Unit 2 OHS
Unit 2 OHS
Unit 2 OHS
Aim
This unit of work aims to provide students with an understanding of:
Outcomes
On completion of this unit of work, students will be able to:
Unit outline
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 defines a hazard as anything
(including work practices or procedures) that has the potential to harm the health or safety
of a person.
Recognising the hazards in a workplace and taking steps to eliminate or control the hazard
ensures the safety and well being of all employees. It is easier and more effective to
eliminate or control the hazard before serious injuries result.
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 states that an employer must
eliminate any reasonably foreseeable risk to the health and safety of employees and
others in the workplace and if this is not practicable must control the risk.
There are a number of ways hazards can be identified in the workplace. These include:
o workplace inspections
o consultation between employees and employers
o monitoring injury and illness records
o health and environment monitoring
o recording complaints
o observation
Once a hazard has been identified, you can then assess how dangerous it is by asking:
o How likely is it that the hazard may cause an injury or illness to someone?
o How severe will the injury or illness be?
The answers to these questions will help in assessing, controlling or eliminating the
hazard. The level of risk will determine the priority assigned to its elimination or control.
Risk is the probability that harm might come to a person. It is a measure of how likely an
injury or illness is when a hazard exists.
Risk assessment is the process used to determine the likelihood that people may be
exposed to injury, illness or disease in the workplace arising from any situation identified
during the hazard identification process.
Once a hazard has been identified and the risk assessed, suitable control measures
should be put in place to eliminate the risk to employees health and safety.
1. How severely
could it hurt 2. How likely is it to be that bad?
someone?
OR
++ + - --
How ill could Very likely Likely Unlikely Very unlikely
it make Could happen Could happen Could happen, Could happen,
someone? any time some time but very rarely but probably
never will
!!!! Kill or cause
1 1 2
permanent
disability or
ill health
3
!!! Long term
1
illness or
serious
injury 2 3 4
!! Medical
attention
and several
days off
work
2 3 4 5
! First aid
needed
3 4 5 6
If elimination of the hazard is not possible, then the risk still exists and should be
minimised by using the most effective method, using the following, in order:
The measures at the fourth and fifth levels are less effective, and require more frequent
reviews of the hazards and systems of work.
Where possible, the ideas listed below should be used because they
are less likely to be affected by human failure and because they are less disruptive
and uncomfortable for people working in the area. Whichever method is used, the
effectiveness of the control measure used should be monitored regularly.
Engineering Controls
o Design. Try to ensure that hazards are 'designed out' when new materials, equipment
and work systems are being planned for the workplace.
o Remove the hazard or Substitute less hazardous materials, equipment or substances.
o Adopt a safer process. Alterations to tools, equipment or work systems can often
make them much safer.
o Enclose or isolate the hazard through the use of guards or remote handling
techniques.
o Provide effective ventilation through local or general exhaust ventilation systems.
Administrative Controls
o Provide suitable and properly maintained Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and
training in its use.
(Source: http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/Hazards/hazardhierarchy.htm)
The table below shows examples of typical problems created by workplace hazards and
some injuries and illnesses that can result. Individual workplaces may have hazards other
than those listed below.
TYPICAL INJURY/ILLNESS
HAZARD TYPICAL PROBLEMS
REQUIRING FIRST AID
Employers also have obligations in relation to the working environment. The requirements
relate to:
o Working space
provide sufficient working space to allow people to work safely
ensure that floors and surfaces are constructed and maintained to minimise the
possibility of slips, trips and falls
ensure that people are able to move about a place of work safely and
unhindered.
o Lighting
provide adequate lighting to allow workers to work safely, move safely, and enter
and exit the workplace safely (including from emergency exits)
ensure that there is not excessive glare or reflection
ensure that lighting allows persons who are not workers to move safely within
the place of work.
o Noise management
not allow exposure to noise levels that exceed an eight-hour noise equivalent of
85 dB(A) or peak at more than 140 dB(C).
o Other obligations
fire prevention, electricity, confined spaces, manual handling , atmosphere
ventilation, working at heights.
