OHS Essentials program

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Text on screen: OHS Essentials Program.

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Text on screen: Confidential. Personalised. Free.

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Text on screen: Anne Lambert, sheep and cereal farmer.
We are third generational farmers in the far northwest of Victoria.

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The Lamberts came to the Essentials Program on the advice of some mutual friends.

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Text on screen: Paul Livingstone, OHS Essentials consultant.
The OHS Essentials Program is available to all farmers whether they have WorkCover insurance or not.

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It provides simple methods for protecting themselves and their employees.

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Text on screen: Peter and Anne Lambert, sheep and cereal farmer.
You're getting advice and you're getting support and it steers you in the right direction.

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'Cause there's some things you just don't know, or you don't see, or you're not aware of.

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There's not that many procedures we do around the property where there's no danger involved

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but you can eliminate them by following the right procedures and doing the right thing.

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The benefits for farmers are less injuries, less downtime

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and greater efficiency in generating their product.

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Paul is here as a consultant to educate you on safety management of your business.

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It's confidential, very respectful.

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The whole process is just between us and the consultant.

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I was able to de-mystify the OHS regulations for them

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and allow them to develop a system that suited them

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that was simple and it was easy and they were able to implement on a daily basis.

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Farmers generally do not recommend people lightly

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but without hesitation, I would recommend Paul in a heartbeat.

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It's been a great service for us

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and we have a place where people can come to work, be safe

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and go home safe and go home to their families.

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It's about doing everything properly and looking after everyone, so everyone's safe. That's what it's about.

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Text on screen: Apply today, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/ohsessentials

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Text on screen: OHS Essentials Program. Confidential. Personalised. Free.

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Andrew: As a business owner, we don't want to have any injuries

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and somebody not coming home from work, somebody dying at work
Text on screen: Andrew O'Hara - Bakery general manager - food manufacturing.

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is one of the things that really concerns me.

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Theo: Andrew's business was in a place where he wanted to expand and grow

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but he wanted to make sure that he protected his workers along the way.
Text on screen: Theo Kanellos - OHS Essentials consultant.

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The Worksafe OHS Essentials programme is free, confidential

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and you get an expert in the field helping you protect your people.

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Andrew: What we've realised is that our approach could be improved.

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Theo: The challenges that they tend to face are forklifts, machinery, manual handling

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dangerous goods storage and handling, those sorts of hazards.

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We conduct three visits through the programme.

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Andrew: They're not here as an enforcement agency in this process, they're coaching.

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Theo: We basically pick up risks and hazards that need to be addressed

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and we put them in an OHS action plan

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and we also give you support material in how to actually fix those things.

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Andrew: It brings you a lot of knowledge very quickly

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They also have an understanding of the law

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so they can point out what you might need to prioritise.

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Theo: The relationship after the three visits are done is an ongoing one.

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You've always got a point of contact then. If something comes up,

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you can get on the phone and call the consultant that you dealt with

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and talk to them about what the issue might be.

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Andrew: The OHS Essentials programme has been great for us.

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You save yourself an awful lot of time and money

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by engaging with people like this and resources like this up front.

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Theo: The best advice I can give small business is apply for the program because it will give you clarity

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And it will give you a sense of confidence that you've actually improved your workplace safety.

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You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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Text on screen: Apply today, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/ohs-essentials-program