Transition to ISO 9001:2015 - What to expect

Preparation is key when it comes to avoiding non-conformances. So we’ve collated the top three questions auditors ask during ISO 9001 transition audits, as well as, some suggestions on how your quality management system could address each of these questions.

1. How have you determined the external and internal issues that are relevant to your business and its strategic direction? (Understanding the organization and its context – clause 4.1)
Big businesses will typically have a strategic business plan. It is important to refer the auditor to the sections of your plan that cover the external forces, internal strengths and weaknesses.
On the other hand, small businesses should refer to their Vision and Mission statements to demonstrate where the business is heading – its strategic direction. Further, a SWOT analysis is a simple and effective tool used to identify the external and internal issues. “SWOT” stands for Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. With Strengths and Weakness being internal issues and Opportunities and Threats being external issues. 
Useful tip: ISO 9001:2015 does not require any of this to be documented the term it uses is “determined”, however, we’ve found that many auditors want written evidence. Remember, we are here to help with SWOT analysis and all other ISO 9001 transition requirements – get in touch today.

2. How have you determined the quality risks and opportunities that need to be addressed? (Actions to address risks and opportunities – clause 6.1)
Many big businesses already have a risk manager or risk department, and it is quite common for them to be fixated on the big picture risks to the business. Further, they may not be concerned with the opportunities for the business – where it could be growing. And because quality is about the customer, some of these risks and opportunities will need to be related to the customer. The quality management system should include all identified risks and opportunities, so any actions and quality objectives should be aligned. 
For small businesses we recommend the use of a risk register. If your business has a safety system, you almost certainly will have one. If you don’t have one – create one (or leave it to ISOsafe). Your risk register should identify quality risks and opportunities, this involves looking at your business through the eyes of your customer - what you would not like if you were a customer (risk), and what would you like the business to be doing if you were a customer (opportunity). Once you have a list of customer risks and opportunities, identify how you can reduce the negative risks and build on the opportunities.
Useful tip: ISO 9001:2015 requires documented information as evidence of management reviews and these reviews should include the effectiveness of actions taken to address risks and opportunities.

3. How have you determined the inputs required and outputs expected from your quality management system processes? (Quality management system and its processes – clause 4.4.1)
Any organization that is certified to ISO 9001:2008 should have the interaction of processes already described in their quality manual. ISO 9001:2015 requires more detail on process interaction, calling for the identification of all inputs and outputs relating to each process. 
Large businesses, managing a number of different projects should have process maps in place. This could be an arduous task identifying the inputs and outputs of each of these individual processes. Warning: Auditors could have a field day here! Simplify and streamline your processes to make identifying inputs and outputs easier. 
Small businesses will also need to draw up a process map. However, ISO 9001:2015 does not require a quality manual. This is a good thing. Many small business can meet the requirements without bulky, and impractical manuals.
Useful tip: There is a lot of talk about the process approach in this version of ISO 9001:2015 however, it was very clearly spelled out as a requirement in ISO 9001:2000 so it’s been around for at least 15 years. If your consultant, quality person or auditor doesn’t know this – get a new one!

Sydney car auction company fined more than $250,000 after death of forklift operator

A Sydney car auction company has been fined more than a quarter of a million dollars after a forklift operator was killed while unloading a truck at Milperra, NSW in 2013.
A 36 year old forklift operator and a 19 year old labourer were moving a cabinet from a truck onto a forklift at the company’s motor vehicle storage and auction site, when they both lost control of the load. The incident resulted in the death of the forklift operator and the labourer was left with fractured ribs and an injured knee.
SafeWork NSW charged the company with a breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers.
The company were found guilty by the District Court in June this year and fined $255,000.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said the incident highlighted the risks of working with forklifts and need to provide effective supervision and support to young workers.
“Forklifts continue to be a major factor in workplace deaths and injuries,” Mr Dunphy said.
“Between July 2012 and July 2014, 1,360 workers were injured in forklift incidents, including five fatalities.
“The social and economic impact is also significant, including a cost of $15.8 million to the NSW workers compensation scheme.
“Young workers make up approximately 12 per cent of all employment injuries and occupational diseases across the State, and are more vulnerable to workplace safety risks because of their inexperience or reluctance to speak up about safety concerns.
“Our investigation found that a lack of safety systems, instruction and supervision were major contributors to this incident.
“The company failed to train and instruct the workers how to safely remove the cabinet from the truck and did not tell them which forklift could safely carry the cabinet."
“This resulted in the workers selecting the wrong sized forklift with tragic results.”
“This incident highlights the need for employers to have appropriate systems in place to ensure that all workers, particularly young workers, receive sufficient training and support to work safely.”
Failure to manage health and safety can result in serious incidents. So, as well as putting staff wellbeing at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au, to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners.

