CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD LOADING UNLOADING OPERATIONS EXTERNAL USE ONLY
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.
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) Loading and Unloading Operations aims to ensure the minimum WHS requirements are met by Optus Contractors when conducting loading and unloading operations. 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. Loading and unloading operations may include such things as plant, equipment, materials, products, chemicals, substances and goods. Loading and unloading of said things may engage such lifting equipment / mechanisms as powered mobile plant (e.g. forklifts, cranes mobile and overhead, trucks with hiabs), and/or biomechanical / manual handling. The safety requirements for loading and unloading operations are prescribed by the Commonwealth WHS Regulations 2011, under such provisions as plant, manual tasks, hazardous chemicals, asbestos and demolition. These provisions are supported and further defined by a number of Commonwealth Codes of Practice, and National Guidance Materials including but not limited to, Managing Risk of Plant in Workplaces, Demolition Work, Traffic Management, Asbestos, Scaffolding Work, Cranes and Hazardous Manual Tasks. This Standard applies to entities contracted by Optus where loading and unloading is 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 to factor this information into their safe systems of work. Establishing accountability and authorities for the safe management of loading and unloading operations. Conducting a risk assessment and documenting the outcome as a Safe Work Method Statement or similar, for loading and unloading and in accordance with applicable legislative requirements. Providing communication and consultation to workers and their representatives, as related to loading and unloading operations. Ensuring relevant persons have the required certification, licencing, training and competencies for such things as plant and equipment operations, workplace layout, inspection and testing and manual handling. Conducting inspections of loading and unloading operations to ensure compliance with safe systems of work such as SWMS and Traffic Vehicle Movement Plans and making such reviews/records available to Optus where and as requested.
Keeping and maintaining a SWMS after 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 loading and unloading operations that may include traffic / vehicle movement plans and procedures, communications and response hardware. Investigating and reporting events such as incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences and serious illness, within the required contractual 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: The provision of safe access and egress to the work areas where loading and unloading operations are taking place including the provisions for safety devices (e.g. signage, bollards, barricading / handrails, speed limits, speed bumps, speed limiting devices, convex mirrors / vision panels, lighting, raised loading docks, wheel stops / chocks, driver safety zones, reversing beepers and flashing lights, turning areas and the delineation of plant / vehicles to people, marked traffic routes / exclusion zones). Ensuring all plant and associated equipment used for loading and unloading is safely installed, inspected, tested and maintained to manufacturers and legal instructions/requirements (e.g. forklifts, cranes - mobile and overhead, trucks / hiabs, slings, chains and tie-downs). Ensuring safe systems of work for pedestrian movement, arrivals and departures, hitching and unhitching, mounting or dismounting of vehicles and the securing of loads. Ensuring the need for reversing plant and vehicles is minimised where such manoeuvres pose a risk to persons. Ensuring personal protective equipment selected is suitable, used and maintained. Ensuring loading and unloading plant and equipment is used only for the purpose for which it was designed, unless a competent person has determined that the proposed use does not increase the risk to health or safety. Ensuring all loading and unloading plant and associated equipment is inspected and tested as per legal and manufacturers requirements. 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 loading and unloading. 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 loading and unloading work. Identifying all Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for loading and unloading. Procuring the required signage, barricading, speed limit signs, speed bumps, convex mirrors / vision panels, lighting, wheel stops/chocks and warning flashing lights for loading and unloading docks. Identifying the required licences, certification and/or competencies required for loading and unloading operations. Planning for all potential emergency preparedness and response procedures appropriate for the particular circumstance.
Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: Document CWHSS_H_St14_OM38056_V2F 25 th June 2014. Authorised / Owner: Optus WHS Team. 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 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Communicate, implement and adjust the risk assessments, traffic management plan / vehicle movement plan prior to and during operation. Verify licences (including high risk work licences) and competencies of person(s) who undertake loading and unloading operations. Provide for a suitable and safe means of access to the workplace, in which mobile powered plant is used for loading and loading including the delineation of plant to people. Ensure no driver distractions when loading and unloading such as use of mobile phones, noise and radios etc. Ensure all plant and associated equipment has the appropriate safety devices fitted, are in good working order and in accordance with manufacturers specifications / information (e.g. audible warning and reversing alarms, motion sensors, lights, seat belts, braking devices, horns, guarding) prior to operation. Inspect and/or arrange for inspection, in accordance with their inspection and testing frequencies any safety device (e.g. signage, barricading, speed limit signs, speed bumps, convex mirrors / vision panels, lighting, wheel stops / chocks and warning flashing lights) within the work area such as a loading dock. Ensure persons manually loading and unloading plant, equipment, materials, products, chemicals, substances and goods are capable of such movements / lifting and are trained appropriately. Inspect and / or arrange for inspection, in accordance with their inspection and testing frequencies any lifting equipment (e.g. fit for purpose, manufacturer s specifications and service tags). Ensure defective plant and equipment used for loading and unloading is isolated, prominent and approved tags / locks (i.e. Do Not Use / "Out of Service Tag") are fitted to the plant and / or equipment prior to maintenance, repair, installation and / or cleaning. Ensure the risk assessments are verified / audited at specified intervals and records kept. Provide protective equipment (e.g. eye protection, helmets, non-slip safety boots, and high visibility reflective clothing / overalls) to persons working in / or near loading and unloading operations. Ensure emergency preparedness and response provisions such as plans, procedures and hardware are in place prior to the commencement of works involving loading and unloading operations and they are scheduled for testing at regular intervals.