Occupational Health Safety and Welfare

Powerpoint presentation resource from Charles Darwin University, Australia

Legislation

The Workplace Health and Safety Act.

“An Act to promote occupational health and safety in the Territory to prevent workplace injuries and diseases, to protect the health and safety of the public in relation to work activities, to promote the rehabilitation and maximum recovery from incapacity of injured workers, to provide financial compensation to workers incapacitated from workplace injuries or diseases and to the dependants of workers who die as the results of such injuries or diseases, to establish certain bodies and a fund for the proper administration of the Act, and for related purposes.”

Legislation cont’d

The aim of the Act is to protect workers at work by promoting a culture of safety awareness. Both the Act and the Regulations have mandatory requirements and fines for breaches of the Act and regulations are outlined within the documents.

Codes of Practice under the Act provide practical guidance on how a health and safety standard can be achieved. These are mandatory requirements and should be followed. Minimum standards are stated and if there is another solution which achieves the same or better standard of health and safety it may be used

Australian Standards provide guidance on how a standard can be achieved. These standards are developed by Standards Australia and contain requirements that should be followed. Minimum standards are stated and if there is another solution which achieves the same or better standard of health and safety it may be used.

IF IN DOUBT, ASK!!!

Employer and Employee Responsibilities

Responsibilities of employers and employees are outlined in the Workplace Health and Safety Act and the University Health and Safety Policy.

Inspections of the Workplace

Regular inspections of the workplace are designed to identify hazards for assessment and control to maintain a safe environment

Inspections must be carried out on a regular basis and form part of the overall OH&S management system of the University

Inspections are carried out on a scheduled basis by a team who complete the checklist and identify hazards for correction

Where there is a significant change in activities and/or area use an inspection must be performed

High risk areas should be inspected more frequently

It is the responsibility of staff in the area inspected to take remedial action within timeframes set.

Managers and Supervisors

Staff in a supervisory capacity are required to ensure that regular inspections are carried out and that appropriate remedial action is undertaken

Health and Safety Inspection Check List

Download the

Health and Safety Inspection Checklist

Regular Inspections provide a means for you to measure your OHS performance.

Keep records Complete the checklist and don’t forget to identify who will be

responsible for correcting identified hazards

Safe Work Procedures (SWP’s)

Where a specific hazard exists it may be appropriate to have safe work procedures clearly described and posted close by so as they can be easily read and understood

International signage is useful where there may be difficulty in communication

DO NOT rely on verbal information for it may not be received by all who need it.

Document all information Procedures should be reviewed at inspection time

Safe Work Procedure Template

Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments

Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments must be completed when dealing with Hazardous Substances

They are designed to address the key points associated with the substance such as Usage, Health Effects, Hazard Identification, Control Measures and Disposal Processes

All this information can be obtained from the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the substance.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s)

MSDS’s can be obtained from manufacturer/supplier or through a chemical database such as ChemWatch

Electronic information may not be available when needed so hard copies of the information must be kept where they are easily accessed

Every chemical substance in the workplace should have a printed MSDS to inform the user of the nature of the product in use.

The MSDS provides valuable information on: what the formula is, it’s appearance, odor and use permissible exposure limits (PEL), exposure effects monitoring and measurement procedures health hazard information emergency first aid personal protection leak/spill procedures, waste disposal and storage

Labelling of chemicals

Labelling of substances is governed by the National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances [NOHSC:2012 (1994)]

LABELS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES The label on a hazardous substance should draw the attention of a user who is handling or using the substance to the significant hazards involved. It should take into account all the hazards which are likely to occur during the use of the substance.

INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 500 mL(g)

1. Product Name

2. Chemical Name

3. Concentration or formulation details

4. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels

5. UN number

6. Risk Phrase(s)

7. Safety Phrase(s)

8. Directions for use (as appropriate)

9. First Aid procedures

10. Emergency Procedures

11. Expiry date

12. Manufacturer details

13. Reference to MSDS

Labelling of chemicals Small containers may have insufficient space to include all the information needed on the label

in a style and size that is legible and clearly distinguishable from other markings on the container. The information needed on labels for small containers is therefore a subset of that for containers of more than 500 mL(g).

INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH A CAPACITY OF LESS THAN 500 mL(g) 1. Product Name2. Chemical Name3. Concentration or formulation details4. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels5. UN number6. Risk Phrase(s) – at least the most significant7. Safety Phrase(s) – at least the most significant8. First Aid procedures9. Manufacturer details10. Reference to MSDS

Where a container of a hazardous substance is so small that this information cannot be provided on the actual container, the container should be labelled with at least:

1. Product Name/Chemical Name2. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels3. Manufacturer details

Consideration should be given to other methods of providing additional information, such as on outer packaging. Alternative packaging can be used to provide enough room to allow the full set of information to be supplied.

