HLTWHS001/003Participate in work health safety

Flexible Delivery Saturday workshop 11/10/14

Jeannie Kuwert

Follow workplace safety• In pairs answer the following questions:• Why should workplaces have safe work practices?

• What are some consequences if workers get sick or injured -

• For the business?

• For the worker?

• For clients?

• For visitors?

Follow workplace safety• Workplaces today MUST abide by WHS legislation• These are designed to ensure excellent workplace

conditions and safeguard the health and safety of employers, employees, clients and visitors

• It is the responsibility of ALL workers to identify, control and manage all potential hazards

Follow workplace safety• How do we know what our responsibilities are?

• There are several legislations and regulations that you must become familiar with to ensure you can protect yourself and those you work with

• In NSW the main WHS legislation can be found at www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

• Workcovers purpose is to:• Our purpose is to increase the competitiveness of the NSW

economy through productive, healthy and safe workplaces. We are dedicated to promoting productive, healthy and safe workplaces for workers and employers in New South Wales.

Follow workplace safety• Other guidelines include:

• Education and care services national regulations

• National quality standards

Hazards• What is a hazard?

Types of hazards• Physical – these are related to the work environment e.g.

trip factors, poor lighting and ventilation, air quality, too hot or cold, noise

• Can you think of any more?

• To lessen physical hazards:• routine checks should be made of the physical

environment• Areas should be kept organised and controlled• Staff must be aware of the importance of hazard

identification

Types of hazards• Electrical or mechanical hazards – this includes any

electrical or mechanical equipment e.g. dishwashers, toasters, lights, photocopiers etc.

• All of this type of equipment should have operation and maintenance instructions either attached to the machine or in an accessible file.

• All electrical circuitry or appliances should be checked, fitted and maintained by properly qualified electricians.

• Electrical equipment should be tagged and tested regularly by a competent person.

• All electrical powerpoints that are in children’s services should have covers on them

Types of hazards• Ergonomic hazards – are those related to physical

workplace tasks that educators are required to perform such as lifting, carrying data entry, putting away resources, emptying bins etc

• These activities can cause accidents or injuries if:• Unsuitable equipment is provided e.g. no ladder to reach

hiogh items.• Tasks are performed in an unsuitable environment e.g.

limited space to perform tasks.• To reduce these types of hazards:• Equipment needs to appropriate• The design of the workplace safe and operational• Safe work procedures and practices

Types of hazards• Biological/chemical hazards – coming into contact with

bodily fluids e.g. germs or chemical hazards• Health hazards arise from: • Poor hygiene• Bodily fluids• Lack of personal protective equipment eg gloves• Lack of hand washing facilities• Poor ventilation• Peer cleaning• Pest infestation• Poor waste disposal

Types of hazards• Staff must follow excellent hygiene practices and

encourage children to follow the same• NSW Department of health have useful resources to

support educators with these practices• Australian government has also recently released the 5th

edition of Staying healthy in Childcare• This document outlines how to prevent infectious

diseases with early childhood services

Types of hazards• Chemicals also pose a health risk• Chemicals used daily for cleaning can pose a health risk• Manufacturers instructions must always be followed when using

chemicals• All chemicals must be clearly labelled and preferably kept in their

original containers/packaging• Chemical safety checklist should be kept with info on:• Chemical types• Name of products on site• What the use is• Ptential hazards to chidlren• Effect of hazard• Storage info• Material safety data sheet

Types of hazards• Psychological hazards – include stress, violence,

discrimination, aggresion• Stressful events can be increased by lack of training, lack

of supervision, lack of support and staff liaison

• Do you think working with children might be stressful, why?

• Can you think of an example of a workplace situation that may cause stress?

• How could this be managed?

What to do about hazards?• There are so many risks in the workplace it seems

overwhelming to identify them all

• Remember:• It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the

workplace is safe and healthy and the employee’s responsibility to follow workplace safety and health guidelines!

What to do about hazards?

• Steps to hazard management:• 1. Identify the hazard• 2. Assess the risk• 3. Initiate immediate control• 4. Communicate and report• 5. Repair/control the hazard• 6. Check and reassess

What to do about hazards?• 1. How do we identify hazards?

