Let's Talk Risk Registers with Louise

Over the last 6 months, and as your policies and procedures have been renewed, I have been tasked with reviewing and updating your Risk Registers. This included researching any changes to the relevant legislation, the AS/NZ Standards, and Codes of Practise, identifying commonly known hazards and risks associated within your industry that have been raised. Whilst this has been a time-consuming task, it has also been a rewarding one. I now feel I have better understanding of the risks within your business operations!

However, you will always know your business better than we ever will, and that is why it is so important for you to take ownership of your Risk Register.  

Pull that Risk Register out of the folder, get it up on the Smoko-room wall and in front of your team. Get them involved in identifying, managing, and monitoring your Hazards, Risks and Controls.

They will provide invaluable expertise and feedback on the following:

·       Which hazards and risks are relevant for your business operations?

·       Whether risks are higher than you may be aware of?

·       Suggestions on proposed controls?

·       What is happening at the coal face - are there hazards or risks that have been missed?

Safe Business Solutions is here to support you but please be clear, your business “owns” these risks. It is imperative that you can demonstrate how you are effectively identifying, managing, and monitoring the risks across your business operation.  This is a requirement within the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015.

Use your Risk Register as a:

·       Communication tool.

·       Training library of great Health and Safety data.

·       Guide for populating JSAs, Permits, Operating Procedures, Tenders, Contractor Management Systems, etc.

I like the way Waka Kotahi NZTA describes a Risk Register - "Your organisation’s Risk Register is where all of your identified work-related Hazards and Risks are contained. It is a key means of communicating the Risks with your governance, your management team, your workers, organisations you interact with, and us."

Our Health and Safety Consultant Jason promotes an easy way to monitor / review your Risk Register:

Remember, your Risk Register is a ‘live document’, discuss it, welcome comments, critique, and ensure you do not contradict yourself e.g., work as imagined vs work as done.

The classic mistake is to have controls that do what you think is expected; however they do not match the actual practices / behaviours in your business.

e.g. No point stating, “absolutely zero tolerance to alcohol on company premises”, but then have a fridge full of beer in the Smoko room.

As a new feature I have included in your Risk Registers “internet links” to the relevant Standards, Code of Practices, Fact Sheets thus ensuring you have information available at your fingertips.

Feel free to contact me at any time for help and support. All the best for a safe and successful year ahead.