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Safety in the work placeSafety in the work placeDeveloping a work safety plan Thousands of people attend work daily and never experience any situation where personal safety is threatened. Whilst a workplace under responsible management may provide a reasonable level of protection, situations affecting personal safety could still occur. Employers are required under Occupational Health and Safety legislation to have policies and procedures in place to provide a safe working environment for staff. This can be achieved by undertaking a survey to assess security and potential risk situations. The information produced by a survey will identify measures necessary for ensuring staff safety and security, and form the basis of developing a work safety plan. This information, prepared by the Police Community Relations Section, in consultation with various community groups, contains a series of guidelines for both staff and management. While primarily presented with the safety of women in mind, these suggestions can equally apply to any person in the workplace. Basic steps of a security survey:
Basic elements of a work safety plan:
Security in customer service areas Managers and employees working in customer service environments can assess the safety issues and practices of their workplace, to determine if any changes are needed in physical design features, or in procedures for enhancing staff safety. Some employees deal with many customers on a daily basis and while the risk of a dissatisfied customer becoming violent may be slight, it should not be disregarded. The introduction of training programmes on how to respond to abusive or aggressive customers, will enable staff to develop new skills for defusing potential risk situations. If personal interviews are conducted in an enclosed area screened from sight of colleagues, fit a distress buzzer, or a window for visibility. Alternatively, eliminating enclosed areas creates a safer working environment for conducting interviews. Certain types of businesses require staff to serve customers from behind counters. Where security is a concern, counters that are wide and high, and fitted with a partial screen, will restrict a customer's physical ability to reach staff. Some businesses may be subjected to shoplifters who become violent when approached. Retail businesses should develop policies and implement procedures and training, to reduce the risk of staff being assaulted. A Police pamphlet containing guidelines for shop theft and safety advice, is available from your local Community Constable. The presence of visitors in work areas, may at times, present a risk to staff safety. In larger work environments the employment of security personnel will curtail such risks, and in smaller businesses where employment of security personnel is not feasible, security can still be maintained by introducing access control practices. Management should ensure that all staff, including temporary staff, are familiar with security procedures, which should include controlling access by visitors to restricted areas, and not revealing security information about the workplace to outsiders. Work areas, including service and delivery areas, should be secured to prevent unauthorised entry. This can be achieved by high counters, locking doors, use of access control cards, or a staff member checking all visitors. Staff should be advised to be alert to any suspicious activity, and promptly report to management any person loitering outside the building or in an internal public area, or studying and asking questions about security systems. Some criminals intent on committing a crime after office hours, will enter a building during the day and seek concealment in a storeroom, workroom or similar place, posing a threat to any employee working late. Security checks should be implemented as a preventative measure. Access cards should not be lent to outsiders, and together with building keys should be recorded and issued on a restricted basis to prevent unauthorised possession. The installation of physical security measures such as surveillance cameras, alarm and lighting systems, can be considered as a further means of protecting staff in the workplace. Personal safety Be aware of bogus tradespeople, representatives, service personnel or others. Check identifications of anyone not known, confirm the reason for their presence, and verify any appointment. Be alert for "stair dancers". These people generally seek a stairwell or corridor shared with other businesses, or an insecure rear or side entrance, to gain undetected access to restricted areas for criminal purposes. To protect your privacy and safety, handbags and personal possessions should not be left in any area where a thief could have access. When entering or leaving the workplace via any access control systems, be aware of any person who may attempt to use the door for unauthorised entry immediately after you have opened it. Some businesses may store items of considerable value or hold significant amounts of cash, which may be attractive to criminals waiting for the first employee to arrive with safe keys or access codes. Businesses should have a policy on safe entry procedures for staff arriving at work. When employees are present outside of regular business hours, plan to have at least two staff working together if possible. Make provision to escort staff to their vehicles when work has finished, or have arrangements in place to facilitate safe exit from the building and vicinity. If staff must work alone, measures to enhance safety can include:
Personal safety If you arrive early:
