This week I've been talking about the sheer amount of paperwork that is being generated in the safety industry.
I did two videos on the topic- check them out at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/icam-investigation_icam-safetywise-icamtraining-activity-6637482263800057856-xZkj
Whilst we know that paperwork is needed in many instances, how much is really needed? How much of what we generate actually gets used? Or does it sit on a shelf or on the server and never sees the light of day?
I've seen a Take 5 for changing a toilet roll and also for making a cup of coffee.
I've seen JSA's that run over multiple pages that talk about a multitude of hazards and controls, but nothing about the actual task itself that the JSA has been submitted for.
And I've seen an Emergency Response Plan for a major sports stadium that referenced another interstate sports stadium and the emergency services attending from that state as well!
One of the responses to these videos was, "I guess that is the purpose of the paperwork - to document the degree to which things have changed. However, that notion collapses when the emphasis is placed more on getting the paperwork right than on actually doing things right in the workplace."
That's an interesting insight and generates some good food-for-thought. Outside of the WHS space, we see this in the VET space as well with ASQA compliance.
But who is driving this? Is it the Regulators? Is it the employer? Are we doing it under a false sense that it will protect us if something was to go wrong?
What're your thoughts? Has our paperwork become about C.A.R.E. (Cover Arse Retain Employment) or is it all legit and it is actually necessary to generate so much?