Bsbwhs201 eBook

eBook

BSBWHS201 Contribute to Health and Safety of Self and Others

1 | P a g e March 2015

BSBWHS201

CONTRIBUTE TO THE

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF

SELF AND OTHERS

eBook

BSBWHS201 Contribute to health and safety of self and others

2 | P a g e March 2015 v1.0

Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3

WHS Legislation ................................................................................................ 4

1. Working safely .......................................................................................... 6

1.1. Follow safety procedures and work instructions ....................................... 6

1.1.1. Safety procedures .......................................................................... 6

1.1.2. Safety signage ............................................................................... 8

1.1.3. Work instructions ........................................................................... 9

1.2. Pre start system and equipment checks .................................................. 9

1.3. Follow workplace procedures to respond to an emergency incident .......... 10

2. Implementing work safety requirements .................................................... 12

2.1. Designated persons to direct queries and concerns about workplace safety12

2.2. Identifying existing and potential hazards ............................................. 13

2.2.1. What is a hazard .......................................................................... 13

2.2.2. Identifying hazards ....................................................................... 13

2.2.3. Reporting and recording hazards .................................................... 14

2.3. Identify and implement WHS procedures and instructions ....................... 15

2.4. Emergency incidents .......................................................................... 15

2.4.1. Reporting emergency incidents and injuries ..................................... 17

2.5. Identify WHS duty holders .................................................................. 20

Contractors .................................................................................................. 21

3. Participation in WHS consultation process ................................................... 23

3.1. Contribute to WHS ............................................................................. 23

3.1.1. Meetings ..................................................................................... 23

3.1.2. Inspections .................................................................................. 23

3.1.3. WHS consultation ......................................................................... 26

3.2. Raise WHS with designated personnel .................................................. 28

3.3. Take action to eliminate workplace hazards and risks ............................. 28

3.3.1. Risk assessment .......................................................................... 29

3.3.2. Hierarchy of control ...................................................................... 37

Appendix: Ergonomics ...................................................................................... 38

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Introduction

This unit looks at how you will contribute to the health and safety of yourself and of

others in the workplace.

Throughout this unit you will learn to work safely by following procedures and work

instructions.

Learn the skills necessary to implement work safety requirements such as how to:

Report and identify hazards

Operate in emergencies

Identify designated personnel to help you in your role

You will understand your part in Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) by participating

in consultation processes to improve safety in your workplace.

In this eBook, we will utilise 2 different case studies, to assist with providing practical

examples in your learning.

Case Study 1

You are Joe, a kitchen hand at CA City Caf, There are 10 staff working with you.

The safety supervisor is Brighton Early; the Assistant chef. In the workplace all

safety procedures are listed on the staff communication board and there is a clear

diagram of the assembly location in case of an emergency.

Case Study 2

You are Steve, working in the wholesale stock handling department of the CA City

Retail Group. You main roles are to manage the administration in the area of stock

receival area and assist with loading and unloading of stock in bulk within the

warehouse. You are not qualified to drive the forklift and are required to leave this

to qualified people in the department.

In your immediate workgroup there are 3 other staff. You are all required to report

all concerns to your manager Allen Yah, is the designated person. The whole

department employs on average 50 staff and the safety officer is Luke Tinney;

Logistics officer. The department runs two shifts a day and each shift has a

manager on duty for any immediate issues.

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WHS Legislation

State and Federal Government Workplace Health and Safety Legislation states that all

organisations, employees and contractors must adhere to the relevant Workplace

Health and Safety Acts.

Workplace Health and Safety Legislation requires that organisations have up to date

policies and procedures that set out how to safely perform work.

Workplace Health and Safety Legislation states that there is a legal Duty of Care that

requires that all organisations, employees and manufacturers maintain a safe

workplace and ensure that all work practices are carried out in a safe manner.

1 January 2012 marks an historic event for our jurisdiction with the commencement of

the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) (WHS Act) for the Commonwealth

jurisdiction. A copy of the Act can be viewed here, on the Comlaw website.

The WHS Act replaces the now retracted Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.

As part of WHS legislation are requirements and documents know as regulations and

code of practices.

Regulations are a set of rules designed by government agencies (i.e. Safe Work

Australia) designed with the intention to carry out the intent of legislation.

Examples of regulation that work in line with the WHS Act of 2011 include:

Representation and participation regulations

Managing workplace risk, health and safety regulations

Hazardous work regulations

High risk work regulations

Demolition work regulations

Electrical safety and energised electrical work regulations

Driving work regulations

Plant and structure regulations

Construction work regulations

Hazardous chemical regulations

Lead work regulations

Asbestos work regulations

Major hazard facilities regulations

Mining regulations

For more information on regulations you may wish to visit:

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/model-whs-

regulations

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Codes of practices are practical guides to achieve the standards of health and safety

that are required under the WHS Act of 2011 and associated regulations. Codes of

practice provide duty holders with guidance on effective methods to manage WHS

risks.

Examples of codes of practice that work in conjunction to the WHS Act of 2011

include:

How to safely remove asbestos

How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace

Abrasive blasting

Confined spaces

Construction work

Work health and safety consultation co-operation and co-ordination

Demolition work

Managing electrical risks at the workplace

Excavation work

Managing the risk of falls at workplaces

Preventing falls in housing construction

Managing the work environment and facilities

First aid in the workplace

Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals

Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals

Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace

Hazardous manual tasks

Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work

Managing risks of plant in the workplace

How to manage work health and safety risks

Safe design of structures

Spray painting and powder coating

Welding processes

To discover information about the codes of practice visit:

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/model-whs-laws/model-

cop/pages/model-cop

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1. Working safely

The purpose of working safely is twofold to, reduce the risk to health and safety in the

workplace and reduce the likelihood of an injury through:

Implementing policy, procedure and work instructions that are compliant with

relevant Acts, legislation regulations and codes of practice

Ensuring that employees know how to work safely when carrying out the tasks

involved in their jobs

Specific health and safety procedures are important because they provide clear

direction or instruction by which workplace hazards can be identified, and the risks

assessed and controlled.

A formal procedure will ensure hazards are dealt with in a structured and agreed

manner, rather than in response to a crisis.

1.1. Follow safety procedures and work

instructions

Procedures and work instructions are fundamental to working safely to ensure risk to

self and others is minimised, following these will require knowledge of safety

procedures, including signage and other reasonable instruction.

1.1.1. Safety procedures

A safety procedure or Safe Work Procedure (SWP) is a set of instructions which

outlines the safest way to undertake a task to minimise the likelihood of risks in its

implementation. Safe work procedures should be written whenever:

Figure 1 Reasons for writing safe work procedures

Below outlines what these procedures might look like in both of our case studies.