Consultation means that employees views are valued and taken into account by the
business. Consultation needs to be a two-way communication that allows for employees to
contribute to the decision-making which affects their health, safety and welfare.
Consultation is not the same as negotiation.
Training
Under the OHS Regulation 2001, employers are required to provide specified induction
training to each new employee (Clause 13(1)) as well as ensure that any person who may
be exposed to a risk to health and safety at the workplace is
informed of the risk, and is provided with any information,
instruction and training necessary to ensure their health and
safety (Clause 13(2)).
The employer must also provide persons in its organisation who have training and
information responsibilities with all available information necessary to enable them to fulfil
those responsibilities (Clause 13(3)).
The OHS Act 2000 requires employers to adopt an OHS consultation arrangement to
assist with meeting their duty to consult. The OHS Act provides three options:
Through consultation, employers can become more aware of hazards and OHS issues
experienced by employees. Employees can provide suggestions about how to solve health
and safety problems.
Employee participation enables the employee to contribute to determining how the work
can be undertaken safely.
OHS Representative/s could be useful for small businesses, or where there are several
work locations, and can be formed when:
1. Keep under review the measures taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of
persons at the place of work
2. Investigate any matter that poses a risk
3. Attempt to resolve a matter
4. Request an investigation by an inspector
5. Consult with a WorkCover inspector and accompany them on an inspection if
required
In addition to the functions set out in the OHS Act, the OHS Regulation provides that
OHS Representatives have the following functions:
1) List 3 hazards that you may find in each of the following workplaces:
a) Office
b) Hotel
c) Factory
d) Farm
e) Building site
2) List injuries that may result from each of the following hazards:
a) Manual handling
b) Noise
c) Hazardous substances
Example: Manual Handling Muscle strain Change work practice to ensure correct
Back injuries procedures are followed.
Click on Item 13 Duty of employer to consult in Part 2 - Duties Relating To Health, Safety
And Welfare At Work, Division 2 Duty to consult.
Section 13 deals with the requirement for the employer to consult or discuss with employees
any issues related to health and safety, allowing employees the chance to contribute to any
decisions that are made on health, safety and welfare.
1. Why must an employer consult with or discuss health and safety issues with
employees?
2. What are the maximum penalties for those employers who fail to consult with
employees?
3. How does an employer consult with employees on health and safety issues? (Note: You
will need to refer to Item 16 to help you answer this).
Click on Item 18 - Functions of OHS committees and OHS representatives in Part 2 - Duties
Relating To Health, Safety And Welfare At Work, Division 2 Duty to consult.
Read through the details on this web page and list the three main functions of Occupational
Health and Safety Committees.
Student Activity 3
Read the case studies provided and answer the questions that follow each case study.
The lack of clear instructions and proper supervision in the dangerous business of demolition
lay at the core of a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in a
$75,000 fine being imposed on Delta Pty Ltd in the Industrial Relations Commission.
This conclusion by Justice Boland in the case that led to two workers sustaining serious
injuries after a building collapsed sent a clear safety message to all demolition operators, the
Acting General Manager of WorkCover NSW said today.
In 1997 the defendant was contracted to demolish a number of buildings on the Fox Studio
premises in Sydney.
On 30 May one of the buildings was being demolished in a method known as controlled
collapse.
Two employees of the defendant were on a scissor lift cutting timber purlins inside the building
when the structure collapsed, toppling the lift.
One worker sustained a compound fracture to one arm, injuries to the liver, fractured ribs and
a fractured pelvis.
The other employee suffered a fractured pelvis, loss of several teeth, and injuries to his
tendon, cheek and mouth.
The court heard that hinge cuts and rust in several of the buildings steel supports had
weakened the structure and contributed to its collapse.
