Develop Safe Work Procedures

How (and When) to Write Safe Work Procedures for High-Risk Tasks

If your business involves high-risk or complex tasks, you might need to write a safe work procedure.

Not all tasks need written procedures; some can be shared verbally in meetings or training sessions. You can decide which tasks need to be written out by referring to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation. Other factors to consider are the hazard level of the task, your workers’ experience, and the probability that workers will suffer severe injuries without a written procedure.

When developing safe work procedures, consult with your business’s Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), worker health and safety representatives, and workers who actually perform the task. Together, you can decide if a task requires a written procedure. If it does, follow these steps:

• Break down the task into basic steps
• Identify any hazards of the task
• Explain how to reduce any risk related to the hazards
• Write the procedure using simple language, in 12 steps or fewer
• List any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required, including where it can be found

Once the procedure is written, you can train workers on it (tip: make sure to document the training). Review your safe work procedures whenever a job changes, new equipment is introduced, or workers return after a long absence. Remember: while written procedures might seem like an unnecessary extra step, they are critical to avoiding workplace injuries!

For more information:

• Health and Safety for Hospitality Small Business(WorkSafeBC)
• Safe Work Procedures for Staff Working Alone(go2HR)
• Room Attendant Safe Work Procedures(WorkSafeBC)
• Health & Safety Manual Template (go2HR)

go2HR is BC’s tourism and hospitality , human resources and health & safety association driving strong workforces and safe workplaces that deliver world class tourism and hospitality experiences in British Columbia. Follow us on LinkedIn or reach out to our team.