Kids Die in the Roof – Who’s Fault?

Hi ${first_name} I am sure you have heard the very real fuss and angst in the Australian news at present about the unnecessary and very sad deaths of young, inexperienced insulation installers.  I watched the Environment Minister under attack on TV this morning while I ate my breakfast. The workers who died were mostly young and inexperienced.  Someone's kids. Installing insulation in homes is one of the very sensible “low fruit” ways to reduce energy waste and also make homes more comfortable and an insulation installers training package was developed so there would be people trained to pick up the sudden increase in workload. As a parent I want to know my kids will come home safely from work.  So who is responsible for their workplace safety?  The safety standards are very clear and so is the law. It is a three pronged responsibility. •    The worker has a responsibility to behave safely and follow all their procedures and training, •    Workers have responsibility to look after each other and ensure safe work practices are followed by all. •    Bosses and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is safe. In this case it looks as though some bosses and supervisors and certainly not all who have failed in their duty. There are always some bosses who cut corners and the building industry with all its contractors and subcontractors is a classic example of a situation where "subbies" are often uncontrolled. In the case of the insulation program, some installers are doing the ”get rich quick” thing and in doing so, failing to train and supervise their young workers with the result some have died. Your contractors need to be managed in the same way as other employees.  Just because you don’t pay their WorkCover premiums, doesn’t change the law that you are still responsible for ensure that they are competent to do the job and inducted onto your site and its policies and procedures. A safe workplace has had the risks identified and managed with appropriate procedures, equipment, maintenance and training.  This includes identifying all legal and training requirements and making sure that these are followed. So how well to you manage your safety obligations ${first_name}? Could your next mobile call be "come and sort out the mess" because you have the body of someone’s precious 17 year old son, or someone’s father and husband on your workplace? This is not being dramatic.  It happens.  Can you imaging the repercussions?  It is not only the shock and hurt at the time but the legal and financial fallout goes on for years.  It may result in you going to jail and/or losing your house to pay the damages. And as a home owner I have been seriously worried about my potential liability if one of those guys leaping about on my roof hurts himself.  I would feel very uncomfortable about a renovation if it had harmed someone.  So home owners you also need to demand safe work practices of any one you contract. This is not only about the building industry!  STOP and THINK  If you employ or manage people in any industry how can you prevent accidents and deaths?  And can you prevent it quickly and easily? YES – YOU CAN easily put an effective safety system into your workplace I can help you with my “Easy to Be Safe” AS/NZS 4801 safety training program.  Even if you don’t want to go all the way to certification, the program with help you make your workplace safer and reduce your liability. You can get moving fast and at the very low cost of only $770 with the Do-It-Yourself AS/NZS 4801 which comes as an 8-CD Pack.  You can even do your training by listening in the car while you drive Or you can reserve a place in the next “Easy to Be Safe” online group training course.  Like the DIY pack this is designed for busy people who want to listen while they drive and only commit to a one hour phone call every week My kindest regards Jean Cannon Enviro Action