Inadequate Buddy Systems

Many businesses use a buddy system to induct and train new workers. Two companies were recently prosecuted when a worker was injured and found to have been given inadequate training and supervision after relying on a buddy system.

A labour hire worker was contracted to a business to help operate a conveyor system. He was given a buddy to teach him the local work practices.

This is a common method of training and supervision and used in many companies. But in this case one of his buddies thought it was safe to remove the build-up on the conveyor while it was still operating. The worker then used a shovel to clear a build-up, which got caught in the running rollers which resulted in serious shoulder injuries.

The Court found that the business failed to properly train and supervise workers, while the labour hire company failed to determine the nature of the work its employee would be doing at the factory, or check whether the host business had properly trained him.

This case emphasises the need for businesses to better understand who can train (or buddy) others within your organisation and what competency testing and monitoring you need to perform on these workers. For labour hire companies, this means that procedures need to be in place to check your employees are receiving appropriate and adequate training at host sites.

If you are unsure that your supervision or training process is adequate contact Safety Action on 03 8544 4300 or email to discuss.