What grinds my gears – and how to fix it!

“You didn’t get me the most expensive new backhoe loader like I wanted; therefore, you are putting my life at risk when I have to operate this piece of junk!" Ever heard an operator say something like that before?

The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act states that we fleet managers, as persons conducting a business or undertaking (or employer), must, so far as reasonably practical, consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking who are, or likely to be, directly affected by matters relating to work health or safety.

We have to consult – that seems fair enough though, right?

Ensuring we have given operators the opportunity for expression of views, involvement in the decision making process, have taken into account their views and that outcomes are advised to those consulted, does not mean we should fear reactions when operators don’t always get exactly what they want.

The WHS Act is quite prescriptive of when consultation is required. Importantly – so long as us fleet managers have a robust decision making process in accordance with the Act in the relevant jurisdiction and we follow that process to select our equipment – we should never truly be accused of failing to properly consult with those impacted by our purchasing decisions.