Task 1 – Knowledge Questionnaire

Answer all the questions below: 

Question 1

Aside from the WHS Act, identify other acts, standards or codes of practice that guide your actions with respect to workplace safety.

Question 2

Refer to the Australian Hardware Case Study and answer the following questions based on:

•         Australian Hardware Health & Safety Policy & Procedures

•         Safework website

•         Independent research

Question            WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice                 Outline their key provisions

List the WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice that would apply to Australian Hardware and outline their key provisions to each in relation to Australian Hardware.

How do you consult on WHS issue management at Australian Hardware?  

How do you identify hazards and manage risks, including using aggregate information and work area data at Australian Hardware?  

Outline the incident response, investigation and reporting process at Australian Hardware.  

How do you assess the implications of near misses about incidents, injuries and illnesses in work areas at Australian Hardware?

Question 3

What are the legal responsibilities and duties of managers, supervisors, PCBU and workers concerning WHS risk management in the workplace?

Question 4

Answer the following questions about incident and accident management:

Question

When should incident and accident forms be completed, and how do these records contribute to the identification and possible prevention of workplace incidents and accidents?

What other WHS records are you required to keep? List three

Question 5

Answer the following questions about WHS communication and consultation.

Question

How could you provide WHS information (obligations, policies and procedures) to staff in the workplace? List three (3) ways.  

What are the workplace information systems employed in workplaces to help control and manage work risks and hazards? List three (3).  

Describe, in your own words, why you believe it is essential for organisations to adopt a collaborative and consultative approach to managing occupational health and safety.

Question 6

Explain the fundamental principles and components of the hierarchy of control measure, and outline how they apply in the work area.

Question 7

How can you use the following workplace learning opportunities to facilitate team and individual achievement of WHS learning needs? 

Workplace Learning Opportunities

Coaching  

Formal Learning

(For example class-based learning, online learning)  

Mentoring  

Reading Info/Data  

Focus Groups

Appendix 1 – Scenario

You are employed as a team leader of a group of five administration staff in the head office of Australian Hardware. A rapid growth in the organisation has seen many new computers installed in the office. With so many computers around the office, power extension cables occasionally become loose and end up lying on the floor of the hallway.

In the past three months, a number of your employees have had near-misses where they have almost tripped on a loose cable. To make matters worse, just this morning you witnessed your senior administrator, Rosie Thompson, trip on a cable and sprain her wrist on impact with the floor. As team leader, you immediately gave Rosie some ice and a bandage and took her to see the local doctor. 

Organisational recordkeeping and consultative procedures, which are in place to ensure the organisation adheres to WHS obligations under relevant legislation, require team leaders to:

● conduct regular workplace inspections and submit safety inspection forms to the relevant person (your health and safety representative or your assessor)

● fill in and submit incident reports for incidents involving accidents or near-accidents involving staff or visitors

● compile WHS aggregate information and report on safety performance as part of the WHS management system to your health and safety representative.

In your workplace’s operational plan, the target number of incidents or injuries requiring first aid and/or medical treatment is zero. 

Note: Detailed information on Australian Hardware, including operational policies and procedures, risk management, and financials may be accessed at:

‘Australian Hardware’,

http://australianhardware.simulations.australiantrainingproducts.com.au/ 

Australian Hardware WHS policy 

In order to ensure a healthy and safe working environment, Australian Hardware will:

● establish a safe and healthy workplace 

● ensure compliance with all relevant legislation

● provide written procedures and instructions for safe working practices and material safety data sheets (MSDS) where required

● provide appropriate support, instruction, training and supervision to employees to ensure safe working practices

● consult employees and affected persons on health and safety issues

● set and monitor clear performance goals for prevention and lessening of illnesses and injuries in the workplace for employees, contractors and visitors (including clients and volunteers) 

● detect hazards leading to assessment and appropriate control activities for all risks in the workplace

● commit to participation in workplace health and safety matters by all senior managers, line managers, supervisors and staff (including employee representatives)

● access and provide appropriate information relating to working safely and the training required for organisational employees to carry out their duties in a safe manner

● establish and commit to a health and safety management system and continual improvement including internal/external audits and systematic management review. 

Emergency Evacuation Procedure for Head Office of Australian Hardware 

• On hearing an evacuation alarm, or on instruction of emergency control personnel, immediately cease all activity and secure personal valuables.

• Assist any person in immediate danger, but only if safe to do so.

• If practical, and only if safe to do so, secure any activity or process that may become hazardous or suffer damage if left unattended as a consequence of evacuation.

• Act in accordance with directions given by emergency control personnel and evacuate the building immediately.

• Assist with the general evacuation if directed to do so by emergency control personnel.

• Assist with the evacuation of disabled occupants.

• In a fire, do not use a lift to evacuate the building.

• Move calmly to the nominated evacuation assembly area and do not leave the evacuation assembly area until the all clear has been given.

• Follow the instructions of relevant emergency services personnel and campus emergency control personnel.

Emergency procedure maps

Emergency procedures diagrams are located within each room. These diagrams provide floor plans showing the locations of emergency exits and emergency equipment (such as fire extinguishers) and maps for evacuation routes and emergency assembly areas. 

