BSBWHS411 - Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs

CaseStudyD -Reportinghazards

Thefollowinghazardreportingproceduresareusedby theorganisation:

• High-risk or life-threatening hazards must be reported immediately to the WHS officer in aspokencommunication; anoticemust be placednearby to warnothersofthe hazard:

• if the officer is unavailable, this should be reported instead to the work manager and theWHShumanresourcesmanager in-person

• a record must also be made in the hazard register, detailing what this is, when it wasfoundandbywhom

• Medium-riskhazardsmustbereported totheworkmanagerin-person:

• a record should then be made in the hazard register, detailing what this is, when it wasfoundandbywhom

• Low-risk hazards must be reported by completing and submitting a hazard report form tothe workmanager.

Procedure note:High-risk hazards are those that include chemical harm and those that can causeserious physical injury or harm. Medium-risk hazards are those that have a lesser chance of harmoccurring and which will have a less serious impact if they do. Low-risk hazards provide little harm orlikelihoodofoccurring.

CaseStudyE-Riskcontrol measures

Controllingrisks

The following risks have been found; they need to be managed according to the risk controlproceduresandthehierarchy ofriskcontrolmeasures.

Identifiedrisks are:

• A team member is being harassed and bullied by another worker; they are at risk of having apsychologicalhealth andsafetyissue

• Workloadsareexceedingthe team'scapabilities,bothskillsandtime

• Machinery has become unreliable; there have been two machine repairs, but problemspersist asthemachineryisnolongerfitfor purpose.

These risksmustbe eliminatedormanaged.

Riskcontrolproceduresare:

• Assesstherisks associatedwiththehazard

• Identifyoneormore suitable riskcontrolmeasures

• Identify the actions to be taken to control the risks (according to the chosen risk controlmeasures)

• Documenttheproposed riskcontrols.

Thehierarchyofcontrol measuresinorderofpreferenceare:

• Eliminatetherisk

• Substitutethehazards withasaferalternative

• Isolatethehazard frompeople

• Reducetherisksthroughengineeringcontrols

• Reduceexposuretothe hazardusingadministrativecontrols

• Usepersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE).

Existingriskcontrols

The organisation already uses risk controls to manage its despatch department. These have been inplace for some time. Currently, to prevent slips, trips and falls hazard around the work area, bins areclearedtwice a day,flooringisswept andmoppedtoremove debrisandspillageswhenneeded.

Workers must also wear non-slip footwear, which is supplied to all despatch workers. Often rubbishisfalling outofthebinsandis left placedtothe side readyfordisposal.

Two forklift trucks are used to move pallets; there are three qualified workers with licences tooperate these. Licence renewals are monitored by the administration office. To ensure thesevehiclesareusedsafely, aroutearound the warehouse hasbeenleftclearforthem.Workers know

to avoid these areas; however some new trainees have been recruited and are not keeping to thecorrect routes for workersonfoot.

Activities 1

RefertoCaseStudy D-Reportinghazards

Forthefollowinghazard scenarios,identifythecorrectreporting procedure:

• A machine is leaking fluid and this is pooling on the floor and into thewalkway
• Chemicals in storage are not correctly positioned and some containers arenotsecurely fastened
• Wiring from work station computers to power sockets are trailing across thefloor inthe administrationofficebut notacross access routes

A delivery of stationery has been left in the walkway near the receptionarea; although it is clearly visible, it is blocking the main access route in andoutof the premises.

Activities 2

RefertoCaseStudy E-Riskcontrolmeasures

1. Read the text under the heading 'Controlling risks', follow the risk controlprocedures andoutlineyour proposedriskcontrols for eachrisk.
2. Read the text under the heading 'Existing risk controls', list the risk controlsthatyouthink areinadequate.
3. Whichhierarchyofriskcontrol measuresdotheybelongto?
4. Identify what is inadequate with each control and then make onesuggestionfor each control as tohow youcouldimprovethis.

Activities 3

Written questions

1. Identify three things you should do to help manage issues that are raisedthroughconsultationmechanisms.
2. HowcanWHSconsultationhelptoresolve issues?
3. Whatmustyoulegally dowhenanissuewithhealthandsafety is found?
4. Identify three things you should communicate to the work team whenprovidingthemwiththeoutcomesofconsultationaboutWHSissues.
5. Read the following scenario and explain how you would communicate thistotheworkteam.

Thescenario:

A consultation to resolve a site security issue has taken place in a largecorporate building with 200 staff. The issue discussed is the main entranceintothepremises is unlockedandleftunwatchedduring theworkday.

Several instances of people wandering into the workplace have been experiencedwithone aggressiveconfrontation.

After a consultation, a new security pass entry system is being established;all staff will be issued with a pass within three working days, and the systemwill be workinginfourworkingdays.

6. What three things should you do when helping to manage reportedhazards?

7. How can working collaboratively help you to manage and implement hazardreports?(identify threepoints).

8. Identify four things that you will need to do when monitoring the outcomesofinadequaterisk reports.

9. How can you seek a prompt resolution from reports that are made? Givetwoexamples of practicalstepsyoucantake.

10. Identifyfivethings thatyouneedtodocument inaWHSincidentrecord.

11. Whenwouldyouneedtomakeanotifiablereport?

12. Give two examples that specify how WHS aggregate information and data canbeusefulinyourrecord keeping.