SWP Caf Purchasing

Standard

operating

procedures

When operating the steam oven,

you must stand behind the door

See example below for filing

cabinets and bookcases.

Designing a new job or task

Changing a job or task

Introducing new equipment

Introducing new substances

Reviewing a procedure (that problems have been identified)

Reviewing a procedure (after an accident or

incident investigation)

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when opening it to avoid steam

burns.

Emergency

procedures

In the event of a fire, alert the front of house staff to calmly

evacuate customers, if qualified to do so attempt to extinguish

fire and call emergency service.

Following product

specifications

The microwave oven requires a

specific amount of power, do not

move it unless authorised.

Do not operate a fork lift

unless you are qualified to

do so.

Operator or

manufacturer

manuals

Deep fryer must be filled with oil

to the correct marked level.

Cold room operation, no

obstacles to door closing,

always check door is closed.

Procedures for

selecting, fitting,

using and

maintaining

personal

protective

equipment (PPE)

As a kitchen hand you are

required to wear your uniform

which includes provided PPE

such as:

Apron

Heat proof gloves

Steel cap boots

When working in the

warehouse are you are

required to wear the

provided PPE:

Steel cap boots

High visibility vest

Hard hat

Figure 2 Examples of how Safe Work Procedures are implemented in case studies

Safe Work Procedure example

Filing cabinets and bookcases

Filing cabinets and bookcases can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Follow this

procedure for safe use:

Close drawers and doors when not in use to prevent bumping and tripping.

Do not open more than one drawer or door at once.

Place filing cabinets where their use will not interfere with office traffic patterns.

Secure or anchor filing cabinets or bookcases taller than 162 cm to the wall to

prevent toppling over, use the correct fixings for the wall type.

In the case of four-drawer filing cabinets, fill the second drawer from the bottom

before the others to weight the bottom and to prevent it from tilting or tipping.

Figure 3 Example of a Safe Work Procedure

Case Study 2

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There is an issue with filling cabinets and other shelving in the office. When Steve

went to put files in the cabinet he stared filling from the top, this caused the top

draw to be too heavy and the cabinet fell and landed on his foot. The cabinet was

only new and had not been anchored into the wall. If cabinet had been filled

according to the SWP this would not have happened.

1.1.2. Safety signage

Sometimes language and cultural barriers mean that employees and visitors do not

understand safety instructions and hazard warnings if they are only provided in text

form. It is generally understood that the correct sign provide a simple means of

communicating a message. Do not assume that everyone in your workplace

understands your signage, you may add an explanation into your induction process to

make sure they understand:

Safety signage displayed in appropriate areas is an effective means of

improving workplace safety

Many signs are simple and easy to understand

Make sure your organisation uses universally accepted signs to keep the

standard of safe work high

Below are some examples of signage which fits the above criteria

Sign What it means? Sign What it

means?

There is potential

for a hazard to

become a risk, it

is managed by

following the clear

instructions to

eliminate the risk

There is

electrical

hazards

present, do not

touch unless

you are

authorised to

do so.

There are first aid

supplies here for

use if you are

injured

You are

required wear

a hard hat in

this area as a

safety

precaution.

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There is a

radiation hazard

present, avoid it if

not in the

appropriate PPEs

There is a fire

fighting hose

here for use in

the event of an

emergency

Also means it

is a water

based fire

fighting aid for

wood and

paper fires

The floor is wet

and may lead to

people slipping.

Ensure caution

and care is taken.

Figure 4 Examples of safety signage and there intended meaning

1.1.3. Work instructions

Work instructions can be written or verbally given by a manager to an employee. A

written work instruction may be a routine to follow, much like a procedure. A verbal

work instruction is a request made by a manager to an employee, which they must

comply with unless they believe that the request is unreasonable.

Case Study 2

Steve normally performs administrative functions and is not licensed to drive a

forklift. When a supervisor in the warehouse asked Steve to use the forklift to move

several crates, he must refuse as he is not licensed and this could present a risk to

the safety of himself and others. After this he could talk to his boss about getting a

forklift licence.

1.2. Pre start system and equipment checks

Before using a system, appliance or machine in the workplace, you are required to

ensure you follow pre start procedures and equipment checks. Many of these are

outlined in the product specifications and operator/manufacturer manuals.

Case Study 1

In the kitchen Joe is required to use deep fryer on a daily basis, he needs to follow

the SWP and make sure the oil is filled to the required level before turning on the

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deep fryer. If something changes and he is unsure what to do he can ask Brighton

to assist him.

Case Study 2

Before Steve commences work he must check the lighting of the office is adequate

and that his workplace is set up to be ergonomically effective. See appendix 1 on

ergonomics.

1.3. Follow workplace procedures to respond to

an emergency incident

It is essential for all organisations to ensure that all who work in, and visit the

organisation do so in safety. The organisation has a duty of care to make sure that

these procedures are in place and that they work.

There could be a number of instances where there is a need to respond to an

emergency:

Evacuation procedures in the case of fire, flood, explosion or other significant

event that can impact on the inhabitants of a building

Emergency procedures that refer to injury or illness in the workplace

Below is an example of an emergency procedure. This is one part of a procedure in

the case of evacuation there will be a designated place to assemble, designated

personnel to coordinate the evacuation and to help control the situation. Each

organisation needs to provide details which fit their own situation.

Example

Emergency safety procedure

Is someone seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help?

Is your life or property being threatened?

Have you just witnessed a serious accident or crime?

Is anyone in immediate danger?

Help them only if it is SAFE to do so.

1 Call 000 on the designated phone

If you are hearing impaired please use 106 for a text based emergency

2 State which emergency service you want: Ambulance, Fire, or Police

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3 Stay calm - stay focused

4 Stay on the line. The emergency service operator will need to talk to you

before sending assistance. They will ask you questions about the incident

5 Give as much information as possible about the location of the emergency.

The information required depends whether you are in an urban or rural or

remote area

6 Have your name and call back details ready for the operator

7 What happened e.g. car accident?

8 Number and condition of the casualties, including level of consciousness,

breathing and circulation

Figure 5 Example of an emergency safety procedure

Case Study 1

Joe is working, when there is a fire, he knows that he is to alert Brighton who is the

safety office so he immediately notifies him. The procedure for an emergency

evacuation is clearly displayed on the staff communication board, so he quickly

looks at it while Brighton makes decisions about evacuation of staff and customers

and containing the fire. Joe carries out the first step on the emergency procedure

which is to call 000 and request the fire brigade.

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2. Implementing work safety requirements

2.1. Designated persons to direct queries and

concerns about workplace safety

Any work process or practice that does not comply with WHS requirements needs to

be reported to the organisations designated person. Who this person is depends on

the size and type of business.

