Page 344 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

316 13 Last but in Fact Most Importantly … Health and Safety

VetBooks.ir verbally and in writing. As important as it is 13.5.1.1 Safety Policy Statement
An effective way to communicate your zoo’s
for the zoo to train and orient its employees,
overall safety policy is to develop a Safety
unless the information provided is written
into policies and rules, the zoo could be Policy Statement that includes the elements
exposed to legal battles, misunderstandings, that are core to your zoo’s focus on staff health
and loopholes. These policies may be based and safety. The Safety Policy Statement is typi-
on an understanding that has evolved after cally the introductory statement in a written
working together for a period of time, but safety policy, and should reflect the impor-
they are much easier to enforce if they are in tance of injury prevention. Reviewing your
writing. Such policies and rules, if written Safety Policy Statement with potential job
properly, protect the zoo and its employees applicants will set expectations and help them
and provide the company with the flexibility determine if they would be a good fit for the
to manage its business needs. organisation. An example might be as follows:
Creating a safe and healthy work environ-
ment is not only a requirement for most At Marwood Zoo, we care about the safety,
employers around the world; it is also a ‘best health, and well‐being of our employees.
practice’ amongst top performing busi- We value each and every contribution that
nesses. Great businesses know how to get our employees make towards our success.
their work done effectively, efficiently, and Our mission is to promote the conserva-
safely. Formalising a zoo’s expectations, tion of wildlife, nature, and we value hon-
including step‐by‐step instructions for job esty, integrity, and teamwork.
tasks, is a very effective way to emphasise to We Value Our Employees
employees that it is as serious about their Our zoo operates with a goal of zero
health and safety as it is about animal care, harm to people, animals, and property. It
habitat quality, financial stability, and cus- is our policy to provide safe working con-
tomer service. The following sections can ditions. At Marwood Zoo, everyone
provide you with some practical informa- shares equally in the responsibility of
tion and examples to help you assess, identifying hazards, following safety
update, or create your zoo’s safety policies, rules, and operating practices. All jobs
procedures, and rules for animal training and tasks must be performed in a safe
and in general.
manner, as safety is crucial to the quality
of our business aims.
13.5.1 Safety Policies
Safety Policy
Safety policies cover broad topics and can At Marwood Zoo, no phase of the opera-
communicate a zoo’s philosophy and more tion is considered more important than
generally, best practice to their staff. Safety accident prevention. It is our policy to
policies should be written as guidelines for provide and maintain safe working con-
reference and discussed with employees ditions and to follow operating practices
upon appointment and during orientation/ that will safeguard all employees. No job
induction. They provide both the organisa- will be considered properly completed
tion’s vision and should inspire the unless it is performed in a safe manner.
employee by highlighting what is believed, Marwood Zoo is concerned about the
valued, and expected within the organisa- health and good work habits of its
tion. Issues and topics that may be included employees. In the event you are injured
are safety policy statement, employee or unable to perform your job, we want
responsibility and accountability, hazard to help you obtain the best treatment, so
assessment and correction, and the disci- you can return to your regular job as
pline policy. soon as possible.