Our Work Place Health and Safety Standards

Work Place Health and Safety at Gold Coast Roof Restorations

The health and safety of Gold Coast Roofing Restorations employees is a key part of a successful business, but in many Roof Repair industries work activities pose a risk of employees developing aches, pains and discomfort, also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Although people may experience MSDs for non-work related reasons (e.g. a health condition, or activities outside of work), Gold Coast Roofing Restorations have a duty to ensure that the risk of developing an MSD through work activities is as low as is reasonably practicable. Risk factors causing MSDs can be found in virtually every workplace, from Roof Repairs and Roof Painting to Roof Cleaning and Roof Restorations. The risk factors for work-related MSDs are well known; MSDs are associated with work that involves:

• Fixed or awkward postures
• Repetitive movements
• Force applied by the body, or to the body
• Long exposure to the activity, with few breaks / changes in activity / little rest
• Manual handling
• Vibrating hand tools
• Psychosocial factors such as workplace culture and stress

In general, it is a combination of these factors that gives rise to the development of MSDs; therefore, it may be necessary to tackle a number of risk factors at the workplace to reduce the risk of MSDs…Gold Coast Roofing Restorations has done just this.

Roof Restoration Ergonomics – the application of scientific knowledge to ensure that designs complement the strengths and abilities of people and prevent excessive demands on them – can help address workplace MSD risks. Rather than expecting people to adapt to a design that forces them to work in an uncomfortable or stressful way, applying ergonomics can help to understand how a workplace can be designed to suit those who use it.

Getting Roof Restoration workers ergonomics right to prevent MSDs will involve having a good understanding of the variety of tasks that are done in the workplace, and the way they are actually done (which may be different to the intended way); the tools and equipment that are used in the tasks; the impact of the environment (lighting, noise, temperature, floor surfaces etc.) on the work / worker; and the abilities and physical characteristics of the workers. In gaining this understanding, you may need to take time to observe tasks, discuss issues with workers, as well as explore different possible options for reducing risk during Roof Restoration works. An assessment of risks, based on known risk factors, can highlight where action should be taken to reduce these risks. The HSE have risk assessment tools that can help you with this (see resources).

Once you’ve identified the risk factors during Roof Restoration works, you can take measures to reduce the risk through better design, repositioning of equipment, different tools, work organisation etc. Improving the ergonomic design of your work or workplace needn’t be expensive.

It is also important to consider the information and training needs of workers in relation to the task, tools and equipment, and the importance of breaks / changes in activity. Although providing suitable equipment can help prevent MSDs, the users’ interaction with the equipment is equally important; So training and information are also important to ensure workers have the skills, knowledge and awareness of how to use the equipment provided, during Roof Repairs.

Although Roof Repairs businesses can take many measures to reduce the risk of MSDs, it isn’t possible to prevent all MSDs. So, alongside a prevention program, a system which encourages early reporting of any symptoms (so that measures can be taken to support the worker and reduce risk), proper treatment and suitable rehabilitation is also essential.

The factors that pose a risk of MSDs are not difficult to identify, and much can be done – often without significant cost – to ensure that the design of your workplace helps your employees work comfortably during Roof Restoration works.