Justice Boland said that the absence of the demolition supervisor as approved by the
defendants state manager, and his replacement with someone who was not experienced
enough for such a dangerous operation, was a serious error of judgement in respect of the
defendants responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
4. List some control measures that could have been used to prevent the accident.
WorkCover NSW today launched a $1.7million public education campaign targeted specifically
at the health and safety of young workers. "Young people are particularly vulnerable to
workplace injury because of their inexperience," said the Chairperson of the Board of
WorkCover, the Hon Joe Riordan, AO.
Mr. Riordan launched the campaign at the Newcastle Workers Club accompanied by local
Paralympian Heath Francis, who is sponsored by WorkCover. Heath was injured in a
workplace accident at the age of seven.
"Employers must be aware of their legal obligation to provide a safe workplace for all their
employees, but we are reminding them to pay special attention to the needs of young
workers," said Mr. Riordan.
"Over 8,400 workers under the age of 25 were injured at their place of employment in New
South Wales in the 1998/99 period," he said.
"In this same period, nine young workers were tragically killed at work, in accidents that could
have been prevented.
The public education campaign, consisting of television and radio commercials, has been
designed to graphically illustrate that there is no substitute for proper training and supervision
to ensure safety in the workplace.
"From the very first day a young person begins a job, they must be trained to do that job with
safety as the prime consideration," Mr. Riordan said.
"The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides penalties of up to $875,000 for employers
who fail to maintain a safe working environment.
"Too often we see employers taking steps to operate safely after an accident occurs.
"The State Government and WorkCover are committed to ensuring this changes. Education is
one of the most powerful forms of intervention in the area of work safety," Mr. Riordan said.
As well as the television and radio campaign, WorkCover NSW has already distributed free to
all high schools and TAFE colleges, multi-media kits informing young people of occupational
health and safety issues before they start work.
"Our young people deserve no less than to work in a culture of safety," Mr. Riordan said.
3. How many young workers were injured in NSW in the period 1998/1999?
5. What does the education campaign launched by WorkCover NSW consist of?
Resources:
o Overhead transparencies:
Instructions to students
Suggested answers
o Activity cards set of 40 cards with each card having a role or responsibility of one of
the various groups. One set for each group. Teachers will need to prepare these cards.
A master card sheet is supplied for photocopying.
Activity Outline:
o Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4.
o Each group should have a set of 40 cards and a set of 4 boards with headings of
employer, employee, heath and safety representative, WorkCover inspector.
o Students in each group are to discuss the role or responsibility printed on each card.
Students decide which group has the responsibility printed on the card.
o Students place the card on the board that matches the responsibility with the workplace
group responsible.
Take each card and discuss with the other members in your
group who you think has responsibility for that role, i.e is it the
employer, the employee, the health and safety representative
or the WorkCover inspector?
3. What are the three most important factors you have learned,
about your role and responsibility in the workplace?
Types of hazards:
o physical eg. noise, radiation, light, vibration
o chemical eg. poisons, dusts
o biological eg. viruses, plants, parasites
o mechanical/electrical eg. slips, trips and falls,
tools, electrical equipment
o psychological eg. fatigue, violence, bullying
o Substitute
o Isolate
o Minimise Engineering
o Minimise Administrative
o PPE
WORKCOVER INSPECTORS
o Request an investigation by a
WorkCover inspector
EMPLOYEE
o Must take reasonable care for the health and safety of
people who are at their place of work
o Must co-operate with their employer or other person
o Must notify the employer or supervisor of any risk to health
and safety
o Must not deliberately create a risk to health and safety
o Must not interfere with or misuse things provided for
health, safety and welfare
o Must not hinder aid to an injured worker
o Must not refuse assistance in either receiving aid or giving
aid
o Must not disrupt the workplace by creating health or safety
fears
Note: Students in the workplace should also follow these guidelines
to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
Unit 2: Managing workplace hazards, and consultation in the workplace Page 30 of 30