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Improving safety requires continuous risk assessment and effective communication. Monitoring by occupational safety and health authorities has revealed significant shortcomings in occupational safety and health at shared workplaces.
At a shared workplace, the organisation that exercises primary control has the obligation to ensure everyone’s safety. Communicating about risks is an essential part of the obligation.
“There are significant differences in safety management between organisations. Some workplaces take care of safety exemplarily, but not all, so there is still a lot of work to be done,” says Inspector Mikko Järvenreuna from the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwest Finland.
The more operators there are and the more frequently the working conditions change, the more difficult it is to manage safety at a shared workplace. This is particularly evident at construction sites and shipyards, where constant changes really challenge the safety management.
Common shortcomings observed in the inspections include, for example, fall hazards, inadequate assessment of the risks caused by chemical substances and neglect in the identification of hazards.
“Hazards are often only detected at workplaces when something serious happens,” Järvenreuna says.
The safety of shared workplaces could be improved through more thorough hazard assessments and by ensuring that risks are communicated clearly and effectively to all employees and that safety observations are also communicated to the employer.
“For example, the threat of violence in shops can go unnoticed if the workplace focuses mainly on the risks caused by machines. Similarly, sanding may be forgotten on a path that the cleaning employee only uses once a week to take out rubbish,” Järvenreuna illustrates.
Risk assessments are still often superficial, and concrete measures are not always implemented. The audits have also revealed that the resources allocated to safety in large projects are often insufficient.
“If a company is used to smaller projects, but starts to manage a larger project, it may not scale safety management to a sufficient level,” Järvenreuna says.
The safety of a shared workplace can be improved by combining several good practices, such as regular safety walks for everyone, clear division of responsibilities and designated safety officers.
“Continuous training and induction help to maintain a safety culture. An open reporting culture where near misses are handled constructively helps to prevent accidents.
Schools are shared workplaces with employees from several employers. People at Havukoski School are constantly thinking about how to develop safety and ensure that messages are transferred effectively even in dangerous situations.
Improving occupational safety at a shared workplace requires cooperation, clear operating models and continuous monitoring.
At the Meyer Turku shipyard, approximately 80 per cent of the production of cruise ships is subcontracted. Matti Tuimala, Safety Manager at the shipyard, explains how safety is ensured at the huge shared workplace.
A well-managed and healthy work community can benefit from multi-location work in many ways,” says Juha Eskelinen, Researcher.