Designated persons could be:

Designated person Why should they be consulted on?

Health and Safety officer or their

representatives

Issues to do with hazards, risks or incidents

Managers or supervisors Issues during shift

Team leaders Queries on tasks

Designated persons

Health and Safety officer

or their representatives

Managers or supervisors

Team leaders

Other persons nominated by

the organisation

Union officers

WHS inspectors

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Other persons nominated by the

organisation

Serious operational issues

Union officers Safety issues that have not been resolved

2.2. Identifying existing and potential hazards

The goal of WHS is to reduce the risk to the health and safety of all persons involved

with the workplace. Risks are what hazards are to the health and safety of others and

it is important to be able to identify them.

2.2.1. What is a hazard

A hazard is anything in the workplace that has the potential to harm people.

Hazards can include objects in the workplace, such as machinery or dangerous

chemicals. Other hazards relate to the way work is done. For instance, hazards on

a production line could include manual handling, excessive noise and fatigue caused

by the pace of work. (Work Safe Victoria, 2015)

Hazards will vary in severity and importance in each organisation, industry and job.

Following are some common hazards which affect all organisations in different ways.

2.2.2. Identifying hazards

Case Study 1

The cafe has been designed to create mood by using ambient lighting. It is not

suitable to change the lighting in the cafe but Joe and his manager need to be able

to make suggestions to be sure there are areas of better lighting for completing

dockets, reading and inside the food or beverage production areas. Insufficient

lighting in the work areas could cause an incident or injury. This would be

considered a hazard.

These examples are very simple, how this could work at your work place?

What is the

hazard? What can we do? Hierarchy control

Poor lighting

Allow for efficient task lighting or

replace lights as required considering

the impact of energy use as well as safe

work practices

Substitute

Loose power

cords

Use mats to secure all cords or install

more electrical points to reduce the

need for cords at all

Eliminate or isolate

Faulty electrical

equipment

Regular maintenance and clear system

for quarantining faulty equipment Use engineering

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Handling of

hazardous

chemicals

Training sessions on a regular basis for

all staff required to handle chemicals

Use administration

and Personal

Protective Equipment

(PPE)

Heavy lifting

required Use trolleys at all times Eliminate

Figure 6 Hazards in the workplace and how they are managed

2.2.3. Reporting and recording hazards

You should report any hazards immediately to your supervisor. You do not need to

wait for an inspection team to come by. In fact, health and safety legislation requires

employees to report hazards to their supervisor. The immediate hazard reporting

process allows employees to report hazardous conditions or practices as they notice

them. This procedure allows for prompt reporting and subsequent corrective action

without waiting for the next round of regular inspections. Hazards can be reported

verbally or by filling a simple form available at bulletin boards or other conspicuous

places, it may also be included in your induction depending on your role. The following

is an example of such a form.

Hazard report form Example

Please send all forms to M Rogers CA City WHS officer

Name: Date:

Location:

Equipment:

Description of the hazard:

Suggested corrective action:

Signature:

Supervisor's remarks:

Corrective action taken:

Signature of Supervisor: Date:

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Figure 7 Hazard reporting form example

2.3. Identify and implement WHS procedures and

instructions

It can be useful to use a hazard identification checklist. Once again every department

and every organisation will use their own systems, this is a basic example for making

sure steps are in place to manage the use of chemicals which are potentially

hazardous in the workplace.

Hazard communication checklist

Check Items

Has a list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace been prepared?

How will this list be updated? Is there a system?

Are safety data sheets (SDS) available for each chemical used?

Are all chemicals labelled?

Has a system been developed for incoming chemicals for labelling and SDS

provision?

Are all employees aware of hazards of the chemicals in the workplace?

Have employees been informed of the hazards associated with performing

non-routine tasks?

Do all employees have access to correct PPE for their role?

Are all employees trained in handling hazardous chemicals in the workplace?

Are all employees aware of emergency procedures in the case of a

hazardous material related incident?

Figure 8 A hazard communication checklist template

When recording hazards it is important that the information is clearly written in easy

to understand language and instructions have logical steps.

It is also very important to make sure the hazard plans are:

Figure 9 Important points about hazard plans

2.4. Emergency incidents

Any work process or practice that does not comply with WHS requirements should be

reported to the organisations designated person.

An incident is defined as: an instance of something happening; an event or

occurrence, generally in the terms of WHS it means the events such as a near miss or

injury. Designated persons may hold positions such as:

Updated regularly Reviewed oftenFeedback must be given to employees and management

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Figure 10 Designated persons in an emergency incident

Accurately reporting incidents using associated workplace documentation involves

completion of appropriate forms and these forms being used to create a clear source

of information of how, when and where these incidents occur. Managers can then use

this information to help prevent problems occurring again.

Types of reports can include:

Document What is it?

Incident report A report is filled out in the event of an injury, incident or

death in the workplace

Hazards reports Used to report hazards or potential hazards for

investigation

Grievance /

complaints reports

A document that details a complaint or issue from a

member of staff. With regard to WHS it could be

complaints about bullying, lack of appropriate action or

protections

Job checklists A list of tasks an employee must tick off whilst engaging

in work, to perform their job safely.

Work schedules A document detailing when staff work and at what times

they perform their duties

Workplace inspection

checklists

A document used to identify hazards in the workplace

through inspections

Designated persons

Workplace Health and

Safety Officer

Manager

Supervisor

Officer on Duty

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These documents will be used for their initial purpose as records of incidents and in

the future as registers of safe work practices and historical accounts for planning and

audits.

2.4.1. Reporting emergency incidents and injuries

The primary purpose of an injury incident report is to ensure that appropriate

action is taken to prevent future incidents/injuries, and to provide data to

assist the organisation to continuously improve its health and safety management

system.

Injury incident report procedure

Remember three things:

Figure 11 Key factors in reporting an incident or injury

All workplace incidents resulting in a work injury, work-caused illness, dangerous

incident or near miss must be reported to the supervisor as soon as possible.

First, a few definitions to differentiate the types of incidents:

Accident An unplanned event which causes injury, death and/or damage to

equipment or property

Dangerous

occurrence

Means any incident that arises from workplace operations and which

causes an immediate and significant risk to a person. A person does not

have to be injured. The risk may arise if a person is or could have been

in, on or near the incident. Such incidents can include acid/chemical spills

in a laboratory, explosions, gas leaks, electrical short circuits, implosions,

fire and/or damage to plant or property

Hazard All actions, situations and occurrences with the potential to cause harm

Injury Any physical or mental damage to the body caused by exposure to a

hazard

Near miss An unplanned event that occurred in the workplace which, although not

resulting in any injury, had the potential to do so

Notifiable

incident A notifiable incident as outlined in the WHS Act is:

The death of a person A serious injury or illness A dangerous incident

Arising out of the conduct of a business or undertaking at a

workplace. Notifiable incidents may relate to any personwhether an

employee, contractor or member of the public

What needs to be reported?