Nearly a million dollars in safety fines after bricklayer almost killed

A Granville bricklaying company and its director have been fined nearly three quarters of a million dollars after a worker almost died from electric shock on a Hammondville construction site in 2012.
The worker had been installing vertical metal bars into brickwork at a residential and commercial construction when he made contact with overhead power lines, suffering electrical burns to his hands, arms and torso. After being pronounced dead at the scene, he was revived by the Director.
SafeWork NSW charged the bricklaying company and its director for failing to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). The judge found that the Director of the company failed to exercise due diligence by not checking that the scaffold was a safe distance from power lines and verifying that a risk assessment had been conducted.
Two other companies, at the same site, were fined $500,000 in 2014 and $75,000 in 2015 respectively, over the incident.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said the incident could have been prevented if the business had a few simple safe work systems in place.
“There was a clear risk that the bricklayer could receive a potentially deadly electric shock if they came into contract with the power lines while working from the scaffolding,” Mr Dunphy said.
“The Director should have verified that a safety assessment had been conducted, ensured the scaffolding was a safe distance from power lines and advised the bricklayer of the risk.
“Unfortunately, this did not occur and the bricklayer almost died in an incident that was completely preventable.
“Fines from this incident now total almost three quarters of a million dollars, serving as a strong deterrent to those in the construction industry thinking about ignoring safety laws.”
Failure to manage health and safety can result in serious incidents. So, as well as putting staff wellbeing at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au, to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners.

Sydney construction company fined $240,000 by SafeWork following explosion

The blast took place on a residential construction site in Eastwood, NSW, when a worker attempted to remove three underground petrol storage tanks using an excavator. The explosion heavily damaged nearby structures and even broke the windows of several buildings across the road.
SafeWork NSW charged the construction company, with a breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and others.
SafeWork’s investigation found that the company hired an unqualified contractor to remove the tanks.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said although no one was injured in the explosion, the incident could have been catastrophic.
“Storage tanks that previously contained flammable liquids or gases must be handled with extreme care as there can be vapours which, even after many years, may ignite when exposed to heat,” Mr Dunphy said.
“Businesses and workers should take extreme care working near or on items that contain chemical residue, especially solvents.
“It is extremely fortunate that the contractor and people in nearby buildings were not killed or injured in the explosion.”
Mr Dunphy added that the company also failed to provide notice of their planned demolition work.
“The company failed to notify SafeWork NSW about demolition work as well as the schedule 11 hazardous chemicals in the abandoned petrol storage tanks at the site,” he said.
“The company took no steps to address the risks and chose to rely on the contractor’s claimed experience, with near-disastrous consequences.”
Failure to manage contractors can result in costly incidents. So, as well as putting worker and public safety at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for businesses.

