Regulator lauds industry-led approach to improved safety outcomes
South Australian industry regulator SafeWork SA has backed new forestry industry fatigue management guidelines developed by the Logging Investigation and Training Association (LITA).
The guidelines were released recently to assist forestry industry participants to identify, assess and manage the risks associated with fatigue, and subsequently implement a suitable fatigue management policy.
It provides a structured approach to the development of a fatigue risk management system including a fatigue policy, risk assessment tools and risk-based control options to manage fatigue, SafeWork SA notes.
It adds the project was industry driven with SA forestry businesses forming a working party which funded the engagement of experts in the field of fatigue to inform the content of the guidelines.
“The guidelines are a positive example of businesses driving the adoption of safety controls in their industry that are seen as reasonably practicable, in accordance with current WHS legislation,” SafeWork SA says.
Read about SafeWork SA’s recent safety audit of the T&L sector, here
LITA notes it recently applied to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to deliver two fatigue risk-management units to assist operators “in developing and implementing your own fatigue management policy”.
The watchdog says it had visited several forestry businesses focusing specifically on fatigue management and issued WHS improvement notices to encourage the development and implementation of appropriate fatigue management plans.
This has resulted in a number of companies introducing process improvements, independently of the LITA working group, to address fatigue management, therefore providing a safer working environment for their employees.
“We would like to remind workers that if they have concerns about safety in the workplace they should let us know,” SafeWork SA director of compliance and enforcement Imogen Selley says.
“SafeWork SA inspectors assist and can require businesses and industries to improve work health and safety practices.
“If you are working in the forestry industry and have concerns about fatigue or other work safety issues, we encourage you to report them to SafeWork SA.
“All reports are treated as confidential and if a breach of the WHS legislation is detected, our inspectors will take the appropriate action to ensure health and safety issues are managed to reduce risk of injury in the workplace.”
The LITA fatigue management guidelines are available here.