The behavior of your team members impact directly on your business. If your team’s behavior doesn’t meet your organization’s ethics, you have a problem. How do you fix this?
Staff and also management behavior in business reflects directly on your business. If your team are doing whatever they want, this is a direct reflection of your business on your customers and clients.
The best way to raise the standards of your team is to firstly reflect on your own behavior and set a good example and then also communicate the standards to your team using a code of conduct policy.
Your Behavior Counts
As business owner, your behavior counts. Your team are already looking and watching how you behave. Like your mother told you, actions speak louder than words.
So, if you firstly need to address your own behavior, then consider that before enforcing any policies in your business. Chances are, if you send a Code of Conduct Policy around your business, and then decide to behave otherwise your policy will fall on deaf ears. You will be wasting your time.
Set the standards first in your business by reflecting on your own behavior first and if you need some external help to address and behavior you may believe is detrimental to your business, then seek some professional coaching or assistance first. It will be worth it.
There is nothing more defeating to staff to see their boss set the rules and then blatantly break them in-front of them. Respect immediately goes out the window and staff lose faith in their boss as well as the organization in general.
Set the Code of Conduct Policy Benchmark
Once you have addressed any of your own personal issues, it is time to establish a benchmark of expectations for your organization. The easiest way to do this is to review what others have done and see if it is applicable to your business and personal standards.
You can use a Code of Conduct Template to do this quickly and easily. However, you should review the content in detail and ensure you are happy with the standards.
Where to Find a Code of Conduct Policy Template
A quick search on Google reveals there are about 158,000,000 results regarding a Code of Conduct Policy Template. There are a lot to choose from.
However, most of these are likely to be examples only and not really suitable to create your policy from quickly and easily.
There are a number of examples from businesses and then if you drill down you can find a number of websites requesting subscription based services to provide you with templates.
Read more below about how to get hold of our free Code of Conduct Policy Template.
What should be in a Code of Conduct Policy?
Firstly, it is good to consider what standards you are trying to uphold in your business. If you believe that your business should uphold high standards then you are going to need to communicate this to your team.
Generally in the marketplace over most industries, high standards are expected, so it makes perfect sense to aim for the top and ask your team to do their best.
Secondly, what are your own standards and expectations? It will be hard to enforce a high standard if you don’t follow that standard yourself. It is a bit rich to expect others to uphold a standard if you cannot uphold it yourself.
So think about this carefully before you write out your standards. Below are some things you should consider in your code of conduct policy.
Organization Vision
Do you have a vision for your Organization? If not, it is a great idea to establish a Vision that underpins everything you do. An example of a Vision could be something like:
‘Client Fulfillment is our Goal for each and every Client‘
or
‘Business sustainability is core to what we do. If we don’t have Clients – we don’t have a Business or a Job‘
The Vision of your Organization should be reflected in your Code of Conduct Policy. It doesn’t have to repeat the Vision, but should reflect the core principle of what you are trying to achieve.
Organization Values
Following on from your Organization’s Vision, you should also have a list of values that define who you are and how you act. These values are then also reflected in your Code of Conduct Policy. Together these two important documents help to set the tone and set the benchmark for what you expect in your business.
Do you have a vision or values within your organization? If not, take the time to create these basics so that you have the can create a good cornerstone of policy for your organization.
Let’s now talk about some expected standards of behavior.
Expectations of Behavior
What behaviors do you expect? Do you expect your team to be dishonest? Do you expect sloppy work ethics and laziness?
The following are a list of typical expectations you may want to consider for your Organization.
Act Honestly A basic principle but often ignored. Honesty is always the best policy and ensuring this occurs at all levels of the organization is difficult. It starts from the top and filters down so take the time to reflect on your own behavior if you expect your team to be honest.
Treat Others Fairly The same goes for how you treat others. Treating your team fairly with dignity, courtesy and respect is a basic principle that should be followed by everyone in the organization including management.
Offensive Language Do not use offensive language or behavior in the workplace. Behavior of this type can easily offend others and is just unprofessional.
Discrimination Discrimination in any shape or form is not acceptable. It creates major problems in any business and should be addressed professionally from management.
Bullying or Harassment The same goes for bullying or harassment. Do not engage in any form of bullying or harassment or physical or verbal conduct and ensure your team knows this.
Act Professionally Carry out tasks or duties diligently and professionally. Team members need to act professionally at all times and expect others to do the same.
Methods of Reporting Encourage an environment of reporting unethical and poor behaviors so they can be addressed before things get out of control.
These are just a few standards of behavior that you should expect in your organization. If you set the benchmark low, don’t expect your business to perform well in all areas. Upholding high standards shows good leadership and helping others do their best is what a leader should be doing.
More Expectations of Behavior
No Threats of Violence Any type of violence is inappropriate. Treating others as you would like to be treated is key to creating a safe workplace.
No Discriminatory Jokes Jokes can back-fire. OK, it is good to have fun at work but where does the line start and stop? Jokes that discriminate are not appropriate.
Unwelcome sexual attention Inappropriate behavior is not appropriate either. This type of behavior can create enormous stress for victims and also create a toxic environment. Proactive action from management behalf will help team members feel as though they are being treated fairly and create an environment that is welcoming and safe.
Personal Insults on Others Treating others appropriately should be a priority for everyone in the organization. Even jokes about insults can damage and harm relationships.
Free Code of Conduct Policy Template
OK, so below is a link to our free code of conduct policy template. However, consider our paid versions as they are much more comprehensive and incredible value for money.
Click the link below to download our free version.
Just creating a code of conduct is not then end of it. There needs to be a culture of continuous improvement in your organization.
Firstly, you as a leader of your organization manifest your ethics in your attitude and behavior. In addition to this, constant training and enforcement and measuring success and failures is something that needs to occur on a regular basis.
To be successful, your team need to feel comfortable enough to voice any concerns they have and to also understand that the organization will act when appropriate in accordance with the guidelines set.
Any other response will once again fall on deaf ears and employees will lose respect and leave.
Code of Conduct Policy FAQ’s
What is a Code of Conduct Policy in the workplace?
A Code of Conduct Policy outlines expected standards of behavior of all employees, management, sub-contractors and visitors.
What is the best way to create a Code of Conduct Policy?
The fastest way to create your Code of Conduct Policy is to use a Code of Conduct Policy Template. These can be easily purchased online.
What should be in a Code of Conduct Policy?
Firstly it is good to consider what standards you are trying to uphold in your business. If you believe that your business should uphold high standards then you are going to need to communicate this to your team.
Will a Code of Conduct Policy make a difference to my business?
Yes. A Code of Conduct Policy will set the benchmark for standards of behavior in your business. This will then have a ripple effect throughout your business and ensure high standards of performance are achieved.
Forget the business development ‘experts’ or business ‘coaches’. A Quality Manual Template will boost your business performance almost overnight. These types of systems are the best way to improve business profit and performance for little to no outlay.
How can you improve your organization dramatically for little money? By delivering quality. Quality brings repeat work and builds trust with your customers. However – it is not easy to deliver quality through other people.
In fact, it is very difficult.
A Quality Manual is the ‘silver bullet’ you have been looking for. Forget any business coach or development expert. Focus on your Quality Manual and watch your business improve.
How does your quality manual look at the moment? Do you even have one? If you don’t, how does your team know what standards to meet? Get your Quality Manual underway ASAP.
There are plenty of places online to find quality manuals. However, finding the right quality manual template for your business is certainly going to take some work. It’s unlikely you will find a quality manual for your specific business.
However let’s take a look at what options you have. So let’s get into it!
What is a Quality Manual?
A quality manual is a business tool that is extremely important for any business. It doesn’t matter if you make coffee or if you make gadgets, a quality manual is something you must have in your business.
A quality system is about documenting your business processes to ensure delivery of your product or service to a set benchmark.
These benchmarks could be low or high. The point is, you are aiming to meet the benchmark each and every time you deliver your product or service.
The quality manual includes a massive amount of content that covers all parts of your business from accounting to production through to human resources.
What Types of Organizations Need a Quality Manual?
What types of organizations require a quality manual? I would say every business requires one.
A quality manual or a quality management manual is essential for business survival. If you are not producing your product or service the same each and every time, your business is going to struggle to survive.
Most industries are highly competitive and becoming more competitive each day. You must keep up or close up.
It takes significant effort to deliver products and services consistently and trying this in any business without a quality manual is a recipe for failure.
What is the Purpose of Having a Quality Manual?
As mentioned above the purpose of having a quality manual is to ensure quality of output. However, it is more than that.
A quality manual helps to get your team on the same path. It helps to bind the business together and get it pointing and operating in the one direction.
Any business needs direction. Without direction it is like a ship at sea without a rudder.
Does my Business need a Quality Manual?
Yes, your business needs a quality manual. Why? Because if you don’t have a quality manual then it is highly likely your competitors already do.
You think you might be able to run your business without a quality manual, and sure you probably can. But what sort of business do you really have without a quality manual?
Not really a business. More like a management job. A quality manual helps you run your business and helps to guide your team to produce their work each and every day to a standard that is required.