• Regular checks/checklists• Vigilance• Noticing potential hazards• Effective procedures

What to do about hazards?• 2. Assess the risks?• Ask yourself this question What kind of injury might result

from this hazard?• 1 = Death• 2 = Serious/permanent injury/illness• 3 = Serious injury/illness causing time off work• 4 = Minor injury• Then ask yourself How likely is this hazard to cause injury?• 1 = very likely• 2 = moderately likely• 3 = unlikely• 4 = highly unlikely

What to do about hazards?• Using this method you then score the hazard• Eg a hazard that has a 1:1 rating would require immediate

controls be put in place. A hazard with a 4:4 rating would be less urgent

• What would you rate the following hazards• Light bulb not working? Risk = Likelihood = • No gloves for nappy change? Risk = Likelihood = • Power point broken and exposed wires? Risk =

likelihood = • Spilt water in walkway? Risk = Likelihood =

What to do about hazards?• 3. Initiate immediate control• When you have a hazard that you need to address

immediately an initial control method needs to be used.• These include:• Warning signs e.g. slippery when wet

• Containment measures – prevent anyone from coming into contact with the hazard e.g. barriers, swithing off mains power

What to do about hazards?• 4. Communicate and report• Employer or manager is ultimately responsible for WHS in

the workplace so you must report significant hazards to them immediately

• The WHS representative may then control the hazard• When a hazard is identified all who are at risk must be

warned• Written documentation is necessary if the hazard is

significant or has caused any incident or injury

What to do about hazards?• 5. Repair/control the hazard• The nature of the hazard will depend on the method of

control or repair• The employer or WHS representative will organise and

decide the best schedule of events• The hazard repair/control may require external resources

e.g. plumber, electrician• In the case of emergency it is important that you know

external contact repair people

What to do about hazards?• 6. Check and reassess• It is important to recheck that hazards are dealt with once

they have been identified• When workplace practices need to be changes in

response to hazard identification it is important to reassess to see if there is any improvement

Contribute to safe work practices• WHS legislation first introduced in 1873• All services policies and procedures must be based on

laws• WHS laws are mandatory – heavy fines and sever

penalties apply if they are ignored• WHS laws are State/territority based• Term WHS introduced in NSW in 2011 (replaced OH&S)

Contribute to safe work practices• Workcover govern health and safety in NSW• In WHS legislation The definition of a ‘worker’ includes any person

who carries out work for a ‘person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU).

• This term 'worker' includes any person who works as an:• employee• trainee• volunteer• outworker• apprentice• work experience student• contractor or sub contractor• employees of a contractor or sub-contractor• employee of a labour hire company assigned to work for a PCBU

Contribute to safe work practices• Duties of a worker• A worker must, while at work: • take reasonable care for their own health and safety• take reasonable care for the health and safety of others• comply with any reasonable instruction by the PCBU• cooperate with any reasonable policies and procedures of

the PCBU.

Contribute to safe work practices• The ‘person conducting a business or undertaking

(PCBU) has a duty of care to ensure workers and others are not exposed to a risk to their health and safety

Contribute to safe work practices• The PCBU must meet its obligations, so far as is reasonably

practicable, to provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers or other persons by ensuring:

• safe systems of work• a safe work environment• accommodation for workers, if provided,  is appropriate• safe use of plant, structures and substances• facilities for the welfare of workers are adequate• notification and recording of workplace incidents• adequate information, training, instruction and supervision is given• compliance with the requirements under the work health and safety

regulation• effective systems are in place for monitoring the health of workers

and workplace conditions.

Contribute to safe work practices• WHS representatives and committees• In larger organisations a WHS committee and

representatives may be established• This allows for consultation and the sharing and

discussing of information in an open and non-threatening forum

• The PCBU must consult with workers regarding any changes or decisions in WHS matters

• Worker must be able to voice their opinions, greveinces or acceptance of any decision made by the PCBU

• WHS issues in smaller organisations should be discussed during routine staff meetings

Contribute to safe work practices• WHS training should also be provided to workers• Including:• All workplace health and safety procedures• safe manual handling of equipment• reporting hazards• recording and documenting accident and incident info• Where and how to access further info• Workers compensation issues and claims

Contribute to safe work practices

• Workplace policies and procedures• Remember it is the workers responsibility to follow all

workplace policies and procedures!• During your induction you will receive access/copies of all

these policies

Manual handling• Manual Handling• Educators do enormous amounts of manual handling in

their day to day work

• Handout on manual handling

• Watch manual handling video

Safe standing• Standing for long periods of time can also be injurious to

your back. • Usually if you have to stand for a while you tend to

assume a poor posture either resting on one hip or curving your lumbar spine forwards

