Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain
STUDENT ID: C61041
COURSE NAME
Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace
Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
COURSE CODE: THHGLE04B
LECTURER: Alison Cowie
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
An OHSS management system is the means by which an organization systematically manages workplace health, safety and security. To implement the system there are legislation requirements for employers in relations to occupational health and safety and there can be used as guidelines for the maintenance of security within the organization. The main reason to implement OHSS management system is the desire to eliminate or reduce injury, illness and risks to the security of the people and assets in the workplace.
Occupational health and safety is about ensuring a safe workplace. For resource recovery facilities this includes staff employed at the facility as well as contractors and the public.
According to the National Health and Safety Commission (1999:1):
Occupational health and safety and security is critical to the successful running of a business, no matter what is the size. Primarily we have to find our why do we need such a system.
It is vital that you follow the procedures that have been developed for your facility for managing occupational health and safety (as well as any others that ensure all work is done correctly). In addition, it is important that others on site follow these procedures. Remember, that these people (such as members of the public), may not know what is required as it is their first time on-site, so it is important to provide the necessary advice in a manner that helps prevent any adverse incidents occurring.
It is essential for all employers to provide a safe working environment for all employees. Employees have the right to know what hazardous materials, equipment or processes they work with or could be exposed to, and what they can (and must), do to avoid injury or illness when working with these materials, equipment or process.
Employees have an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to report hazards identify Ed in the workplace. Information and training must be provided to minimize the possibility of any adverse impacts or hazards, and to comply with all relevant legislation. Consultation is an important part of this process.
Under the Australian system of government, the States and Territories have responsibility for making laws about workplace health and safety, and for enforcing those laws.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Each State and Territory has a main piece of OHS legislation, which sets out the broad requirements for ensuring that workplaces are safe and healthy. The legislation outlines the duties of different groups of people who play a role in workplace occupational health and safety. Importantly, the legislation outlines how employers and employees are to work together to ensure their workplace is safe. To provide more detail for specify c aspects that are covered in the Regulations, Guidance Material and Information Bulletins are developed.
The legislation and guidance publications (such as Acts, Regulations or Guidance Material), can be updated and amended periodically, so it is important for organizations and their employees to stay informed of these changes. In Victoria, the main legislation is the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. The objectives of the Act are to:
Secure the health, safety and welfare of the employees and other people at work;
Protect the public from the health and safety risks of business activities;
Eliminate workplace risks at the source; and
Involve employers, employees and the organizations that represent them in the formulation and implementation of health, safety and welfare standards.
As can be seen from these objectives, this would include all staff employed at the resource recovery facility as well as contractors and the public who comes to deposit materials for recycling or disposal.
This means that not only is there a need for safe operating procedures, suitable equipment and training for the staff employed, but the facility layout and operating conditions should be such that the contractors and public are safe – and all are aware of their responsibilities.
To assist in ensuing that in the hospitality industry should be aware of their responsibilities in regards to OHS, Work safe provide assistance through advice and the provision of publications. The following are the titles of some of the publications that may be useful if you require more detail.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Guide to the OHS Act 2004
Information for employees
Information for employers Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Summary Talking Safety Together
Developing an OHSS Management System
We have to consider the demands and influences impacting on the development of an OHSS management system for a hospitality establishment. In our case the focus would be on one operational area of the hotel, for example the bar and restaurant or the font of house area. It is important to note that the failure of an OHSS management system can impact heavily on the reputation and future viability of any business. How ever there is another important reason for the development of an OHSS management system that promotes a healthy, safe and secure workplace for all, this is the fact that no manager or the person in charge would wish to bear personal responsibility for harm caused to others.
Action Plan,
ACTION TIMESCALE WHO PROGRESS FURTHER ACTIONS 1 - Must monitor the Minimum Recommends OHSS performance in Dataset improvement to the business. established and the service in will develop. relation to the Peer Review collection of data, system consistency and developed and systems. being piloted
Comments: -
Accountability and communication with management representing said dialogue, may not have been monitored but have begun like process - PAF Staff Governance.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
2 – Must give a clear Minimum The review will policy lead on the lines Dataset and review structure, of responsibility within other reports of standards, the the business and for the the OHSSIG to wider picture, management of OHSS. bring the Healthy Working attention of Lives and make issues to the recommendations. management and thereby ensure that these issues are covered in the accountability reviews.