Resolution of OHS issues

Initially the OHS issue should be discussed with your supervisor

Should the supervisor not be able to assist, the matter should be referred to your Health and Safety Representative on the Faculty Workplace Advisory Group (WAG) and seek advice from Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).

Refer paperwork to WAG or HSE for action

If the matter remains unresolved it can then be referred to the University Health and Safety Group (UHSG)

Hazards

A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.

Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it caused rather than the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard" or "hazardous biological agent".

What are examples of a hazard? Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources.

General examples include any substance, material, process, practice, etc that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health effect to a person under certain conditions. See Table 1 (next slide).

Table 1 Hazards

Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Harm Caused

Object Knife Cut

Substance Benzene Leukaemia

Material Asbestos Mesothelioma

Energy Source Electricity Shock, electrocution

Conditions Wet floor Slip, fall

Process Welding Metal fume fever

Practice Quad bike riding Crash

As shown in the table, workplace hazards also include practices or As shown in the table, workplace hazards also include practices or conditions that release uncontrolled energy like: an object that conditions that release uncontrolled energy like: an object that could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy), a run-could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy), a run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy) or the release of away chemical reaction (chemical energy) or the release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature).compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature).

Accident, Injury and Incident Reporting

Accidents, Injuries and Incidents should be reported within 24hours to Health, Safety and Environment on Accident, Injury and Incident report

If a matter is considered to be serious, involves serious injury or involves a death, IMMEDIATE notification to HSE is required.

Supervisors are responsible for the follow up and investigation of all incidents and accidents and are required to forward the accident, incident and incident form to the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) unit.

Supervisor is to keep a copy of the Accident, Injury and Incident report form and forward a copy to the Chair of the WAG

Manual Handling

Manual Handling presents a significant risk in most workplaces and there is a Manual Handling Risk Assessment Checklist to determine risks associated with activities.

Training is recommended for any person who is required to perform manual handling duties as part of their work and is available internally or externally to the University

Check Health, Safety and Environment training dates

Manual handling information is available as a Regulation and Code of Practice

Screen based equipment and Ergonomic Assessment

The procedure for users of keyboard and screen based equipment is available at: Screen based equipment - Selection and Use

Use the Workstation Checklist to make an assessment of your situation

First Aid and Medical Assistance

The University requires each work area to maintain trained First Aid personnel. Depending on the size of the area, one or more may be required to service the area

First aid personnel are responsible for maintaining the kits to comply with the current Code of Practice and keeping records of all illnesses, injuries and treatments given.

Security personnel are trained in first aid and can be called if you are unable to locate your first aid officer. If no first aid assistance can be provided call for Ambulance assistance.

Medical practitioners are not currently available on campus. As a general rule, cases requiring ambulance attendance and further treatment are sent to Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department.

Do not delay in seeking first aid and always remember to complete an Accident, Injury and Incident report

Emergencies

When the alarms sound:

1. Evacuate building immediately by nearest safe exit or as directed by your floor warden.

2. Proceed directly to the designated Assembly Area

3. Wait until the “all clear” given by Fire Brigade Officer or Building Warden or Security

DO NOT enter buildings if alarms are sounding DO NOT USE lifts/elevators during an evacuation.

Familiarise yourself with the floorplan of the building you are in and the designated assembly area

Fire and Fire Fighting Equipment

Only attempt to extinguish minor fires – do not take personal risks

Fire brigade: The fire brigade is alerted by the faculty's automatic alarm systems.

The Building Warden or the deputy Building Warden must meet the Emergency Services personnel when they arrive at the fire panel of the building. As soon as possible inform the University Security on extension 7777 or 8946 7777 or 8946 6500 (Casuarina Campus only).

Each laboratory usually has a Fire extinguisher of DRY CHEMICAL General-purpose type

Most laboratories also have a fire blanket. Fire blankets are the method of choice for small and contained fires.

Each building also has fire hoses in them. See floor plans for their positions in each building

Forms and Useful Links

New employee health and safety checklist

Health and Safety Inspection Checklist

Safe Work Procedure Template

Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments

Hazard Report

Accident, Injury and Incident report

Manual Handling Risk Assessment Checklist

Forms Policy and Procedure University OHS Policy University Health and Safety Policy

Field Manual Safety Manual

Other Links

ChemWatch

Health, Safety and Environment

NT WorkSafe