Hazard Identification Procedure 

WHS legislation requires that PCBUs, in consultation with workers identify all potentially hazardous things or situations that may cause harm. In general, hazards are likely to be found in the following; 

- Physical work environment, 

- Equipment, materials or substances used, 

- Work tasks and how they are performed, 

- Work design and management 

In order to identify hazards, complete the following steps: 

(i) Past incidents/accidents are examined to see what happened and whether the incident/accident could occur again. 

(ii) Employees consulted to find out what they consider are safety issues, I.e. ask workers about hazards/ near misses they have encountered as part of their work. Sometimes a survey or questionnaire can assist workers to provide information about workplace hazards. 

(iii) Work areas or work sites be inspected or examined to find out what is happening now. Identified hazards should be documented to allow further action. The work environment, tools and equipment as well as tasks and procedures should be examined for risks to WHS. (iv) Information about equipment (e.g. plant, operating instructions) and Material Safety Data Sheets be reviewed to determine relevant safety precautions. 

(v) Welcome creative thinking about what could go wrong, i.e. what hazardous event could take place here? Any hazard which is identified by this process should be recorded on the Risk Assessment and Control Sheet and further action taken to assess and then control the risks from this hazard. 

WHS Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure 

All near miss / incidents should be reported to the WHS committee and senior management by the manager or the reporting staff member using an incident report form. 

If a person has been injured the need for first aid should be assessed and action taken as appropriate. Managers should follow the Early Intervention Guide.

If the near miss / incident is considered to be serious, the manager should contact the WHS team for advice. The WHS team will advise regarding the notification of the incident to WorkSafe.

The incident is deemed to be a "Notifiable Incident" and must be reported to WorkSafe if it resulted in:

• The death of a person or;

• A person requiring medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance or

• A person requiring immediate treatment as an in-patient or

• A person requiring immediate treatment for

• The amputation of any body part or

• A serious head injury or

• A serious eye injury or

• De-gloving or scalping or

• Electric shock or

• A spinal injury or

• The loss of a bodily function or

• Serious lacerations

• If the incident is notifiable, the site of the incident is to remain undisturbed until a WorkSafe Inspector arrives on site or gives permission for disturbance.

• The Head of Department/Unit Manager must report all notifiable incidents to WorkSafe via phone on 132 360 and then in writing within 48 hours by completing the Worksafe Incident Notification Form.

• The manager should undertake an incident investigation in consultation with the Health and Safety Representative and record the findings and recommendation in a report of the incident

• Complex investigations or investigations where there is uncertainty will be supported by the WHS team upon request of the manager or Health and safety Representative 

WHS Consultation Procedure

Overview 

Consultation is mandatory under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) for Australian Hardware. Consultation will take place on all work health and safety matters including: 

• undertaking risk management activities 

• proposing changes that may affect workers 

• making decisions about any work health and safety procedures 

• the adequacy of facilities for the welfare of workers. 

This procedure should be read with the Work Health and Safety Policy. 

Procedure 

Australian Hardware consults, so far as is reasonably practicable, with workers who carry out work for Australian Hardware who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a work health and safety matter. If the workers are represented by a health and safety representative, the consultation will involve that representative. Consultation at Australian Hardware involves sharing of information, giving workers a reasonable opportunity to express views, and taking those views into account before making decisions on health and safety matters. 

1 Health and safety representatives (HSRs) HSRs will be elected to represent various work groups and investigate health and safety issues. 

2 Health and Safety Committee (HSC) 

An HSC will be established on the initiative of Australian Hardware. The role of the HSC is to facilitate cooperation between Australian Hardware and workers on health and safety matters as well as to develop work health and safety standards, rules and procedures. 

3 Other Agreed Arrangements 

Other agreed arrangements for consultation may be set up by Australian Hardware provided the arrangement is agreed to by the workers and is likely to result in better consultation and 

improved decision making. Once established, consultation must be in accordance with the procedures agreed to between Australian Hardware and the workers. Regardless of the arrangement, the obligation of Australian Hardware to consult with all workers remains. Australian Hardware may need a mix of HSRs, HSCs and / or other agreed consultation arrangements tailored to suit the workers and Australian Hardware’s work environment. Other agreed arrangements for consultation on health and safety matters used by Australian Hardware may be through: 

• regular scheduled meetings 

• team meetings (where work health and safety is always an agenda item) 

• one-off meetings 

• tool box talks 

• face to face discussions 

• briefing sessions. 

4 Nature of consultation about particular matters 

Australian Hardware will ensure: 

• that relevant information about the matter is shared with workers, and 

• that workers be given a reasonable opportunity: 

o to express their views and to raise work health or safety issues in relation to the matter, and 

o to contribute to the decision-making process relating to the matter, and 

• that the views of workers are taken into account by Australian Hardware, and 

• that the workers consulted are advised of the outcome of the consultation in a timely manner. If the workers are represented by a health and safety representative, the consultation must involve that representative. 

4 When consultation occurs, Australian Hardware sets up a plan to ensure that consultation occurs in relation to the following health and safety matters: 

• when identifying hazards and assessing risks to health and safety arising from the work carried out or to be carried out by Australian Hardware 

• when making decisions about ways to eliminate or minimise those risks, 

• when making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for the welfare of workers, 

• when proposing changes that may affect the health or safety of workers, 

• when making decisions about the procedures for: 

o consulting with workers, or 

o resolving work health or safety issues at the workplace, or 

o monitoring the health of workers, or o monitoring the conditions at any workplace under the management or control of the person conducting the business or undertaking, or 

o providing information and training for workers.