the General Module of safe@work. - Department of Education and
Contents
1. Mechanical equipment injuries can cause long periods of time off work and sometimes permanent disability Many such injuries happen in the construction agricultural and manufacturing industries When working with mechanical equipment personal protective equipment may include protective gloves arm guards safety glasses hard hats and safety boots Guards Guards attached to mechanical equipment protect you from the moving parts of machines Machine guards must never be removed and if a guard is damaged or missing the machine must not be used until it can be repaired or replaced A missing or damaged guard must be reported at once If guards are removed during cleaning make sure they are replaced and checked by an authorised person before the machine is used Never start machinery during cleaning Locking out equipment Locking out is one way of stopping electrically powered machinery from starting during maintenance A lock is attached to the machine switch so it can t be turned on The person working with the machine should hold the only key to the lock A lock must only be removed by the person who attached it to the equipment or machinery Procedures must be put in place for the removal of the lock should that person not be available for example if there has been a change of shift workers or if the person authorised to remove the lock has been called away This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright2. Welcome to the General Module of safe work Common hazards exist in many workplaces It is important to learn about these so you can stay safe while at work safe work will e help you understand occupational health and safety hazards and laws e provide practical solutions to common health and safety problems Contents Health and Safety Responsibilities Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Risk Control Manual Handling Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Noise Electricity Mechanical Equipment OO NO OF Re NS Falls from Height o Personal Safety 10 Personal Protective Equipment PPE 11 Dealing with an Emergency 12 Health and Safety Laws 13 Duties of Employers 14 Duties of Employees 15 Health and Safety Representatives and Committees 16 The Role of Inspectors 17 Resolving Health and Safety Issues 1 Health and Safety Responsibilities KEY POINT Health and safety at work is everyone s responsibility e Employers have responsibilities towards you e You have responsibilities towards your employer and your co workers This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe i A a Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Skills roe Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be Your employer is responsible for making sure that the workplace is safe and that your health an
3. Induction should be much more than having a chat with your supervisor completing a few forms and being introduced to your workmates e provide information about hazards and the actions taken to control workplace risks including the use of personal protective equipment where necessary e provide supervision to ensure that employees are not exposed to hazards Supervision should include regular checks to make sure health and safety instructions are being followed e consult with employees to identify and control hazards in workplaces Employees who are experienced in a job will usually know what can go wrong and why e consult with employees and health and safety representatives on health and safety matters e make sure equipment and materials are used stored transported and disposed of safely 14 Duties of Employees Once you have been properly trained and instructed you must take care to look after your own health and safety and not put other workers at risk Your responsibilities include following health and safety instructions provided by the employer correctly using personal protective equipment and clothing taking care to use equipment safely and for its intended purpose reporting hazards and potential problems without delay reporting all work related injuries and incidents that you think could result in harm to health e co operating with the employer on health and safety matters e o o o This publication is based
4. KEY POINT injury and disease Every workplace in Victoria must obey all the laws relevant to their work The OH amp S Act and Regulations are legally enforceable and employers can be prosecuted if they do not meet their obligations These laws give every person in every workplace a right to be involved in health and safety through a process of consultation and co operation They also provide penalties for any employer or employee who tries to prevent this process from happening Employers and employees should work together to eliminate KEY POINT hazards and to find practical ways to protect the health and safety of everyone in the workplace including members of the public Duty of care The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 contains sections that describe the responsibilities of employers employees self employed persons persons who have control of workplaces eg owners or managers persons who manufacturer or supply plant machinery or equipment tools and substances used at work e persons who design or construct buildings and structures These responsibilities are known as duties of care The duty of care applies to each person as far as is reasonably practicable Practicable means reasonable measures must be taken bearing in mind e the severity of any injury or harm to health that may occur the likelihood of the injury or harm occurring e how much is known about the hazard and the ways
