Participate Effectively in OHS communication and consultative process

• TOPIC 1 - Identifying Hazards in the workplace

• TOPIC 2 - Contingency Preparedness, First Aid andAccident Reporting

• TOPIC 3 - Health and Safety Laws

• TOPIC 4 - Participate in the Management of Health and Safety in your workplace

TOPIC 1 - Identifying Hazards in the workplace • Hazard identification, risk assessment and control are at the

heart of every workplace safety procedure and are required by law in workplaces throughout Australia.

• There should be procedures in place at your workplace for identifying any hazards to health or safety caused by activities and operations over which the employer has control or influence.

SECTION 1 - Identify work area hazards • A 'hazard' is an actual or potential source of personal injury,

ill health or disease in the workplace.

• Hazard identification is the process of investigating any item, activity, situation, product or service that could give rise to injury or illness in the workplace.

• Consideration has to be given to combinations of environmental, human and other factual circumstances in which hazards might arise, the way work is conducted, organised or managed, and types of injury or illness that can result.

SECTION 2 - Reporting Hazards • You should actively report any hazardous situation or safety

issue as soon as such a situation or issue arises or is identified.

• You should feel able to make any suggestions to your supervisor, OHS representative or union you feel appropriate regarding your safety.

• Report any hazard to your supervisor or OHS representative at the time it is FIRST NOTICED.

SECTION 3 - Assessing the risk of a hazard • Dealing with hazards is an exercise in problem-solving.

• Employers must assess the risk of harm posed by each hazard and put controlling measures in place to minimise that risk of harm to workers.

• Risk assessment involves analysing information gathered during the hazard identification process.

SECTION 4 - Controlling risks in the workplace • Any activities, operations, products or services that can or do

pose a significant risk to employee health and safety should be carefully managed and controlled.

• The accepted way to control workplace risks to safety is to consider each hazard in relation to five possible controlling actions in turn, known as the 'hierarchy of control'.

• Proper application of the hierarchy of control will guide the employer to take the most appropriate practicable action in relation to a hazard.

SECTION 5 - Inspections and Risk Control • Work area inspections are an effective way of monitoring

that safe working procedures are being followed.

• Supervisors should conduct site inspections on a regular basis.

• The objective is to identify potential hazards and to follow up any adverse findings by implementing safer work practices that meet OHS obligations.

SECTION 6 - Standard Operating Procedures • Standard operating procedures ('SOPs') are documented

operational control procedures or instructions designed to control risks associated with routine activities.

• SOPs are administrative controls that reduce the risk of a hazard.

• SOPs identify what needs to be done, how it should be done, who should do it and when it should be done.

SECTION 7 - Personal Protection Equipment • Personal protective clothing and equipment ("PPE") is

industrial clothing and other equipment designed to protect workers from injuries or the risk of disease caused by hazards.

• PPE is used for all sorts of tasks - in laboratory work, spray painting, welding, high-pressure cleaning, working with radioactive substances or in operating machinery.

• Employers must provide PPE if appropriate to reduce a particular risk which cant otherwise be eliminated altogether.

SECTION 8 - Plant Hazards • Plant hazards arise where a piece of machinery, equipment

or a tool is:

• not properly guarded

• not properly maintained

• used by inexperienced, untrained operators without proper supervision

• used for something its not designed for

• used under the wrong conditions (eg in the wet, near electric cables)

• illegally modified.

• The most common injuries caused by plant hazards are cuts, sprains, dislocations, broken bones and crush injuries to hands and fingers.

SECTION 9 - Follow Safe Work Procedures • When using plant machinery safe work procedures should be

followed:-

• Keep safety guards installed

• Use equipment, machinery and tools in accordance with manufacturers guidelines and SOPs

• Remember to carry out pre-start safety checks

• Do not attempt to operate plant prior to proper instruction

• Use any personal protective equipment provided

• Isolate machinery before maintenance

• If you have any questions or concerns regarding operation of equipment, machinery or tools - talk to your supervisor or OHS representative about them before putting yourself at risk.

