May 11, 2021
On 28th April 2021, it was World Day of Safety and Health at Work and Workers Memorial Day. This day is a reminder to revise and improve on your workplace’s health and safety procedures, as well as remembering those who have died on work sites. Australian fatalities at work have steadily decreased over the last decade – although this is good news any death at work is unacceptable and tragic.
The theme for 2021 World Day of Safety and Health at Work is Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises and invest in resilient Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) systems. This year there has been much more focus on psychological safety; with the increase in Working from Home, there has also been a significant rise in mental health issues as well as domestic violence.
Early 2020 saw the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing many businesses and workers to adapt to new conditions to keep operating in a safe and practical way such as implementing stringent OHS procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus. For many, a newfound reliance on teleworking has provided the opportunities to employees to continue to work in a safe manner. This has been a great saver to the economy and to many jobs, but it has also presented many potential OHS risks, including psychosocial risks and violence in particular.
Under work health and safety (WHS) legislation, an employer must minimise or eliminate the risk to psychological health and safety as much as you reasonably can. This can include reducing workloads, flexible work hours, and zoom calls to check in with staff to help ease the sense of isolation.
We are very fortunate in Albury/Wodonga region that we can go back to the offices and work sites and that our lives have achieved a sense of normalcy. As we transition back to the offices it’s important to still provide support and flexibility to staff and to revise and realign your current OHS systems to help mitigate any further concerns to workplace health and safety. Work Health & Safety is far ranging and can be as simple as a discussion with your workers to expert advice for specific fields. It’s up to the employer to manage these risks – both physical risks and psychological and mental health risks. So talk about safety in the workplace, find out where you can improve, and make working safer for everyone.
For further information see your state or territory’s Safe Work website or Safe Work Australia.
More Information can be found at:
The prevalence of domestic violence among women during the COVID-19 pandemic
Guides to help you uncover human resource insights, and make the right changes to improve team delight.
Amelie is our Marketing Lead and currently studying for a B.A. in Business and Visual Arts. She brings her visual arts skills and eye for colour and detail to our graphics and design for the business.
Amelie uses her skills as a digital native in our Marketing team and works across our social media channels. Amelie provides administrative support and assists the recruitment team in finding great candidates.
Sarah joins the team at Total HRM following her time in a regional real estate company, most recently in HR. She brings a solid understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges within small and medium-sized businesses.
Prior to real estate, Sarah worked in the airline industry, providing her with excellent skills in customer service and how to remain calm in a crisis.
Known for her positive energy, Sarah approaches her role with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to support and uplift those she works with. With her experience in HR and recruitment, Sarah is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, professional growth, and employee well-being. Her ability to connect with people and create a positive work atmosphere contributes to the overall success of teams and the business as a whole.
Ashly is one of our most experienced HR Business Partners with over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and hospitality, both local and overseas, ranging from large multinational companies to small family-owned operations. Throughout his career, Ashly regularly led teams with over 30 employees while continually growing the business and aligning business strategies with employee capabilities.
Ashly has qualifications in Applied Management and Human Resources and a strong leadership and people management background. Ashly combines his experience with his qualifications to develop great workplace cultures while delivering practical support.
As our Business Services Manager, David keeps everything that is Total HRM ticking along – from overseeing administration and finance functions, liaising with clients and suppliers, to IT troubleshooting and keeping everyone on track to deliver effective customer service to all our clients.
In a business landscape of ‘information overload’, Kim’s pragmatic approach simplifies the ever-changing HR trends and legislation to obtain meaningful and maximum benefits for her clients.
Kim is well known for her ability to understand the ‘real’ issues within businesses and to provide solutions for sustained business growth.
Kim has over 20 years of experience in human resources and 15 years of business consulting experience, and she holds post-graduate Business and Human Resource qualifications.
She has vast and varied experience in senior consulting roles across varying disciplines and HR management positions within retail, manufacturing and professional service sectors.
Linda is the Managing Director of Total HRM and has worked for over twenty five years in business and consulting, including executive and senior management roles. She has worked here and overseas in numerous industries, including mining, energy and government. Her experience in areas such as production, strategic planning, finance, OHS/WHS, and lecturing in Human Resources Management at La Trobe University provides her with a unique blend of business and HR capability.
Linda has led comprehensive organisational restructures and implemented programs to improve the effectiveness of businesses with clear alignment between individuals’ contributions and organisational outcomes. She works with various local boards and executive teams in the region. She is a Certified Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.