To whom it is to be

reported?

How to report it?

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Serious

injury/

bodily injury

Within Australia, generally means the injured persons death, loss of part

or an organ of the injured persons body, serious injuries to the spine,

eyes, the suffering of serious burns, the separation of skin and

lacerations. Can also mean that the injured party required immediate

emergency medical treatment or hospitalisation to recover and/or was

unable to work for periods ranging from a minimum of 4-7 work days

Work illness An illness or exacerbation of an illness to which work, a workplace, a

workplace activity or specified high risk plant was a significant

contribution factor

Workplace

incidents

Any incident resulting in a work injury, work caused illness or dangerous

event

Work-

related

Means that the incident arose from:

The conduct of the employers undertaking at a workplace

Work performed by an employee in connection with the employers

undertaking at a workplace

These reports must be consistent with the requirements of the Workplace Health and

Safety Act 2011. You need to check with the state government body in your area

regarding state specific legislation.

Example According to http://workplaceohs.com.au/legislation/qld-legislation

Queensland became the first state to pass harmonised WHS legislation

with the passage of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 on 26 May

2011. It came into effect on 1 January 2012.

Example Incident / injury report form

Please print clearly and tick the correct box

Status: Employee Contractor Other

Outcome: Near miss Injury

1. DETAILS OF INJURED PERSON

Name: ____________________________________ Phone: (H) (W)

Address: ________________________________________ Sex: M F

_______________________________________________ Date of birth: ___________________

_______________________________________________ Position: _______________________

Experience in the job: ______________________________ (years/months)

Start time: ______________________________________ am pm

Work arrangement: Casual Full-time Part-time Other

2. DETAILS OF INCIDENT

Date: __________________ Time: _________________________

Location: _______________________________________________________________________

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Describe what happened and how: ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. DETAILS OF WITNESSES

Name: _________________________________________ Phone: (H) _________ (W) ________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4. DETAILS OF INJURY

Nature of injury (eg burn, cut, sprain) ________________________________________________

Cause of injury (eg fall, grabbed by person) ___________________________________________

Location on body (eg back, left forearm) ______________________________________________

Agency (eg lounge chair, another person, hot water) ____________________________________

5. TREATMENT ADMINISTERED

First Aid given Yes No

First Aider name: ________________________________________________________________

Treatment: _____________________________________________________________________

Referred to: ____________________________________________________________________

SECTION 6-9 MUST BE COMPLETED BY EMPLOYER

6. DID THE INJURED PERSON STOP WORK ?

Yes No If yes, state date: __________________ Time: _______________

Outcome:

Treated by doctor Hospitalised Workers compensation claim

Returned to normal work Alternative duties Rehabilitation

7. INCIDENT INVESTIGATION (comments to include causal factors):

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

8. RISK ASSESSMENT

Likelihood of recurrence: __________________________________________________________

Severity of outcome: _____________________________________________________________

Level of risk: ____________________________________________________________________

9. ACTIONS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE

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Action By whom By when Date completed

10. ACTIONS COMPLETED

Signed (Manager): ______________________________________ Title:

Date: ___________________

Feedback to person involved Date: _________________

11. REVIEW COMMENTS

OHS committee / staff meeting: _____________________________________________________

Reviewed by site Manager (signed): _________________________ Date: _________________

Reviewed by Health & Safety Rep.(signed): ___________________ Date: ___________________

2.5. Identify WHS duty holders

Everyone is responsible for workplace health and safety, all managers, staff and

external contractors are responsible for creating a safe work environment. Effective

workplace health and safety is all about providing information about WHS issues to

workers in an organisation and giving them an opportunity to respond and contribute

to the WHS issues that affect them through consultation and participative

arrangements.

At the beginning of your time in a new job you will be inducted into the role, an

important part of your induction must be to explain who you are to go to in the case

that you need to report an incident, hazard or risk.

Persons Conducting Business or Undertaking (PCBU) are responsible to consult with:

Workers

Contractors, including sub-contractors

Labour hire workers

Apprentices

Work experience staff

Volunteers

PCBUs are also responsible for establishing a Health and Safety Committee (HSC) if

there are 5 or more workers or, at their own initiative. A HSC is there to facilitate

cooperation between the PCBU and all employees, to improve and make the

workplace safer, to develop standards and rules to make sure of workers health and

safety at work.

Due diligence is a term you will need to know. It is used often in WHS, it means

reasonable steps taken by a person to avoid committing an offence.

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Supervisors and management

Supervisors and managers play a large role in WHS. They need to take all reasonably

practicable measures to ensure the WHS program is working in the area of their

control. This means take all steps as a duty holder as is reasonable. They need to

consider:

Change or likelihood of the hazard or risk happening

Harm if it does

What is known about the risk and how to remove or reduce it happening

Cost of removing or reducing the risk, as well as the cost of not doing it?

Duty holders are also required to make sure employees are supervised and trained to

meet their requirements under the program.

Management needs to ensure that employees are consulted about issues which affect

their health and safety. Any concerns employees may have must be referred to

appropriate managers who have a responsibility to look at raised concerns and

provide feedback on action taken.

Employees

All employees are required to co-operate with WHS policy and programs to ensure

their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others in the workplace. As

an employee you also need to avoid impacting others safety and you must follow any

reasonable request from your supervisor or manager with regard to WHS.

Contractors

All contractors engaged to perform work on the premises or locations of the

organisation are required, as part of their contract, to comply with the WHS policies,

procedures and programs of the organisation and to observe directions on health and

safety from designated officers of the organisation.

Failure to comply or observe a direction will be considered a breach of the

contract and sufficient grounds for termination of the contract.

Who Their responsibilities as duty holder

PCBU

Owner, manager

(Section 20-26

WHS Act 2011)

Primary duty of care to ensure health and safety of workers while

at work in the business

Make sure work does not carry risk to health and safety of others

Provide and maintain safe work environment, plant and structures,

systems of work

Ensure safe use handling and storage of plant, structures and

substances

Provide adequate facilities, instruction, training, information,

supervision

Monitor health of workers and conditions in the workplace

Officers Person

within the

business.