5. they have lost their hearing Lost hearing is gone forever Exposure to noise outside work can also be dangerous to your hearing Noise in nightclubs and pubs as well as from personal sound systems can exceed levels that would be acceptable in the work place This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge y Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future 6 Electricity Electric shock happens when a person becomes part of an electrical circuit and the current flows through their body When an electric shock kills someone it is called electrocution Accidents and deaths can occur when equipment becomes live due to electrical faults lack of maintenance or short circuits Doing maintenance work on live electrical circuits is another common cause of electrocution Electrical accidents are usually caused by a combination of factors such as lack of training or supervision unsafe work practices equipment not properly installed maintained tested and tagged a hazardous work environment where electrical hazards may not be recognised Electrocution often occurs when people misjudge heights and distances between the ground and overhead wires when carrying equipment like poles and ladders or operating equipment with height extension such as cranes Remember Look Up and
6. State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be SIS DESIST Danger and Out of Service Tags Red and black DANGER tags are designed for the protection of individual people The only person permitted to remove a personal DANGER tag is the person whose name is on the tag Yellow and black OUT OF SERVICE tags are used to prevent accidents or damage to machinery that is out of service for repairs Any faulty equipment should be tagged so that it cannot be KEY POINT used until it is replaced or repaired The safe work procedures for removal of DANGER and OUT OF SERVICE tags at your workplace must be followed Apprentices trainees and work experience students must be supervised at all times by a qualified worker KEY POINT 8 Falls from Height Identifying Fall Hazards Falls are a major cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries There are many jobs that require people to work at heights greater than 2 metres or at ground level where a fall is possible because of hazards like holes pits or shafts Examples of typical fall hazards include e work on or near fragile roof surfaces such as skylights or fibreglass panels with no guarding safety mesh or other fall protection measures present e installation maintenance or inspection o
7. counselling services for workers in potentially stressful jobs such as health care or emergency work There will always be times at work when you experience some stress Talking to others about your concerns often KEY POINT eases the pressure Keeping fit and healthy will increase your ability to deal with stress This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be SIS ELIS S Violence and bullying at work Workplace violence and bullying is an action incident or pattern of behaviour that harms injures or upsets another person It includes situations where employees and other people are threatened bullied intimidated pushed or struck Workplace bullying and harassment should not be tolerated Employers must take steps to protect employees and other people in workplaces from incidents that may cause injury or harm and from situations where they are victimised or bullied People who work alone or at night e g taxi drivers video store attendants and people who handle things like cash or drugs e g bank tellers chemists may face added risks such as robbery or assault If you are bullied at work inform your supervisor employer or a trusted colleague Students should also inform their teacher and their
8. must make sure that PPE is stored in a clean and fully operational condition that it can be easily found when needed and that it is safe from interference and damage PPE should be inspected regularly and before use to make sure it is in good working order Damaged or defective PPE must be reported at once It must be tagged to prevent its use until it has been repaired or thrown away and replaced 11 Dealing with an Emergency Incidents and accidents sometimes happen in workplaces so you must know what to do in an emergency Every workplace is different so it is important that you are told where to find trained first aiders who your fire wardens are and the emergency evacuation procedures for your work location Listen carefully when you are told about the first aid and KEY POINT emergency arrangements at your workplace If you are still not sure ask for further information First aid facilities If you or your workmates are involved in an accident first aid is crucial Your employer must provide first aid facilities and must tell you where they are For example they could be e inaroom set aside specifically for first aid treatment e ata number of first aid stations within the workplace e ina first aid box on a wall Make sure you find out what first aid facilities you have at your workplace and who your first aiders are Fire extinguishers Your employer must tell you where fire extinguishers are located what
9. on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge 4 Ski lls Victoria e To Be www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future o The Plac Remember that co operation and consultation are the keys to a safe and healthy workplace Employers and employees should talk to each other to solve health and safety problems at work KEY POINT 15 Health and Safety Representatives and Committees Health and safety representatives HSRs Health and safety representatives HSRs are an important link between employees and employers They tell employers about health and safety concerns and co operate with them to set up and maintain workplace safety HSRs are elected by co workers to act on their behalf in resolving health and safety issues in the workplace and to maintain safe working conditions Employees at every workplace are allowed by law to elect their own HSR Having a health and safety representative at your workplace makes it easier to bring health and safety problems to the attention of management so they can be dealt with and resolved KEY POINT When an employee asks for the election of a health and safety representative the employer and employees must work together to conduct an election at the workplace An employer may also call for the election of a health and safety representative without waiting for employees to ask Yo