• Some ways to assist with prolonged standing are:• Sit/stand stools provide workers with a place to lean and

have their weight supported.• Provide a foot rest in front of staff to enable them to shift

their posture• Provide frequent breaks

Carrying children • Where possible avoid carrying children• There are occasions when you may have to carry them.• For both their safety and yours, carry them with care and

for short distances only• Never carry children on the hips as it twists the spine.• Always ensure children are well supported by placing one

hand under their buttocks and one hand behind their back

Other hazards• Slipping and falling is another way the back can be

injured, either on wet or slippery flooring or a floor that is littered with trip hazards

• How could you avoid this type of hazard?

Personal, protective clothing

• Sunscreen• Protective goggles/glasses• Gowns• Masks• Plastic aprons• Helmets• Ear muffs/plugs• Reflective wear• Section 44 of the NSW Work, Health and Safety Regulation

2011 refers to the provision to workers and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Where the health and safety of the staff is at risk, all staff must be provided with adequate and sufficient personal, protective clothing and equipment

Follow workplace emergency procedures

• There are many types of emergencies that can happen both inside and outside the workplace: fire, explosion, gas leak, bomb threat, chemical spill, flood, human threat, etc

• Fortunately these occurrences are rare but must be planned for

• All services must have policies on emergency and evacuation procedures and incident, injury, trauma and illness procedures (Education and Care Services National Regulations, Regulation 168).

Fire and evacuation• NSW Work Cover legislation states that the employer of a service

must ensure that:• Evacuation procedure is safe, rapid and effective. • Emergency communications and first aid equipment is sufficient and

available.• Evacuation arrangements are displayed and practiced (and

documented).• An evacuation coordinator is appointed.• As an employee in a service, you are responsible for understanding

and following all of the emergency procedures. All new staff should be given information about the location of fire extinguishers, hoses, blankets and fire exits, where the evacuation point is, what and where the alarm is and where the first aid kit is located. As an employee you must take part in any practice evacuation and know how and what fire fighting equipment to use in an emergency.

Fire equipment• Fire blankets• Fire hoses• Smoke detectors• Fire alarms• YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KNOW THE LOCATION OF

THE FIRE ALARM, • FIRE EXITS AND SMOKE DETECTORS IN YOUR

WORKPLACE.

Fire and evacuation• Remember the acronym RACE

• Remove people• Alert Fire brigade on 000 and nearby staff• Confine fire and smoke. Close windows and doors if

possible• Extinguish or control fire without taking risks

Fire and evacuation• How would we safely evacuate young children?

First aid equipment• In the event of any emergency a good first aid kit is essential. • It must be stocked and maintained sufficiently to deal with a

number of possible casualties and the injuries they may sustain• In the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 it specifies

under regulation 42 (3) when considering how to provide first aid, a person conducting a business or undertaking must consider all relevant matters including:

• • the nature of the work being carried out at the workplace• • the nature of the hazards at the workplace• • the size, location and nature of the workplace• • the number and composition of the workers at the

workplace.

First aid• The Education and Care Services National Regulations

(Regulation 136) states that one person on the grounds has first aid, as well as emergency asthma and anaphylaxis training. It is strongly advised, however, that all staff should take part in first aid training.

• In large workforces numbering over 200 employees a first aid room is required and Work Cover sets out the minimum specifications for this also.

Human threat

• There may be times that the workers feel at risk in the workplace due to human dangers

• These dangers can come in the form of a sudden and unexpected assault or a persistent and known threat

• It may arise from an unsatisfied client or relative, a persistent offender, a person with mental instability or even an attempted burglary/robbery by a stranger

• In all cases maintaining the safety of all at the service is the priority.

Human threat• Some ways to minimise the risks:• Never leave a single staff member alone.• Train staff in responding to threatening situations.• Ensure there is sufficient staff to client ratios.• Ensure all security gates and locks are functional and are

used properly.• Ensure doorways, toilets and car parks are well lit and

visible.• Use alarms and locks in high risk areas.

Practical skills• Watch the WHS video

Assessments• Complete the assessment tasks

• Hint for task 2: Brighton Grammar school vic.