Occupational Health & Safety SAMPLE MODULE RESOURCE MANUAL NBB02/3. Third Edition

Transcription

1 Occupational Health & Safety MODULE RESOURCE MANUAL NBB02/3 Third Edition

2 Third edition published in by Manufacturing and Engineering Division NSW TAFE Commission PO Box 218 Bankstown NSW 2200 First edition published in June 1992 Second edition published in September 1999 This work is copyright. Any inquiries about the use of this material should be directed to the publisher. New South Wales Technical and Further Education Commission 2004 ISBN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY NBB02/3 FEEDBACK We value your opinion and welcome suggestions on how we could improve this resource manual. Keep in mind that the manual is intended to help students learn and is not a text book. Send your comments and suggestions to: Training and Education Support, Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank Level 3, Building J, See Street MEADOWBANK NSW 2114 Ph: Fax:

3 Contents INTRODUCTION 5 1. LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY FACTORS AND CONDITIONS THREATENING HEALTH AND SAFETY (1) FACTORS AND CONDITIONS THREATENING HEALTH AND SAFETY (2) IDENTIFYING WORKPLACE HAZARDS USE OF ELECTRICITY IN THE WORKPLACE RESCUE FROM A LIVE ELECTRICAL SITUATION COPING WITH INJURY IN THE WORKPLACE 51 ADDITIONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS 55 REVIEW QUESTIONS - ANSWERS 59 ADDITIONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS - ANSWERS 67 ASSESSMENT 69 THEORY TEST - ANSWERS 79 APPENDIX 83

4 1. Legislative Requirements of Occupational Health and Safety Purpose This topic addresses the legislative requirements of a state or territory relating to occupational health and safety in the workplace and the responsibilities of both employer and employee. Objectives At the end of this topic you should be able to: state the underlying principles of OH&S outline the features of the OH&S legislation of your state or territory state the two main sources of standards and codes of practice relating to OH&S describe the responsibilities of employers with respect to OH&S describe the responsibilities of manufacturers and suppliers with respect to OH&S describe the rights and responsibilities of employees with respect to OH&S state the functions of the safety committee and its representatives list common issues that would come under the OH&S committee describe the grievance procedures with respect to OH&S issues. References for this topic You will find the information to undertake this topic in the following references. At least one reference text should be used. Butrej, P. and Douglas, G, Hazards at Work: A Guide to Health and Safety in Australian Workplaces Second Edition, OTEN, TAFE NSW,

5 Essential reading Textbook: Hazards at Work, pages 1-24 Preamble Accidents in the workplace cause disruption to thousands of lives every years. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2000 was created to prevent injury, disability and long term health problems in employees as well as others associated with the workplace. WorkCover is the governing authority whose main responsibility is to ensure that the OH&S laws are complied with. Employer responsibilities Employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees and all persons on their site by: ensuring equipment and systems of work are safe and without risks to health making arrangements for ensuring the safe use, handling, storage and transport of equipment and substances providing the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of employees maintaining safe work places, entrances and exists looking after the health and safety of visitors making sure adequate information is available about relevant tests of substances used at work. Responsibility of manufacturers and suppliers Manufacturers and suppliers of plant and substances must ensure they are safe to use. They are required to: carry out research, testing and examinations make available information about the results of research and testing make available information on the use of the plant or substance. Responsibility of employees Employees must take reasonable care of the health and safety of others. They must not: interfere with anything provided for the health, safety and welfare of persons at work obstruct attempts to give aid refuse to follow OH&S work practices behave irresponsibly at the work place OH&S safety committees In workplaces with more than 20 people, OH&S committees can be established if required. They perform the following functions: review measures taken to make the workplace health and safe 12

6 advise the employer and investigate any situation that may be unsafe resolve any safety problems with the employer help to develop OH&S policies. 13

7 Review questions This section will help you revise what you have learnt in this topic. 1. State the primary aim of the OH&S Act. 2. Who does the OH&S Act cover? 3. Who has the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of employees? 4. What are the responsibilities of employers with respect to OH&S in the workplace? 5. State the responsibility of employers with regard to persons not employed by their organisation, e.g. members of the public visiting the site. 6. What are the responsibilities of employees with respect to OH&S in the workplace? 7. What is an OH&S Committee? 8. What can OH&S Committees do? 9. What can committee members do? 10. What is the minimum number of employees in any workplace in which the OH&S Act requires an OH&S committee to be set up? 11. If an OH&S committee exists does it have the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of employees? 12. Can employees be dismissed for making a safety complaint? 13. In one State alone there are over 50 deaths, 35,000 injuries and 5,000 illnesses costing billions of dollars annually. How do these costs affect the: (a) Employee (b) Employer (c) Community 14

8 Review questions 14. Occupational Health and Safety laws state that the duties of employers in the workplace are to: (A) allow an Occupational Health and Safety committee to run their business (B) arrange a levy from employees to pay for an Occupational Health and Safety committee (C) ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees (D) employ a nurse trained in Occupational Health and Safety. 15. Self-employed people are: (A) exempt from the Occupational Health and Safety Act (B) (C) (D) exempt from the Occupational Health and Safety if they apply expected to take on an employee expected to ensure the health and safety of visitors to their workplace. 16. Occupational Health and Safety laws state that the duty of employees in the workplace is to: (A) obey all commands given by an employer (B) make every effort to be on an Occupational Health and Safety committee (C) take reasonable care of the health and safety of others (D) undertake a course in first aid. 17. If equipment or machinery is unsafe, the responsibility of the employer is to: (A) (B) (C) (D) repair and maintain it in a safe condition warn employees to take care place a warning notice near the equipment paint the equipment red. 18. An Occupational Health and Safety committee member is entitled to: (A) (B) (C) (D) a day off a week extra pay an office to work in become familiar with the workplace and employees. 19. Information on the Occupational Health and Safety Act can be obtained from: (A) a news agent (B) a police station (C) the WorkCover Authority (D) the local council. 15