10. sure hazards are recognised and safe work methods are used Even though you may be young and new to the job you have a responsibility to speak up Talk to your supervisor if you feel your job is too heavy too difficult too tiring or puts you at risk of injury This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future It is the employer s responsibility to provide you with safe KEY POINT work procedures and with instruction training and supervision for manual handling tasks Ways to reduce the risk Lighten loads break loads into smaller quantities Reduce the need for bending twisting reaching movements Use team lifting Use mechanical assistance e g trolleys and adjustable height workbenches and seating e Prevent muscle strain and fatigue This includes warming up before working taking rest breaks and allowing time to get used to a new task Slippery floors Slippery and uneven floors in the workplace are hazardous and can result in serious accidents For example kitchen workers have been burnt when they have accidentally pulled pots of hot liquid onto themselves when a slip has caused them to fall Floors should be cleaned regularly so that oil fat and other spills do not create a slippery surface Employers m
11. times and must never be expected to work alone Work related stress No job is free from stress All work involves some responsibilities problems demands and pressures that may be stressful Some level of stress can be expected to occur from time to time in most jobs Stress is usually described as a reaction in people to heavy demands pressures and expectations Usually people who are stressed feel a sense of loss of control over their lives or that they can t cope KEY POINT Not all pressure is harmful People are often kept motivated by challenges and difficulties they face and are able to solve at work However there is a limit to how much pressure people can deal with Performance can drop mistakes can happen and the health of the employee may be adversely affected Generally periods of stress don t last very long and will have little or no long term effect When relief from a stressful situation is not available or when the relief is for a short period only the body has no time to repair and the stress becomes long lasting and more serious Long term problems emerge and recovery time even with professional help is much longer You should talk to your supervisor if you feel unduly stressed at work Employers can do things to reduce work related stress These include making sure workers are treated fairly rotating sharing the more boring repetitive or demanding tasks and providing access to peer support and
12. Live General safety precautions e Apprentices trainees and work experience students must be supervised at all times by a qualified worker and must never attempt to carry out any work that could expose them to an electrical hazard e Only licensed electrical workers can legally do electrical work An unqualified person must not be asked to do electrical work e Keep powered tools and equipment in safe working order through inspection and preventative maintenance programs e Disconnect and report faulty tools and appliances for example frayed cords or broken power points Even after a piece of electrical equipment appliance or machine has been disconnected from the power source it may still partially operate This is because of stored energy within the equipment After disconnecting the power source activate the machine or appliance to release the stored energy e Always switch off tools and appliances at the power point before pulling out the plug e Keep electrical cords off the floor to reduce the risk of damage from dragging contact with sharp objects or contact with water A damaged electrical cord can cause electrocution e Know the location of your main electricity supply e Check the location of overhead wires and stand clear of any fallen power lines e Use your appliance properly Read the instruction booklet and follow all instructions e Electricity and water don t mix Bare feet and wet skin lower the body s resis
13. ar the substances e Wash your hands and face and other exposed areas with soap and water before going to the toilet eating and drinking e Read the MSDS before using any hazardous substance If there is no MSDS ask your employer or supervisor to obtain one 5 Noise When someone loses their hearing it can be devastating for them and annoying for others around them People with poor hearing are often left out of conversations and social activities Hearing loss can also cause people to become less efficient at work and study Some early warning signs of hearing loss include e ringing in the ears after doing something which exposes you to noise e having trouble understanding what people say This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future ictoria The Place To Be SISA EI IL Rhos ad e needing to turn up the volume on the radio or television even though other people can hear e not hearing background noises like the telephone or doorbell If employees experience any of the warning signs of hearing KEY POINT loss they should talk about ways to control and reduce their exposure to the noise with their supervisor and their health and safety representative As a general rule if the noise around you forces you to raise your voice to make yours
14. co operation team work Consultation between employers and employees in workplaces is very important The Act encourages discussion particularly through employee health and safety representatives and health and safety committees made up of both management and employee representatives Under the Act everyone involved with work has responsibilities for occupational health and safety Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Regulations are laws made by government to support Acts in other words to set out more detailed requirements which will help to an Act to achieve its objectives The OH amp S Act is supported by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 which make specific requirements in regard to hazards including Manual Handling Noise Plant Prevention of Falls Hazardous Substances Asbestos Lead Hazard identification risk assessment and risk control are made compulsory by the Regulations for employers in all workplaces The Regulations also address things like the issuing of licences for erecting scaffolds operating cranes and forklifts and other potentially dangerous work This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe s a Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills roe Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be Regulations are laws to protect people against occupational