If you don’t have a quality manual then get one as soon as possible. Use a quality manual template for small business. The rewards will be huge and your business will produce better quality work, be more profitable and you will have less stress.
Small, Medium or Large Business, Does it Matter?
Does it really matter if your business is small, medium or large? Not really. If you want to satisfy customers and ensure they come back for more, then producing quality is going to help you do this.
No amount of social media posts are going to help a business that already produces poor quality services or products. Focus on building your quality system first and then think about your social profile later.
A quality management system template for small business or a medium or large business is going to help build your system fast and sustain your business for the long term.
Can I use a generic Quality Manual Template to Create my Manual?
Yes you can. Finding and using a generic quality management manual template will allow you to get the business basics activated quickly. You could find a quality manual sample online and try to copy it, however this is likely going to take significant effort.
If speed is important for you then using a quality management template will allow you to create a quality system fast.
You can purchase a quality manual template for business that allows you to set up a system in an instant and customize it to suit your business.
Where can I find a Free Quality Manual Template?
A Google search reveals quite a lot of results related to free quality manual templates. Over 320 million results all related to free quality manuals. However, are any of these any good? Check out the results below.
If you have a small business, you need not complicate things. Just keep it simple. So you may be able to find a free quality manual template that suits your business fairly easily.
However, a lot of paid versions are going to help you dramatically so it might be better in the long run to purchase a template depending on your budget.
You can also consider our free quality manual template and paid versions from Digital Documents Direct.
Digital Documents Direct have a free quality manual template that you can download. This template is a basic template so if you need something more advanced then consider our paid versions. They are much more comprehensive and allow you to set up a system quickly and efficiently.
If you are looking for a free simple quality manual template, download our free version at the following link. Free Quality Manual Template.
OK, it’s not very comprehensive and you are better off purchasing our detailed version, however it will get you started if you are on a shoe-string budget.
100% free from Digital Documents Direct. We hope you find it useful.
What are the best ways to create a Quality Manual fast for my Business?
Definitely the fastest and cheapest way to set up a quality system is to use MS Word (Microsoft Word). This allows you to get the content together as fast as possible and you can implement it instantly.
There are no license fees or software fees to pay (apart from having an MS Word license), just typically a one off purchase fee to buy a template and get underway instantly.
Use MS Word quality manual templates and save time and effort.
The benefits of creating your Quality Manual in MS Word
So creating a quality manual in Word is a great way to kick things off. You can build your quality manual instantly and deliver it to your team quickly.
It will allow you to also think about the layout and the structure before you go committing to any software or website based system before you even know where you are heading with this thing.
Here are 3 Cool benefits of using MS Word to start off your quality manual.
Benefit 1 – It’s very cost effective
It will save you money. Creating a QM in MS Word will allow you to create it quickly and cheaply. If you are starting it from scratch you want to not over commit at the beginning to see what works. So creating it in MS Word is going to achieve this for you.
Benefit 2 – Start Immediately
You can start right away. Immediately. Even after you have finished reading this post. Either purchase a MS Word template to get you started or start your own from scratch.
This is a great benefit because you need to remember this document is an ever changing document and something that needs to be updated daily.
Benefit 3 – Easy to Distribute
You can roll it out almost instantly. If your team are on desktops then it is easy to send them a link to where you have saved it.
If your team are roaming around, then a printed out version is going to help them.
Whatever the situation, creating a Quality Manual in MS Word is fast, easy, cheap and effective almost immediately. Using a paid template makes it even easier.
What Should be in a Quality Manual Anyway?
So you may be wondering what should be in a quality manual? Well it really depends on your business. However, if you can get as much information in it as possible, it is going to help your team every single day.
From checklists to procedures through to rules and guidelines. It doesn’t really matter what you call them. The important point is that you need to have detailed instructions for everything.
Processes to Follow
Part of a QMS is including process documents and guidelines for your team to follow.
See the graphic below. It gives you an idea of a step by step process. OK, there is no way you are going to do this for every task in your business – however you get the idea that the process needs to be explained for people to follow.
Just think about the last time you bought something you had to assemble? It is basically the same principle. Get the instructions into your Procedure Manual and Quality System and this will help your team every day to perform their role and job.
What about checklists? Are they part of a QMS system?
Yes, for sure. You should have checklists for everything. This will help new team members and even existing team members hit the quality control benchmark you expect for your business.
OK, here below is a very simple example. However, it doesn’t matter how small the job is.
The impression you give to your Clients is in the detail so you need your team to be aware of the standards required and checklists achieve this easily.
ISO Quality Management System
OK, so if your business is growing then you are likely to want to consider ISO 9001:2015. This is a standard for a Quality Management System and is something you use to see if your QMS is meeting the benchmark.
So, you need to purchase the standard and then have your business rated.
Really, if you have a small business then it is unlikely to be worth your time or expense. You could likely build a more relevant quality system yourself instead. It is really for businesses that want to grow significantly and need to control the growth.
As stated on their website:
The standard “aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.”
If you are looking for a more detailed quality manual template then read more about Digital Documents Directs template on our website at this link below or click the image.
You can start writing a quality manual either by using a quality manual template or starting from scratch. Think about your customers first and what they expect from your business. Then document all the processes in your business and the steps to achieve the quality you are aiming for.
What is in a Quality Manual
It will depend on your type of business. However it should have everything from policies through to step by step instructions on how to complete tasks. You will need this for each department of your business.
What is the purpose of Quality Manual?
A quality manual is a communication tool. It communicates to your team how they should complete their role, position and job and to meet specific quality benchmarks for your product or service.
How much does a Quality Manual Template cost?
Quality manual templates can range from a few dollars to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It really depends on whether or not you require a turn-key solution or are prepared to put some effort in to building a specific quality management system for your business.
Using a design brief will make a difference to your business and also to your bottom line. But how exactly? Let’s take a look at design brief’s in general and also look at 5 ways a design brief allows you to not only look better, but also increase profit for your design studio or business.
A design brief gathers all the information regarding a proposal prior to designing something including any information such as such as aims and objectives or goals that need to be achieved.
This isn’t a design brief – it’s just a cool design
It really isn’t a difficult document to put together and will allow you present your business more professionally with your Client.
Therefore, it is highly recommended.
A design brief will profile your business and talk about the history and ethos behind your brand. It will also identify your strengths and specializations for example the things you are good at.
Remember this – you should be differentiating yourself when presenting your business.
How is your business different?
Take a look at this a bit further down the page and find out more about how to differentiate your business even if it is the same as any other business.
Who uses a design brief ?
Design briefs are used by design professionals such as web designers, architects, interior designers and generally anyone that provides design as a service.
The idea behind a design brief is to identify the tasks that you are going to take.
This type of document is used by professionals to communicate their business better. Web designers, architects, interior designers, engineers or whoever, it doesn’t really matter. The point is, these types of professionals should all be using design briefs to lift the professionalism of their business and consulting services.
If you are one of the types of professionals above or any other type of service based design profession, then you should use a design brief for every Client you engage.
How to differentiate yourself from everyone else that is the same
So, if you are a design professional, what is the difference between you and the guy next door?
It is going to be difficult. You should identify what is different and how you are different first before producing any marketing material or design brief.
Maybe you are thinking right now – well there isn’t much difference between me and the dude next door. How am I different?
Do you produce good quality service fast and at a competitive rate? Is that what makes you different?
Well, let’s be upfront straight away. That is not what makes you different. Anyone can do that.
Maybe you have a cool business card, logo and business name? Is that what sets you apart?
Not likely. That too can be copied very easily.
What about your office premises and the car you drive.
Nope, they are also things that are no different from anyone else if they chose to copy you.
The only real thing you have in a service based or consulting based business that is completely different is…..
YOU !
That’s right, no one can be you. No one has the same personality as you. No one has that weird laugh you have or the same hair (if you have any).
So, you must use this as your marketing weapon. That means getting comfortable about who you are and using your unique personality to relate to your potential clients and staff.
That makes all the difference and is how you differentiate yourself with your serviced based consulting business.
Now, turn that personality into a business and let it flow to all areas of your business and you will have a unique business no one can copy.
That’s what you are aiming for. Get that into your design brief and see how you go!
5 ways a design brief increases profit
Get Organized
So firstly consider how you work daily. Are you the type of person that is everywhere all day – jumping from one thing to another and then you get to the end of the day and wonder how effective you have really been?
If so, it is likely you might approach your customers and clients like this. This can be good and bad, however if you relate this to a design brief, it isn’t likely the most effective way to approach your clients.
Organization means more profit – usually.
It will make you think about what you are doing
Secondly, you will be forced to have a strategy in place to win the work instead of just throwing stuff everywhere.
It will make you think strategically about what you are doing. This will then be very helpful when meeting your Client or customer.
A better strategy means better profit. It makes you more professional and professionalism usually means you can raise your fees.
Differentiation of you and your business
Differentiation is where the money is. Being different and identifying your unique attributes that focus on benefits to your customers allows you to then strengthen your position in your niche and target it.
Remember, your niche is not your profession. Your niche is what makes you unique in your industry and location.