Officers are responsible to make sure the PCBU meets their

obligations They need to take reasonable steps to:

Gain and update knowledge of WHS

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Director of a

company,

company

secretary

(Section 27 WHS

Act 2011)

Understand the type of business and hazards/ risks involved

Make sure PCBU has resources to reduce/ remove risks and

hazards

Processes exist to manage incidents, hazards, risks

Make sure PCBU is involved in consultation, providing training and

instruction and reports notifiable incidents

Workers All

employees

(Section 28 WHS

Act 2011)

Take reasonable care for your own safety

Take care your actions do not harm others

Comply with instructions from PCBU or their officers to help comply

with WHS obligations

Cooperate with policies or procedures which relate to WHS

Visitors

Contractors,

volunteers others

(Section 29 WHS

Act 2011)

Take reasonable care for your own safety

Take care your actions do not harm others

Comply with instructions from PCBU or officers to help comply with

WHS obligations

Health and safety

committees Work

groups

(Section 77 WHS

Act 2011)

Group of persons in the workplace who maintain and improve WHS

Establishing a workgroup or committee depends on the number of

employees and the size of the business

At least half of the members must not be nominated by the PCBU

Health and safety

representative

(Section 68 WHS

Act 2011)

The person elected by members of a workgroup to represent them

during consultation on WHS issues

They monitor actions taken by the PCBU to comply with WHS Act

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3. Participation in WHS consultation process

3.1. Contribute to WHS

As an employee you are legally, ethically and contractually obligated to contribute to,

and uphold WHS at all times during employment. You may participate in meetings,

conduct or be involved in inspections or contribute to the consultation process.

3.1.1. Meetings

There are different types of workplace meetings you as an employee can participate in

and use as a platform to contribute to the health and safety of others. Types of

meeting you may attend include:

Team meetings

One-on one meetings with your manager

Meeting with Health and Safety Committee (as a representative)

Case Study 1

In the Caf each month there is a team meeting, the manager sets aside time in the

meeting to discuss WHS and invites all staff to raise any issues. Joe raises his hand

and says that he is a bit concerned. The Caf has had a new set of cleaning

chemicals for close to a month now and there were no SDS available to the staff.

The Manager notes this down and makes it a priority to get the SDS to staff.

3.1.2. Inspections

Inspections are crucial to WHS and are a valuable method of contributing and

participating in the process as an employee. Different inspections that contribute to

WHS include:

Conducting safety audits

Inspecting equipment for safe use

Conducting routine inspections of hazards

Participating in workplace inspections

Case Study 2

One of Steves monthly roles is to conduct a safety audit where he inspects the

workplace to ensure that all aspects are meeting health and safety requirements,

documenting noncompliance and ensuring it is corrected.

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Workplace inspection checklist

Item Y N

N

/

A

Action taken

1 Fire

Extinguishers are in place x

Are clearly marked x

Have been serviced in the past 6 months x Overdue by a month, arrange

service immediately

Area around extinguisher is clear for a 1

meter radius

x

Fire exit signs are in working order x

Exit doors are not blocked x

Exit doors can easily be opened x

Fire alarm is in working order x

Emergency plan is displayed x

- Emergency drill carried out within last 6

months

x

2 Electrical

No broken plugs, sockets or switches x

No frayed or damaged leads x

Portable power tools in good condition x

No temporary leads on the floor x

Testing and tagging of electrical items

has been attended within the last 12

months

x

3 General Lighting

Adequate illumination in working areas x

There is good natural lighting x

There is no direct or reflected glare x

Light fittings clean and in working order x

Emergency lighting is operational x

4 Walkways

No oil or grease x

Walkways are clearly marked x

Walkways are clear of obstructions x

Unobstructed vision at intersections x

Stairs not blocked in good condition x

5 Rubbish

Bins are located at suitable points x

Bins are not overflowing x

Bins are emptied regularly x

6 Work Benches

Clear of rubbish x

Tools are stored properly x

- Adequate work height x

- No sharp edges x

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7 Storage

Materials stored in racks safely x

Pallets in good condition (no broken

wood)

x

Floor around racking is clear of rubbish or

obstacles

x

Racking is in good condition, no damaged

uprights, beams etc.

x

8 Chemicals

SDS for all chemicals x New chemicals SDS are

available, but not distributed

SDS Register is available and up to date x New chemicals SDS are

available, but not distributed

Containers clearly and accurately labelled x

All chemicals stored in accordance with

SDS

x Staff not storing chemicals

correctly in line with SDS, they

do not have access to them

9 First Aid

First aid kits and contents clean and

orderly

x

First aid kit is adequately stocked (as per

the Schedule in the kit)

x

Easy access to first aid kits x

All employees aware of first aid kit

location

x

At least one worker on site with current

Senior First Aid cert

x

10 Floors

Even surface with no large cracks, holes

or trip hazards

x

Floors are not obstructed x

Floors are free from grease, oil, etc. x

11 Office

No exposed leads x

Air conditioning working adequately x

Filing cabinets are stable, in good repair x

Workers' chairs at correct height (knees

at right angles, feet flat)

x

Workers' monitors correct distance (arms

length away when seated)

x

Workers' monitors correct height (eyes in

line with top of screen)

x

Workers' mouse located beside keyboard x

Workers' keyboard located near edge of

desk (allows relaxed arms)

x

12 Machines

Power equipment maintenance carried

out

x

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Power equipment clean x

All guarding in place and interlocks

working

x

13 Display material

WHS policy statement signed and

displayed on notice boards

x

Return to work program signed and

displayed on notice boards

x

No smoking signs are displayed x

Staff only or Restricted area x

Report that hazard poster displayed x

Manual handling poster displayed in the

warehouse

x

Safety noticeboard available up to date x

14 WHS information

WHS manual available to workers x

Incident report form available x

Hazard report forms available x

Emergency evacuation plan displayed x

Training records up to date x

Additional comments or actions required:

Contact fire extinguishing service company for immediate service of equipment

Locate and print SDS (MSDS) and distribute

Signed: J Peanut Date: 15 April

Copies sent to: Purchasing Manager, WHS Officer

Adapted from (Everything OHS, 2013)

3.1.3. WHS consultation

Consultation is a two way process between employees and PCBUs. Communication

about health and safety is given high priority. Health and safety issues are addressed

by:

Expressing concerns

Listening to managements concerns

Seeking and sharing views and information

PCBUs considering what workers may say before making a decision

Consultation is a legislative requirement under section 48 of WHS Act of 2011.

