CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY 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) Electromagnetic Energy (EME) aims to establish minimum WHS requirements for Optus Contractors when working in and/or around electromagnetic energy and as generated by transmission sources (e.g. mobile telephone antennas, satellite earth stations, terminals, repeaters, pole mounts, towers, radio centres, etc.). 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. In addition, the Telecommunications Act 1997 establishes specific provisions for Carriers rights and responsibilities when inspecting, maintaining, servicing and/or installing telecommunications facilities, while the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Radiation Protection Series No3, and in particular Section 5 Protection - Occupational and General Public Exposures, specifies requirements for risk management, exposure limits and protection, training and supervision, medical management, health assessments and records. This Standard applies to entities contracted by Optus where working in and / or around EME infrastructure at a workplace is a part of their scope of works. Roles and responsibilities Optus Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, 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 and supervision of EME work including line managers and workers. Conducting a risk assessment and documenting the outcome as a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) or similar. Ensuring persons have the required certification, licencing and training and competencies (e.g. RF Workers). Providing communication and consultation to workers and their representatives as related to EME work. Conducting inspections of EME work to ensure compliance with safe systems of work and making such reviews/records available to Optus where and as requested. Where required, maintaining a SWMS after the completion of the 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 EME work, which may include plans, procedures, communications and hardware.
Investigating and reporting events such as incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences and serious illness (including possible exposure to RF Radiation exceeding exposure limits), 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: Ensuring relevant persons have the necessary training and competencies to identify Radio Frequency (RF) exposure zones (e.g. to review and interpret site information such as the Radio Communication Site Management Book, drawings and signage etc.). The provision of safe access and egress to the work areas including areas for plant set-up, preparation of the ground and security of areas below persons working above. Ensuring personal protective equipment selected is, suitable, used and maintained. 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 EME work (e.g. work at heights, mobile plant, persons with hearing aids or medical implants etc.). 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 EME work. Identifying all Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for EME. Ensuring the risk management process is carried out by a competent person(s). Planning to ensure the operations of Radio Base Stations / RF transmitters, during all phases of their lifecycle, are operated so that the energy fields are minimised or do not exceed occupational exposure standards (limits set by ARPANSA) and / or that accessible areas are clearly identified and exclusion zones established. Identifying sites that require an RF site measurement and an Accredited Test House to deliver a measurement report detailing the measured field density levels. Identifying any health assessment requirements that may be required for workers who may be exposed to RF levels in excess of non-occupational levels as per ARPANSA Radio Protection Standard No 3. Identifying the required advice, notifications and / or authorisations to and from the asset owner / site landlord and any other affected party. Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: Document CWHSS_H_St16_ OM38070_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. Contacting the appropriate Network Management Centre to obtain the necessary authorisations. 2. Ensuring site landlords (Building and Property Managers) are provided with sufficient information as to fulfil their obligations to preserve the health and safety of third parties.
3. Partaking in training, such as a workplace induction, that is required to undertake work in and/or around EME infrastructure including training for RF workers and the hazards and controls of safe working in a EME frequency range of 3kHz to 300GHz. 4. Applying the risk management process, including the application of the hierarchy of controls, in order to manage the hazards and risks associated with EME work. 5. Reviewing the workplace / site RF information identifying the location of transmission equipment and all relevant No Go Zones. 6. Ensuring RF monitoring equipment is available to assist persons in identifying RF zones and to confirm the isolation of transmission equipment. 7. Verifying the required licences, certification and/or competencies for persons working in and/or around EME at a workplace including the measurement of RF fields. 8. Ensuring work is not conducted on a live antenna, feeder system, or transmitter or otherwise requiring the feeder source to be verified as deactivated. 9. Ensuring persons with hearing aids or medical implants are prohibited from working within, or transiting through, any area which exceeds occupational or non-occupational exposure limits, unless otherwise in possession of a medical certificate clearing the person from that risk. 10. Ensuring all EME transmission equipment is clearly signed and labelled at suitable locations to provide warning of RF zones. 11. Ensuring persons are fit for work before accessing and / or working on EME equipment or structures. 12. Ensuring all structures, plant and equipment (e.g. towers, poles, ladders, vertical life lines, access stairs, hydraulic EWP / EMI shielding) are installed, inspected, measured and in accordance with their inspection and testing frequencies, legal and manufacturers requirements. 13. Ensuring the provision of safe access and egress to the work areas including the security of EME work areas by provisions of signage and barricades and for the protection of the public. 14. Ensuring all EME testing and measurement equipment (RF monitoring equipment, rated tools, probes and instruments) is suitable, in good condition, calibrated and tested to the required standards and manufacturers requirements and records kept. 15. Ensuring that EME equipment, identified as being unsafe, is disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply and once disconnected is not reconnected until it is repaired and/or tested and found to be safe and / or is replaced and / or permanently removed from use. 16. Providing equipment and tools such as insulated tools, locks, voltage proximity tester, RF hazard monitors, probes, danger tags, RF warning signs, barricades, non-conductive ladders, insulated hooks and fire extinguishers etc. 17. Ensuring emergency preparedness and response provisions such as plans, procedures and hardware are in place prior to the commencement of works involving work on EME and they are scheduled for testing at regular intervals.