Welcome 2022!
We all have great expectations that this year will result in a more stable environment, from social wellbeing to the workplace environment and any further COVID variants making the world a turbulent place to be right now. It would then not come as a surprise to know that FICA and FISC are going to be doing a bit in the space of good work design for the year, and gather information to provide sound advice and examples around good workplace design.
Good work design enhances business success and productivity, and it addresses physical, biomechanical, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of work, together with the needs and capabilities of the people involved. Good work design considers business needs, context and work environment. For our industry we are so aware that any good work design must consider environmental safety too.
What is a safe design process?
Safe design is the process of successfully achieving a balance of these sometimes-competing objectives, without compromising the health and safety of those potentially affected by the product over its lifespan. There are some fundamental principles that should be considered while designing the process and these include:
1. Good work design gives the highest level of
protection so far as is reasonably practicable. 2. Good work design enhances health and wellbeing. 3. Good work design enhances business success
and productivity.
4. Good work design addresses physical, biomechanical, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of work, together with the needs and capabilities of the people involved.
5. Good work design considers the business needs,
context and work environment.
6. Good work design is applied along the supply
chain and across the operational lifecycle. 7. Engage decision makers and leaders.
8. Actively involve the people who do the work,
including those in the supply chain and networks. 9. Employ good risk management and seek
continuous improvement.
10. Learn from experts, evidence and experience.
There has been a lot of research managed around this topic which shows that good design can result in significant reductions in work-related ill-health and injuries. Good design reduces damage to property and the environment, as well as related costs. Good design enhances the health, wellbeing and productivity of workers. The most effective risk control measures are often cheaper and more practicable to achieve at the design or planning stage than managing risks later in the lifecycle. The design of plant or structures contributes to a significant proportion of work-related injuries, and solutions already exist for many of those design problems. It is more efficient and effective to manage risk in the design phase than to retrofit health and safety solutions. Good work design principles can reduce the need for retrofitting, personal protective equipment, health monitoring, exposure monitoring, and maintenance.
Throughout the design process different people contribute ideas, solutions and knowledge to help manage health and safety risks. PCBUs involved in the design process must consult, cooperate with, and coordinate activities with each other, so far as is reasonably practicable. In general, the more influence and control a PCBU has over a health and safety matter, the more responsibility it is likely to have.
Smart design of products can help provide a high level of protection for end users too and workers have the right to the highest level of protection, so far as is reasonably practicable. Managing risks in the design stage of a product is an effective way of providing the best protection. It is more effective than, for example, retrofitting a product later in its lifecycle.
Eliminating health and safety risks before they happen makes good business sense for PCBUs. People who work in safe, healthy conditions are less likely to take time off work and will be more engaged and positive in their job. This may mean that productivity is increased in the long run.
Good work design is also important for developing and maintaining a good reputation to win future work. It gives businesses the opportunity to become leaders in their industry and become the most desirable places to work.
If we can take the principles above and interweave them throughout the systems we have in forestry like Safetree Certification and the review of the Forestry Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) then the results will ensure business success and productivity for the future. When adversity hits, it is important that we have ensured our best in managing people, the environment and social wellbeing.