Comments: -
Chief Executives have corporate responsibility. Review Commissioned by the HRF.
Action – To set up a meeting with OHSS supervisors and Executive manager – chairs to discuss agenda and review on four sub-groups.
3 – must review how Substantial The PSU should OHSS costs can be met funding over the include a question for general medical and past 3 years to on this. dental practitioners and boost services to their staff GMP and GDP and their staff. There is a lack of clarity as to how this money has been utilised by Boards.
Comments: -
Monies for OHS ring fenced. Staff expectations have grown – monies have went to boards to provide service, therefore – boards have to be accountable how money is spent.
Action – Letter around asking breakdown of how money is spent. Two issues: -
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
i. Spent appropriately. ii. Provide services / improves services
Action - Same route as staff survey? – Question can be raised as part of accountability. Each board presents what they do during accountability reviews. Field 6 of staff Governance – PSU function. ,
Action – Pull out all OH details and make available to the group.
4 - must review and Ongoing work It was agreed that clarify current OHSS through the it would be useful guidance on access SAAT and MDS if a consistent and the peer question relating review process. to staff access could be included in future staff surveys.
Comments : -
Ongoing piece of work for the PABS / Peer Review visits to assess access iterative piece of work - aim to improve access. Minimum Dataset – resource part – What do we measure in terms of OH resource?
Action – what do we measure / clarify what we are looking for.
Need for some sort of consistency around staff survey (user satisfaction is a consistent question). OHSQIT (Peer Review SAAT) strive to incorporate into existing SAT. OHS seen as mainstream may mean loss of some of the detail – for the moment hang onto Peer Review.
5 – must liaise with the Make sure This area needs Executive Education management further work. Department to ensure currently all staff intending to reviewing take a health service services associated course provided to staff. receive pre-entry occupational Health assessment and advice
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Comments: -
The management currently involved in mapping exercise, (purely on immunization at the moment). Require a consistent standard of training. There is a lot of ambiguity over these training issues, (e.g. some industry may seem to avoid these issues).
Pre - training H&S, pre-entry has to be established. This could be incorporated into induction. Keep this specific to immunization – as a wider review will be labor intensive. Also does an already stretched OHS have enough resources to cope with demand? (Wider review must therefore be part of another piece of work to be put into action).
It was decided that the process of going through action points would be quite a time consuming process, which extends further than the time allowed for the away day. Therefore it was decided that it would be more prudent for members to take the action point document away so that comments could be relayed back via e-mail.
Action – to circulate the document to OHSSIG and request comments returned within 2 weeks.
3. Minimum Dataset.
Discussed that within the next funding wave on manual handling, there may be provision to promote some research into how incidents are reported in non - NHS settings.
Action – To ask ISD how employers figures are gathered through the pay system. Are there specific groups? – And consider whether indicator groups can be identified and if ISD could obtain a print out of the last five years – to provide a quick snapshot.
Action –Ask ISD for the appropriate data to track this trend.
As the Hotel is a five star one, we have to provide that standard of services.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Hotel Services & Facilities:
While Melbourne’s major attractions are only minutes away, within the impressive exterior of this majestic building, you will discover all the trimmings of modern luxury. You’ll enjoy the convenience of
The new Grand Odin restaurant. The Library Lounge Bar Fully Equipped gymnasium Large Business Centre Parking / Car park service Steam room and sauna heated swimming pool and spa with retractable roof Unlimited use of heated swimming pool , spa , steam room and sauna for house guests Massage and Physiotherapy treatments Solariums Aerobic studio Airport Transportation (Limited) Nutritionist Limousine Service Cellular Telephone Rental Dry Cleaning Service Translation Services Computer Rental Non-Smoking Facilities Laundry and valet service 24 hour in-suite room service Foreign exchange facilities Concierge desk for car rentals, airline tickets, local tour booking, theatre bookings.