If you have a burger bar and sell burgers, your niche could be 100% vegetation burgers only. How you market and focus on selling these awesome burgers to your potential customers that like vegetarian, is the niche you are in.
You, your location, your competitors, what makes you different and the particular area you focus on will help you identify what niche you are in.
Use your personality to stand out because no one is the same as you.
Professionalism
Being professional does make a difference to what you can charge your customers.
Do you deliver slow and make mistakes?
Do you dress in an untidy manner and look like you just got out of bed?
Do you yawn in meetings and fall asleep?
Do you answer the phone with – what do you want?
These things all communicate your level of professionalism. If you identify where you can be better, then improve your efforts and you will also be able to lift your fees.
Identify all the benefits of dealing with your business
A design brief will be a window into how you operate and your Client will get a glimpse of how you work.
This will allow them to decide if you are the right business for the job.
You have a great opportunity to present your business as professionally as you can – so don’t blow it.
Questions you should answer in your design brief
Who/what is your business?
Identify the details of your business including if you are new or established. What product or service you deliver. What your brand is and what it stands for. Also communicate how you differentiate your business from the rest of the field.
Not that easy to do but with some thought you can certainly build a strong case.
What are the Objective/s of the Design you are Undertaking?
OK so here is the fun bit. You need to identify what is the reason for the design?
This could be communicated with aims and objectives. Start with an overall aim and then build up 5 or more objectives to reinforce the aim.
What is the purpose of your product or service? Is it to introduce a new product to the market or to educate the market prior to releasing a product?
Are you building a new brand or profile in an already established industry?
Answering these questions will help you focus on the right information to include in your design brief.
Use a design brief template and save time
Using a design brief template will save you significant time and effort. If you need to get together a design brief and don’t have too much time or you are not sure what to do, then consider using a template.
A good design brief template should have a good amount of information in it that you can simple amend to suit your project.
Conclusion
5 Reasons a Design Brief is a Great Idea
Confidence to invoice the client
You will have every confidence that you can send your invoice to the Client at the completion of your task. If you have met the brief – you have every right to claim payment.
Miss the brief or get it wrong and chances are there will be arguments. Also you may not get PAID!
Allows you to remember the detail
It is easy to forget things. A design brief identifies and records all the important details. What could be better as a reminder?
Enables you to communicate details to your team
A design brief allows you to communicate the details of your engagement with the Client to your team. This can be done easily by sharing the design brief with the people who will assist you in completing the work.
This is going to allow you and your team to be super efficient and understand the project prior to commencement.
Keeps the client accountable
Scope creep is a business killer. Having the scope allowed for and not allowed for communicates clearly to the Client what is included and what isn’t
Reduces your stress
Probably the best reason of all to use a design brief is that it certainly will reduce your stress.
You will have a plan for the future of the project, reduce the need to try and remember everything, be clear in your communication with all stakeholders within the Client’s Company and have written records of what was agreed.
This will reduce disagreements, arguments and disappointment.
A design brief gathers all the information regarding a proposal prior to designing something including any information such as such as aims and objectives or goals that need to be achieved.
Who uses a Design Brief?
A design brief is typically used by professionals in the Creative Industries sector. This could be Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers, Website Designers, Interior Designers, Industrial Designers, Fashion Designers or basically anyone that designs for a living or hobby.
How do I create a Design Brief?
The fastest way to create a design brief is to use a design brief template. You can purchase these online for minimal outlay or write your own from scratch.
Will a Design Brief be Helpful?
A design brief will be extremely helpful in planning your project. It will not only assist your client or customer, it will also assist you in getting your ideas and thoughts together before proceeding with the content of the design process.
A disaster to your business doesn’t necessarily mean the end of it. If you prepare for a disaster, you are more likely to get through it and survive.
Business Disaster Recovery Plans
Business disaster. We all dread it. We all hope it does not happen to us. Disasters of any kind and traumatic events. Unfortunately, in life we do not often get to choose what happens. But we do get to choose how to respond.
This is one of the most important aspects of dealing with events in anyone’s life that are negative. Your response and ability to get back on your feet and keep going. It may be tough. It may be extra tough. However, over time you will slowly be able to get back on your feet if you take it just one day at a time.
Business disaster can be incredibly stressful. Depending on the type of person you are, your ability to control and manage your emotions and you ability to seek help from others will determine whether or not you find it possible to keep going or to decide you need a break. Whatever choice you make, if you prepare as much as you can now for any potential disaster then you are creating an environment that could potentially be the difference between persisting and succeeding again or giving up totally. The choice is yours.
Definition of Business Disaster Recovery Plans
So what exactly is a Disaster Recovery Plan? If you look online, it has been abbreviated to DRP. So now you can call it your DRP. Check out the definition below from Wikipedia.
Take a look around the world via the internet any day and you will see significant events that dramatically impact the lives of people. A disaster may come out of nowhere. It may be an event such as a cyclone or hurricane or a pandemic similar to COVID-19. These events are typically what have occurred in recent times and nobody could have predicted them and the impacts they have had on the economy either local or global.
So as a business owner the best thing you can possibly do is consider a variety of events that may occur and plan for a response to these events should they actually happen.
From major weather events, pandemics, economy downturns, fire, embezzlement, flood or building destruction, there are many different types of disasters that you could consider and plan for in your Disaster Recovery Plan.
What Should be in Your Disaster Recovery Plan?
A disaster recovery plan is a document that identifies procedures that should be taken should a disaster occur. It addresses a lot of aspects of your business and specifically would identify particular procedures depending on your business type, location, size and processes.
Protecting and online business is obviously a lot different to protecting a car wash business. Your disaster recovery plan needs to be specific to your type of business and ensure that the procedures identified in it are actually realistic.
Business details, emergency contacts, business partners and suppliers are all items that should be listed in your plan. Asset registers, employee’s next of kin details and contacts for insurance are also items that need to be identified in a disaster recovery plan.
Important Items of a Disaster Recovery Plan
Some things are more important in your plan than others. These critical business functions and processes and functions of the business that allow it to operate and produce a business or service. Without these functions the business ceases to operate or turn a profit. Shortly after it goes into liquidation depending on the amount of cash in the business.
In any disaster recovery plan, these particular items should be a priority and if you don’t think about anything else, at least take these into account and plan for the future regarding these items. Let’s talk about an example regarding this.
For example, if you business is a coffee shop and it catches fire one night, what have you got left in the morning to operate the business and keep the doors open?
Obviously if the damage is beyond repair or the shop is gutted, then finding a new place to lease immediately might be an option. Or getting the insurers in immediately is another option.
It really depends on the situation. However, a critical function is to have a space to operate from and facilities to provide coffee with.
You can see that the critical functions are the things that allow you to operate and turn a profit. So consideration of a disaster will get you thinking of alternatives should a disaster impact your business.
Where to find disaster recovery plan templates
Obviously, the internet is a great place to start. There are many options available to purchase or create disaster recovery plans online. The following list below are the top 5 we found online with number 1 being our own disaster recovery plan template that we sell on Digital Documents Direct.
The other 4 disaster recovery plans that you may also want to consider, however we think ours is great without being biased. So let’s get started and have a look at the top 5 places to find a disaster recovery plan template.
Disaster Recovery Plan Template Number 1
At Digital Documents Direct, we have a disaster recovery plan template that provides you with an opportunity to identify any potential disasters that could possibly affect your business. This template is created in MS Word and is easy to download and use. Check it out at the link below.
Smartsheet has a number of disaster recovery plans available for download. These are free and include templates such as School Disaster Management Plan Template, Disaster Management Plan Template and Simple Disaster Recovery Plan for Small Businesses.
However, these templates are fairly basic and really don’t offer a huge amount of information. However they are helpful. Check out their website if you get time.
Ontrack offers a Disaster Recovery Plan also. This template is free and is produced in MS Word and available for download from their website.
This however is a disaster recovery plan for IT services. If you need a DRP for small business then this is not going to be suitable. Check it out below and on their website.
You can click through to the template directly if you use the link above.
Disaster Recovery Plan Template Number 4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a fantastic Disaster Recovery Plan. However, these guys are true professionals and have called it a Business Continuity Plan. Now that sounds good.
Certainly very comprehensive for such a large organization,, you can see this plan is detailed and everything has been thought of. However, imagine having to read all that if a disaster strikes? Check it out below and visit their website to have a look. You will certainly get some ideas for your small business.
TemplateLab has a ton of disaster recovery plans to choose from. They also have a ton of ads to click on. There are certainly a few to consider however you may become overwhelmed by the amount of information. However, take a look at their website.
So there you go. 5 easy to use places you can find a Disaster Recovery Plan Template. Depending on what you want it for, there are plenty of places to choose from.
Often the problem I find is there is way too much information. So the best thing you can do is keep it simple and practical. We have tried to keep our templates as simple as possible but 100% relevant to the task required. If they are not simple, no one will use them.
Check out this video on how to make a Disaster Recovery Plan by Jennifer Bridges, PMP from Project Management Videos. Very helpful and cool.
