As many of us have already jumped right back into the swing of things alongside the new year, I’m sure that many of you are in planning mode for strategic, operational improvements and innovations for 2025.
There’s a lot to consider, but have you provided the resources to adequately plan for safety and well-being? Some areas to consider for your 2025 planning are as follows:
Safety
- Improvements to incident and hazard reporting: increase in quality and quantity of reports, including conducting effective investigations for incidents.
- Using technology to help manage safety (please reach out if you’d like to learn more)
- Increasing staff and management training, and awareness of hazards and controls.
- Undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment on all operations, including what you already have in place. This may assist in determining if more effective controls are required.
- Changing your existing WHS Committee to a Safety & Wellbeing Committee to focus on creating well & mentally healthy employees.
- Undertaking a risk assessment on psychosocial hazards in your workplace. A question to consider is ‘how are you protecting your worker’s mental health?’ (Reminder – your WHS legal obligations cover physical and psychosocial hazards and harm.)
- How are you actively preventing harassment and sexual harassment? Having a policy will no longer be enough. From March 1 2025, all Queensland employers will have the positive duty to have a sexual harassment prevention plan in place.
Wellbeing
- Consider implementing elements from the Wellbeing Framework (please reach out if you would like a copy of the framework).
- Provide a relaxing and well-resourced staff room for break times.
- Conduct staff wellbeing surveys and actually listen to what they are telling you!
- Organise wellbeing programs based on survey results / feedback.
- Ensure you have an effective Employee Assistance Program in place and readily available for you staff
- Ensure you have excellent human resource policies, strong, fair and just performance management and a healthy communication culture embedded in your workplace.
- Encourage / facilitate volunteering opportunities for staff (either as individuals or a group effort).
To summarise why safety and wellbeing planning should be on your checklist for a successful 2025, always remember that a healthy and well employee is a safe one.
Please reach out if you have any questions or would like further information on any of the above.
About the Author
A highly qualified advisor, Michelle brings with her 20+ years of experience in safety and compliance. With experience spanning multiple industries including hospitality, construction, mining, environmental services, large municipalities and amusement centres, Michelle brings fresh ideas and a breadth of knowledge to her role as DWS’ Work Health, Safety and Compliance Advisor.
If you have any questions about WH&S or compliance questions, please get in touch with Michelle Bates.
