Good morning everyone.

Today we're talking about hazard reporting.

Most workplace injuries don't happen because of one major event. They happen because a small hazard wasn't reported or fixed. Our goal is to identify hazards before somebody gets hurt.

Every one of us has a responsibility to report hazards. Never assume somebody else has already reported it.

A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause injury, illness, property damage or a near miss.

Some examples around our workplace include:

• Wet floors.
• Damaged shelving.
• Faulty equipment.
• Damaged electrical leads.
• Blocked exits.
• Unsafe lifting practices.
• Falling stock.
• Vehicle or traffic hazards.
• Aggressive or threatening behaviour.
• Workplace bullying, harassment or other psychosocial hazards.
• Low weight limits of chairs

If you identify a hazard, there are a few simple things to remember.

If it is safe to do so:

• Make the hazard safe.
• Prevent access to the area if required.
• Warn other staff or customers.
• Notify the Manager or Person in Charge.
• Complete a Hazard Report Form as soon as practical.

Never simply walk away from a hazard hoping someone else will deal with it.

If the hazard presents an immediate risk to customers or staff, stay with it where practical until it has been made safe or another staff member can assist.

For example:

• Stand near a spill until a wet floor sign arrives.
• Remove damaged equipment from service.
• Isolate faulty equipment.
• Restrict access to an unsafe area.

Always make sure you are not putting yourself at risk while trying to control a hazard.

Some hazards require immediate action and must be reported straight away.

These include:

• Exposed electrical wiring.
• Gas leaks.
• Structural damage.
• Fire risks.
• Serious threats or violence.

If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 000 immediately.

I'd also like to talk about near misses.

A near miss is an incident where nobody was injured, but someone easily could have been.

For example:

• A customer nearly slipping on a wet floor.
• A box falling from a shelf but missing someone.
• Someone almost cutting themselves with a knife.

Near misses are just as important to report because next time the outcome could be very different.

 

Now I'll quickly show everyone where to find the Hazard Report Form.

Open the KAS Krew Portal (KASSI).

• Search hazard
• Open Hazard Reporting.
• Scroll to the bottom of the procedure.
• Click Hazard and Incident Report Form.
• Download or print the form.
• Complete the form with as much information as possible and provide it to the Manager or Person in Charge.

Remember, you do not need permission to report a hazard. If you're unsure whether something should be reported, report it anyway. We'd much rather investigate something that turns out to be nothing than miss something that results in someone being injured.

Once a hazard is reported, management will assess the risk, implement any controls that are required, arrange repairs if necessary and make sure the hazard has been resolved before the report is closed.

Before we finish, does anyone have any questions about what we've discussed today or about how to report a hazard?

Thanks everyone, and remember — if you see something unsafe, don't walk past it. Report it before someone gets hurt.