insurance costs, or need to repair damaged equipment. While a new safety procedure may require a momentary pause, investing in health and safety can ultimately boost productivity and profitability by reducing the frequency of incidents. Implementing safe practices such reduces injuries, decreases absenteeism, and results in a more efficient, stable, and motivated workforce. Safety is an investment, not a cost. This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute as business or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. It does not take into consideration your specific business, industry or circumstances. You should seek legal or other professional advice regarding matters as they relate to you or your business. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Peninsula Group disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions contained in this information or any failure to update or correct this information. It is your responsibility to assess and verify the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the information in this article.

Health & Safety

How to Manage Threatening Situations with Customers

Certain industries have consistently customer-facing roles and this means that there is a chance that customers can get angry or aggressive. Threatening behaviour towards your staff is not acceptable and it’s your obligation as an employer to keep your staff safe from all hazards as much as you possibly can. In this blog post, we will look at ways of ensuring your staff are kept safe mentally and physically from threatening behaviour and how to manage these situations. What Are Threatening Situations With Customers? Staff can feel frightened or concerned when customers start to behave erratically or aggressively. It can be sudden or slow to start, the threatening customer behaviour may include: Pointing at your staff Raising their voice Swearing Shouting or screaming Saying they will do certain things that make your staff feel unsafe Breaking of things, pushing over, or physically moving of items that feels scary Pushing or hitting staff Types of industries Industries that frequently deal with customers and are high-contact can end up in escalating situations or tense circumstances. Some of these industries and situations include: Retail- Dealing with customers during busy periods, handling refunds, returns, complaints, or inventory issues can lead to angry and upset customers Hospitality- Hospitality staff constantly deals with personal preferences and during busy periods it can get tricky to provide quick service. Other situations include dealing with complaints about food quality, reservations, and the ambience Banking- Banking customer service professionals handle technical issues, concerns about accounts and transactions and it can lead to tense situations and irritated customers Customer service- Customer service professionals in all industries are often at the receiving end for verbal aggression. Long wait queues on the phone, technical issues, and delays in service can add to this tense situation. Healthcare- People visiting healthcare facilities are already uncomfortable or in pain. Long wait times or delays in treatment can make them angry and aggressive leading to altercations with healthcare professionals. How to Manage Threatening Behaviour If you have a small business, it is likely you already have a risk assessment. If so, how will your staff handle this, especially if some staff members are not confrontational types. Consider the personalities in your team and if possible, move people around to more public-facing roles in the short term. Risk Assessment – Consider what could happen, potential risks, and what could be done to prevent them Write a Policy – Write a policy that mentions ways to handle aggression, the command chain, steps to follow, and other instructions Implement the Policy – Utilise clearly established ways of handling incidents Train Staff – Try to train staff on how to deal with particular situations, what to do if it doesn't go as anticipated Be Flexible – Move more confident staff around if required Be Alert – Talk to your staff to be alert and wary during busy periods Things to consider Set expectations with customers on the conditions of entry – this may include placing a notice on their entry point that aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated Prepare a Safe Operating Procedure, so that staff are aware of how to handle aggression. Arrange a customer complaint policy for handling customer issues. It would be helpful to organise staff have access to support services such as an EAP or counselling should they suffer any harm because of customer aggression. Handling angry customers Consider how staff will handle verbally angry behaviour. For instance, empathising with a customer can really help de-escalate a customer’s anger before it becomes threatening. When talking to an unhappy customer, consider these points: Respond – Apologise for any inconvenience to make the customer feel valued. Empathise – Sincerely express that you understand the situation is frustrating. Reassure – Let the customer know that if there was anything you could do, you would. Paraphrase – Show you’re really listening, by using something they say back, for example: “I understand you have been waiting a long time but we are trying our best to get through the orders so we can provide you with the best product/experience." Customers who are beginning to get angry will escalate quickly if they feel dismissed, not listened to, or not valued. “I am so sorry for this inconvenience, this situation is so frustrating, if there was anything I could do, I absolutely would.” It’s crucial to make sure a customer feel sincerely heard as you express your position, even if you do not agree with them. Support your business with Peninsula Peninsula works with Aussie businesses across various industries and we understand the challenges they face. Our clients access 24/7 services and resources that help them deal with any employment relations issue or workplace health and safety matter. Talk to our team today to learn how we can help you.