Appointments away from the office Personal safety Some occupations require meeting clients in their homes or in other isolated situations. If you have this kind of job consider what practices you could adopt to reduce any potential risks to your safety. Leave a written record at work of where you are going, the client's name, and the estimated time of your return. When visiting a house or other place, be guided by your instincts. If the person opening the door has a manner that makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, don't go inside. Make an excuse and leave immediately. If you enter a place and later start to feel uncomfortable with the person you are talking to, leave as soon as possible. Be aware of potential escape routes. Carrying a mobile phone will enable you to advise a colleague of your arrival in the presence of the client. Any person posing a potential threat to your safety would be deterred by the fact that others are aware of your location, and identity of the person you are with. You can also arrange a distress code word for phone use that lets your office know if you are in a risk situation. When responding to any requests for a meeting, job interview, or similar situation, consider the time and place for the proposed appointment. If you feel that the situation is potentially unsafe, take a colleague or friend with you. Policy & procedure If staff are meeting clients in their homes or in other isolated situations, it is an advisable management policy to send more than one person where practical. Personal safety If you are driving, further guidelines can be found on Safety in the Car. Work travel may involve staying in hotels or motels. There are a number of things you can do to increase your security in these circumstances:
If you are alone in a bar or restaurant, be aware that :
Responding to major workplace incidents Robbery Some work place environments may be a target for robbery. Personal safety The way in which you respond if confronted by a robbery, can affect your safety, and the safety of others around you. Behaviours that can reduce the risk of violence include:
Occasionally suspicious mail is found in the workplace. Whilst most letters or packages turn out to be harmless, all incidents should be treated seriously. A poster on how to recognise and handle suspect mail can be obtained from your local Community Constable. Personal safety If you have any reason to suspect that a letter or package may contain an explosive device:
It can be helpful to have a checklist for recording information if a bomb threat is received. Your local Community Constable can provide a bomb threat checklist, and offer general advice on bomb safety issues. If a bomb threat is received, it is the responsibility of employers to decide whether a search or evacuation will be conducted. Personal safety If you receive a bomb threat to your premises:
Risks to personal safety in the workplace are not necessarily confined to obvious criminal acts. Physical injury can occur as a result of contact with machinery or other factors in the workplace resulting in accidents. The law requires that a workplace should be safe and healthy for employees, and guidelines may be obtained from the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour. Establishing appropriate procedures for responding to incidents will increase the level of protection for people in the workplace. This can be compromised, however, if an office or building does not meet fire safety standards. The risk of fire should be regarded as seriously as any other threats to safety, and compliance with fire regulations observed. The New Zealand Fire Service can be contacted for information and advice on safety practices. Personal safety Under Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines, employees have a responsibility to report any hazards they may identify. Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. This can be physical contact, verbal comments, or non-verbal actions. A person behaving in such a way may consider it good natured behaviour, but it is harassment if the person on the receiving end considers it unwelcome. Relevant sections of the Employment Contracts Act and the Human Rights Act refer to procedures to be followed for complaints of Sexual Harassment. Employers have a responsibility to prevent sexual harassment by developing workplace policies, which could include specific staff being trained in handling such complaints. Employees should be made aware of these policies and have access to the information. Personal safety Options you can take if you are harassed:
If the behaviour does not cease other options can be considered:
Personal safety The Harassment Act of 1997 provides legal protection from acts of harassment in the workplace and elsewhere, and can apply to sexual harassment in certain circumstances. The Act defines harassment as a pattern of behaviour directed against another person that includes doing any specified act to the other person on at least two separate occasions within a twelve month period. A specified act includes:
A person subjected to any such behaviour which is defined under the Act as civil harassment may apply to the Court for a restraining order. The Act has also defined serious types of harassment as criminal offences. This applies to a person harassing another and acting in a way that causes the person to fear for his or her safety, or for the safety of any other person in a family relationship. If a person being harassed has fears for safety, it should be promptly reported to Police. A safer work place for you means - Conducting a security review |
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