Safety in the electrotechnology industry is paramount. Employees tasked with maintaining and operating electrical systems face unique risks that, if not properly managed, can lead to serious accidents, reduced productivity, and even legal repercussions.

 

Ensuring a robust safety induction and onboarding process is crucial to mitigate these risks. Naturally this involves having the right safety equipment, and making sure that it is well-maintained and in good condition.

 

However that is just one of several steps involved in achieving this:

 

The Role of Pre-Employment Medicals

 

Before an employee steps onto a job site, a thorough pre-employment medical is essential. This step helps identify any pre-existing health conditions that might affect the worker’s ability to safely perform their duties.

 

It’s not just about safety and liability, either (though it absolutely is about that). A worker that has an injury or condition might not be able to do their job to maximum productivity, so the work site also suffers.

 

These comprehensive medical tests should include baseline assessments for eyesight, hearing, lifting capacity, and lung function, to mitigate against the full gamut of risk from the start.

 

It’s also worth noting that ongoing health monitoring is required by some state regulations to ensure continued safety, so there are potential legal liabilities on top of any civil costs from workplace compensation.

 

Comprehensive Worker Induction

 

Once hired, new employees must undergo a thorough induction process. This includes familiarisation with Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and workplace safety protocols. It is critical that workers understand these procedures, not only to protect themselves but also to minimise the legal and financial risks to the business. If you need an example Safe Work Method Statement, contact the NECA team, who can help you.

 

A well-structured induction allows workers to acknowledge and sign off on their understanding of safety protocols. Without this documentation, companies may find themselves liable in the event of an accident. A good and properly structured SWMS should account for all potential injuries and risks, which is why it is so important to undertake these in full at the start of every project and then ensure that every staff member is familiarised with them.

 

Regular Refresher Training: A Safety Imperative

 

Safety training doesn’t end with induction. Regular refresher courses are necessary to maintain compliance with updated safety procedures. It’s actually surprising how quickly people can forget key routines and best practices without regular training – that’s why first aid practitioners need to regularly update their training, and why we do regular fire drills in office spaces. Training to avoid people getting into bad habits out of forgetfulness is every bit as important.

 

Developing Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality KPIs

 

To maintain a high standard of safety, employers should develop clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) focused on Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ). These KPIs set expectations for workers and hold them accountable for adhering to safety protocols.

 

Because it’s one thing to have a SWMS done to exacting detail and ensure that every worker on site has the right PPE equipment. If the staff and managers aren’t going to take these things seriously then the risk in the environment will remain very high.

 

Establishing KPIs for activities like site inspections, toolbox talks, and hazard identification ensures the proper enforcement of safety controls and helps prevent such tragedies.

 

The Importance of Life-Saving Rules

 

It’s also important to establish life-saving rules, which are non-negotiable safety guidelines based on the most severe potential consequences, such as fatalities. These rules should be clearly, frequently and strictly communicated and enforced during onboarding and regularly reinforced throughout employment. It should be clear to every employee that adherence to these rules is non-optional as part of their employment.

 

The Importance Of PPE

 

Finally, it’s important to have robust policies and strategies in place around PPE. This means both in terms of procurement and management.

 

It’s important to procure PPR that meets and exceeds regulatory requirements from reputable outlets and manufacturers. One of the big risks with PPE is to shop like you might for consumer products and purchase the cheapest that you can find. Of course you need to be value conscious, but always err on the side of quality and make sure you’re purchasing from reputable merchants.

 

Then it’s important to maintain the equipment by monitoring its condition after every use and not allowing damage to go ignored. Often this will mean that you need to replace the equipment, but damaged PPE wear can be significantly less effective in protecting the user, so even seemingly small issues of wear and tear need to be taken seriously.

 

By proactively addressing potential health issues, ensuring thorough training, and implementing clear safety rules and KPIs, electrotechnology businesses can protect their workers and minimise legal and operational risks. Investing in safety from day one is not just a legal obligation—it’s a commitment to the wellbeing of your employees and the success of your business.