Health & Safety

The Importance of Safety Data Sheets

Does your workplace contain hazardous chemicals? If it does you may need to ensure you have a document accompanying the hazardous chemical providing key information, allowing you to manage any workplace health and safety risks. This document is called a safety data sheet (SDS) and it should be provided freely by the supplier of the chemical. A SDS should display information about the chemical, its contents, the hazards it poses, how to handle, transport and store it, and procedures to follow in case of an emergency spill, or incorrect handling or storage. The model Code of Practice for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals provides a certain way that manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals must prepare a correct SDS. If a SDS doesn’t meet this criteria, then it may not comply with workplace health and safety (WHS) legislation. Which Chemicals need a SDS? Almost every hazardous chemical requires a SDS. While there is no exhaustive list of chemicals that do require a SDS – there are just too many to mention – the Code of Practice contains a definition of reference. There are also many circumstances to when a hazardous chemical does not necessarily require a SDS. Some examples provided by Safe Work Australia include: Fuel that is in a container fitted to the vehicle, that is intended to be used by the same vehicle Food and beverages intended for human consumption Tobacco and tobacco products Hazardous chemicals contained in portable fire-fighting or medical equipment for use at a workplace You may need expert help to ascertain whether a chemical requires a SDS or not. What information needs to be in a SDS? A SDS needs to provide the following information: The product’s name, ingredients and properties The name, Australian address and telephone number of the business that made or imported the chemical How it can affect one’s health, and initial first aid measures in case of an incident How to use it safely, and information on how to respond to an emergency if the chemical is unintentionally released How to store it safely The last time the SDS was reviewed (usually every five years). A SDS must be written using clear and precise English, and the information must be presented under 16 specific headings and use metric (also known as SI) measurements. There is also no minimum or maximum length of a SDS – it should be a long as it needs to be to adequately describe the properties of the chemical and any best practices. The SDS also needs to be applicable to the nature of and hazards present in your workplace. Under Work Health and Safety Regulations a register of hazardous chemicals used, handled or stored at the workplace must be prepared and kept up-to-date at the workplace and must also include the current SDS for each of these chemicals. This register must be readily available to all workers who use or may be affected by the chemicals at the workplace.

Health & Safety

The 6 Deadliest Industries for Aussie Workers

Everyone deserves to be safe at work. Yet last year, 200 Australian workers died from injuries related to their jobs. On average, over the last 5 years, 191 workers were killed each year at work in Australia. What can business owners do to better protect their employees, and themselves? How can they create safe workplaces that prevent harm and injury? Before we delve into solutions, let's have a look at the statistics. 76% of work-related traumatic injury and fatalities and 61% of serious workers' compensation claims occurred in just 6 industries. Let's look at the six most dangerous and deadly industries for Australian workers. 1. Three fatal Fs: farms, forestry and fishing Agriculture, forestry and fishing is hard and dangerous work. Not only do workers have to deal with hazards like chemicals, noise, dust, sun, animals and dangerous equipment, the work is often remote and isolated. This is the deadliest business for Australian workers to be in. Safe Work Australia says 27 workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing died in workplace incidents in 2023. As a raw number, that doesn’t represent the most fatalities in a single industry. But it is by far the highest rate of deaths given industry size.Workers in this industry suffered 9.2 deaths per 100,000. 2. The dangerous road: transport, postal, warehousing The transport, postal and warehousing industry had the most fatalities in 2023 on raw figures, with 51 employees losing their lives. That’s a rate of 7.0 per 100,000 workers, which tells you something about both how huge this industry is, and how disproportionately dangerous agriculture, forestry and fishing are. Transport in particular is an inherently hazardous line of work. Fatigue, speeding, drug use, poor vehicle maintenance, driver ability and attention, road conditions, environmental factors — these are just some of the things that can cause incidents among transport operators. In fact, machinery operators and drivers accounted for the highest proportion of worker fatalities and also recorded the highest fatality rate. 3. Digging deep: mining Mining has made huge inroads into improving health and safety over the last decade. Back in 2003, the fatality rate in the mining industry was 12.4 per 100,000 workers. In 2023, that figure plummeted to 2.1. But it still represents one of the most dangerous work scenarios in Australia, with an average of 6 workers dying each year. Inherent risks include manual handling, slips trips and falls, being hit by moving objects or machinery and working with high risk machinery. 4. Building a safer world: construction The construction industry holds some important clues for every employer about managing Work Health and Safety. In 2023, 45 construction workers died because of their jobs. That’s a rate of 3.4 per 100,000 workers. The number of fatalities in the construction industry was 36% higher than the 5-year average for this industry. Work Health and Safety (WHS) is not a static set of rules that employers can set and forget. It requires constant and ongoing attention.To make sure their workplace is safe, employers need to consistently maintain and review their procedures and safety protocols. 5. The front lines: public administration and safety The public administration and safety industry has a high number of work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses. It includes work in government bodies and workers who provide: police services investigation and security services fire protection and other emergency services correctional and detention services regulatory services border control other public order and safety services In 2023, the industry as a whole had 16 deaths, which was a rate of 1.7 workers per 100,000. This gives it the fourth highest fatality rate of any industry in Australia. It's not just physical health for this industry but mental health disorders are common for this industry. Public administration and safety workers are at higher risk for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress conditions. 6. Made in Australia: manufacturing In 2023, 12 workers in the manufacturing sector died because of their jobs, representing about 1.3 workers per 100,000. Manufacturing in Australia is a huge and diverse industry with thousands of workers doing many different activities. From food and beverages, to textiles, wood and paper products, chemicals (think pesticides, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics), metal and plastics, machinery and furniture, the list could go on. The employers responsible for these workplaces could be anything from small, independent manufacturers producing limited stock to large-scale production chains. This all leads to the big question: how do WHS rules protect such a huge variety of employees? And how do employers navigate them? How to build a safety culture at work Australia has some of the most comprehensive Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws in the world. They have been designed to make workplaces safer, and thankfully, they do. But they’re complicated. If you’re an employer who wants to be 100% sure you are protecting your staff — and your business — it’s hard to know exactly where to start.The first thing you need to understand is what your obligations are. Then you need to have a plan in place: how will you best position yourself to do the right thing you make sure you’re in compliance and keep records to demonstrate it? Finally you need to train your employees to follow the health and safety policies and constantly update those policies over time. Create safe workplaces with Peninsula Handling a business and its obligations can be overwhelming. Peninsula has worked with thousands of businesses supporting them with employment relations and workplace health and safety. Our services are tailored for your industry, providing them with customised support, documents, and advice. If you’re a business owner or manager and want to know what you can do to protect your employees and your business, Peninsula can help. Call our advice line on 1300746497 today.

