So, you have come up with a solid plan for your topics and your workplan is approved. You’ve started working through the steps of implementation, and then the world gets turned upside down. You find yourself doing the work of 3 people, staffing levels continue to decline, and priorities are shifted once again. You feel like there is not enough time in the day and the stress starts to build up. Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, you see a calendar reminder that training for all your employees for your HSEp topics are due.
First, stop and breathe! You will get through this and remember; you are only one person. Not even Superman could keep up with all the changes.
The good news: there is some flexibility in HSEp to get you over the hump. Although you have selected dates for completion for each step, those dates are for you to benchmark how your HSEp Journey is going. The WSIB does not check in with you to make sure each step is completed by the date outlined on your workplan. The dates to focus on are the expiry date of your workplan and making sure that there is a minimum of 60 days between steps 3 and 4.
Life happens and your workplan can be adjusted. When creating your work plan did you ever notice the “Where any changes made to this workplan as your work progressed and if "yes" please describe what was changed” column under each topic tab? This allows you to adjust your workplan based on the obstacles you may face. Here you will explain why and upload the updated workplan to the WSIB HSEp Digital Portal, after contacting Dunk and receiving our approval.
In addition, consider these tips to assist in the event of unforeseen challenges:
Can you extend the deadline for training? Let’s face it, as resources get tighter, your staff may not have time to complete the training anyways. Give your employees some extra time, and work with staff where training is required to develop a plan to have them complete it by the newly established deadline (i.e. train on 1 topic a week).
Can you evaluate your topics more than 60 days after steps 1-3 are completed? The break between Steps 3 and 4 must be a minimum of 60 days. You don’t necessarily need to begin evaluating your efforts at the 60-day mark. If needed, allow some additional time to let the topics “live and breathe” in your workplace. You may even notice more effective evaluations as a result. Remember, you have 12 months to complete your topics in totality. If you plan for 2 months at the end of your registered year for validations and waiting on a potential onsite/virtual validation, that still gives you 10 months to complete the work and submit your evidence.
Can you complete one topic at a time? Stagger your topics (i.e. work on 1 topic at a time). This will reduce the workload, but your timelines may have to be tighter depending on how many topics you selected.
This reminds me of a saying my grandfather frequently said: “Don’t sweat the small stuff, you can only control what you are capable of controlling and the rest is what it is”. We understand what you are going through and you’re not the only one facing these challenges. We are here to support you and are only a phone call or email away.