CONTRACTOR WHS SYSTEM STANDARD RISK MANAGEMENT EXTERNAL USE ONLY

Transcription

1 CONTRACTOR WHS SYSTEM STANDARD RISK MANAGEMENT EXTERNAL USE ONLY

2 Principles in the Optus Contractor WHS management process CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT STAGES PRINCIPLES THIS STANDARD REQUISITION Requisition WHS hazard areas are a key consideration in the selection of the appropriate procurement channel. PROCUREMENT CHANNEL SELECTION SPECIFICATION EVALUATION APPROVAL AND RELEASE Specification Hazard areas and Optus expectations in relation to these are communicated to potential providers in relevant project / task requirements (e.g. tenders, statement of works, purchase orders). Appropriate WHS specifications are included in the tender / statement of work conditions / purchase order (if required) and are reflective of Optus role (e.g. principal contractor). Evaluation The contractor submission suggests they are competent to manage the task and WHS risks of their workplace. ENGAGEMENT Engagement All parties have a consistent understanding of their mutual accountabilities as they relate to WHS risk management. Appropriate WHS specifications and obligations are included in the relevant contracts negotiated and signed by Optus. MONITORING Monitoring Relevant WHS controls are implemented and monitored at the workplace to manage the specific conditions and WHS risks of that workplace. SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE? HANDOVER CLOSE AND REVIEW Handover Customers (internal and external) are made aware of potential risk areas and legislative expectations at handover. Close and review Contractor WHS performance is assessed and considered when using the contractor in future. Project feedback is captured and used to enhance the contractor WHS management process.

3 IMPORTANT NOTE THIS CONTRACTOR WORKPLACE HEALTH SAFETY (WHS) STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ASSIST OPTUS CONTRACTORS IN THE EXECUTION OF OPTUS CONTRACTED WORKS. THE STANDARD MUST BE ENACTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER APPLICABLE OPTUS CONTRACT CONDITIONS REGARDING WHS AND THE GOVERNING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WHILE THIS STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IT IS NOTED THAT WHERE ANY LEGAL REQUIREMENT EXCEEDS THIS STANDARD THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE. Purpose and scope This Contractor WHS Standard (Standard) Risk Management aims to establish minimum WHS requirements for Optus Contractors when undertaking risk management. In addition, this Standard supports the Commonwealth WHS Act 2011 (Act) where a duty is imposed (under the Act) on a person to ensure health and safety, it requires the person to eliminate so far as is reasonably practicable, and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable to workers. The WHS Regulations 2011 (Regulations) further supports the Act by the provision of Chapter 3, General Risk and Workplace Management. This provision requires a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), who has a duty under the Regulations, to manage risk to health and safety including provisions for identifying hazards, managing risks, applying the hierarchy of controls and maintaining and reviewing the risk controls. These provisions are further supported by the Commonwealth Code of Practice (CoP) How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks The CoP defines a hazard as a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person, risk as the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard and risk control as taking action to eliminate health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and if that is not possible, minimising the risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This Standard applies to entities contracted to Optus where workplace activities are undertaken (e.g. trenching and excavation, asbestos, electrical, confined space, telecommunications / work at heights, refurbishment and traffic control) and these workplace activities are a part of their scope of works. Roles and responsibilities Optus Contractors, so far as is reasonably practicable, are generally responsible for: Complying with all contractual obligations for ensuring workplace health and safety. Reviewing Optus risk management processes such as Risk Register(s) and this Standard and factor this information into their safe systems of work. Establishing accountability and authorities for risk management and ensuring a competent person(s) facilitates/undertakes the risk assessment and is provided with all the necessary information to enable the workplace activities to be carried out in safe manner. Conducting a risk management process and documenting the outcome(s) as Safe Work Method Statement s (SWMS) or similar. Providing communication and consultation to workers and their representatives, as related to risk management. Conducting inspections of work to ensure compliance with safe systems of work and making such reviews / records available to Optus where and as requested. Keeping and maintaining a SWMS until the completion of work or where a notifiable incident occurs, a copy of the SWMS for a period of 2 years. Developing emergency preparedness and response provisions for works, this may include plans and procedures, rescue plans, external notifications and response hardware.