For our Business convenience
Audio/ Visual Equipment Rental Business Centre Three Private offices are available within our Business Centre Direct Business Phone Service Express Mail Fax Meeting Room Modem Photo Copying Service
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Printer Full access to Secretarial Service Video Conferencing Available Video Messaging and other services of the Business Centre.
For your Family’s Comfort and convenience
Babysitting service Children menu Cribs High chairs
For your comfort and convenience
Automated Teller (ATM 24 hour Front Desk Baggage Storage Beauty Salon Concierge Desk Elevators Lounge Express Check out Multi-Lingual Staff 24 hour Room Service Safety Deposit Box
Room Facilities
Air Condition Alarm Clock Balcony Bath/ Toweling Robe Mini-bar Radio Kitchenette Internet service Telephone / Direct Dial Television
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Local Attractions
Convention Centre Exhibition Centre Crown Casino Telstra Dome Yarra River's South-bank with its myriad of restaurants and cafés Southern Cross Railway Station.
Within a short stroll from the Hotel, guests can experience all that cosmopolitan Melbourne has to offer from eclectic shopping to adventurous dining, galleries, exhibitions, sports events and more. Some examples of nearby attractions and activities are:
Theatres and movies City shopping mall Museum Art gallery / Melbourne Exhibition Centre South-bank and Southgate Restaurants, cafés and bars Parks and gardens Melbourne's Crown Casino Melbourne's Convention Centre The Telstra Dome Albert Park Lake Royal Botanic Gardens Cruises on the Yarra River MCG Sporting Facility Melbourne Aquarium
Further a field, the state of Victoria opens up a myriad of tour possibilities which include:
The Great Ocean Road Phillip Island Winery tours The Grampian Mountains The Victorian Alps and snowfields
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
The Restaurant’s Services and Facilities :
Our staffs who are highly trained and very customer attentive and will provide fast customer service. Healthy food for our customers to guaranty quickness and quality in customer service. The staff knowledge, politeness, helpfulness, cleanliness and high personal hygiene are our main point to allow the high level of customer satisfaction, so all staffs are highly trained to provide a great service to guests. Great place that is bright, hip, clean, and sophisticated. The restaurant also offers catering in functions in a high standard of comfort with specific locations and menus.
Duty of care responsibilities for workplace health and safety
The Duty of Care principle is that everyone in the workplace has the responsibility to conduct their work and activities in a way that does not endanger themselves or others. The OHS Act is more specific about the responsibilities of different groups of people in the workplace.
Employees
As employees, you are required to:
Co-operate with your employer and work colleagues in ensuring a safe workplace, Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and all others in the workplace. An employee must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided at the workplace in the interests of health, safety and welfare.
What does this mean on a day-to-day basis?
1. Work safely at all times 2. Wear or use the appropriate safety or protective equipment 3. Follow all company safety procedures and policies, e.g. operating instructions, speed limits, and pedestrian walkways 4. Keep your workplace clean and tidy and free of hazards e.g. a trip hazard,
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
5. Do nothing that will put yourself or others at risk 6. Use all plant and equipment correctly 7. Maintain plant and equipment properly 8. Advise your manager of unlabelled or unidentifiable chemicals or materials 9. Identify hazards and report them 10. Report incidents 11. Participate in consultation processes and safety training.
Employer Responsibilities:
Your Employer also has responsibilities, the key one being to provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers and contractors.
Their responsibilities include:
I. Providing and maintaining safe plant (such as machinery and equipment) and safe systems of work (such as controlling entry to high risk areas, controlling work pace and frequency and providing systems to prevent falls from heights)
II. Implementing arrangements for the safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances (such as dangerous goods and harmful chemicals or materials)
III. Maintaining the safe condition of the workplace (such as ensuring fire exits are not blocked, emergency equipment is serviceable, and general housekeeping)
IV. Providing workers and contractors with adequate facilities (such as clean toilets, cool and clean drinking water and hygienic eating areas)
V. Making sure workers have adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to work in a safe and healthy manner” Work- cover Victoria web site.