SECTION 10 - Electrical Hazards • Electrical hazards in the workplace include electrical wiring,

electrical machinery, equipment or appliances.

• Common electrical hazards include:

• carrying poles and ladders under overhead wires

• using electrical appliances near water or wet areas

• operating cranes/other equipment with height extension

• working with live electrical circuits

• overloading circuits and fuses

• equipment 'becoming live' due to electrical fault, poor maintenance or short circuiting.

SECTION 12 - Occupational Overuse Syndrome • Occupational overuse syndrome ('OOS') is a term used for a

range of conditions characterised by discomfort or pain in the muscles, tendons or other soft tissues.

• OOS onsets over time and is caused by repetitive manual activities, often in office environments.

• OOS hazards include poor work organisation and workstation layout, badly designed computer hardware/software and badly designed office furniture.

SECTION 13 - Hazardous Substances • Hazardous substances are chemicals or other substances

(solids, liquids or gases) that are toxic, corrosive, flammable or otherwise dangerous, causing illness or disease by entering the body:

• by breathing in the substance (inhalation)

• by absorption through the skin (dermal absorption)

• by ingestion (accidental swallowing, smoking or eating with contaminated hands).

• Hazardous substances include solvents, pesticides, paints, adhesives, petroleum products, heavy metals and cleaning liquids.

SECTION 14 - Atmoshpheric Contaminants • Atmospheric contaminants are airborne hazards such as

dusts, fibres, fumes, mists, smokes, vapours or gases.

• Contaminating airborne substances may be emitted by chemicals, raw materials or machines, produced during a process to make a new product or intentionally manufactured.

• Atmospheric contaminants must be controlled so that they do not exceed safe limits.

SECTION 15 - Noise • Noise is a hazard in many workplaces and should not be

treated simply as an environmental nuisance.

• Exposure to excessive or prolonged noise causes irreversible deafness or hearing impairment by physically damaging the inner ear.

• Early warning signs of risk or actual hearing loss include ringing in the ears after a noisy activity, becoming used to constant levels of noise, having difficulty understanding what people say or failing to hear background noises such as a ringing doorbell.

SECTION 16 - Confined Spaces • Confined workspaces are enclosed or partially enclosed

spaces not intended as a place of work.

• They are often characterised by restricted means of entry and exit.

• Confined space hazards include ventilation shafts, pipes, shipboard spaces, ducts, sewers, storage tanks, silos, pits or boilers.

SECTION 17 - Good Housekeeping • Work areas should be maintained in a clean, orderly and

organised way.

• Work area inspection should include the condition of the work area.

• Brooms and brushes for tidying and removing spillages, cleaning tools, detergents and other cleansing solutions should be on hand as activities carried out in the work area demand.

SECTION 18 - Personal Threats • Personal threats at work can arise from members of the

public or fellow workers.

• It is important to note that a workers psychological welfare as well as their physical wellbeing is protected by OHS laws.

• It is the responsibility of every employer to ensure that personal threats of any kind are not tolerated in the workplace.

• Your organisations OHS policy should make specific mention of workplace violence, bullying, sexual harassment and racial abuse.

SECTION 19 - Stress • Research shows that a certain amount of stress is a good

thing.

• A little bit of stress keeps us on our toes.

• But feeling 'stressed out' is to feel tense, uncomfortable, under pressure and anxious.

• Symptoms of physical and psychological illness can present after prolonged periods of stress where a person no longer feels in control or able to meet the demands placed upon them.

SECTION 20 - Security • Workplaces where cash or medication is handled are at risk

of robbery.

• The employers duty of care extends to taking all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of armed hold-up and to support victims through any resulting psychological trauma caused by such an event.

SECTION 21 - Drug and Alcohol Misuse at Work • Use of alcohol and other drugs in the workplace is an

occupational health and safety issue.

• Taking drugs or alcohol on the premises or reporting for work under their influence poses a serious and obvious hazard to others in a work situation, in addition to the personal risks to the drug/alcohol user.

• If body and mind are affected by alcohol or drugs, the chances of causing an accident are far greater.