Consultation can be done in various ways and does not specifically require a formal

process, it can be as simple as communication between staff and management on a

frequent basis about WHS. An organisation is required to set up a Health and Safety

Committee (HSC) if it has more than 5 employees, or if a request is made by a

member of staff to form one. When consulting on WHS matters, the following

documents may be used to make decisions:

Hazard, incident and investigation reports

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Workplace inspection reports

Minutes of meetings

Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments

Safety data sheets (SDS) and registers formerly Material Safety Data Sheets

(MSDS)

Employees handbooks

Manufacturers' manuals and specifications

Information from WHS representatives

Reports from WHS committee

Information from external sources on hazards/risk relevant to work group

An organisation will consult on matters for a variety of reasons, this is part of the

continual improvement of the organisation and ensuring the organisation upholds its

commitment to legislation. Organisations usually undertake consultation on matters

such as:

Employee contribution

Employees play a vital role in the WHS process. Some of the key areas are

Raise/report/identify WHS issues with the designated workplace representative

Participate in workplace meetings (join WHS committee or Health and safety

committee (HSC), groups, become a WHS rep)

Conduct workplace inspections or other consultative activities to improve safety

Provide assistance to contribute to workplace safety (assist workplace WHS

committee, rep, contribute to workplace safety activities)

Changes to policies, work practices and

procedures

Changes to premises, plant or substances used at

work

Conducting workplace risk assessments

Incorporating new health and safety requirements for

compliance purposes

Making decisions about the adequacy

of workplace facilities

Making decisions about the

organisations consultative procedures

Reviews of policies, procedures and work practices

Risk control

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3.2. Raise WHS with designated personnel

When an issue is identified within the workplace, it is a part of your obligation to WHS

in the workplace in section 2.1 designated personnel in regards to WHS were

identified. When a WHS issue arises, it is important to raise it with these people.

Figure 12 Example procedural flowchart for alerting designated personnel to WHS issue, incidents and

injuries

3.3. Take action to eliminate workplace hazards

and risks

Definition: A safety risk is a situation or circumstance that includes the possibility of

injury to someone or of damage to property.

What's the difference between a risk and a hazard? Employees need to know.

Hazards are anything in the workplace with the potential to harm people. They can

include objects in the workplace i.e. machinery or dangerous chemicals or other

hazards that relate to how work is done.

A risk arises when its possible that a hazard will actually cause harm. The level of

risk will depend on how often the job is done, the number of workers involved and

how serious any injuries that result could be.

It is important that all employees can assess risks. Workplace risks need to be treated

in order to remove or reduce the potential for accident or injury.

Every organisation needs to undertake a risk analysis to identify all risks to the

organisation. It will encompass many different types of risk, including risks to

resources financial, human and physical. Human resources risks revolve around losing

key staff member to other organisations as well as injury or workplace incident which

causes disruption to the effective running of the organisation or a department.

Issue identified Notify managerIssue attempted to be resolved

Report (hazard identification)

filled out

Health and Safety Officer

notified

Attempt resolution (if none made)

HSC refered issue for

consultation

Attempt resolution (if none made)

Refer to Work Safe Inspector (if no resolution

made)

Resolution

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NB: Risks for an organisation include not only physical or workplace health and

safety issues but any incident that can disrupt the ability of the organisation to

achieve its goals. In this case we are concerned with injury or incident as a risk to

prevent the goals of the WHS policies being achieved.

We have considered examples of hazards, now take it a step further. In the table

below the hazard is identified with a type of risk. It outlines an example of what can

be done to minimise the risk and what approach could be used.

Identified

hazard?

Risk

associated

What can we do? Main approach

Slippery

surface

Slip Monitor correct use of uniform with

regard to appropriate footwear

Kitchen floors are extremely

slippery - a very real hazard

Likelihood of someone slipping in

wrong shoes - high

Likelihood of serious injury from

a fall in a busy kitchen - extreme

Introducing proper uniform

standards will help reduce risk

but is it enough? Use non slip

mats

Use PPE

Power leads

running across

ground

Trip Remove the power cables from

running along the ground

Eliminate

Working at

heights

Fall Install a safety barrier (scaffolding)

around the working area

Engineer

Pallets for

storage and

movement

Injury

heavy lifting

Implement procedure for moving

pallets - all employees to be outside

a ten metre radius of the pallet

Administration

Faulty

computer

Electrocute Replace computer Substitute

3.3.1. Risk assessment

Risk categories

There are many areas where risks may be identified in an organisation, these can be

sorted into common risk categories:

Communications

Compliance

Consultative

Environmental

Finance

Health and safety

Physical

Political

Project assumptions

Project constraints

Project process risks

Quality

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Human resources

Legal

Organisational brand

Social

Technology

Examination of all risks and hazards in the workplace will make the likelihood of

incident lower, a benefit to all concerned.

Risk classification

There are some variations of risk classification terminology across different industries,

such as:

Catastrophic, major, moderate, minor and insignificant

In comparison to- Extreme, high, moderate and low

Essentially, so long as there is a legend guiding the use of the classification

terminology the application within the risk management process is the same.

Risk Classification example: These classifications are used in determining the risk

tolerance level.

Figure 13 Risk level and corresponding action

Risk examples:

The table below shows examples of risk for different areas of an organisation:

Score

Rating Explanation

4

Extr

em

e

Managing people: significant restrictions on resourcing key services or

programs state-wide; serious fms,cmc breach; multiple deaths

Product and service delivery: state-wide cessation of multiple services or

programs; greater than one month operational delay

Information management/administrative systems: state-wide loss of

services, programs or data

Infrastructure/asset management: long term and possible permanent loss

of property or assets

Terminate activityExtreme

Transfer risk

Treat risk (likelihood and /or consequence)High

Treat risk (by reducing likelihood and/or consequence)

Moderate

Tolerate riskLow

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Managing the environment (internal/external): sustained adverse

publicity extreme /public outrage state-wide, permanent community/

environmental impact

3

Hig

h

Managing people: noticeable restrictions on resourcing some services or

programs; loss of life or permanent injury: cmc investigation

Product and service delivery: cessation of some services or programs; up

to one month operational delay

Information management/administrative systems: loss or restrictions to

key services, programs or large loss or theft of data

Infrastructure/asset management: sustained damage to property or

assets lasting many months

Managing the environment (internal/external): significant political

sensitivity, long term detrimental impact on community and the environment

and stakeholder relationships

2

Mo

derate

Managing people: localised restrictions on resourcing services or programs;

serious injury requiring hospitalisation or medical treatment; minor code of

conduct breach

Product and service delivery: disruption to a number of services or

programs; up to one week operational delay

Information management/administrative systems: restrictions to

services, programs and loss or theft of some data

Infrastructure/asset management: significant but temporary damage to

property or assets

Managing the environment (internal/external): significant adverse

publicity state-wide, adverse community or environmental impact in some

location

1

Lo

w

Managing people: minimal effect on resourcing services/programs; first-aid

injury-no lost time; local workforce management issue

Product and service delivery: minimal disruption to some services or

programs; up to one day operational delay

Information management/administrative systems: minor effect on

services, programs

Infrastructure/asset management: slight/ temporary damage to property

or assets

Managing the environment (internal/external): short term adverse

community impact in particular locations; short term local environmental issue

Figure 14 Risk and their impact across areas of an organisation

Organisations should take the items below into account when determining the risk

level. Information can usually be gained from both internal and external sources.