Disaster Recovery Plan Template
An abundance of information usually overwhelms. Losing sight of the aim of a document will guarantee that the document doesn’t actually get used and in the end is unhelpful.
So, we believe keeping it as simple and practical as possible is the best way to ensure your plan suits its purpose.
Consider What is Required
Let’s take a look at some of the detail often found in a Disaster Recovery Plan.
The Overview
Firstly, it is good to have an overview of the organization and plan. This is simple enough and is like an introduction. Don’t waffle on. Just keep it straight to the point.
Hazards and Risks
Identification of risks is certainly something you want to include in the plan. If you take the time to think about all the risks to of interruption to your business this will prepare not only your business but your mind and emotional state should any of them occur.
This is important as often disasters are incredibly hard on people and if you have thought this trough previously, then you are prepared and have a better chance of getting through it.
You can create a list of potential risks and rate them based on their severity. For example this may include High Risk Priority Hazards (With Critical Or Catastrophic Impact), Moderate Risk Priority Hazards (With Marginal Or Critical Impact) or Low Risk Priority Hazards (With Negligible Impact).
Business Continuity And Recovery Planning Team
Depending on the size of your business having a dedicated team to spring into action should any disaster occur is going to be good preparation for your business.
Similar to a fire warden they should be trained and know exactly what to do should any event occur. Having a Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plan to refer to would also be beneficial.
Critical Assets and Critical Operations
These parts of your business are essential for it to operate. Identifying these should be relatively easy. List them out and think about what would be required to keep this component of your business operating should a disaster occur.
Technology
Technology is a huge one for most businesses. Having suitable backups and alternative options for replicating your data is standard practice in any business. Ensure your IT team and performing this role correctly as data is very hard to replace should you lose it all.
The items above are just some of the things you should think about that need to go in your Disaster Recovery Plan. If you are creating one for your small business it doesn’t need to be massive. It just needs to be relevant and suitable according to the scope and size of your business.
What about You?
Got any comments regarding a disaster recovery plan? Have you tried to create one yourself? Have you had to use one? It would be fantastic to hear from you if you have.
Leave a comment below and get the discussion happening.
Really – there is no set rule to creating an SOP. (Standard Operating Procedure). There might be tons of information online about this, however think about it practically.
You need something done and how do you document this process?
Firstly – What is an SOP?
OK, I think we have established that an SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure. This is a great description below.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with industry regulations.
So, really the main point seems to be that it is a step by step procedure. However, the important aspect of creating an SOP is how it is communicated through text, pictures or whatever way you choose to communicate it.
SOP Example
Below is a very basic example of a SOP. This is just to demonstrate that there is nothing overly complicated about an operating procedure.
The simple example we will use below is:
How to Change a Flat Tyre on a Car
Steps to be followed.
1: Make sure the park brake is on
2: Open the boot
3: Get the spare wheel out
4: Get the jack and wrench out to loosen the wheel nuts
5: Position the jack in the correct spot
6: Loosen the wheel nuts
7: Jack up the car
8: Remove the wheel nuts and wheel
9: Install the spare wheel
10: Tighten the Wheel nuts
11: Lower the jack
12: Check the wheel nuts are tight
13. Put the jack and flat tire in the boor
14: Close the boot…
You can see from above that this example is very simple. However, it outlines exactly what is required to perform the task successfully.
It can become more complicated depending on the task. However, the simple example above identifies the process and outlines it step by step.
Make it too complicated and no one will read it or use it. The key is to keep it simple so people engage with it and actually use the process.
Keep it Simple
The best thing you can do about creating SOP’s is to keep them simple and straight forward. If it is a complex task you are documenting, you will need to break it down into smaller tasks.
Something that is very complex can still be completed using standard operating procedures. The combination of training and using procedures allows people to deliver complex tasks correctly, accurately and efficiently.
Complicated Tasks Require a Lot of Work
If you are a complex business and delivering complex services or products, then obviously your SOP’s are going to be long and detailed.
They will be broken into tiny tasks which when combined a step by step procedure on how to complete the task. This combined with regular training achieves the goal set of delivering the complicated tasks or product.
Your business may even need to break a task across teams of people if it is a complex task. This becomes even more detailed as teams work together for a common goal and achieve an end result accurately.
Creating Complex Products with SOP’s
To build a complex product or deliver a complex service, the first thing you need to do systematically divide it into its individual pieces. This means looking at the products each piece separately or in the case of a service, each task separately.
This is known as modular design and development. Documenting the pieces and the process or assembly is a SOP or Standard Operating Procedure. Once you document each piece and how each piece fits together you have created procedures on how to construct a complex product.
Another SOP Example
Below is another SOP example. This one however has images as well as text. This enables people to understand the procedure quicker and use visual cues to understand the process required.
Obviously, if you are going to document all your procedures in this manner, it will take a significant amount of work. Check it out below.
SOP Example | Prepare a Meeting Room
OK, this is a fairly simple task to complete. If you had a much more complex task, then obviously you will have pages and pages of instruction.
Another Written SOP Example
Let’s take a look at yet another example without pictures. You can see this is a bit harder to grasp quickly. However the red text does highlt to the reader the important parts of the task.
Check it out below.
SOP Example | Site Visit Procedure
Lots of text makes the procedure harder to follow quickly. However, you may need lots of text in some situations.
The key is to communicate the required tasks effectively so the task gets completed accurately. There is no point in having the SOP if the task gets completed incorrectly each time.
Train your team to provide feedback to you on building your procedures so you can ensure your procedures are clear and usable. This makes people’s jobs and role easier and more effective.
How to Write an SOP
So how do you go about writing an SOP for your business?
Firstly
Firstly, think about how you are going to use the SOP in your business.
Is it for people behind the computer or people on the factory floor or people working from home?
Secondly
Secondly, how will they read the procedure? Will they read it online or do they need access to a hard copy? Will they be able to use it on their phone? Think about the practicalities of how it is actually used.
No one is going to follow the procedure if it is not:
Clear
Easy to Follow
Understandable
Makes Sense
Logical
Using Simple Language
Memorable
There are many ways to ensure your team actually want to use the procedure. Forcing them is not the best way to make the SOP’s effective. Using common sense is.
Thirdly
Thirdly and most importantly. Ask your team for help. Get an understanding of how they complete their tasks and ask them what they think is the best way to document the SOP.
Involving your team in this tasks gives them ownership and allows them to contribute to the growth of the business. This is really important if you want your business to grow.
Remember you are developing a business that operates without you and achieving team ownership ads significantly value to your business, their lives and provides a meaningful job.
Let’s Not Make this More Complicated Than it Needs to Be
The world is becoming more complicated. Is it because there are too many complicated SOP’s?
SOP’s are not rocket science. There is tons of information online about SOP’s and how to write them and what you should and shouldn’t do.
But realistically – it should be kept simple.
Think about an IKEA furniture pack and the instructions that come with it. Terrible! However, they do work even if you have to think about what the picture is actually trying to get across.
The point is – SOP’s should be kept simple but not so simple they are annoying to follow.
Personally the Step 1, Step 2 process with a related image is the simplest and best way to create an SOP. Anyone that tells you otherwise, I think, is pulling your leg or trying to sell you something.
You can only build or create something 1 step at a time so it makes logical sense that complicated processes are broken down into smaller tasks.
What are Your Thoughts?
Got any examples of other SOP’s or any other comments? Leave them below.
Finding a free safety management plan template online can be easy. But finding a good one that meets your needs becomes difficult.
Firstly, what is a Safety Management Plan? Let’s explore the different types of safety management plans and then look at the options available online for finding a Free Safety Management Plan Template.
A Safety Management Plan has many different names. Just type the phrase into Google and check out all the different names that pop up.
However – they are typically all the same thing. So in this article we look at what is in a Safety Management Plan and where you can possibly get hold of a free Safety Management Plan.
That would be nice wouldn’t it?
However – remember, you typically only get what you pay for so you might be able to find a very basic template that would require you to do all of the work anyway.
So let’s get started…
Let’s Take a Look with a Simple Google Search
So if we do a search on Google, there are a lot of results surrounding this topic. Take a look for example at a simple Google search in the United States.
In fact, there are 156 million results in Google!
Wow – that is a lot! How can you possibly find what you need in so many results?
Google 2020, Safety Management Plan Template Results, viewed 02 March 2020, https://www.google.com/
So taking a look at the results above, there are plenty of images related to this topic.
There are quite a lot of pdfs in the Google results as well as some opportunities to create site-specific Safety Management Plans. Scrolling down there are a couple of shops and then also some WHS Construction Safety Plan Generic Samples as well as a few Ads.
So – plenty to look at. However, if you have already had a look through the results – have you found a good quality free Safety Management Plan Template?
Also – have you tried a few other types of searches? For example, check out the images search in Google. Plenty of options there as well.
Google 2020, Safety Management Plan Image Results, viewed 02 March 2020, https://www.google.com/
It is likely to be hard to find a good quality free Safety Management Plan Template.
Let’s take a closer look below and see what we have found. But firstly, lets discuss exactly what this type of document is and what is typically in it so you then know what you are looking for.
Specifically, what is in a Safety Management Plan?