15. d safety are not put at risk You are responsible for looking after your own health and safety You must also take care not to put other people at risk You could put other people at risk by e acting in an unsafe manner e not following agreed safe work practices e not acting to report a situation which could result in someone getting hurt To ensure the safety of yourself and others make sure you are aware of the correct safety procedures at your place of work This means e listening very carefully to safety information provided by your employer e asking for clarification help or instructions if you re not sure about how to perform any task safely 2 Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Risk Control There are three steps used to manage health and safety at work 1 Spot the hazard Hazard Identification 2 Assess the risk Risk Assessment 3 Make the changes Risk Control At work you can use these three ThinkSafe steps to help prevent accidents Using the ThinkSafe Steps 1 Spot the Hazard KEY POINT A hazard is anything that could hurt you or someone else Examples of workplace hazards include e frayed electrical cords could result in electrical shock e boxes stacked precariously they could fall on someone e noisy machinery could result in damage to your hearing During work experience you must remain alert to anything that may be dangerous If you see hear or smell anything odd take note I
16. e the workplace safe In some larger workplaces several health and safety representatives may be elected There may also be more than one committee Major employers may have health and safety representatives and committees at various workplaces around the state 16 The Role of Inspectors WorkSafe inspectors are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation Acts and Regulations They have wide ranging powers to help them fulfil their functions Inspectors have powers to enter inspect and examine workplaces conduct investigations and enquiries take samples photographs records and measurements take possession of materials ask that the workplace be left undisturbed interview anyone at the workplace ask for assistance from anyone at the workplace Inspectors have to avoid unduly or unreasonably interfering with the work being carried out in any workplace Inspectors may issue written directions called Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices Improvement and Prohibition Notices An Improvement Notice is a written direction requiring a person to fix a health and safety problem in a workplace The Notice will state the part of the Act or Regulations covering the offence and will set a date by which the improvement must be completed A Prohibition Notice is a written direction that prohibits at once any activity where the inspector thinks someone may be at risk of serious harm The inspector will remain at the wo
17. elf heard by someone a metre away your hearing may be at risk The scale used to measure noise as it is heard by the human ear is written as dB A Normal conversation is about 60 dB A to 65 dB A 85 dB A is the level at which you have to raise your voice while at 90 dB A you will have to shout to make yourself heard Prolonged exposure to noise above the level of 85 dB A significantly damages hearing This is the level at which noise control measures must be taken by employers The table below is a guide to some typical noise levels Noise Level dB A at operator s ear Heavy traffic Co Lawn mower 90 Every effort must be made to reduce noise at its source However if there is no way to separate people from potentially damaging causes of noise an employer must provide the correct personal hearing protectors earmuffs or earplugs These should be used only as a temporary measure or last resort Personal hearing protection should be regularly cleaned and any damaged parts must be replaced Personal hearing protection should be kept near the area of noisy activity Listening to music through headphones does not provide protection from noise To help reduce the risk of hearing loss you could also spend less time being exposed to noise It s up to employers to make sure that no employee is exposed to noise for longer than the prescribed exposure standard KEY POINT People do not adapt to noise It only seems that way because
18. em away to eliminate a trip hazard The best way to fix a hazard is to get rid of it altogether This is not always possible but your employer should try to make hazards less dangerous by looking at the following options in order from most effective to least effective e Elimination Sometimes hazards equipment substances or work practices can be avoided entirely e g clean high windows from the ground with an extendable pole cleaner rather than by climbing a ladder and risking a fall e Substitution Sometimes a less hazardous thing substance or work practice can be used e g use a non toxic glue instead of a toxic glue e Isolation Separate the hazard from people by marking the hazardous area fitting screens or putting up safety barriers e g welding screens can be used to isolate welding operations from other workers Barriers and or boundary lines can be used to separate areas where forklifts operate near pedestrians in the workplace This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge y Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future e Safeguards Safeguards can be added by modifying tools or equipment or fitting guards to machinery These must never be removed or disabled by workers using the equipment e Instructing workers in the safest way to do so