Company fined $450,000 after young worker dies in forklift rollover

A farming company has been prosecuted and fined $450,000, on one charge of breaching the OH&S Act (2004). The incident which took place on 15 November 2014, resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy, after the forklift he was operating rolled and crushed him.
The farming company would typically engage a labour hire contractor to supply workers for general farming activities, however, on this occassion the owner of the labour hire company brought his 15-year-old son and his son’s two friends, aged 16 and 17.
The court heard that the young workers were not provided with any safety instructions in relation to the site or the work. 
The forklift was used by both the farm owner and labour hire owner to move full bins of picked snow peas onto a transport truck. Each held appropriate forklift licences.
The court also heard that there had been no prior hazard identification or risk assessment for operation of the forklift.
An eyewitness testimony confirmed the labour hire owner's son was operating the forklift in an unsafe manner, moments before the forklift tipped on him.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said "the absence of safe systems of work, safety instructions and supervision contributed to the tragic incident".
“Three teenagers, two of which had no prior farm work experience, were left to work on a commercial farm totally unsupervised. As a result, one died and two were witness to a tragic workplace incident,” Ms Williams said.
“The forklift was accessible to anyone, and leaving the keys in the ignition was an invitation to disaster. The lack of instruction and training meant there was little to no understanding of the risks involved with driving a forklift.
“Because of their lack of experience, young people are particularly vulnerable at work. They must always be supervised and safety should never been left to chance.”
Failure to manage health and safety can result in serious incidents. So, as well as putting staff wellbeing at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners

Principal contractor convicted and fined after concrete pumping truck tips over

Earlier this month a construction company was convicted and fined $50,000 on one charge of breaching the OH&S Act (2004). Further, the company was ordered to pay $20,000 in court costs.
The company had failed to ensure a safe workplace resulting in a concrete truck tipping over and crashing into nearby scaffolding carrying a worker, on April 5, 2012. The worker suffered a fractured spine, crushed right hand, broken right ankle and foot. He also required skin grafting.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said the company had failed to visually identify or barricade the location of the ventilation shaft at the construction site.
“Covering a shaft with a thin layer of concrete, presumably to prevent people from falling into it, created a new hazard because it actually looked like part of a capping beam,” Ms Williams said.
“There was an obvious risk of serious injury or death. The company failed to ensure that the workplace was safe by not clearly identifying this to workers at the site.”
Ms Williams said construction site safety was a priority for WorkSafe.
“Construction is a high-risk industry and employers must do everything they can to ensure construction sites are managed with the health and safety of all employees in mind,” she said.
“We are planning to conduct more than 13,000 site inspections across the state this year and we will continue to drive home to employers that the safety of every worker must be their number one priority.”
With regulatory bodies on the lookout, can you afford to get caught? 
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business from costly reputational damage. We will conduct workplace safety assessments, prepare site safety management plans and provide training to your workers ensuring compliance and peace of mind. Call us now 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners

Demolition and public safety

Demolition isn’t exactly on the low risk end of the spectrum – so, it goes without saying that health and safety measures need to be stepped up when you’re engaging in this type of work.

One story that springs to mind, is that of the rubbish removal company prosecuted after an 87 year-old suffered debilitating injuries when she was hit by a skip truck.

Melbourne Bin Hire Pty Ltd, which trades as Melbourne’s Cheapest Bin Hire, was convicted and fined $20,000 in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Monday 21 February 2011. The company pleaded guilty to one charge under section 23(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 – for failing to ensure that members of the public are not exposed to health or safety risks.

The incident occurred while a skip truck was being used to remove debris from an Essendon North demolition site. The truck, which had been reversed into the site, was being driven out when it struck a pedestrian walking across the driveway. The woman was dragged under one of the truck’s front tyres and pulled onto the road. Her right arm was de-gloved from the upper arm to the fingers, and she suffered a heart attack on the way to hospital.

Could it have been avoided? Of course! The company in concern had identified risk factors, but had failed to implement control measures.

