HLT07 Health Training Package

Learner guide

Version 1

Training and Education Support

Industry Skills Unit

Meadowbank

Product Code: 5619

Participate in WHS

processes

HLTWHS200A

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Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

© TAFE NSW 2010

HLTWHS200A Participate in WHS processes v1

Acknowledgments

TAFE NSW Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank would like

to acknowledge the support and assistance of the following people in the production of

this learner guide.

Writers

Diane Pattinson Penny Birdsall

Teacher, Community Services Teacher, Children’s Services

TAFE NSW TAFE NSW

Kylie Brennan

Head Teacher

Health and Nursing

TAFE NSW

Reviewer

Merrianne Sinclair Karin Rule

Teacher, Community Services Education Programs Manager

TAFE NSW TAFE NSW

Project Manager

Amanda Culver

Training and Education Support, Education Programs Manager

TAFE NSW

Enquiries

Enquiries about this and other publications can be made to:

Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

Meadowbank TAFE

Level 3, Building J,

See Street,

MEADOWBANK NSW 2114

Tel: 02-9942 3200 Fax: 02-9942 3257

ISBN 978-1-74236-342-4

© The State of New South Wales, Department of Education and

Training, TAFE NSW, Training and Education Support Industry Skills

Unit, Meadowbank, 2012

Copyright of this material is reserved to TAFE NSW Training and Education

Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank. Reproduction or transmittal in

whole or in part, other than for the purposes of private study or research, and

subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, is prohibited without the written

authority of, TAFE NSW. Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit,

Meadowbank.

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Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

© TAFE NSW 2010

HLTWHS200A Participate in WHS processes v1

Table of contents

Introduction ............................................................................................ 7

Using this learner guide ...................................................................................... 7

Unit of competency overview .............................................................................. 9

Required Skills and Knowledge ............................................................. 10

Assessment .................................................................................................... 13

Topic 1 Overview of WHS .................................................................. 14

1.1 WHS terms and definitions .......................................................................... 14

1.2 WHS legislation and regulations ................................................................... 17

1.3 Employment injuries statistics ..................................................................... 21

1.4 Categories of hazards ................................................................................. 22

Topic 2 Following WHS procedures ................................................... 27

2.1 Policies and procedures in the workplace ...................................................... 27

2.2 The use of safety signs ............................................................................... 28

2.3 Fire and evacuation policies ......................................................................... 32

2.4 Manual handling ........................................................................................ 34

2.5 Infection control ........................................................................................ 35

2.6 Worker safety and security .......................................................................... 42

Topic 3 WHS reporting ...................................................................... 47

3.1 Organisational reporting on WHS ................................................................. 47

3.2 Reporting problems .................................................................................... 47

Feedback to Activities ........................................................................... 51

Resource List ........................................................................................ 54

Books .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

General resources.................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank

© TAFE NSW 2010

HLTWHS200A Participate in WHS processes

Specific sector information ................................................................................ 54

Attachments ......................................................................................... 56

1 Sample Accident Report Form ........................................................................ 56

2 Site Inspection Checklist ................................................................................ 59

Resource Evaluation Form ..................................................................... 62

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Topic 1 Overview of WHS

This topic provides an overview of WHS and the role of Workcover NSW, including

the responsibilities of the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)

and the worker, under workplace safety legislation. The various types of hazards

found in the workplace and the steps involved in hazard identification are

discussed.

1.1 WHS terms and definitions

Consultation - the sharing of information and exchange of

views on WHS matters between managers and workers or their

representatives. This may also include participating in decision-making on WHS issues.

Duty of care - the responsibility of the employer to look after the health and safety of people at work.

Hazard - anything that might cause harm to a person.

Hazardous substance - products that can harm a person's

health through illness, injury or disease e.g. cleaning solvents

and chemicals.

Health and safety committees -bring together workers and management to assist in the development and review of health and safety policies and procedures for the workplace.

Health and safety representative - represent workers on health and safety matters

Hierarchy of control - a method of deciding what is the best or most practical

way to reduce the risk of injury by an identified hazard e.g. stopping the loud noises in a factory is better than handing out ear plugs.

Manual handling - the lifting, lowering and moving of objects by a person e.g.

carrying boxes or house bricks.

Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) - an injury caused when using your

body in unnatural positions or carry out repeated actions e.g. at the computer or

continuously being on a factory assembly line. Problems can occur in muscles, joints or tendons.

Officer a broad term that applies to people who can make decisions that

significantly affect a business or undertaking. It replaces the term directors and managers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - equipment used by workers to protect

themselves from hazards in the workplace such as safety boots and helmets, gloves, goggles, aprons or sunscreen.

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Plant - any machinery, equipment or tools used at work.

Person conducting business or undertaking may be an individual person or an organisation conducting a business or undertaking.

Reasonable practicable - Means what is reasonably able to be done 'at a particular time' to ensure health and safety.

Regulation – a specific part of the WHS law that details how to carry out work safely.

Risk - the probability that harm might come to a person.

Risk management - the process of managing risks caused by hazards in the

workplace. Risk management involves hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control.

Safe work method - the way workers should be trained to do a job safely.

Stress - when a person becomes ill because of mental strain causing psychological illness through negative experiences at work.

Supervisor - the person chosen by the employer to organise and oversee the work carried out by workers.

Training - instruction on how to do a job safely e.g. operating a forklift or lifting

hoist.

Ultraviolet radiation - rays of the sun that can damage the skin and cause skin

cancer.

Union - a industrial organisation that represents its workers.

Union Official Can apply for WHS entry permit and will be known as WHS entry

permit holders. They can then enter a workplace to advise on WHS or when a breach is suspected.

WHS - keeping people safe and healthy at their place of work by prevention of accidents, injury and illness.