19. ety net or safety harness system All of these require specific training and instruction for the worker and purpose designed equipment which must be regularly checked for any wear or damage The use of ladders Where the use of a ladder is the only practicable way to do a job requiring work above 2 metres employers must make sure the ladder is appropriate to the task Ladders should be tied off where practicable to ensure that they are stable and will not slip sideways or fall backwards Where a job requires that a ladder is used frequently a ladder bracket may be fitted to enable to the worker to secure the ladder before work begins Ladders should always be carefully checked before use and should never be used where the ground is sloping or soft Tools and equipment should never be carried up or down a ladder they should be raised and lowered in a bag A person on the ground can do this while at the same time keeping watch for pedestrians and other traffic 9 Personal Safety Working alone Many people in remote places have to work alone A person is alone at work when they can t be seen or heard by another person People who work away from other people and settlements such as employees on farms or stations or in forest operations can often be at risk People may also have to work alone in towns and cities They include people who work e where there are no other employees e when everyone else has gone home e inspectin
20. f air conditioning units situated close to unprotected roof edges work from ladders such as painting repairing or clearing gutters tree work which requires climbing to reach the branches to be pruned raising workers on pallets to reach items stored in high racking or shelving climbing onto the tops of vehicles such as tankers or livestock carriers mezzanine floors without adequate guardrails or handrails Reducing the risk of falls Employers must take steps to safeguard workers against falls Victorian law now requires every task which involves a fall hazard of more than 2 metres to be assessed to see whether it can be done safely from the ground or from a stable work platform For example equipment mounted on a roof can often be relocated to ground level If those options are not practicable there are a number of other risk control measures that could provide the protection needed They include This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be e using an industrial rope access system to enable the worker to supported by ropes which are attached to a strong anchor point e setting up a passive fall prevention device such as a scaffold or guardrail e using a fall injury prevention system such as an industrial saf
21. f you think it could be a hazard tell someone This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe z s a Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills roe Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be 2 Assess the Risk Assessing the risk means working out how likely it is that a KEY POINT hazard will harm someone and how serious the harm could be Whenever you spot a hazard assess the risk by asking yourself two questions e How likely is it that the hazard could harm me or someone else e How badly could or someone else be harmed Always tell someone your employer your supervisor or your health and safety representative about hazards you can t fix yourself especially if the hazard could cause serious harm to anyone For example e Ask your supervisor for instructions and training before using equipment e Ask for help moving or lifting heavy objects e Tell your supervisor if you think a work practice could be dangerous If you are not sure of the safest way to do something on work experience always ask your work experience supervisor 3 Make the Changes It is your employer s responsibility to fix hazards Sometimes you may be able to fix simple hazards yourself KEY POINT as long as you don t put yourself or others at risk For example you can pick up things from the floor and put th
22. g large structures such as cranes when nobody else is close by e cleaning offices in high rise buildings outside normal business hours e in parks and reserves e inspecting vacant land for fire Things that may increase the risks involved with working alone include e how long the person may be working alone e what time of day the person may be working alone e lack of communication tools such as a telephone e the location and accessibility of the work site e the skills experience and character of the person working alone Some tasks for example working with powered tools like chainsaws should never be done while working alone Other tasks must be carefully assessed by employers before they are considered suitable for a lone worker Arrangements for contact and emergency must always be made before work starts This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe i Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills o Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildi Building a Future a JIS OSI IS To reduce the risk of injury or harm to health employers should provide information instruction and training for people who work alone It is also essential that the person knows the work well and the work procedures that should be followed Students doing work experience and structured workplace KEY POINT learning must be supervised at all
23. he problem If the issue cannot be resolved go to the employer 2 Try to agree on ways to fix the problem If you are in danger you may be given different work to do until the risk has been dealt with 3 If you cannot agree upon a safe course of action your employer or health and safety representative may ask a WorkSafe inspector to visit 4 Inspectors take whatever action they consider appropriate Improvement and Prohibition Notices may be issued The right to refuse work If you believe the work you are doing is dangerous and there is a risk of serious injury or harm to yourself or others then you can refuse to do this work You must tell your supervisor or employer and your health and safety representative of your concerns KEY POINT An employer can give you other work to perform away from the danger while the issue is being addressed If you have refused to work on reasonable grounds you must receive the same pay and other benefits if any that you usually get This is not the case if you have left the workplace without the authorisation of the employer or if you have refused to do reasonable alternative work Multiple Choice Questions You may now try the multiple choice test See your teacher for a copy and full instructions There are 16 questions If you get 12 or more correct you are entitled to an Award of Attainment The Principal of your school will sign the Award and validate it with the school stamp Thi