So if you’re demolishing or dismantling, what risk factors should you be on the look out for? And what should you do to avoid costly penalties?
•   Identify the risks
The risks that you could be facing really depend on the kind of work taking place, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That means you need to stay alert and pay attention!
Are there likely to be building openings, or partially demolished floors? There could be a risk of falling from height.
Demolishing produces a lot of debris and material falling – which can pose another serious risk to both workers and passers-by. Keep exclusion zones and hard hat areas where there’s the greatest risk of debris, and try to keep walkways covered up.
•   Make sure you carry out a structural survey
You’ll need to be aware of the building or structure’s own possible risk factors, so a survey is essential.
This will help you answer some important questions and identify possible risks – how old is the building and how was it constructed? Are there other buildings nearby? What’s the weight of the material or machinery on any floors above the ground floor?
Based on this information, you can decide on the safest way to carry out the demolition process.
•   Be wary of hazardous materials
As well as larger pieces of debris, there’s likely to be some hazardous material that could be airborne. This can cause serious health damage. Some of the biggest culprits are dust, asbestos and respirable crystalline silica.
Then there are the materials that might not have been cleared fully from the old building, such as paints and flammable liquids, or chemicals from industrial processes.
•   Be alert when it comes to noise and vibration
Damage from intense vibration and loud noises may not be as obvious as some of the other risk factors around – but they’re no less serious!
Frequent exposure to loud noises can permanently damage a person’s hearing – and using vibrating hand tools can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome. So make sure that anyone at risk of these issues has been properly trained, and given adequate respite from exposure.
•   Engage the right contractor
Selecting the right contractor to do the job is key. So make sure that you engage a company with knowledge and experience for the job, you don’t want to employ a contractor without checking their competency. Getting that right will help avoid problems further down the line.

Are you involved in demolition? Get in touch with ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 to learn more about how we can help protect your business

The training and compliance paradigm

Well-trained staff and qualified professionals are essential in making sure the business is safe. Companies that provide health and safety information and training, not only meet their legal responsibilities, but also ensure staff know how to work safely and without risks to themselves or others.

Effective training will contribute towards making your employees competent in health and safety and it can help businesses avoid the distress and costs that accidents and ill-health can cause.

Training can be on the job, online or in a classroom setting. In-company training can be useful as the course can be designed to fit the organisations exact needs.

ISOsafe’s fully tailored training solutions will consider your organisations health and safety documentation, general operational policies and procedures, site specific needs, and include organisational branding.

Our training solutions are pragmatic, focusing on environments and situations that the learners are familiar with, thereby making the training more engaging. An example of this is our sought-after Risk Assessment in Practice training. By using the organisations scenarios for hazard identification and risk assessment, it makes the learning readily applicable to learners.

Many clients have found our training to be particularly effective in ensuring company processes are adhered to, resulting in operational efficiencies and greater customer satisfaction.

To learn more about our training solutions, contact us today.

Keeping safe in construction

Think health and safety is some other lucky bugger’s responsibility?

Think again.

In construction, everyone gets to have a slice of the pie, from clients to workers on the ground.

Whatever hat you wear, there’s always something you can do. Here are some of the ways you can demonstrate due diligence:

If you’re a client:

•   Clients don’t get to wash their hands of Health and Safety – you’re just as important as the rest of the team. If you’re having work done, you’ve got responsibilities under the regulations
•   Make sure everyone you employ is competent. Don’t be afraid to ask for evidence to confirm this
•   Give pre-construction info promptly
•   Make sure there are arrangements in place to cover all safety and environmental legislation requirements

If you’re a designer:

•   Your client’s paying you a pretty penny to make sure you do your job right. You need to make them aware of their duties too – before you start work
•   Avoid risk. As the designer, you’ve got the crystal ball to spot any hazards before they happen. It’s called risk management – do it!

If you’re a principal contractor:

•   Project management is about making sure you plan, implement and review everything properly
•   Draw up the rules – make sure you’ve got appropriate site rules for the area set up
•   Notification – you’ve got to have all the correct formal notices on display on site, no exceptions!

If you’re a small builder:

•   Set realistic lead times, and allow lots of extra time for planning and preparation
•   Restrict site access
•   Provide information and training – your workers need to have task specific training. ISOsafe can help with this!

If you’re a construction worker:

•   Stay competent – always refresh your training and make sure you know how to do things safely
•   Remove hazards – spotted something dangerous? Don’t be a plonker – get it out of the way! Or at least tell someone about it
•   Follow the rules
•   Report any problems

Partner with ISOsafe to manage your workers health and safety. Get in touch with one of our team members to learn about our services for businesses.

