Officers Duties – Is A Walk Around Really That Effective

Safety professionals and legal experts often exhort Officers to “do a walk around” to get familiar with safety hazards in their organisation and demonstrate due diligence. I have been present when these “walk arounds” occur. The workers shake hands with the boss, the boss diligently wears their PPE and asks interested questions about what is going on but do they really understand what they are seeing and does this really contribute to better safety. Now a visit to the floor maybe a good safety marketing exercise but the following actions will more effectively demonstrate due diligence with out setting foot outside the Board Room. Acknowledgement Charles Power Holding Redlich confirm appropriate systems to manage OHS Take an active and inquisitive role in OHS initiatives make the decisions that allow for appropriate measures to be taken, and take steps to confirm these measures are taken know who has OHS obligations and give people the authority and accountability to meet those obligations put processes in place to consult with employees about hazard management use relevant information to enable proper decision making ensure information is logical and credible and is supplied by people who are suitably qualified.