24. mething This means developing and enforcing safe work procedures Students on work experience must be given information and instruction and must follow agreed procedures to ensure their safety e Using personal protective equipment and clothing PPE If risks remain after the options above have been tried it may be necessary to use PPE such as safety glasses gloves helmets and ear muffs PPE can protect you from hazards associated with jobs such as handling chemicals or working in a noisy environment Sometimes it will require more than one of the risk control measures above to effectively reduce exposure to hazards 3 Manual Handling Manual handling refers to any activity requiring the use of KEY POINT force by a person to lift lower push pull hold or restrain something Putting boxes on shelves painting gardening cleaning writing and typing are some examples of manual handling tasks Manual handling injuries include strains and sprains neck and back injuries slips falls and crush incidents cuts bruises and broken bones hernia occupational overuse syndrome OOS You should be informed and trained in safe manual handling methods specific manual handling hazards safe work procedures use of any required manual handling aids your right to ask for help Most manual handling injuries can be prevented by designing the task to minimise risk Instruction training and supervision are essential to make
25. of reducing removing or controlling it and e the availability suitability and cost of safeguards 13 Duties of Employers An employer s main responsibility is to make sure that the workplace is safe and that anyone working in or visiting the workplace is not exposed to hazards or harmed by the work For example the employer must This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge y Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future e make sure that work areas machinery and equipment are kept in a safe condition e organise ways of working safely e provide information instruction training and supervision of employees so they can work safely e make sure that employees are aware of potential hazards e provide protective clothing and equipment where hazards can t be avoided e consult and co operate with health and safety representatives and other employees at the workplace e inform employees about hazards in the workplace and improve their understanding of safe work procedures The information does not always have to be written it can be spoken or in the form of videos and tapes e provide new employees with specialised induction training to help them become familiar with their new work environment procedures equipment and materials so they can do their job safely
26. parent or guardian without delay Employers must take immediate action to stop bullying whenever it is noticed or reported You are not expected to deal with harassment and bullying KEY POINT yourself Inform your supervisor or someone you can trust 10 Personal Protective Equipment Types of PPE and protective clothing Personal protective equipment and clothing includes overalls and protective aprons protective headgear safety helmets wide brimmed hats to protect against the sun safety boots or shoes safety glasses or goggles gloves respirators and masks earmuffs and earpieces Use of PPE When hazards in the workplace can t be eliminated or KEY POINT sufficiently reduced by other risk controls employers must provide personal protective equipment and clothing PPE Employees must be instructed in how to use PPE and clothing provided by the employer They should be told why the use of PPE is necessary before they start the particular job for which it has been provided Where PPE is provided you must use it as you have been instructed to do This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future ictoria The Place To Be Employers should make sure that the PPE they purchase complies with the relevant Australian Standard They
27. r years chronic such as dermatitis or cancer Some people can be more susceptible than others We use hazardous substances and dangerous goods almost every day of our lives It may be antiseptic for a cut paint for the walls or a cleaning product for the bathroom While they may seem harmless even these ordinary things can make you very sick if they are not used properly It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with safe work procedures for handling hazardous substances ree and dangerous goods and to provide information training and supervision Material Safety Data Sheet A Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS provides detailed information about a hazardous substance or dangerous good It gives more information than you will find on a label Manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are legally required to provide MSDSs to your employer if requested It is important that hazardous substances and dangerous goods in the workplace are used strictly according to the manufacturer s or supplier s written instructions Any risk controls specified by the MSDS and the procedures developed by the workplace must also be closely followed Remember e Follow safe work procedures e Always wear the right personal protective equipment and clothing provided by your employer e Do not eat drink or smoke while working with a hazardous substance or dangerous goods e Do not keep food or drink ne
28. rkplace until the employer has been told about the Notice and the activity has stopped In Victoria WorkSafe inspectors may issue improvement or KEY POINT prohibition notices Health and safety representatives may issue provisional improvement notices Improvement and Prohibition Notices give reasons explaining why they been issued and may set out specific actions which must be taken to fix the problem This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be The employer must display the Improvement or Prohibition Notice in a place where it can be easily seen at or near any work area affected by the Notice until the requirements of the Notice have been met A person who has been issued a Notice or that person s employer can ask for a review of the Notice if they disagree with the inspector s opinion Such appeals must be made in writing within seven days of receiving the Notice 17 Resolving Health and Safety Issues Employers employees and health and safety representatives are encouraged to co operate in order to resolve health and safety issues If you are working on a task that you believe is unsafe or unhealthy you can take the following steps 1 Talk to your supervisor and health and safety representative about t
