Simple steps to safety self-audit tool

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Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Successful safety cultures are led from the top, where your actions and attitudes send a message to the people who work in your business that you are serious about their health and safety.

Effective safety management in a workplace requires an involvement from everyone to make it safe. To do this successfully, people need to understand their responsibilities and how they can meet them.

Employers can help develop a good safety culture by:

talking with the people who work in the business about safety related issues
developing and implementing safe work procedures
training the people who work in the business on safe work practices
making sure tools, plant and equipment are safe to use, regularly serviced and maintained in good working order
supplying workers with appropriate safety equipment for the job
leading by example.

1. Are safety responsibilities clearly defined and understood by managers and workers?

Yes, safety responsibilities are clearly defined and understood by managers and workers.
Yes, safety responsibilities are defined but not understood by managers and workers.
No, safety responsibilities are not clearly defined and poorly understood by managers and workers.

2. Is sufficient time, money and resources allocated to meet safety responsibilities?

Yes, sufficient time, money and resources are allocated to meet safety responsibilities.
Yes, time, money and resources are allocated but there is not enough to meet all responsibilities.
No, Insufficient time, money and resources are allocated for safety responsibilities.

3. Do managers promote safety as a high priority?

Yes, managers always promote safety as a high priority.
Yes, managers do promote safety but not as a high priority.
No, managers do not promote safety as a high priority.

4. Do managers lead by example?

Yes, managers always lead by example.
Yes, managers lead by example but not always.
No, managers do not lead by example.

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Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Talking with your team

Talking with your team, or consultation is about involving and developing your organisation’s workers. Workers that feel involved in decisions that affect them are more engaged with the business and the organisation is far less vulnerable to misunderstanding, rumour and resentment. In a modern business workers should not only be aware of what they should be doing but also why they should be doing it.

The people who work in your business are often the best people to understand the risks of the workplace. Seeking their input when making decisions shows them that you take their health and safety seriously and that you value their efforts. One of the benefits to this is that you can address potential problems before they arise.

Consultation can occur through staff meetings, toolbox talks or even a health and safety committee. General work health and safety information can be delivered through noticeboards, emails or newsletters.

1. Are safety issues discussed with workers?

Yes, there are formal consultation arrangements in place and safety issues are always discussed with workers.
Yes, safety issues are mostly discussed with workers but this is not done formally.
No, safety issues are not usually discussed with workers.

2. Are workers involved in making safety decisions and developing procedures?

Yes, workers are always involved in making safety decisions and in developing procedures.
Yes, workers are usually involved in making decisions but not always in developing procedures.
No, workers are not involved in making safety decisions and/or are not involved in developing procedures.

3. Are workers’ views valued and taken into account?

Yes, workers’ views are valued and taken into account. This is demonstrated to workers via feedback about their input and the process.
Yes, workers’ views are valued but not always taken into account. There is no formal recognition of feedback given.
No, workers’ views are not valued and are never taken into account.

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Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Managing hazards and risks

Part of managing health and safety in the workplace is controlling the risks. In order to do this you will need to accurately identify potential hazards.

Ask yourself and your workers what it is about the activities, processes, items of plant or substances you use that could injure or harm someone. Remember hazards at work include things that could harm the psychological health of workers such as excessive work demands, workplace bullying and violence.

Having identified potential hazards you’ll need to first consider if they can be eliminated. If this is not possible, then consider the risks involved and put measures in place to minimise (control) them.

Finding safety solutions can be as simple as asking your workers for ideas, looking at information available from designers and manufacturers, getting help from industry groups or considering relevant codes of practice.

1. Have all hazards been identified and their risks evaluated?

Yes, all hazards have been identified and the associated risks have been evaluated.
Yes, most major hazards have been identified and risks have been evaluated.
No, no or few hazards have been identified and/or there has been no evaluation of risks place.

2. Have all identified hazards and risks been controlled to eliminate or minimise their impact?

Yes, all identified hazards and risks are controlled.
Yes, most identified hazards and risks have been controlled.
No, identified hazards and risks are not controlled.

3. Have safe work procedures been developed and implemented for all tasks?

Yes, all tasks have safe work procedures developed for them.
Yes, most tasks have safe work procedures developed for them.
No, no or few tasks have safe work procedures developed for them.

4. Are safe work procedures regularly reviewed for effectiveness?

Yes, safe work procedures are regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
Yes, safe work procedures are reviewed but not regularly.
No, safe work procedures are not or rarely reviewed.

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Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Given we spend about a third of our lives at work, the work environment can have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. The aim is for work to be a positive contributor to our health. A healthy workplace is where health and wellbeing is viewed as important and managers and workers discuss ideas for promoting a healthy workplace.

When it comes to work health and wellbeing, risk factors include physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, harmful alcohol consumption, smoking and poor mental health. An effective health and wellbeing program takes into consideration the impact that the workplace culture, work environment and type of work can have on the health of workers, as well as putting in place health promotion activities or initiatives.

1. Is the health (physical and mental health) and wellbeing of workers a priority and are plans and programs in place to promote health and wellbeing?

Yes, health and wellbeing is a priority and programs and plans are in place.
Yes, the health and wellbeing of workers is important but there are no formal programs or plans in place.
No, the health and wellbeing of workers is not important or a priority.

2. Is the reporting of workplace issues that could contribute to work-related stress encouraged (e.g. heavy workloads, fatigue, poor workplace relationships)?

Yes, workers are encouraged to report all workplace issues that contribute to work related stress and this is integrated into the standard reporting process.
Yes, workers are encouraged to report all workplace issues that might contribute to work related stress but there is no formal process for this.
No, workers are not encouraged to report all workplace issues that could contribute to work related stress.