Internal External

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Accident and incident reports Industry body newsletters

Risk assessments conducted by

internal staff

Risk assessments conducted by

external staff

Staff meetings and consultations Internet

WHS committee meetings and findings Media

Surveys Workshops

Ad hoc conversations and observations Seminars

General business documentation such

as annual reports and other policies

and procedures

Advice and consultations with industry

experts

Figure 15 Determining risk levels using internal and external sources

Analyse risks

Determine risk-analysis classification criteria and apply to an agreed risk-

ranking system

Risk-ranking system may include:

Classification rankings (tolerance level, as shown early Extreme Low)

Consequence of risk scale

Impact of risk scale

Manual or software-based systems

Organisational risk policies and methods

Predetermined ranking criteria

Target and trigger settings

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Risk Matrix

Risk Rating

E: Extreme M: Medium

H: High L: Low

Likelihood

Rare Unlikely Possible Likely Almost

Certain

Consequence (

Impact)

Severe Medium High High Extreme Extreme

Major Medium Medium High High Extreme

Moderate Low Medium Medium High High

Minor Low Low Medium Medium High

Insignificant Low Low Low Medium Medium

The risk rating matrix shown above is used to combine the effects of the consequences

and likelihood ratings into an overall assessment of risk priority.

Example If I assess the likelihood of my risk as Possible; and the consequence

of my risk as Severe; then the overall assessment of risk priority is

High

Defining risk levels

It is important to clarify what each level in the matrix represents to ensure it is used

correctly and consistently by those who use it. For example, how will a user know the

difference between possible and likely risk? What about the difference between a

major and critical risk? And what actions should we take for medium risks, as opposed

to a high risk?

Standard risk likelihood scale:

RATING DEFINITION SCALE

Almost certain Will definitely occur or will occur on an annual cycle 5

Likely Similar events have been experienced several times 4

Possible May occur once 3

Unlikely Occurs from time to time 2

Rare Occurrence is possible but highly unlikely 1

Figure 16 A standard risk likelihood scale

Standard risk consequences scale: Consequences represent the possible impact

of the risk on project outcomes, if it does occur.

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RATING DEFINITION SCALE

Severe Most objectives cannot be met 5

Major Some important objectives cannot be met 4

Moderate Some objectives impacted but may still be met 3

Minor Minor effects that can be remedied 2

Insignificant Almost no impact on objectives 1

Figure 17 A standard risk consequence scale

Definitions will differ from business to business as different businesses have different

business processes and risk aversion.

Planning responses to specific risks

After all risks have been identified and analysed, managers need to determine how

each risk will be managed. You will also need to determine which risks will undergo

specific risk response, or action, and which will not.

It is typical to focus risk response planning on risks that fall into the high and upper

end of the medium priority as per the select risk-rating matrix. This rule of thumb can

be flexible depending on specific organisational risk guidelines. There are four

standard approaches to risk response planning:

Negative risks or threats Positive risks or opportunities

Avoid Transfer Exploit Enhance

Mitigate Accept Share Accept

Removing a specific threat by eliminating the cause of the risk

Avoid

Involves shifting some or all of the ownership of a risk to a third party

Transfer

Actions taken in order to reduce the impacts of any risk

Mitigate

Passively accepting that the risk may occur

Accept

Terminate activityExtreme

Transfer riskTreat risk (Likelihood +/or Consequence)

High

Treat risk (by reducing Likelihood +/or Consequence)

Moderate

Tolerate riskLow

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Risk avoidance: Removing a specific threat by eliminating the cause of the risk. This

often involves change to eliminate or bypass the risk entirely. This may require

extreme replanning or inclusion of significant activities and deliverables. This

approach, therefore, is usually reserved for the highest-priority risks that are likely to

have the largest detrimental impacts on objectives.

Risk transference: shifting some or all of the ownership of a risk to a third party and

therefore transferring negative impact. It does not meant the risk has been

eliminated; it simply means that someone else is responsible for managing the

consequences and likelihood. Transferring a risk often involves some form of

contractual arrangement between the organisation and the party taking on the risk

management responsibility. E.g. could be to seek insurance for the risk.

Risk mitigation: Actions taken to reduce the impacts of any risk. Mitigation activities

can reduce the likelihood of a risk, the consequences of a risk, or both. Taking action

early to reduce a risk is recommended, rather than trying to rectify once the risk has

occurred. This is especially relevant for risks with medium- to high-risk priority

ratings.

Risk acceptance: involves passively accepting the risk may occur and choosing not

to mitigate or respond to it in any way. Risk acceptance is recommended when the

risks have a low risk priority rating; so therefore they are extremely unlikely to occur

and the impact would be insignificant.

Risk assessment and control

The risk assessor needs to define appropriate risk control measures that are

achievable. When documenting controls the following should be included:

Risk ID (relating to the actual risk being addressed)

Description of the control strategy (terminate /transfer /treat /tolerate)

Description of the control

Resources required

Timeframe

Person responsible

Status of completion

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An example of a spreadsheet used for risk assessment and control:

Risk Definition Risk Analysis Risk Control

Ris

k

#Prio

rity

Risk Description Causes Consequences

Lik

elih

ood

Impact

Ris

k R

atin

g

Risk Control Strategy Owner Expected

occurrence

Date / Phase

Expected

Retirement

Date / Phase

Sta

tus

1

Figure 18 Example of a risk assessment and control template

The following content has been added to demonstrate how the spreadsheet can be utilised.

Risk Definition Risk Analysis Risk Control

Ris

k

#Prio

rity

Risk Description Causes Consequences

Lik

elih

ood

Impact

Ris

k R

atin

g

Risk Control Strategy Owner Expected

occurrence

Date / Phase

Expected

Retirement

Date / Phase

Sta

tus

E.g.

1

Fence will not be

straight

Insufficient care

taken during

alignment. Fence

foundations sink

after installation

Fence will look

bad. Damage to

company

reputation.

Customer refuses

to pay for fence Possible Major Extreme

Include hold points in

project inspection and

test plan that requires

review and sign off by the

project Client, Foreman

and Project Manager;

a - at completion of

mark-out

b - prior to pouring

foundation

Quality

Manager

Foundation

digging &

pouring from

15th Jan 2014

30th Jan 2014

Open

Figure 19 Example of a completed risk assessment and control document

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3.3.2. Hierarchy of control

The hierarchy of control is a method to reduce the level of risk with an associated

hazard ranking from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. In

all cases when managing a risk, it is best to make all reasonable attempts to

eliminate the risk. When attempting to control a risk it is best to work from the

most effective solution and if it is impossible to control the risk, then work your

way down to the least effective. At times a risk will be controlled by more than one

method.