29. s publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe s a Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills roe Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be
30. tance to electricity Keep electrical appliances and electrical leads away from water and wet areas e Don t overload circuits and fuses by using too many appliances from the one power point Don t use double adaptors to piggy back plugs Use a power board with individual switches This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe s Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Ski lls roe Victoria e To Be www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future o The Plac e Employees who use portable electrical equipment at workplaces must be protected against earth leakage by a Residual Current Device RCD also known as a safety switch 7 Mechanical Equipment Mechanical equipment plant machinery and hand held power tools can cause serious injuries including open wounds fractures and amputations Some injuries can result in death Sprains and strains often result when mechanical equipment is used incorrectly Bad working posture contributes to many such injuries The most common mechanical equipment injuries are to hands and fingers which may be cut sprained dislocated broken crushed or cut off by machinery or tools Eye injuries can be caused by heat or radiation or by objects thrown from moving mechanical parts Your workplace must have a maintenance program to ensure KEY POINT that all equipment and machines are in safe working order
31. types of fire they are suitable for who is authorised to use them and who your fire wardens are Alarm signals If there is a fire or emergency an alarm of some kind will sound You must be able to identify the alarm signals so you know what they mean Your employer must provide training so you know what to do and where to go if there is an emergency This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge i Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe Building a Future The Place To Be 12 Health and Safety Laws Victoria s occupational health and safety laws aim to make KEY POINT workplaces safer and prevent work related deaths injuries and diseases The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 called the OH amp S Act for short covers most workplaces in Victoria including offices hospitals schools factories construction sites farms forests boats vehicles and any place where employees or self employed people work The mining and petroleum industries and Commonwealth government workplaces are covered by separate health and safety laws The Government employers and unions developed the OH amp S Act through talking and working together The Act allows employers and employees to deal with workplace health and safety through consultation discussion and
32. ung employees should be introduced to their health and KEY POINT safety representative as part of their health and safety training when they first start their job As anew worker you can ask the HSR to help you recognise and avoid health and safety hazards and risks in areas where you will be working Many organisations also have health and safety officers who are not elected by employees These officers are appointed by employers to manage occupational health and safety issues in the workplace and make sure health and safety induction information training and supervision are provided for employees Regular inspections of the workplace by HSRs are usually arranged with the employer in advance but may be done without notice if there is an accident dangerous situation or immediate risk to health and safety This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge y Skills Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future Health and safety committees Any employee may request that a health and safety committee is set up Once an employee has asked for a committee the employer is required by law to take steps to establish one Employers may also establish a health and safety committee on their own initiative Committees are useful as they help employers and employees to work together to mak
33. ust make sure that floors are even slip resistant and free from any obstruction that could cause an employee to slip trip or fall 4 Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Your workplace may use hazardous substances and dangerous goods Hazardous substances may be things you see every day such as paint glue cleaning liquid and powders Dangerous goods may be corrosive flammable explosive spontaneously combustible toxic oxidising or water reactive They must be identified in the workplace and when being transported by different coloured diamond symbols KEY POINT A hazardous substance is any substance whether solid liquid or gas that may cause harm to your health Hazardous substances are classified on the basis of their potential health effects whether acute immediate or chronic long term Dangerous goods are classified on the basis of immediate physical or chemical effects such as fire explosion corrosion and poisoning An accident involving dangerous goods could seriously damage property or the environment This publication is based on WorkSafe Smart Move copyright State of Western Australia published by WorkSafe s a Department of Commerce Western Australia Knowledge Y Skills roe Victoria www commerce wa gov au WorkSafe ildina a F Building a Future JIS LS IS Harm to health may happen suddenly acute such as dizziness nausea and itchy eyes or skin or it may happen gradually ove
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search