GRAIN Trade Australia (GTA) is initiating the grain industry’s first universal set of post-farmgate safety guidelines which are aimed at making its many and varied workplaces as safe as possible.

A CBH Group employee at its Geraldton site in workwear which shows the importance of safety to the industry. Photo: CBH Group

GTA CEO Pat O’Shannassy said the guidelines have been developed following a recommendation from GTA’s Transport, Storage and Ports Committee.

“The committee suggested GTA develop and share some specific grain-industry safety guidelines as a potential reference tool and a guide,” Mr O’Shannassy said.

“A serious workplace injury or death can change lives forever for those affected, which includes families, friends, communities and co-workers.

“The suffering associated with workplace injury or death is immeasurable, and it is each and everyone’s shared responsibility to ensure that every person who leaves for work in the morning arrives home safely at the end of the day.”

“A review of industry-specific safety guidelines may assist each company’s drive for safety within the workplace.”

Workplaces of GTA members include processing plants, ports, container-packing sites and storage facilities.

While many have stringent guidelines about safety in the workplace, Mr O’Shannassy said all members were being asked to look at where there was room for improvement.

“We want to know if our members think our proposed safety guidelines are suitable, and we have invited our members to review and comment on them.”

“Ultimately, we’re asking our members to look at safety aspects of their workplaces and decide whether they demonstrate good, mediocre or bad practices and, where necessary, take steps to make them as safe as possible.”

The guidelines’ principles are:

• All injuries are preventable;
• Everybody is responsible for safety in the workplace;
• All employees are personally responsible for their own safety and others in the workplace;
• Management will lead on safety and is also personally responsible for a safe working environment;
• Nothing is that important if it creates risk that cannot be controlled;
• Speaking out about safety and risk is welcomed and supported.

The draft document was sent to members last week, and submissions on the proposed guidelines are due by close of business on Friday.

Source: Grain Trade Australia