There are numerous possible concerns to an employee’s health and safety in every industry and there are a large number of incidents reported on a yearly basis. These figures highlight how important efficient hazard identification and risk assessments are in order to reduce risks and guarantee a safe working environment. Workplace accidents can have serious consequences, such as property damage, sickness, and injuries, with a huge financial impact to the company. The secret to prevention is to conduct hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRA) early on and take action before they become ..read more

Treating a wound needs proper care and monitoring. A young paramedic had to learn the hard way that not all wounds are the same, when through a freak accident a family member encountered a very bad burn, which later turned out to be third degree burns as they were unfortunately diabetic. Not all wounds can be treated the same as there are various types and degrees of severity. Therefore it’s important to know how to treat them, what to use, what not to use and the types of bandages and wound dressings available for usage in and around the workplace and more specifically in your First Aid kit ..read more

Did you know that more than 40% of people in the workplace have suffered a fatigue related accident or injury. That is almost half the people you work with on a daily basis. Fatigue reduces our focus and affects our judgement in doing our tasks correctly. When we have to make a split-second decision, our reaction is also slower, meaning that we could have prevented an accident or injury making it a safety hazard. When we are fatigued, our body and brain go almost into a “sleep mode” so we think and do things a lot slower than when we are alert. It is important for both the employer and the em ..read more

A workshop manager at a large fishing company had instructed his workshop crew to flush out the remaining diesel sediment at the bottom of a very large tank, which had a carrying capacity of 250,000 liters. This operation was an annual event, and the seasoned crew were familiar with the procedure. However, on this occasion the crew had been assigned to dismantle the trawler’s engine, which left the workshop manager no other choice but to utilize the workshop apprentices to remove the sediment from the tank.  Due to pressure from senior manager, to reduce the time spent on repairs and mai ..read more

In the realm of workplace safety and daily life, understanding the intricacies of fire hazards stands as an imperative. Recognising ignition sources and flammable materials is crucial for fire safety, as they pose potential dangers. Fire hazards encompass an array of risks that can lead to catastrophic events if overlooked. Doing fire risk assessments and installing fire prevention systems like sprinklers and alarms helps prevent disasters. Join us on this exploration into the world of fire hazards. We’ll define these risks, explore common occurrences, and unravel the significance of fire safe ..read more

A health and safety management system refers to the portion of a company’s management system that addresses their safety management requirements such as: health and safety at work, its planning and implementation, the prevention of accidents and incidents through effective planning, hazard identification, hazard control, and the avoidance of occupational diseases. Health and safety cannot be managed as a stand-alone system; it is an essential component of workplace management. To implement a proper Health and Safety Management system the following key points should be looked at and implemente ..read more

It was estimated that we had 15.6 million employees in South Africa in 2022. Although the current status of employed people is not available for 2023, we can certainly accept the fact that this total has increased. Having stated the above, we can conclude that health and safety plays a vital role in the workplace. One area of concern is workplace injuries which have a debilitating effect, not only on the mindset of workers, but also results in a drop in worker morale, thus leading to a decline in productivity, which ultimately stimulates an increase in incidents and accidents.  The introd ..read more

Fire losses amount to millions of rands per annum in damage to buildings, materials, and assets, as well as loss of life, for this reason we need to know the basics of how to make sure that our working or home environment is as “Fire Safe” as possible. In this blog we will have a closer look at the different types of fires as well as the different type of fire extinguishers and more specifically how to operate a fire extinguisher safely and correctly.  Preparing for Action Whenever you are faced with a fire situation, whether at home or at the office there are a few key points to remembe ..read more

Why is fire safety important? Fires can and do happen and can have devastating effects. Fire causes disruptions to our businesses and homes, leads to damage and injuries, massive financial losses and often to death. We tend to underestimate the speed at which fire spreads through a building and we often do not realise all the dangers associated with fire. It’s not just the heat and flames we need to be concerned about, but even more so the smoke and toxic gases produced in this process. Effective fire safety measures and procedures can reduce the risk of injury, save lives, and protect our ho ..read more

Hazard identification and risk assessment are important in an HSE management system for a number of reasons: To ensure the safety of workers: By identifying and assessing the potential risks, action can be taken to eliminate them or reduce their impact. To meet legal obligations: By identifying and assessing hazards formally and taking action to reduce any risks they present, organizations are fulfilling these obligations. To save money: Identifying hazards and controlling the risks associated with them can help save money as it prevents potential problems from occurring in the future. To pr ..read more