The 2021 Australian Census will be conducted primarily online, and many Australian businesses are making the transition away from paper, too.
Even though a lot of us grumble about it, many Australian businesses look forward to the Census. Not because anyone needs any more forms in our lives, but because the results of the Census give us a library of data with comprehensive and powerful insights into our customers and the landscape we’re operating in.
In 2016, The Australian Census moved to a primarily digital model for the first time, and this will be the case again in 2021. ‘As our society changes and technology advances, so too must the way we collect information through the Census,’ the Australian Bureau of Statistics website says. ‘The ABS is committed to ensuring the Census collects accurate and timely information, in ways that are cost-effective, easy for people to participate and assures the privacy of personal information.’ While technology failures and Distributed Denial of Service attacks plagued the Census system in 2016, the ABS says they’ve learnt from the episode and instigated additional measures to safeguard privacy and manage risk effectively for this year’s survey. Around 75% of us are expected to complete the census online in 2021.
So given the risks, why conduct the census digitally at all?
Prior to 2106, paper Census forms were distributed and collected to households across Australia by hand, which was a major logistical challenge. ‘Hand delivery across the entire country is neither sustainable nor affordable and does not reflect the community’s increasing expectation of interacting with the government digitally,’ the ABS says. As we integrate more and more technology into our daily lives, these sorts of efficiencies become standard and it’s hard to sell the old analogue equivalents. Whether it’s for our national survey, our banking, healthcare, communications or our business operations, Australians are embracing digital systems and the benefits these have for our time, productivity and bottom line.
Digital systems for WHS management
From our vantage point in the Work Health and Safety sector, we’ve seen many of our customers reap the rewards of moving to digital information management systems for their WHS data collection, synthesis and storage. In our experience, a lot of small to medium Australian businesses go through a period of resistance, a period of adjustment and then a period of acceleration as they transition to digital WHS management systems. Not only do these systems streamline compliance, training and reporting requirements, they’re often more reliable and robust than paper-based systems. Digital systems are also responsive, updating in real-time and adapting to the changing needs of a business, and have stronger security, privacy and legal safeguards built into them. As the ABS has identified, digital systems for information collection and processing are the way forward, and ultimately the more cost-effective and efficient solution.
How can I implement a digital system for my WHS data management?
We’re glad you asked! After hearing from a lot of our customers that they were ready to ditch the clipboards and piles of paper at work, Recovery Partners developed our own digital Workplace Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) – Diligence. Diligence allows you to consolidate all your business’s WHS responsibilities and reporting in a simple, easy-to-use app and software program. It can be customised to meet the needs of your work environments, operations, staff and industry WHS requirements, and it’s cloud-based, so all information is stored securely in one place. The mobile app can be set up to notify you when it’s time to complete a certain task, and it’s interactive and responsive.
What WHS tasks can Diligence help manage?
Diligence offers a framework for:
- Assessing and managing WHS risks
- Scheduling and coordinating WHS meetings
- Compiling and completing WHS Checklists and reminder systems
- Syncing data entry from multiple users in real-time
- WHS Administration, record-keeping and task management
- Identifying non-conformances
- Allocating responsibilities and managing personnel
- Accessing templates for WHS activities
- Collating and storing files
- Preparing for emergency situations
- Facilitating ongoing Health and Safety Training
- Managing PPE, Safety Equipment and First Aid requirements
- Controlling and forecasting PPE expenditure
- Establishing corrective and preventative WHS actions
- Managing Incidents and reporting requirements
- Managing Contractors and Visitors
- Safely conducting tasks with ladders, scaffolding, height work, electrical installation, construction or mechanical equipment, and many more
- Maintaining safe work environments
- Managing inventory, vehicles, and equipment.
Recovery Partners also has a team of consultants ready to support our Diligence users to help you make the most out of it and tailor it to your needs. Here’s what one of our valued customers, METSQUARE, says about their experience with Diligence:
Our organisation needed an easy to use Work Health and Safety Management System that would help us to achieve legal compliance and meet the highest of standards nationally. Recovery Partners provided us with a solution – Diligence. All of our WHSMS is now online and can be done in quick easy steps. In Diligence, we are able to build checklists and we get automatic status reports with actions and progress plus reminders. The team at Recovery Partners were very reliant and helpful in getting us started. We are 100% confident and very proud that because of Diligence, we now have a safer workplace.
METSQUAREÂ
Sound good?
We’re glad you think so! If you’d like to chat more about how moving to the Diligence digital system could help streamline your WHS management, get in touch with Recovery Partners by calling 1300 647 789 or emailing enquiries@rrp.com.au
Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â