Safewise consultant Kaye Byrne looks at what duties must be considered to ensure the safety of staff and others when they’re working offsite.

Many businesses and PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) are aware of their duties to ensure the safety of their employees at work. Transportation companies consider things like cars, routes, working hours and more. They also must think about the environment that an employee is entering, frequently clients’ sites. What potential risks exist for workers at these sites? There may be noise, dust or operating machinery at some locations. Different business models will present different risks. The PCBU is responsible for keeping all staff safe.

The client and the employer are included in this. To ensure that the risks a worker brings to the job site do not hurt others and that the worker is shielded from the risks posed by the client, communication between the two PCBUs is necessary.

Giving the employee an induction before they arrive at the site is an easy way to handle this. The necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), such as dust masks and hearing protection, should be included in the induction. Then, employees will be ready. Moreover, the client PCBU must have extra PPE in case the worker doesn’t have suitable PPE.

The worker should learn about the areas they can access and the no-go areas during their induction. Many locations have procedures for loading and unloading; these may include locations for drivers to stand, who is authorised to use forklifts, and who is responsible for securing the load.

If there is no induction, the employee must still be aware of the risks and safety procedures. The worker still needs to receive instruction and information from the PCBU.

Giving the employee the support they need to feel comfortable managing their health and safety will be a part of this; this is crucial when they are on the job site and must make quick decisions.