Setting up a health & safety procedure in a new business

Health and safety is a necessity for all new businesses, but it doesn't have to be a complicated process. Working out a simple and efficient approach that complies with legislation and consistently ensures the safety of employees can make managing your business easier. Good practice in health and safety can positively influence your business by:
•   reducing staff absences and sick leave
•   maintaining a positive reputation
•   reducing the costs associated with accidents
•   improving staff motivation levels
•   boosting productivity and profits

Get equipped
Looking after your employees is a high priority when it comes to setting up a new business, and there are a number of facilities you can provide and procedures you must consider to ensure their safety. This includes:
•   toilet facilities
•   good ventilation
•   suitable lighting
•   somewhere to rest and eat meals
•   a suitably stocked first-aid box
•   a reasonable work temperature
•   appropriate waste containers

Manage the risks
The first stage in managing your business's potential risks is to identify what can harm people by taking a walk around the workplace and looking for any hazards. Common activities that could cause harm in the workplace include working at a height, and working with chemicals, machinery, gas, electricity and asbestos. For each hazard, you should think about:
•   the risk of somebody being harmed
•   who can be harmed
•   how serious the harm will be
You can also ask your employees if they have noticed any potential risks, as they may have noticed hazards that aren't obvious to you. In addition, involving employees in the process shows you're serious about their safety, and allows them to raise concerns and influence decisions directly.
Once you've highlighted potential hazards, consider what should be done to reduce or eradicate the risk, and put the appropriate measures in place.

Write a health and safety policy
A health and safety policy is the best way to let your staff and others know that you are committed to providing a safe workplace. Writing a policy doesn't have to be time consuming, but should clearly outline:
•   what you want to achieve
•   what you are going to do
•   who is responsible for specific actions
A written policy is a legal requirement for companies that employ any number of people.

Provide training
Once you've written your health and safety policy it is important you relay the information to your team, so everyone working for you knows what they are expected to do. Training should be provided on the risks they face, what measures are in place to deal with hazards and how to follow emergency procedures. You should also record when training has been carried out to keep track of when refresher sessions might be needed.
It is also necessary to display the workers compensation law poster in an easy-to-read position, so details of the policy are always available. 

Keep up to date
It is important that you keep a record of any accidents that take place in the workplace, so you can keep your health and safety procedures up to date. Recording injuries, incidents and cases of work-related illnesses will allow you to identify patterns and introduce effective measures to remove or reduce any future risk. In addition, your insurance company might want to see your records if an employee makes a claim for compensation.

Appoint someone to help
If you're not confident in your ability to manage all aspects of this side of the business, don't worry, you can appoint one or more people to help you meet your firm's requirements. This person must have the ability to work under pressure and make tough decisions, as well as have the knowledge and expertise to do the job effectively, and can be an employee or an external consultant. 
Health and safety may not be the first thing on your agenda as a start-up, but it's something that needs to be considered early on. It will make your business easier to manage, and help you avoid paying out compensation for accidents and penalties.
ISOsafe are health and safety specialists with decades of experience. Get in touch with one of our team members to learn about our services for businesses and their owners.

Benefits of ISO certification for businesses

ISOsafe helps Australian business owners stay on top of workplace safety ( OHS / OH&S / WHS / WH&S ) regulatory changes, but did you know we can also assist with ISO certifications such as Quality (ISO 9001), OHS (ISO 45001 / OHSAS 18001 / ASNZS 4801) and Environmental (ISO 14001) Management Systems?

Some of the benefits of ISO certification for businesses include:
•    demonstrate commitment to their products / services and the environment;
•    competitive advantage - win government and high risk (transport, mining and construction) tenders (RFP);
•    greater employee engagement through training, communication & accountability;
•    better governance and management of suppliers and outsourced processes;
•    minimise waste and duplication;
•    boost operational performance & achieve cost savings;
•    achieve legal compliance;
•    gain corporate reputation; and
•    reduce workplace injuries, accidents & incidents.