3. Do managers educate workers on acceptable workplace behaviour and conduct for the prevention of workplace bullying and harassment?

Yes, managers educate all workers on acceptable workplace behaviour and conduct. This is a part of workplace induction procedures and regularly reinforced through refresher training and other communications. There is a formal system in place for workers to report breaches of acceptable behaviours and conduct.
Yes, managers educate all workers on acceptable workplace behaviour and conduct but this is informal and is not reinforced through refresher training or other communications and/or there is no formal process to report breaches of acceptable behaviours and conduct.
No, managers do not educate all workers on acceptable workplace behaviours and conduct and there are no formal educational or reporting procedures in place.

4. Are health promotion activities conducted at the workplace that encourage healthy lifestyle options and to support emotional wellbeing (e.g. RUOK Day/beyondblue support, quit smoking, healthy eating, physical activity)?

Yes, health promotion activities that encourage a healthy lifestyle are planned and regular events throughout the year.
Yes, health promotion activities that encourage a healthy lifestyle are irregular and not planned events.
No, health promotion activities that encourage a healthy lifestyle are not conducted at the workplace.

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Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Training and supervision

Training and supervision are important. Workers need to know how to do their jobs safely and be aware of issues that affect their health and safety.

Training is one of the best ways to ensure that your workers are safe while at work. By providing them with effective training and adequate supervision, they will become aware of safety issues and will perform their jobs competently, consistently and safely.

Training will ensure that your workers know about issues that will affect their health and safety. It will provide your workers with information about potential risks associated with their work, the safety policies and procedures you have in place, how to work safely and how to deal with emergencies.

1. Are all workers inducted into the business?

Yes, all workers are inducted into the business and records are kept of each induction.
Yes, workers are inducted but this is informal and no records are kept.
No, workers are not inducted.

2. Are workers trained in safe work procedures before they commence tasks?

Yes, in all cases workers are trained in safe work procedures before commencing any task.
Yes, workers are trained in most safe work procedures prior to starting.
No, workers are not or rarely trained in safe work procedures before commencing a task.

3. Are workers supervised to ensure safe work procedures are being followed?

Yes, workers are always supervised and safe work procedures are followed.
Yes, there is supervision of workers but it is inconsistent.
No, workers are not supervised.

Progress Bar Graphic, 5 steps complete, on sixth step of seven

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Maintaining a safe workplace is important. It can be achieved by:

carrying out regular safety checks
maintaining workplace equipment and tools
providing workers with easy to understand information and training on how to do the job safely
having an incident/accident reporting and investigation procedure
planning and testing emergency procedures
keeping workers informed of any changes and providing training opportunities when anything new at work is introduced
reporting hazards, near misses and injuries, assessing new and emerging hazards and identifying the effectiveness of existing control measures
talking to your workers about ideas for promoting a healthy workplace.

1. Are safety checks performed regularly?

Yes, safety checks are performed regularly.
Yes, safety checks are carried out but not regularly.
No, safety checks are not carried out or carried out rarely.

2. Are workplace tools and equipment regularly maintained and serviced?

Yes, workplace tools and equipment are regularly maintained and serviced.
Yes, workplace tools are maintained and serviced but not regularly.
No, workplace tools are not or are rarely maintained or serviced.

3. Does the business have a formal incident process and are all incidents investigated to identify potential gaps in the process?

Yes, there is a formal incident reporting process and all incidents are investigated.
Yes, there is an incident reporting process but not all incidents are investigated.
No, there is no incident reporting process in place and no or few incidents are investigated.

4. Are there emergency plans in place (e.g. fire, medical etc.) and are those plans regularly tested?

Yes, there are emergency plans in place and they are tested regularly.
Yes, there are emergency plans in place but these are not tested regularly.
No, there are no emergency plans in place.

Progress Bar Graphic, 6 steps complete, on seventh step of seven

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Getting started

Talking with your team

Managing hazards and risks

Focusing on work health and wellbeing

Training and supervision

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace

Document, report and improve

Everyone in the workplace is responsible for their own safety and that of others. While no one plans to get hurt, you can plan to not get hurt.

Managing and improving workplace needs to be an ongoing task.

Safety processes and operations evolve with time and workers come and go changing risks for everyone in the workplace.

Having established your work health and safety (WHS) management system you should regularly review and monitor how effective it is, as well as make any necessary adjustments to keep it up to date.

Effective WHS management requires leadership and commitment. Everyone at work also needs to understand their responsibilities and how they can best meet them. By managing tasks and people with safety top-of-mind, you can achieve good safety outcome for everyone.

1. Are all incidents and safety issues recorded and actioned?

Yes, all incidents and safety issues are recorded and actioned.
Yes, most incidents and safety issues are recorded but not always actioned.
No, incidents and safety issues are not recorded and/or incidents and safety issues are not or are rarely actioned.

2. Are safe work procedures reviewed after an incident and updated if required?

Yes, safe work procedures are reviewed after all incidents and updated as necessary.
Yes, safe work procedure are sometimes reviewed after an incident but are not always updated.
No, safe work procedures are not or are rarely reviewed after an incident and/or are never or are rarely updated.

3. Are incidents and injuries monitored to identify trends and help the business address emerging issues?

Yes, incidents and injuries are monitored to identify trends and issues are addressed as they arise.
Yes, incidents and injuries are reported but there is no analysis to identify trends.
No, incidents and injuries are not monitored.

4. Senior management regularly receives and reviews safety reports and information and provides guidance and resources necessary to maintain a safe workplace.

Yes, senior management regularly receives and reviews safety reports and information and is actively involved in maintaining a safe workplace.
Yes, senior management regularly receives some safety reports and information but does not always action these.
No, there is no reporting to senior management.

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Simple steps to safety self-audit tool