A Safety Management Plan is a document that is created specifically for a construction site.
It is all about controlling risk on the site and outlines in written and graphical detail how these risks will be managed
Once complete, the plan should be made available to everyone involved in the project and should be easy to access. It needs to be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure it is up to date and modified as the site changes.
It will include everything from important contacts and supervisors right through to management of hazards and dangerous tasks.
A good quality safety management plan has quite a lot of detail in it. It will also be easy to read and interpret as it needs to be read by many people of varying educational backgrounds.
Let’s look deep into the detail.
Size of Project = Size of Safety Plan
Depending how big and complex the project is will determine the size and complexity of the Safety Management Plan. For example, if you are building a few town-homes, this will be a relatively smaller and less complex project than building a 80 storey skyscraper in the city.
Complexity depends on project type
However, your project might be small but have a high degree of risk. So therefore it really makes a difference to what is in the safety plan depending on the type of project it is for.
Simple Details
So starting out with the basics, it makes sense to include any items that provide information for the reader.
This typically can include things like;
the address of the project
the contact details of supervisors and safety officers
management names and responsibilities
positions of management.
Remember, these are only the basic details with further details to be included further into the report.
More Descriptive Details
As we move into the detail of the plan, it is important to also include further details that are more site specific. These more project specific elements may include;
a project description
responsibilities of particular personnel
consultation, induction and training
identification of hazards including assessment and control risks
managing subcontractors
managing incidents
monitoring and review of the plan.
Even More details
It pays to enter plenty of details into your Safety Management Plan. This document should be comprehensive. It should also be tailored to suit the reader.
Chances are people will try and avoid it. However, it is important it is implemented onsite. These types of documents are critical for site safety – so it makes sense that management ensure everyone has read and understood the document.
This could be done in a number of ways. We will take a look at the detail a bit further down below.
But for now – let’s take a look at what free templates we found online.
Free Safety Management Plan Templates
So let’s have a look at some of the free options available online and see if they are any good.
Option 1 Free Safety Management Plan Template
This particular website is a Australian Government website that has a downloadable PDF on it.
ComCare 2020, Work health and safety (WHS) management plan template, viewed 02 March 2020, https://www.comcare.gov.au/
You can download the pdf and fill out the fields if you have the appropriate Adobe Acrobat software.
Not much good if you just have MS Word though.
Option 2 Sampletemplates.com
Sampletemplates.com have a range of sample templates including a number of Editable Safety Plan Templates.
Check them out on their website which looks like the image below.
Graphic Products have plenty of information on their website regarding Safety Management Plans. There is information regarding What a OSHA Safety Plan is as well as plenty of information about Management Leadership and Employee Involvement.
However, it looks as there is only a few links to download a free guide.
No doubt this will be helpful when creating your Safety Management Plan. Check out the website view below.
SafetyCulture.com is online form creation which is handy. This is a bit more serious now and gives you options to complete plans by filling out fields.
You can also download checklists but need to sign up first. Something that a lot of website require. So check out their website below or at the link above.
lso has a free construction management safety plan template you should check out. Their website looks like this below.
More Important Detail
OK, so now we have had a look at the free templates available, let’s talk a bit further about the detail you may need in your plan.
You could have things like an Aim and Policy which is a great start to your documents.
Further to this you should have definitions included which highlight the meaning of words used in your plan.
It is also good to talk about accountabilities and disciplinary action. Don’t forget to include the name and address of the Principal Contractor as well as the Principal Contractor’s Business Number.
Then you should also include Workplace Health and Safety Committee details, WHSO (Workplace Health and Safety Officer) appointed details.
Then you can move into SPECIFIC SITE ACTIVITIES. This includes detailed items such as:
If you include all of these things then you are certainly on the way to providing a good quality detailed Safety Management Plan.
Download a Free Safety Management Plan Template
Thanks for reading down this far. We have a Free Safety Management Plan Template you can download.
OK, so after all the text above and all the talking, we would love for you to download our free safety plan template. It’s not our full version, however it is a good version if you want something for free to get your safety plan up and running.
If however, you want to save a lot of time then consider purchasing our full version Safety Management Plan Template as it will save you a ton of time.
So, check it out below in an easy MS Word format for you to download – 100% free with no signups or anything. Just a gift from us for coming to our website and reading this far down….so here it is.
If you need to create a safety plan for construction for your project then getting hold of a free template is going to save you a few dollars.
Construction Safety Plan Free Download
It’s Free!
However – is it really worth it? Typically like anything, things for free are not actually free. This goes with the internet as well. It might be possible to find free documents and templates, however when you look deeper into it, the free document may be just a teaser to get you to buy more.
This is fair enough. Anything with quality usually comes with a cost because it take significant time and effort to create products and people are creating their business online and need to recoup their costs as well as make an income.
Types of Construction Safety Plans
Let’s take a quick look at the types of Construction Safety Plans and then you can go ahead and make a decision about the type you are looking for.
There are tons of websites selling site safety information. Often the problem is that there is information overload and the last thing you need are people switching off because they are overwhelmed with information.
Due to the obvious topic of safety, you need people to switch on and be alert to the information provided. Therefore it should be easy to access, easy to read and most of all easy to understand and implement.
Easier said than done.
The Benefits of a Safety Plan Template
Handling a business is not just about making money. In order for a business to be stable, the owner should also take care of employees. It is the employees that keep the business running. With their hard work, you are able to generate profit so it is just expected that you make sure they are safe during work hours.
In the past there have been businesses that were forced to close because of the lack of a safety plan. Ensure this is not your business. If you do not have any idea what to include in your safety plan, there are plenty of websites that could help you.
In fact, the amount of information is overwhelming. Websites dedicated to providing templates for business are everywhere.
There are plenty of options online and plenty of safety plan templates available for download. The majority of these require payment but the cost is typically worthwhile as most of these safety plan templates are guaranteed to be complete and accurate.
By having a safety plan, you will avoid getting in trouble with the law and also your business will run much more smoothly. Employees will be informed on how to operate around dangerous situations and therefore avoid accidents as much as possible.
Accidents of any nature directly impact on the business so need to be avoided at all costs.
Safety Plan Templates for Your Employees’ Protection
Businesses in the field of construction have employees who risk their lives everyday just to carry out their tasks. Danger is part of the job but this does not mean the employer should just let his employees wander around without informing them of the precautions they should take.
While a lot of countries still have not included safety requirements as part of law, it is imperative to provide safety plans for your team and anyone else. The last thing you want is to have to deal with safety issues including accidents and incidents.
When they do occur – you must be prepared.
By not having safety plans and safety procedures, the employer does not only disregard the protection of his employees, they also risks losing major earnings because of the possibility of accidents.
Creating safety plans can be an extremely tedious task. However, utilizing a safety management plan template will save you a colossal amount of effort.
Safety plan templates are typically the best way to create your safety plan easily. Protect your team and your visitors by utilizing safety plans and procedures in your business or for your construction project.
Safety Plan Templates for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs can be risky types. They usually take significant calculated risks to get something to happen or create a business opportunity.
However, are these risks worth it when it comes to safety?
Not likely.
In creating a business, taking staff safety for granted is a recipe for disaster.
Some employers are concerned only with making as much profit as possible. They often ignore the possibility of their employees getting harmed while at work.
Depending on the country you operate in, the law may require you to create and submit a safety plan before the business or project can commence.
Businesses are complicated and have many areas that need attention. No matter how simple your business may seem, it still may require several government requirements to meet your local authority. Typically this is to secure the safety of both the business owner and employees as well as any other people that come in contact with the business.
Of course, it is also necessary to protect the employees as they are often on the ‘coal face’ of running the business. This is especially true in construction companies.
The employees use their hands in manual labor and put themselves in danger every time they go to the field. It is the responsibility of the employer to protect his employees. They should be informed on how to avoid accidents and keep everyone safe.
Planning a project takes a significant amount of work. The safety aspects within the project and planning this into the delivery of the project should be a high priority. Typically the builder is responsible for the site and keeping people safe.
Protect Your Employees and Get a Safety Plan Template
It is absolutely important to have a safety plan if your business is in the field of construction. Everyday, your employees deal with danger and it is not easy for them to risk their life almost every hour just to earn enough dollars to provide for their family.
A lot of businesses find it difficult to detail every aspect of a safety plan. It is much easier to just use a template. However, it is critical that you know the detail of your safety plan and review and customize the template to suit your business or project.
You might pay a small amount for a template online, however it will dramatically reduce the amount of effort required to deliver your plan. Some websites also offer a package containing several other templates aside from safety plan templates to cater to your business needs.
Download a Free Safety Plan Template
At Digital Documents Direct, we like to provide free information where we can. The following download is a basic outline for your safety plan template. It is a MS Word document that you can easily download and use as a start for your safety plan.
Safety Plan Templates – there are many types from complex construction safety requirements through to mental health plans.
Safety Plan Template
In this article, we will explore safety plans and safety plan templates. We will discuss what they are, the different types, what they include and how to create one.
Further to this we will investigate finding safety plan templates to create your safety plan quickly and efficiently.