Case Study 1

The caf uses steam ovens. They are very efficient but do present an increased

risk of burns from contact with the steam and heat it issues. Going through the

hierarchy of control, the most effective and practical control measure is to

implement administrative controls such as staff training and appropriate PPEs.

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Appendix: Ergonomics

Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical,

anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they

relate to physical activity. Relevant topics include working postures,

materials handling, repetitive movements, heavy work, work-related

musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, noise, thermal conditions and

vibration, safety and health, as these relate to work.

.Ergonomics focuses on the appropriate design of workplaces, systems,

equipment, work processes and environments to accommodate the workers.

The aim is to achieve compatibility between the needs of people with real

limitations and the demands of their jobs. Consideration should be given to

the immediate problem as well as the entire work setting and beyond.

Ergonomics guidelines for occupational 12 health practice in industrially developing countries

In the study of ergonomics we need to focus on making our workplaces safe and

effective places to spend large amounts of time. Consideration must be given to the

overall workplace and of the details of the individual roles, this includes:

Organisational design including the building you work in

Your job design, what you actually do on a daily basis

The training you need and receive

Environmental concerns

Your individual work space

Individual tasks that make your job

The equipment you use, including tools

As an employee, you need to be involved in this process. In other words

you should play a part in your own safety.

On 1 January, 2012, Work Health and Safety Act became harmonised so the

legislation, regulations and codes of practice are consistent across States and

Territories in Australia. For the purposes of using safe work practices, you need to

understand your duty of care in regards to using technology in a work environment.

A duty of care is a moral or legal obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of

others. There are several key points you must be familiar with.

The principal duty holder under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) is

a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU).

Any PCBU who is contributing to work has a duty of care; there can be more than

one duty in relation to specific activities. There are many other details that pertain

to this and the Act, be aware of your own area of responsibility to avoid issues with

compliance.

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PCBUs must also have meaningful and open consultation about work health and

safety with its workers, health and safety representatives and health and safety

committees. NSW WorkCover

Fundamentally, organisations, and the people who work in them, have an

obligation to reduce the risk of harm to others to the most practicable level

possible.

http://www.business.gov.au/business-topics/employing-people/workplace-health-and-

safety/Pages/whs-acts-regulations-and-codes-of-practice.aspx

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

As a worker you are required to ensure your worksite is safe and free from hazards

and risks. If you do not report hazards or risks to your employer, and someone is

injured, you may be held liable under law.

Your employer has a duty to you, the worker, to correct any risks and hazards on

the worksite. If you are injured, your employer can be held liable for negligence.

No environment is free from danger no matter how much the organisation plans.

If are not familiar with your organisations policies and procedure regarding safe

work procedures in using technology you should access and read information

provided, this will include:

Procedure manuals

The equipment operating guidelines

The manufacturers manuals

Manuals for specific help for any role you are expected to perform in the

normal course of your work

Basic safety standards will depend on your role in the organisation, you

must be aware of your responsibilities before you commence work.

Basic electrical safety, i.e. no moisture, secure leads, not overloaded power

points, cords tagged and tested as required, in good order, well maintained

equipment, guards installed as required

Ensure that equipment is well ventilated as required, safety and operating

manuals for all equipment on hand for ready reference

Consult your supervisor, colleagues or manufacturers manual with any problem

understanding any workplace procedures in regards to the operation of the

technology. If you identify a hazard in your work area, report it.

Before you start work, inspect your work area:

There are not too many plugs connected to power points

Light, shadows or reflections do not interfere with your screen

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Your workplace should be set up to minimise exposure to radiation from your

screen

Lights must be adequate for your needs, there are specific lux levels in

workplaces which need to be adhered to

If you find equipment is loud, work with your organisation to move or isolate

the noisy equipment to avoid undue levels of volume

Make sure that the air conditioning or heating is not too hot or cold,

temperatures should be between 23 to 24 Celsius

Before commencing any work organise your personal work environment in

accordance with ergonomic requirements.

Many Australians are injured at work each year

It is essential to know WHS policies and procedures in the workplace

A common hazard in the office environment is the computer work station

Ergonomics is the relationship between the tools of doing your job and the people

using the tools. The tools of any job must be appropriate for the job. In an office

environment, to decrease the chance of risk; chairs, tables and desks need to be

adjustable so as to avoid:

Sitting incorrectly which may cause musculature damage

Too many repetitive tasks causing an overuse syndrome (OOS) or repetitive

strain injury (RSI). If your work requires many repetitive tasks, make sure

you take breaks and vary your tasks. OOS can affect your ability to work;

follow safe work practices

Fatigue caused by eye stress

These problems are addressed through the control and use of the workstation

design. Consider the following recommendations to minimise the chances of

discomfort and stress in the workplace.

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Adapted from http://www.ergonomics.com.au/office-ergonomics-checklist/

Follow workplace policy and procedures for cleaning of workplace and

personal hygiene.

Sort, recycle, remove and dispose of waste promptly

Safely remove and clean spills of food, waste or other potential hazards

Maintain equipment and consumable materials and store correctly

Use and clean equipment according to manufacturer instructions and policy

requirements

Consider your colleagues

Furniture and equiment

Adjustable chair height, back mechanism and armrests

Support the small of your back

Shoulders relaxed not slumped or elevated, no pressure under your thighs

Use a footrest if you cannot reach the floor with your feet

Document holders must be angled correctly to avoid neck or eye strain

Display monitor and glare resistant filter

Keyboard and mouse position

Lighting

Suitable workplace temperature, humidity and noise levels

Avoid (possible) radiation from computer screens

Posture

Change postures often throughout the day

A very important part of workstation design

Pay careful attention to position of head, neck/spine, arms/ wrists, hips/thighs and feet

Keep a neutral position - forearms, wrists and hands in a straight line

Good posture reduces chance of strain and fatigue

Avoid resting elbows, forearms or wrists on hard surfaces or sharp edges

YOU!

Strike keyboards lightly

Avoid awkward reaching for work tools i.e. telephone, mouse

Keep work close to you

Alternate work activities to use different muscle groups and avoid overuse

Rest your eyes often

Get up and move periodically

If have glare on your screen, adjust your station glare to a minimum level

Take frequent mini-breaks throughout the day to give muscles and joints a chance to rest and recover

Date post:	08-Nov-2015
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