Safety First OH&S in the Office

Transcription

1 VEA Bringing Learning to Life Program Support Notes Safety First OH&S in the Office 24 mins Program Support Notes by Amy Nieuwenhuis, B.Ed (secondary), Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, Cert III in Business Produced by VEA Pty Ltd Commissioning Editor Sven Shepherd B.Ed. Executive Producer Simon Garner B.Ed. You may download and print one copy of these teacher notes from our website for your reference. Further copying or printing must be Suitable for: Business To order or inquire please contact VEA: VEA (Video Education America) 6902 Hawthorn Park Dr Indianapolis, IN Tel Fax Website

2 For Teachers: Introduction Occupational Health and Safety is a growing issue in Australian Workplaces. Legislation and Policy are continually being updated and amended to protect both employers and employees and ensure they are operating in safe working environments. This program looks specifically at OH&S in an office environment and addresses the important elements of a safe work environment: why work safely, how to implement Workplace Safety Requirements, participating in the OH&S consultative process, following safety procedures, and analyzing various scenarios It is important for people to have an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in regards to OH&S, regardless of the state they work in. The program identifies common safety issues in office environments and demonstrates the correct procedures in specific scenarios that allow students to attempt to identify, assess and control risks in accordance with the Commonwealth and State Legislation requirements. An interview with Margot Hoyte the OH&S Campaign/Information Officer for the Victorian Trades Hall Council explains Health and Safety Laws in Australia and how these practically apply to safe workplace practice. Program Timeline 00:00:00 Copyright VEA Splash 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:09 Why work safely? 00:06:27 How to implement workplace safety requirements 00:11:39 Participating in the OH&S consultative process 00:16:23 Following safety procedures 00:19:12 Analyzing the scenarios 00:22:35 Conclusion 00:23:17 Credits 00:23:47 End program Website References Please visit our website for more relevant programs VEA Bringing learning to life - 2 -

3 Student Worksheet: Before Viewing the Program 1. Discuss your current knowledge of OH&S and why it is important to have such policies in place in workplaces. 2. Using the Internet find the OH&S section of your State Government Website. What are the objectives of Workplace Health and Safety Legislation in your state? 3. Identify the school OH&S policies and procedures and the committee that operates within the school

4 While Viewing the Program 1. What are the objectives and intentions of OH&S legislation? 2. Which laws take precedence? 3. Explain some of the benefits of a safe working environment and effective OH&S management. 4. What are the Commonwealth Act and State Act applicable to your school and working environment? 5. List three examples of safety procedures in the office environment 6. What issues may be covered in pre-start checks? - 4 -

5 7. Who needs to be made aware of a workplace s OH&S procedures? 8. What is the role of the designated Health and Safety Officer? 9. Why do we gather information about hazards? How does this help maintain safety? 10. List the steps for implementing workplace safety requirements 11. Why is it important for employees to have a say in OH&S policies? - 5 -

6 12. Complete the table explaining strategies for dealing with hazards in the workplace Strategy Explanation 13. Why should employers strive for a holistic approach to OH&S? 14. Define Workplace Hazard 15. What are emergency incidents? - 6 -

7 16. What are the common problems with an organization s emergency plans? - 7 -

8 After Viewing the Program 1. Break into small groups to identify hazards around your school environment, complete the hazard report forms for each hazard identifying and classifying the hazard, who to report it to, and action to take. 2. Have the school OH&S officer do a question answer segment about safety within the school office environments and staffrooms. 3. Develop a suggested OH&S policy for an office scenario - 8 -

9 Suggested Student Responses While Viewing the Program 1. What are the objectives and intentions of OH&S legislation? To promote and enforce safe work practices, decreasing injuries and fatalities in the workplace to ensure the safety of all employees and visitors at workplaces and encourage and promote a safe work culture. 2. Which laws take precedence? State takes precedence over local laws, and Commonwealth laws take precedence over State law. 3. Explain some of the benefits of a safe working environment and effective OH&S management. Effective management is good business sense Protect from risks arising out of work activities Ensure expert advice is available on all OH&S matters Foster co-operative consultative relationship Provide effective remedies for failure to meet obligations 4. What are the Commonwealth Act and State Act applicable to your school and working environment? Answers will vary based on student location 5. List three examples of safety procedures in the office environment Keeping workspace clean Displaying material Correctly using and storing hazardous materials Completing all required documentation Pre start equipment checks 6. What issues may be covered in pre-start checks? Checking lighting Layout and access to equipment Storage space Manual Handling Noise Ergonomic Setup Storage Space 7. Who needs to be made aware of a workplace s OH&S procedures? All members of a workgroup as well as any outside visitors. 8. What is the role of the designated Health and Safety Officer? Workplace health and safety officers are specially trained. Their duties include: advising the employer or principal contractor of the overall state of health and safety of the workplace inspecting the workplace for hazards and unsafe or unsatisfactory work practices or conditions educating workers about workplace health and safety investigating workplace incidents supporting inspectors in their duties - 9 -

10 9. Why do we gather information about hazards? How does this help maintain safety? To know about what hazards exist in different environments and allow workplaces to prepare and reduce the risk of injury, this has reduced the number of workplace injuries as we are becoming educated on potential hazards and how to minimize the risks of these. For every 100 hazards events that occur in workplaces, 10 result in incidents. 10. List the steps for implementing workplace safety requirements Identify designated persons Learn to identify hazards Report hazards to designated persons Identify and implement risk-controlling procedures Report emergency incidents and injuries to designated persons 11. Why is it important for employees to have a say in OH&S policies? It must enable effective cooperation to ensure health, safety and wellbeing at work. Both employers and employees have responsibilities to contribute to a safe workplace. 12. Complete the table explaining strategies for dealing with hazards in the workplace Strategy Explanation Elimination Completely Remove the hazard Substitution Replacement with something less hazardous Isolation Enclose or isolate the hazard from personnel Engineering Change the design or layout Administration Change how the job is done Personal Protection Wear protective clothing or equipment

11 13. Why should employers strive for a holistic approach to OH&S? To ensure not only physical health but the overall wellbeing of employees 14. Define Workplace Hazard Anything that may cause physical or mental harm 15. What are emergency incidents? Floods Accidents Fire Other natural disasters Illness Bomb Threats Forced entry 16. What are the common problems with organization s emergency plans? No one knows about it, no one practices it, there is nothing in writing