We will also explore free safety plans and you can even download your own free safety plan template. It’s down a bit further. So let’s get underway.
A safety plan is a document or strategy that allows you to plan for avoiding dangerous situations. A safety plan identifies how to react when a dangerous situation occurs and can be used in several areas of life from domestic violence through to construction.
What is a Safety Plan Template?
A safety plan template is a formatted document that has been created with the intention of increasing the ability to complete a safety plan faster and easier.
Typically, a safety plan template will include a lot of the information already completed and a simple task of removing unwanted content is required. A safety plan template is going to save you an incredible amount of time and allow you to create your finished safety plan in minutes instead of weeks.
Types of Safety Plans
There are many different types of safety plans. For instance, a simple Google search reveals a massive amount of information around this topic.
Check out the numbers below. Is that billions? Looks like it to me.
About 3,040,000,000 results. Wow! Safety plans are certainly something that are important.
A safety plan can apply to many different parts of life and can also cover many different industries or fields of work. There are safety plans for many situations and events and can include safety plans from construction through to the management of infrastructure.
Safety Plans
7 Different Safety Plans
Here are seven different types of safety plans:
Mental health safety plans;
Construction safety plans;
Domestic violence safety plans;
Health and safety plans;
Workplace safety plans;
Emergency response safety plan;
Infrastructure safety plans;
And the list goes on and on.
They can be simple ‘go to’ lists through to comprehensive plans that include many complex scenarios.
So let’s have a detailed look at the different types of safety plans and the content within them. Then we will explore how to create your own safety plan depending on the type you want.
Check out some of the types of safety plans below on this info-graphic.
Safety Plans | 8 Types of Safety Plans
Whatever the type of safety plan, it is important that the plan outlines in detail preventative actions as well as action plans to ensure users are kept safe.
Below we will talk about some of the safety plan templates available online – both free and paid.
The finer detail of Safety Plans
Let’s drill down and look at the different types of safety plans in a little more detail. By the way, it shouldn’t be too painful, so stay with me.
Event Safety Plans
Safety Plans | Event Safety for Crowds
Where there are large gatherings of people safety is critical. Likewise, imagine how easily it can get out of hand. Just look at the list of human stampedes on Wikipedia. YIKES.
Safety Plans to deal with large numbers of people are relevant. Generally, these tie in with transport plans and crowd management plans. All relevant to keeping people safe.
Event Safety Plan Example
Check out Safety Culture’s Event Safety Plan for more information regarding Event Safety.
Events should have a detailed and comprehensive safety plan that captures all aspects of the event from crowd control through to emergency personnel and access.
These safety plans are site specific and come come with a large amount of detail and are required by law before site work can start.
Depending on the country and the jurisdiction you live in, Workplace Health and Safety is usually a high priority. Furthermore, protecting people in dangerous roles and jobs is critical.
If you are looking to create a safety plan for construction purposes, there are many options online available to you. There are also free templates available as well as paid versions to assist you in creating a safety plan for your project.
Specific Construction Safety Plans
As mentioned above, in construction safety is critical. Looking after your fellow human being is a core responsibility in anyone’s life. Preventing accidents is of an upmost priority. Everyone should go home after a hard day’s work and deserves to work in a safe environment.
A company safety plan will address any aspects of safety that personnel from the company may experience in their daily work. It doesn’t just have to be construction firms. All businesses must consider safety.
A Dangerous Industry
The construction industry is no doubt more dangerous than a lot of industries. Due to the nature of the work, significant machinery and dangerous worksites, safety becomes paramount.
Typically, a construction safety plan word document is the format that most people create their document in. Usually this is a .doc or .docx file format and they then save it as a .pdf. This makes it easy to edit and update quickly.
Demolition Plans
Other things to consider within a construction site safety plan template is whether it has a demolition safety plan template within it as a separate section or is an additional document. Demolition has its own risks as obviously things potentially are flying everywhere, and safety is paramount.
If you are a managing contractor, then providing a subcontractor site specific safety plan for subcontractors on your site is essential to meet government regulations and law in many countries.
Safe Work Method Statements
SWMS or Safe Work Method Statements are a critical part of any construction site. These documents detail specifics when it comes to performing a risky task on site.
Safe Work Method Statement Template
It outlines step by step how the task will be completed and identifies risks and hazards that must be addressed prior to the task commencing onsite.
Utilise a safety method statement template to create your SWMS quickly and efficiently. If you are looking for a builder’s safety swms (Safe Work Method Statement), then there are plenty examples available online.
What is Safety in Design
Safety in design is something that has become critical over the last 20 years.
It is about ensuring all aspects of safety have been considered in the design process before work commences onsite.
Safety in Design Matrix
It is really a checklist process to ensure all consultants have considered safety in their design discipline and documented this process as a record of what has been reviewed and amended.
As part of the design process, typically a safety in design report is completed and sometimes there can be a requirement for a safety in design presentation.
Whatever the process is, using a safety in design report template will save considerable time and effort when completing these tasks.
Safety in Design Risk Assessment
Safety in design risk assessment involves considering the aspects of the site and the level of risk. These risks are typically rated from low risk to extreme risk and this is graphically represented on a chart included within the report.
Specifically, as an example, a low risk element of a project maybe a small trip hazard in a walkway.
This is something that could be easily addressed with signage or safety markings on the ground. This would help identify the risk to users.
In comparison, a high-risk element might be an accessible area on a high rise building that doesn’t have any fall protection to prevent people falling from a great height.
These are just 2 safety in design risk assessment examples that should be addressed in the safety in design process.
A safety in design template as well as a safety matrix template are documents that assist in completing the safety in design requirements for any project to meet local regulations and law.
Regulating Authorities
United States The United States Department of Labor aims to protect and enhance the welfare of workers. They also have recommendations regarding safety in the workplace and are a great reference point for anything related to site safety.
Typical content of a construction safety plan includes:
The details of all safety personnel and responsible personnel at the workplace or construction site
Roles of safety officers on the site
Safety arrangements with other parties involved in the construction
Project specific rules and safety requirements
Monitoring, review and documentation of Safe Work Method Statements
Emergency procedures, contacts and requirements.
Construction sites are dangerous environments and every year workers are injured or killed due to site accidents. Site safety is an important aspect of any construction site and ensuring a safe workplace is paramount for a successful construction process.
This type of safety plan is for people to use when they are feeling unsafe or suicidal.
They are created so people refer to them to remind them of reasons to live. For example, to look at the good things in life such as family, friends and activities to do when they are alone. Safety Plans also provide strategies to help people reflect on positive thoughts.
These safety plans are personal and it is possible to create one online. Refer to some of the websites available by a simple search if you are looking to create this type of safety plan.
As mentioned above, safety plans stretch also to personal issues such as mental health.
A mental health safety plan template will identify the aspects of a mental health safety plan that are important to be considered as part of keeping safe.
A personal safety plan identifies specific actions to be take in a high-risk environment that a vulnerable person may find themselves in. It provides a step by step instruction to follow in a time of risk.
As an example, this could include something such as a domestic violence situation where a domestic violence safety plan created from a template becomes important.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Check out the example below from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This template is a patient safety plan template and outlines step by step what should be considered for personal safety.
Mental Health Safety Plans provide security for people to have a little bit of confidence that they have something to revert to should they find themselves in a situation they need to get out of quickly and these plans provide that exit advice they can apply immediately.
Recommended Content of a Mental Health Safety Plan
Typical content of a mental health safety plan includes:
When the plan should be used by the user
Strategies to comfort the user when they are feeling vulnerable, suicidal or at risk
A list of reasons for living
Contacts who the user can talk to easily and readily
Contacts who the user can access for professional help
Ways to make the users environment safe.
Mental health plans are relatively simple but very effective in assisting the user to re-frame their perspective for the situation they are in and immediately seek help. They are effective to assist users to think of alternative options in vulnerable situations and act on those options.
Safety plans for emergencies are prepared for the workplace or for situations where people address an emergency. They are a written set of instructions to assist in dealing with the situation.
Information within a document like this is usually clear, straight to the point and also provides a list of step by step instructions to follow.
Commonly known as an emergency plan.
There are also situations where a safety plan is created and kept in a safe place ready for use for when an emergency occurs. For example in a bush fire scenario.
Recommended Content of an Emergency Safety Plan
Typical content of an emergency safety plan includes:
an effective response to an emergency
how to evacuate and all procedures associated with evacuation
medical treatment
communication and testing of emergency procedures.
Emergency Safety Plans are great at communicating directly in times of stress. They should be clear and direct and identify measures that aim to keep people calm and render assistance as soon as possible.
Keeping people safe online is important as the amount of risk escalates daily. Having a safety plan in place can help to keep people and children safe from predators. Also keeping people safe from scams is important – which are rife.
Recommended Content of an Internet Safety Plan
Typical content of an internet safety plan includes:
Online safety checklist
Social media checklist
Securing accounts and devices
Keeping children safe
Virus software.
Internet Safety Plans are only as good as the supervisor or parent activating them.
Also useful in domestic violence situations, safety plans assist people in situations where they feel they may need help. They also help people to feel safer.