Health & Safety

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

28th April is World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This day is observed to stress the importance of the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases. Latest data by Safe Work Australia shows that in 2024, 200 workers were fatally injured at work in Australia. This World Day is a timely opportunity to look back and review the importance of safety and health at work. Background In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO) started to observe World Day for Safety and Health at Work to emphasize the prevention of accidents and diseases at work and encourage advocacy for a healthy working environment. It is a significant tool to raise awareness on how promoting a safe and healthy culture can support reducing a number of work related deaths and accidents. In June 2022, the ILO decided to include a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work. Theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 The theme for World Day is Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work. Digitalization and automation is changing the way we live and work. There are powerful opportunities for automation and smart monitoring systems to reduce hazardous exposures, prevent injuries and improve overall working conditions. At the workplace level, it will be imperative for businesses to implement preventive measures, assess risks associated with new technogies, and continuously adapt health and safety practices to remain efficient. As employers, we are responsible for ensuring the working environment is safe and healthy. As employees, we are responsible for working safely, protecting ourselves, and not endangering others. We should also know our rights and participate in implementing preventive measures. Emerging Definitions of Safety and Health at Work Safety at work is no longer restricted to the confines of occupational health. Mental health and psychosocial factors are slowly being recognised as true threats to businesses and employees. According to Safe Work Australia, mental health conditions accounted for 10.5% serious claims in 2022-2023, an astounding 97.3% increase compared with 10 years ago. Mental health conditions in Australia are now one of the costliest forms of workplace injury. They lead to more time off work and higher compensation paid when compared to physical injuries and diseases. Most jobs involve some psychosocial hazards. These hazards can harm your employees’ mental health. They can also cause physical harm. Psychosocial hazards include: job demands low job control poor support lack of role clarity poor organisational change management inadequate reward and recognition poor organisational justice traumatic events or material remote or isolated work poor physical environment violence and aggression bullying harassment, including sexual harassment, and conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions Where do psychosocial hazards come from? Psychosocial hazards can come from: the design or management of work a work environment plant (e.g. equipment) at a workplace, or workplace interactions or behaviours How do they endanger employee safety? Psychosocial hazards can create stress. This can cause psychological or physical harm. Stress itself is not an injury but if workers get stressed often or regularly, over a long time, high levels of stress can cause harm. Psychological harm may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sleep disorders. Physical harm may include musculoskeletal injuries, chronic disease or fatigue-related injuries. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must eliminate psychosocial risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable. How can employers ensure workplace health and safety? Safe and good work design is one of the best ways to practically implement sustainable solutions for health and safety. PCBUs have a duty to consider good work design, which consists of the following: The work- How is the work performed? What is the task duration? What is the frequency of the tasks? How complex are the tasks? Workers’ needs and preferences- What do your workers need? What are their capacities? Do they have particular preferences for their well being? The physical environment- Work-related accidents happen because of poorly designed physical environments. The physical environment includes the work itself, plant, equipment, materials, and substances. Systems and processes- The systems and processes involved in the work can considerably impact health and safety. These include production processes, safety measures, business management, and human interaction. Good work design Good work design can be of vital importance in transforming your workplace. It can deal with emerging occupational risks, reduce potential accidents, and build a healthy work environment. It should also: protect workers from harm to their health and safety improve worker health and wellbeing improve job satisfaction and performance improve business success through higher worker productivity and innovation Good work design can help you meet your WHS duties. Everyone has WHS duties under the model WHS Act. You have specific duties if you are: a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) a designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier and installer of plant, substances or structures an officer As a PCBU, you must, so far as is reasonably practicable : ensure the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter, and consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other relevant duty holders Building better businesses Adequate safety and health measures at work play a crucial role in containing disease, protecting workers including young workers, and supporting society. As a business owner, you have a responsibility towards safety and health at work. With constantly changing legislations and regulations, it can be tricky for you to keep up with your duties. Thousands of businesses across Australia and New Zealand have trusted us to support them. Call us on 1300941893 today to get all your questions answered.

Why do we need a WHS strategy?