A trial approach to Occupational Health and Safety management has lead to Burwood Council adopting a bottom up Systematic Approach to Occupational Health and Safety.
In partnership with the NSW Workcover Authority, Council determined that this approach fitted perfectly with Council’s strategic plan.
Burwood Council’s Human Resource Manager, Peter Butler, said that this approach utilises both the knowledge of staff and their drive and endeavours to systematically develop an OH&S system that reflects the needs of the organisation.
“The OH&S Committee identified behaviours expected of an employee to work in a safe manner,” he said. “These were recorded and participants were then challenged to identify what employees needed to meet these expectations.
“Participants extrapolated the needs of employees into the expectations of supervisors and what supervisors would require to meet those expectations and so on for the other levels of the organisation. This translates into cost savings over the use of external consultants and, importantly, it imparts a sense of ownership to staff through their involvement.
“In addition, it delivers unsurpassed increases in their understanding and acceptance.”
He said that instead of spending large amounts on consultants or ‘off the shelf one size fits all products’, it allows an organisation to utilise its own OH&S committee in a constructive manner to develop a cost effective system that complies with all consultative requirements.
For further information, contact Peter Butler on (02) 9911 9813.