They have things such as an escape plan and practical strategies such as improving home security and personal security. These types of plans help people plan for unexpected situations. They are about taking proactive steps to take back control over their life and the lives of their children.
These types of safety plans address all areas of life. This can include at home, in the car, at work or in social settings.
Recommended Content of a Domestic Violence Safety Plan
Some of the typical content of a domestic violence safety plan includes:
Safety during a violent incident
Advice for when preparing to leave
Safety in residence
Requirements and safety with a violence restraining order (VRO).
Considerations in regard to safety on the job and in public
Drug or alcohol use and safety
Emotional health and safety considerations.
Domestic Safety Plans can be quite detailed however they give the user plenty of information and options to make the best decision in very stressful situations.
Critical Infrastructure Resilience – what big words. However this stuff is important. All communities rely on provision of services including the provision of the most basic needs like water, food and safe transport.
What about the health system, finance system, communications and all these types of services that make up our society? Having safety plans to keep all these things protected makes sense.
It is unlikely you would be producing a safety plan for something like this. Unless of course you are in some government department. And then, they are likely to have their own standards and requirements.
However, these types of safety plans are usually very detailed and include large broad scale principles to protect our infrastructure.
Recommended Content of an Infrastructure Safety Plan
Typical content of an infrastructure safety plan includes:
regular maintenance and servicing
access for personnel and contractors
extreme weather events and damage
management and contacts regarding operations
emergency personnel and external emergency contacts.
Infrastructure Safety Plans are tools to keep the public’s assets operating effectively and safely particularly in unusual events such as terrorism risks or severe weather events.
Safe Work a Major Focus for Governments
In countries such as Australia, the UK and the USA, there are organizations that promote and regulate work safety.
Workplace Safety
Workplace safety effects everyone not just those that are not at work. Injuries and accidents have a huge cost to the community, and we all have a responsibility to look after others to minimize the impacts of these events that can be life changing for many.
Not just in high risk industries such as mining and construction, workplace safety covers all businesses and workplaces.
It is the most important aspect of running a business and should be the number one priority for management in any business.
Work Safety Plans, Procedures and Manuals
Typically, a workplace health and safety policies and procedures manual is a document that helps to communicate expectations across any organization. These work safety plan templates assist in delivering safe work environments for all.
There are plenty of workplace safety plan examples and templates available online, so it really isn’t that hard anymore to identify strict safe rules for a workplace. It is harder however to ensure everyone abides by the rules and looks after their fellow workers.
Safe Work Australia
Down under in Australia, Safe Work Australia is the organization initiated by the Australian Government leading safe work practices in the workplace. This is to reduce site accidents and these organizations focus on promoting safe work places.
There are also WHS (WHS stands for Workplace Health and Safety) laws and these laws are attempts to create a consistent approach to safety. Typically developed through National Standards and National Codes of Practice .
These organizations provide a range of information and guidance regarding employer’s responsibilities, managing risk and reporting obligations. They are a great reference tool to refer to.
Safety Plans for Health and Safety in Construction
So if you’re in the market for a workplace health and safety construction based safety plan template, then there are plenty of opportunities you can find online.
WHS Management Safety Plans
If you are developing a construction based safety plan, there are plenty of things to consider.
For example, what are the duties required with regard to safety of personnel on site? Specifically, for any tasks within the construction work to be completed?
Then other things to consider are managing risks in construction and also WHS management safety plans. There are so many things to consider when you are developing your safety plan for construction.
A Typical Example
For example, let’s consider a typical construction site. On this site it may be a small block of units. The managing contractor sublets all works to subcontractors. The subcontractors need to attend site to complete their work. If the safety of any subcontractor is at risk, the managing contractor can be liable.
It makes sense for the managing contractor to get his safety plan and WHS management plan sorted out. And then to also distribute it to all subcontractors before they can commence on site. Even detailed tasks such as handling materials or picking up heavy objects require guidelines on how to prevent injury.
Clearly a safety plan is going to be a detailed document and something that anybody involved in your project needs to read and apply.
The following are a list of parts of a WHS Management Plan or Safety Plan that you should consider.
Safe Work Method Statements
How about safe work method statements? These types of documents outline how to perform specific tasks safely. These detailed documents list out each step and each safety requirement for each step.
In other words, safe work method statements show workers exactly what is required to keep safe.
Incident Management
What about incident management? Don’t think that incidents may not happen. They may and are you prepared if they do?
Incident management reports, incident forms and all types of documents suitable to manage incidents are also part of a WHS Management Plan.
Signage
Safety signage is an important aspect of a construction site. Do you have the correct signage? Is the signage positioned correctly? Does your signage meet the required codes for clarity and legibility?
All of these aspects must be considered.
Safe Handling and Use of Dangerous Substances
Handling dangerous substances, chemicals and materials is an extremely important part of a safety plan. It is something you need to consider. What are the national standards for storing chemicals and handling dangerous goods on your work site?
Worker Training
Training is about how workers go about their jobs safely. It is critical to ensure safety standards are followed on site. This type of training is important for any field to educate workers on the correct behavior and hazard identification.
Emergency Procedures
Procedures for when an emergency occurs is another aspect of site safety plans and workplace environments. Creation of evacuation procedures, notification procedures, emergency drills and responsible personnel all make up the emergency procedure requirements when creating a safety plan.
Safety Plan Templates – Save Time
Searching online brings up a huge list of results regarding safety plan templates.
Safety Plan Template
The majority of the top results are focused around patient safety. They are also focused around as suicide safety planning. It’s not until page 2 of the Google results do the construction safety plans start appearing.
There are a lot of construction based health and safety templates available. They seem to be very popular and you can purchase these through a number of websites.
Other Types of Safety Plan Templates
However, other types of safety plans and templates are generally less detailed and more basic. These typically are for domestic violence and other types of human resource issues.
There seem to be limited opportunities to purchase templates online for for government base entities for infrastructure requirements and community safe requirements.
Free Safety Plan Template
If you are looking for a free safety plan template then consider your options online. Below is an image of the results at time of writing.
You can see there are plenty of results that are offering a free template.
However, if you dig down further, the part that is free is usually just to get you interested in spending money on a more complex version which is fair enough for any online business.
OK, so after all the text above and all the talking, we would love for you to download our free safety plan template. It’s not our full version, however it is a good version if you want something for free to get your safety plan up and running.
If however, you want to save a lot of time then consider purchasing our full version Safety Plan Template as it will save you a ton of time.
So, check it out below in an easy MS Word format for you to download – 100% free with no signups or anything. Just a gift from us for coming to our website and reading this far down….so here it is.
There is a ton of information you need to consider when producing a safety plan regardless of the type. Check out the graphic below for a summary of WHS Management Plan essentials.
WHS Management Plan Essentials
So that’s about it for safety plans and safety plan templates. Leave a comment below.
What do you think about safety plans and have you created a safety plan easily or has it been hard work?
Safety Plan Template Download
You can read more about the Digital Document Direct’s Safety Plan Template – < Click the link.
Safety Plan Template FAQ
How can I create a Safety Plan Fast?
A safety plan template is going to be the fastest way to create your safety plan quickly and efficiently. The best way to get hold of a safety plan template is to purchase one online.
What should be in a Safety Plan?
Depending what industry you are creating your safety plan for will determine what should be in your safety plan. For example, if it is for a construction site then you should include all aspects of site safety requirements. If it is a personal safety plan you require, then you should consider things like mental health strategies to keep people safe.
Is a Safety Plan Easy to Create?
A construction safety plan is usually very detailed and can be complex. It will depend on the scale of the project so you should consider using a safety plan template to speed up the process. Other types of safety plans can range from simple to detailed. Consider the audience and the reason for creating the plan.
What types of Safety Plans are there?
There are many types of safety plans such as mental health safety plans, construction safety plans, domestic violence safety plans through to Emergency response safety plans and Infrastructure safety plans. The list goes on and on.
If you need an Employee Contract or Employment Contract you can either make one yourself, (time intensive) get a lawyer to create one for you (big bucks!) or buy a template online (probably your best option for cost effectiveness and time).
Whatever you choose, using an Employee Contract Template is going to save a colossal amount of time. Employing your staff with the right documents is critical if you want to ensure you limit your liability.
It is important that you are aware of what is in the contract and implement it each time you engage a new employee. Employing staff can be a challenge (so can working with the Boss!).
Your Expectations
If you employ a staff member that ends up creating issues for your business, you want to know where you stand when it comes to terminating them.
Terminating a team member’s employment is not the nicest experience for anyone. However, turning a blind eye to poor behavior or dangerous or illegal behavior could jeopardize your whole business. It will also have significant impact on the rest of your team.
That is the last thing you need!
Obviously – you need to abide by all the rules and regulations of the State or Territory that your business resides in. However, just getting most of the content together shouldn’t be the world’s hardest task. Also it shouldn’t cost you an ‘arm and a leg’ in lawyers fees.
Communication is Key
A contract will ensure both parties know the rules. YAY! Communication makes a big difference. Be surprised how many businesses just ‘wing it’ and hope for the best.