WHS Act - the main law in NSW covering the responsibilities and rights of PCBU,

person conducting a business or undertaking and workers. It also outlines fines and penalties for breaking this law.

WorkCover NSW - the NSW Government organisation responsible for enforcing WHS law.

Worker includes any person who carries out work for a PCBU.

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Work groups are workers represented by a health and safety

representative (HSR).

Workplace - include any place where a worker goes, or is likely to be, while at

work.

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1.2 WHS legislation and regulations

Everyone in a workplace has a responsibility to be aware of WHS and become

active in preventing workplace accidents and injuries. They also need to be

aware of how their contribution to safe work practices has an impact on

sustainability in the workplace. There are several laws that every worker must

become familiar with. These will help you to protect yourself and those you work

with from a preventable workplace accidents or injuries. The laws include:

Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011

Work Health and Safety Act (NSW) 2011

Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act (NSW)

1998

Workers Compensation (Workplace Injury Management) Regulation (NSW)

2002

The Work Health and Safety Regulation (NSW) 2011

1.2.1 Work Health and Safety Act (NSW) 2011

On 1 January 2012 new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws replaced the

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws of 2000 in NSW.

The new laws were introduced to provide greater consistency, certainty and

clarity across Australia making it easier to understand workplace health and

safety duties. (WorkCover 2012)

The major purpose of the WHS Act (NSW) 2011 is to provide for a balanced and

nationally consistent framework to secure the health and safety of workers and

workplaces. This is achieved in a variety of ways but in particular by

protecting workers and other persons against harm to their health, safety and

welfare through the elimination or minimisation of risks arising from work or

from specified types of substances or plant

providing for fair and effective workplace representation, consultation, co-

operation and issue resolution in relation to work health and safety

Under the new legislation new terms were introduced:

WORKER

The term 'worker' includes any person who works as an:

employee

trainee

volunteer

outworker

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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.

( Work Cover 2012)

Under the act the duties of a worker while at work include that they:

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.

(Work Cover 2012)

PERSON CONDUCTING A BUSINESS OR UNDERTAKING (PCBU)

Under the WHS Act, the main duty of Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking

(PCBU) is to provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers or other

persons. To achieve this the PCBU must ensure:

safe systems of work

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.

OTHERS

In addition, visitors, clients, customers, friends and family at a workplace

have work health and safety (WHS) responsibilities. Under the new legislation

these people are known as others. They must comply with any reasonable

work health and safety instructions at the workplace and take reasonable care

to not put themselves or others at risk.

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OFFICER

The new act also introduces the definition of an officer.

An officer may be:

• A director or secretary of the corporation.

• A person who makes, or participates in making, decisions that

affect the whole, or a substantial part of the corporation.

• A person who has the capacity to affect significantly the

corporation's financial standing.

(Work Cover 2012)

Under the new WHS Act 2011 consultation is mandatory. As per WorkCover

(2012) consultation provides an opportunity to share relevant information and

participate in meaningful discussion on work health and safety matters.

Health and safety representatives and health and safety committees are two ways

that the consultation can be achieved.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES ( HSR)

Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) play an important role in representing

the health and safety interests of workers in work groups.

The role of a HSR is to facilitate the flow of information about health and safety

between the PCBU and the workers in the HSR's work group.

The powers and functions of an HSR are to:

represent workers in a work group on work health and safety

(WHS) matters

monitor WHS actions taken by the PCBU

investigate WHS complaints from workers of the work group

look into anything that might be a risk to the WHS of the

workers they represent.

( WorkCover 2012)

With additional training they will be able to direct unsafe work to stop in a workplace.

HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEES

Health and safety committees bring together workers and management to assist

in the development and review of health and safety policies and procedures for

theworkplace.

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The functions of the health and safety committee are to:

facilitate co-operation between PCBU and workers in instigating,

developing and carrying out measures designed to ensure the

health and safety of workers

assist in developing standards, rules and procedures relative to

health and safety

(Workcover 2012)

The following website provides a practical guide to the new WHS legislation.

http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/un

derstanding-work-health-safety-act-practical-guide-3497.pdf

1.2.2 Work Health and Safety Regulation (NSW) 2011

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 expands on the requirements of the Work

Health and Safety Act 2011 by providing details on how certain sections of the Act

are to be implemented in various workplaces.

WorkCover administers the WHS regulations and the regulations cover a wide

range of topics that relate to work health and safety.

These include:

Representation and participation

Managing risks to health and safety and general workplace management

Hazardous chemicals.

Further information can be obtained from the WorkCover website

(http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au)

1.2.3 Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2000

Workers compensation is about returning an injured worker to the workplace and

providing provision for income support for workers who sustain a work-related

injury or illness. There is a responsibility on PCBU and workers to notify the

appropriate authorities of an accident, injury or fatality immediately if the incident

is serious or otherwise within 48 hours. The PCBU and workers then follow a

documented return to work programme.

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1.3 Employment injuries statistics

Everyone has the right to work in a safe workplace and return home safe after

work. WorkCover NSW, responsible for helping make workplaces in NSW safer,

provides annual information about workers compensation claim statistics. This

information is available from the Statistical bulletin from the WorkCover NSW

website

(http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/st

atistical_bulletin_2008_2009_2810.pdf

The major findings for NSW in 2008/2009 include the following.

There was a total of 133,188 employment injuries reported in 2008/09, a

fall of 9,354 injuries or 7% from 142,542 in 2007/08

There were 139 deaths resulting from work related injury and disease

reported during 2008/09

Activity 1 Identifying hazards

List at least six hazards you have noticed in a workplace. This might be a where

you are currently employed, a community services organisation or a hospital.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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