Critical Controls

To make it clear who is responsible for each GMR critical control, the controls have been split into “Planning” and “Doing” controls.

Planning Controls -  are owned by those responsible for planning an activity. For example, a Workplace Manager, Supervisor, Engineer or HSEQ Professional.

Doing controls – are owned by each and every individual at the workplace.

There are between 4-6 “planning” critical controls and 4-6 “doing” controls for each GMR.

The GMRS and Risk Management

The GMRs are about controlling the critical risks we face each day at our workplaces.

The most effective way to protect people and places is to eliminate health, safety, environment, wellbeing and rail safety risks altogether. 

In accordance with the hierarchy of controls, the elimination of high-risk activities must always be our first priority.  If elimination cannot be achieved, apply the GMR critical controls to reduce the risk of personal injury and harm to the environment.

Anyone responsible for planning and coordinating activities at a workplace are accountable for developing methodologies which either meet or exceed the standard set by the GMRs.

The GMR critical controls are proportionate to the risk level of the activity.  This means we are not relying heavily on lower level controls such as PPE or administrative controls, but instead, working to isolate people from hazards (Engineering control) or replacing the hazard with a safer option (substitution).

We also need to make sure that we have adequate time and resources to implement the GMR critical controls at our workplaces, which is why it’s important that we demonstrate how the GMRs and their controls have been incorporated and allowed for in John Holland’s SQE Risk Management Process, including:

• Tender phase and construction methodology
• Safety in Design Reviews
• SQE Pre-Contacts Reviews
• Workplace Risk Assessments
• Activity Method Statements
• Task Risk Assessments (or SWMS)

Before starting an activity, ask yourself:

1. What work do we have coming up?
2. Is there a GMR associated with this task?
3. Are the applicable GMR critical controls allowed for in our risk assessment (E.g. WRA, AMS, TRA)?
4. Are there any critical controls that cannot be complied with?

Stop / Start Process

Every single person at each workplace has a level of responsibility to ensure the GMRs are complied with. They should also feel empowered to speak up if something does not look right.

There are 3 key opportunities to ensure the GMR’s have been incorporated into an activity.

1. When planning an activity
2. Immediately prior to an activity commencing
3. During the activity

Stopping or not starting work until GMR’s can be complied with is actively encouraged and supported at John Holland as this is seen as a learning opportunity and successfully preventing an incident from taking place.

For more information on the GMR Exemption process, refer to the John Holland GMR Procedure.