Where do we stand when it comes to this most important concept , pertaining to the health and safety of our biggest asset ,the human factor within our company, immaterial how big or small we are. How do we look at our employees ,contractors ,visitors and even those people not known to us, but seen as the community and our neighbours.
Have we ever stopped to think of the legal complication that we might have to consider , if things do go wrong .Vicarious liability is such an unknown word ,so small ,but yet with such big consequences, to one and all of us, if we are seen as part of management.
The Occupational Health and Safety ACT 85 of 1993 a governing document that gives us the POWER to ensure that we understand hazards and risks within our workplace, and to ensure that we are able to give unto our employers and employees the workplace that is without these hazards or risks, a document with a positive or negative outcome depending in how we look at it or in how we are using it. The Occupational Health and Safety ACT, as a document, is it used as book stopper or just another book to give some image to our bookshelf to those visiting our office.
Looking at my bookshelf i realised that the copy of my act really looks like an overused “waslappie” ,something used every day and even sometimes used more than once, as much as 70 times 7 as the scripture says ,should this not be our Alpha and Omega in our work's environment and industry. It is with this document as minimum requirement that we stand as leaders in our field.
How easy is it for us to relate to this document and all its pros and cons ,are we really conversant with the law in its full context .Is this document a real benefit to me in my work and works environment or has it become a millstone around my neck.
If this is the case perhaps we should revisit the word NOSHCON because it is there that you would find the hub of all the relevant health, safety, environmental and general occupational risk management matters.
So act now - pick up the phone and speak up, be Proactive and not Reactive and understand the concept of the “A B C “ of the ACT “AVOID BEING CAUGHT”. See you at NOSHCON!
Author: Jan van Burick (janb@nosa.co.za / +27 83 259 1151).
Jan van Burick is of NOSHCON 2010's valued break away session speakers. For more information on NOSHCON's speakers or the conference program, please visit http://www.noshcon.co.za/
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