4 Investigating and reporting all incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences and illness within the required contractual reporting period to Optus and where required to the applicable Regulator. In addition to the above, Optus Contractors, so far as is reasonably practicable, are specifically responsible for: Developing safe systems of work (1), including risk management methodologies, in accordance with legislative and industry standards and: The type of work activities being undertaking at the workplace, its risk profile and controls. The provision and maintenance of a safe work environment, safe plant and structures. The safe use, handling and storage of plant, structures and substances. The provision of any WHS information, training, instruction or supervision. The need for risk management when changes to the workplace are made, new or used plant and equipment is purchased or hired, new information is secured. When Health and safety issues are raised by workers, when using hazardous chemicals or substances or where required by a Regulator. The monitoring of workers health and the conditions at the workplace. Emergency preparedness and response provisions specifically developed for the work activities being undertaking. Note 1: Safe systems of work may include, but not be limited to, Safety in Design Plans, WHS Plans, Procedures and Instructions, Risk Registers, Plant and Hazardous Chemicals Risk Assessments, SWMS and Job Safety Analysis etc. Work planning Work planning includes, but is not limited to: Identifying a risk management process in order to manage the hazards and risks associated with the works. Ensuring the risk management process is carried out by a competent person(s). Identifying the required licences, certification, training and / or competencies for persons undertaking risk management. Identifying relevant Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for risk management. Identifying the type of activities to be undertaking and the appropriate risk management process to be applied. Identifying whether the activities are defined as High Risk Construction work and planning for the type of activities including the legal provisions of Safe Work Method Statements. Planning for works that have hazards with exposure standards, such as noise and airborne contaminants, and the specific types of scientific testing or measuring and the competency required to undertake such testing or measuring. Planning for all potential emergency preparedness and response procedures appropriate for the particular circumstance. Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: CWHSS_S_St01_RiskManagement_OM38057_V1F_15 th September Authorised / Owner: Optus WHS Team.

5 Implement work planning In order to establish a safe workplace, the implementation of the above Work Planning, may include, but not be limited to the following: No SAMPLE - WORK PLANNING CHECKLIST YES NO NA Ensuring any residual risk from design is managed during construction, operation and/or maintenance and in accordance with the hierarchy of controls. Approving, communicating, consulting and implementing the risk management outcomes (e.g. SWMS, Plant Risk Assessment, hazardous work, etc.). Conducting workplace inspections to identify hazards and risks and apply the necessary WHS control(s) in accordance with the hierarchy of controls. Analysing any information and advice concerning hazards and risks and consider this information and advice when framing and documenting risk management. Ensuring the activities have been identified such as High Risk Construction Work, and where identified a Safe Work Method Statement or similar is developed and documented. Providing the necessary information, training and instruction to workers having regards to the nature of the activities, the type of hazards and risks and the control measures to be implemented. Securing the necessary certificates and competencies required for undertaking the activities including licencing requirements for high risk construction work. Conducting a risk assessment when changes to the workplace are made that affect worker health and safety, when new or used plant and equipment are purchased or hired, new information is secured, WHS issues are raised by workers and when using hazardous chemicals and substances. Ensuring risk management is undertaken for any work involving hazardous manual tasks. Ensuring the works that have hazards with exposure standards, such as noise, airborne contaminants and hazardous atmospheres, are adequately managed, scientifically tested or measured, and the persons undertaking and managing the works are competent. Ensuring the provision to cease unsafe work is upheld, where a worker or their health and safety representative, has a reasonable concern that to carry out the works would expose the worker to a serious risk to the worker s health and safety. Providing the necessary plant and equipment including personal protective equipment where the risk management outcomes make such a determination. Ensuring the risk management outcomes are verified / audited at specified intervals and records kept. Ensuring emergency preparedness and response provisions such as plans, procedures, communications (internal and external) and hardware such as fire extinguishers are in place for the works and they are scheduled for testing at regular intervals.