SAMPLE. Participate in OHS processes HLTOHS200A. Learner guide. HLT07 Health Training Package. Version 1

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1 HLT07 Health Training Package Participate in OHS processes HLTOHS200A Learner guide Version 1 Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit Meadowbank Product Code: 2996

2 Acknowledgments 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 Teacher, Community Services Penny Birdsall Teacher, Children s Services Reviewer Merrianne Sinclair Teacher, Community Services Project Manager Karin Rule Education Programs Manager Karin Rule Training and Education Support, Education Programs Manager 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: Fax: The State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training,, Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank, 2010 Copyright of this material is reserved to 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,. Training and Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank. ISBN Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank 2010

3 Table of contents Introduction... 7 Using this learner guide... 7 Unit of competency overview... 9 Assessment Topic 1 Overview of OHS OHS terms and definitions OHS legislation and regulations Employment injuries statistics Categories of hazards Topic 2 Following OHS procedures Policies and procedures in the workplace The use of safety signs Fire and evacuation policies Manual handling Infection control Worker safety and security Topic 3 OHS reporting Organisational reporting on OHS Reporting problems Feedback to Activities Resource List Books General resources Specific sector information Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank 2010

4 HLTOHS200A Participate in OHS processes Attachments Sample Accident Report Form Site Inspection Checklist Resource Evaluation Form Developed by Training & Education Support Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank 2010

5 Topic 1 Overview of OHS This topic provides an overview of OHS and the role of Workcover NSW, including the responsibilities of the employer and the employee under workplace safety legislation. The various types of hazards found in the workplace and the steps involved in hazard identification are discussed. 1.1 OHS terms and definitions Authorised officer - a union representative with the legal power to enter a workplace to review OHS practices. Consultation - the sharing of information and exchange of views on OHS matters between managers and workers or their representatives. This may also include participating in decision-making on OHS issues. Duty of care - the responsibility of the employer to look after the health and safety of people at work. Employee - a person who carries out work for the employer. Employee representative - a person elected by employees to represent them on the OHS committee. Employer - the organisation or individual who employs people to carry out work for them. This includes self-employed people. 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. 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. OHS - keeping people safe and healthy at their place of work by prevention of accidents, injury and illness. OHS Act - the main law in NSW covering the responsibilities and rights of employers and workers. It also outlines fines and penalties for breaking this law. OHS committee - groups where consultation about OHS issues take place between employer and employee representatives. Page 15 of 68

6 HLTOHS200A Participate in OHS processes 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. 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. Plant - any machinery, equipment or tools used at work. Regulation a specific part of the OHS 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 employees 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 employees. 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. WorkCover NSW - the NSW Government organisation responsible for enforcing OHS law. Workplace - the premises of the employer and an employees workplace Page 16 of 68

7 1.2 OHS legislation and regulations Everyone in a workplace has a responsibility to be aware of OHS and become active in preventing workplace accidents and injuries. 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: OHS Act (NSW) 2000 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act (NSW) 1998 Workers Compensation (Workplace Injury Management) Regulation (NSW) 2002 The OHS Regulation (NSW) Occupational Health and Safety Act (NSW) 2000 The Occupational Health and Safety Act (NSW) 2000 replaced the previous 1983 Act in NSW on September 1, The main changes in the Act include the following. 1. The new duty of employers to consult with their employees. 2. The requirement for all employers to conduct hazard identification, risk assessment and control of hazards. The OHS Act (NSW) 2000 aims to: ensure that risks to health and safety at a place of work are identified, assessed and eliminated or controlled. According to the OHS Act (NSW) 2000 the legal responsibility of safety in the workplace is shared by the employer and employee. The employer, however, has the ultimate responsibility (under a legal term called vicarious liability) for all OHS issues. The employer is expected to ensure: the workplace and all employees meet OHS regulations all employees are consulted in matters of OHS all employees are trained in OHS, particularly hazard identification, assessment and control Page 17 of 68

8 HLTOHS200A Participate in OHS processes The employee is expected to: take reasonable care for the health and safety of people at their place of work who may be affected by what they do, or what they don t do co-operate with his/her employer about any policy, procedure or request in the interests of health, safety and welfare Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (NSW) 2001 The OHS Regulation (NSW) 2001 replaces 36 existing regulations, some of which dated back to The old regulations were, in many cases, outdated and no longer relevant. While consultation was a requirement of some of the old regulations, in others there was no requirement for any consultation between an employer and its employees on the controls and systems which they sought to regulate. Consultation over any aspect of OHS is now a mandatory requirement of the OHS (NSW) Act The regulation emphasises a risk management approach. The reasoning behind this development is that an employer is in the best position to assess whether a workplace is safe and healthy. To rely on a completely prescriptive approach is dangerous, as regulators can never know an individual workplace like the employer. In addition, with the rapid pace of change and as new types of work processes and equipment are developed, prescriptive regulations become outdated quickly. The risk management system allows the employer to identify the approaches it feels are best suited to its particular circumstances to achieve the safest and healthiest outcome. The regulation thus sets out requirements for a risk management system but retains existing prescriptive requirements for such areas as manual handling, hazardous substances, noise control, injury reporting and OHS committees. It introduces revised prescriptive requirements for the working environment, plant safety and carcinogenic substances. As of 1 September 2001 all profit and non-profit organisations had to comply with the regulation. NSW WorkCover lists the following main changes resulting from the new Regulation. A requirement for employers to undertake hazard identification and risk assessment and to implement risk control measures. While this was previously required for some hazards e.g. for hazardous substances and manual handling, it is now a standard requirement for all hazards in all workplaces (Clauses 9-12). A requirement for people in control of workplaces to undertake hazard identification and risk assessment and to implement risk control measures (Clauses 34-37). Page 18 of 68

9 A requirement for manufacturers of equipment to undertake hazard identification and risk assessment and to implement risk control measures. This applies to all plant and equipment (Clauses 107 and 113). New requirements relating to carcinogenic substances (Clauses ). New requirements relating to lead risk work (Clauses ). New requirement to appoint a 'principal contractor' for certain construction work (Clause 210). Reference: NSW WorkCover The regulation identifies various Australian Standards, other standards and codes of practice to establish guidelines for particular OHS issues. The OHS Regulation 2001 contains information about: risk management workplace consultation work premises and working environment plant hazardous substances hazardous processes construction work certification of workers licensing of certain businesses permits for certain work 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 employers and employees to notify the appropriate authorities of an accident, injury or fatality immediately if the incident is serious or otherwise within 48 hours. The employer and employee then follow a documented return to work programme. Page 19 of 68