However, if you are building a strong, reputable business and are around for the long haul, then doing it properly makes perfect sense.
It is important that you make sure your employees read the contract thoroughly. Before they start work with you is best so they know all the rules and what is expected of them.
Don’t just give it to them and walk away. Meet with them and go through each point so it is clear.
A good quality contract should be easy to read but still go into sufficient detail.
Of course, you cannot foresee all of the issues, however you certainly can make sure you cover as much as possible.
Implementing the correct employee contract is certainly going to make a difference in your business. It will ensure that you have clear communication channels between your staff and your management team or yourself if you are the business owner.
Easy Ways to Create an Employee Contract
A contract of employment is something that you should provide to your newly hired employees prior to them commencing work with you. It is imperative that you provide this document to them to ensure a smooth-sailing relationship between the two of you.
If you want the creation of this contract to be made even easier, then an template is something that you should consider using. You can either purchase a template online or contact your lawyer so he will draw up the documents for you.
But if you want to do it yourself, then rest assured that there are several ways for you to accomplish this.
You just have to consider a lot of important things to make the contract extremely effective.
Follow This List
The first thing that you need to do when creating a contract for employment is to provide some space to identify the parties involved in the contract. The space should be enough to fill the full names of both parties.
Next you should include the name of the company, telephone numbers, addresses and any other essential information.
Following on, the next thing that you need to do is to choose the specific law and location that will govern the contract. This is needed to ensure that there is indeed a governing law that will be used whenever there are legal issues that need to be resolved.
It may also depend on the type of position – are they professional – white collar or blue collar staff members?
Fourthly you should add in all your expectations. You may have references to other documents such as your Procedure Manual or Quality Manual or your policies.
The last thing that you need to do when creating an employee contract is to ensure that parts of the contract are understandable. This will allow both of you to work together without getting confused along the process.
Why Must you Use a Contract to Employ Staff?
If you are an owner of a company and you are employing a number of employees, then you are aware of the fact that carefully choosing people to be part of your team can be very beneficial to you.
If you employ people who are unreliable, then there is a risk your business will fail . That can be pretty obvious, but sometimes business owner’s emotions get in the way of rationale decisions.
Because of this, it is important for you to carefully interview people so you will be able to determine if they are qualified for the offered position/s. Once they are hired, provide them a contract of employment which states their duties and responsibilities to your company.
What Else is Required?
The contract should also state what your staff can expect from you during the period of their employment. To make the process of creating employment contracts easier, use an employee contract template. This will save you from spending too much time creating contracts each time new people are hired.
An employment contract is indeed a useful tool when it comes to ensuring that all your employees work productively. A contract clearly states the responsibilities of employees, they will know exactly what they need to do for the company to flourish.
The contract will also serve as a bond between you and your employees.
It allows both parties to build a stronger and smoother
relationship.
What is in an Employee Contract?
A contract of employment serves as an agreement between your business and your employees. It highlights to you both your expectations from the moment they start working in the office.
To make the job of creating a contract easier, use a template. Then you only need to make minor changes. These would be filling in the name, address, salary information and any other details applicable to the job position. All the other stuff will be standard for each employee – YAY!
Typically, an employment contract usually contains information like the names of both parties. Also essential details of the organization and number of hours that an employee needs to follow each day. Then, their salary expectation, the probation period and the process of termination.
It also contains the start date of the employee and specific
information about the entitlement of leave such as sick leave, holiday leave
and maternity or paternity leave.
Job titles and duties of employees and certain disciplinary
procedures in the office are also stated in the contract. The employer may also
add other details in the contract based on specific advice from their lawyer.
Considering the many details that should be included in an employment contract using a template is a significant advantage.
Employee Contracts for Beginners
If you are just a beginner in the field of employing staff know that providing an employment contract is recommended. It is considered to be an effective approach when it comes to improving your relationship with them.
What has a monkey got to do with it? Nothing really – just wanted to see if you are still reading down this far or if you have fallen asleep.
Expectations will be much clearer once the contract is created and understood by both of you. This is invaluable when there are disagreements.
If you want to obtain assurance that contracts can be easily created whenever new people are employed in your company use a template.
However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when looking for a template
When looking for the best employee contract template, it is important for you to use a contract that can can be understood. Since both parties stated in the contract will work with each other, you have to make sure that both of you easily comprehend the terms within the employment.
The template should also have spaces for certain details that clearly state what your employees can expect from you and what you can expect from them in return.
When you consider these things, then you will be on your way towards easily creating the contract that both you and your employee need.
A stronger relationship is expected to be built from a contract that clearly states what needs to be stated. This cannot be understated!
Employment Contract Templates Save Time
Getting the right employment contracts in your business makes a difference. It will make a difference to the performance of your team. Then ultimately the performance of your business.
Engage staff using a detailed employment contract as this then makes it fair when any disagreements arise.
There may be laws in your country that would override your employment agreements. It makes sense to check this out. Combine the relevant laws for your state in the agreements you create for your staff. You may need assistance from a lawyer for this.
Treat your team well and treat them fair and they should work well for you.
However, you need to also keep them honest. If they are taking you for a ride then communicate to them how their behavior is not welcomed.
Quick and Efficient
An employment contract template allows you to generate these agreements quickly and efficiently without fuss. This allows you to save significant time and money. It also allows you to get on with the job of running your business and not spending half your time trying to get information together that someone has already done before.
There is no point in reinventing the wheel!
If you are looking to engage staff then ensure you use an employee contract template. It will allow you to cover all the basics so that you can have some peace of mind should things go bad between your team member and yourself.
Why you Need to use an Employee Contract Template
An employment contract is a legal document. This document contains the agreement between an employer and an employee with regards to what both of them can expect from each other within the period of employment.
If you are an owner of a company, then an employment contract is something that makes you and your business more transparent.
Instant Benefits
An Employment Contract:
Builds trust between you and your employees;
Communicates clearly and accurately;
Is more professional;
Builds your business;
Sets high standards;
Saves time and stress;
Prevents future disputes.
A template:
saves tons of time;
avoids rework;
reminds you of the important aspects that you may have forgotten;
speeds up your daily processes;
reduces stress.
A newly hired employee should expect to receive a contract from the moment they are hired.
If you are an employer, then an employee contract template ensures that you complete the process of hiring employees in the fastest possible time.
You never know how many employees will start to work in your company, so prepare for the future. To help the employer and the employee maintain a smooth sailing relationship an employee contract is required.
If you are looking for an effective template, then you have three choices.
You can get a lawyer and allow him to create the template, purchase a template online or do the job yourself. Once you are able to set up a contract template, you will be on your way towards providing your new employee the contract of employment the fastest time possible.
Learn More
Read more about Digital Documents Direct’s Employment Contract Template at the following link. Employment Contract Template
Got any comments? Please share below to get the discussion happening.
They are usually great managers and great with people. They hold things together and get things done. They pay attention to detail and can be very valuable to any business.
If you have great admin staff in your business hang onto them as they help your business run smoothly and efficiently.
List of Tasks and Responsibilities of Administrative Assistants
Below is a cool list of tasks that might be suitable for your administrative assistant. You can copy and paste this list if you find it useful.
Maintains the reception and the meeting room in a presentable manner at all times
Asks visitors if they would like a tea/coffee/drink
Cleans meeting room after meetings
Cleans meeting room before meetings
Cleans office glass doors weekly
Collects mail and newspapers every morning
Drafts letters and faxes for the team in general
Ensures own workstation is kept tidy and clean
Files electronic documents correctly
Purchases morning tea for the office on a regular basis
Records minutes in meetings
Updates the Administration manual
Uses ‘In’ and ‘Out’ filing trays correctly
Creates new projects on project drive
Archives Old Projects
Collects and Distributes Faxes
Maintains Petty Cash
Monitors sick days and leave
Requests Sick Certificates from Absent staff on their return
Monitor timesheets and request completion from team members
Maintains the stationery stock and general office supplies
Liaises with suppliers, including requesting quotes and monitoring costs. Looks for opportunities for savings
Ability to prioritise work and ensure timelines are adhered to
Is on time for all meetings, which shows you respect for colleagues time
Shows self-motivation, self-discipline, and capacity to work with little supervision or structure
Dresses professionally and neatly
Able to ask the right questions and being able to answer questions
Looks to solve problems and issues by themselves and only seeks help when absolutely necessary
Seek ways to assume responsibilities beyond your current job description
Build relationships among peers that foster collaboration and discussion of new ideas
List: Administrative Assistant
So that is a small list of responsibilities that might be suitable for your Administrative Assistant. Take the time today to create a clear position description and what your team grow fast.
Firstly, it is good to consider what standards you are trying to uphold in your business. If you believe that your business should uphold high standards then you are going to need to communicate this to your team. 
Secondly, what are your own standards and expectations? It will be hard to enforce a high standard if you don’t follow that standard yourself. It is a bit rich to expect others to uphold a standard if you cannot uphold it yourself. 
Act Honestly
Benefit 3 – Easy to Distribute
Professionalism
Identify all the benefits of dealing with your business
