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Risk alert: Bakeries and collision repair workshops
Statistics show bakery and collision repair workshop employees face a high level of risk from a range of health and safety (H&S) hazards. WorkSafe’s online animated Around the Block tool takes you on a tour of these workplaces, with tips on how to identify and minimise risks.
Common risks in bakeries
WorkSafe recently added two new businesses — a bakery and a collision repair workshop — to their interactive tool Around the Block. The tool helps owners, operators and workers think about health and safety in their workplace. It now has 15 different business types set out in a typical city block. Each business has clickable risk hotspots, with tips on how to handle each type of risk.
Around the block (external link) — WorkSafe
Bakery owners and workers should think about how to manage common risks including:
- burns, scalds and heat stress
- slips, trips and falls
- inhaling flour dust, which can lead to lung disease
- operating unguarded machinery, eg dough mixers, dough brakes, dough dividers
- cuts and punctures from sharp knives and other objects
- carrying heavy loads.
Common risks in collision repair workshops
Workers and owners of collision repair shops should think about how to manage common risks including:
- operating heavy machinery, eg vehicle hoists, welding machines
- inhaling dust, which can lead to lung disease
- noise, eg hearing loss
- exposure to hazardous substances
- fire and explosions.
Don't rest on your laurels
Even low-risk businesses need to think about health and safety.
How to assess your H&S risks
Every type of business has health and safety (H&S) risks, even those you might consider to be relatively low-risk. WorkSafe’s Around the Block tool highlights this, eg retail op shop workers might slip on floor clutter or be injured handling heavy loads.
A proactive approach to H&S doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money. Make sure you get your workers involved in the process — it’s the best way to spot and mitigate risks.
Try using this step-by-step approach:
- Look for risks.
- Assess the risks.
- Prioritise identified risks.
- Study the risks.
- Consider your options.
- Get to work addressing the risks.
It is also important to consider how much harm these risks could pose to your visitors and customers. It’s your responsibility to keep them safe as well.
You should strive to keep people safe and healthy no matter what industry you work in. As well as Around the Block, WorkSafe has guidance on what risk looks like in different industries.
How to manage work risks (external link) — WorkSafe
