Callidus Group launches the S.H.I.E.L.D. initiative to ensure compliance with the “Work Health and Safety Act 2020”. With the implementation of S.H.I.E.L.D., Callidus is ready for the changes in legislation that result from the act becoming law at the beginning of 2021.
The change in the WHS legislation sees new regulations currently being developed and to be implemented later this year. S.H.I.E.L.D. looks at the legislative requirements and company insurance requirements to set a minimum company standard that is to be applied to all Callidus sites.
What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for?
S.H.I.E.L.D. is an abbreviation for the controls implemented in the process towards compliance with the latest WHS act:
- Serious Harm
- Identify
- Eliminate
- Lessen
- De-escalate
Serious Harm refers to the awareness that any hazard can have a detrimental effect on Callidus’ personnel or the environment. The hazards are present in several ways. They are for example inherent in processes, required to carry out processes, or a by-product of completing an action or process.
Identify stands for the obligation to identify hazards and keep a hazards register. The risk, likelihood, and consequence of the hazard is also assessed.
Eliminate is the step taken for the most effective control in the hierarchy of controls. Where possible hazards are eliminated in the first instance.
Lessen is the next step taken when a hazard cannot be fully eliminated. Additional controls help lower the risk to ‘as low as reasonably possible’ (ALARP). An example is safety guards on machinery to protect employees from rotating equipment. Employees are required to utilise all safety controls provided by Callidus.
De-escalate is the final S.H.I.E.L.D. control to prevent escalation of incidents that can still possibly occur, despite all previous controls in place. An example is a fire extinguisher to prevent a fire from spreading.
When and how will S.H.I.E.L.D. be implemented?
Callidus supports the S.H.I.E.L.D. controls implementation in its organisation with identified training, maintenance, and management system procedures. This way Callidus can focus not only on the compliance but more critically on the effectiveness of the controls in place.
Management have started to roll out general awareness around S.H.I.E.L.D. since the beginning of 2021 while the specific training to each activity will be an ongoing development.
Employee consultation will be at the center of the S.H.I.E.L.D. implementation. Their input, experience, and feedback is critical in the development and maintenance of the various S.H.I.E.L.D. initiatives, which are reviewed and approved by senior management.