As an employee you have a responsibility to actively participate in OHS consultation that takes place in your workplace.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
The OHS Act, 2004 provides for consultation in the workplace. The Act requires employers to consult with employees so far as is reasonable and practicable on issues that may directly affect their health and safety, especially when:
I. Identifying or assessing hazards or risks, II. Making decisions about controlling the risks, III. Deciding on the adequacy of facilities for employees, IV. Developing procedures to resolve OHS issues, V. Developing procedures regarding employee consultation, the monitoring of the health of employees and workplace conditions, and the provision of information and training to employees, VI. Determining the membership of health and safety committees, and VII. Proposing changes to how work is done or to the workplace, plant, substances or other things used at the workplace.
This consultation must involve:
I. Sharing information with employees about their health, safety and welfare II. Giving employees a reasonable opportunity to express their views, and III. Taking into account their views and contributions.
The consultation may be via:
I. OHS Representative II. OHS committee, or III. Other agreed consultation procedure.
Another useful tool in the publications list on Work cover’s site is the “Consultation Health and Safety Checklist”. This tool can be used to help you identify when consultation should take place and what good consultation requires.
The Hotel observes the relevant Work Cover Codes of Practice, which must be followed unless a better way is documented and adopted. The Hotel has also adopted the safety principles and practices as set out in AS/NZ4804 Occupational Health and Management Systems - General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques and, where appropriate, the NOHSC standards.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
In order to fulfill its commitment and obligations and provide guidance on strategic direction and implementation, a “risk management” approach has been adopted within the Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS). The Hotel also has an OHS operational plan, which is continually reviewed and updated.
Health and safety programs
For all of the reasons, it is crucial that employers, workers and unions are committed to health and safety and that:
Workplace hazards are controlled - at the source whenever possible; Records of any exposure are maintained for many years; Both workers and employers are informed about health and safety risks in the workplace; There is an active and effective health and safety committee that includes both workers and management; Worker health and safety efforts are ongoing.
Effective workplace health and safety programs can help to save the lives of workers by reducing hazards and their consequences. Health and safety programs also have positive effects on both worker morale and productivity, which are important benefits. At the same time, effective programs can save employers a great deal of money.
We have seen that it is essential to have the commitment and active participation of management of a hospitality establishment to ensure the success of any OHSS management system. The employer is legally responsible for safety and security with in the organization. Usually the responsibility is delegated to other persons within the organization. Depending on the size and nature of the operation, the amount of delegation may vary.
In a large hotel like ours, we would need a number of staff to perform OHSS roles within the organization.
Executive management
The executive management of an organization determines the strategic direction and organizational goals for OHSS for the entire
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
organization and plays a key role in promoting OHSS to areas under their control.
In addition the executive management allocates the financial and human resources needed to support the OHSS for the entire organization and plays a key role in promoting OHSS to areas under their control.
Senior Executive staff will:
Have a responsibility to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment and work practices through strategic planning and final decisions that determine the staffing levels, access to consultants and finances devoted to health and safety;
Provide support and guidance in the management of occupational health and safety to those whom they supervise.
Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to occupational health and safety;
Support the OHS consultation and management processes of the University;
Delegate occupational health and safety responsibilities to identified persons who will be accountable for compliance.
As the senior executive recognize the importance of Occupational Health, Safety and Security in the workplace they have given an unlimited allowance for OHS and security management. To make sure OHSS are implemented in the workplace we have to set up cost centers.
Heads of Cost Centers are responsible and accountable for ensuring that relevant safety standards and procedures are implemented, reviewed, maintained and adhered to within their area of responsibility by the provision of safety equipment, safe systems of work, information, instruction, training and supervision, and through consultation with staff.
Such accountability will include determining priorities within the Cost Centre budget, but where a hazard cannot be controlled within that budget and is assessed as presenting a “high risk”, the Head is responsible for alerting the Senior Executive.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Heads of Cost Centers will be expected to show commitment by example, use effective safety promotion techniques and develop positive performance indicators to measure OHS performance.
The Hotel management has a responsibility to ensure adequate funding is available for identified OHS needs, such as the elimination of hazards, development of procedures, accident prevention measures, reporting procedures, training, educational and rehabilitation programs for injured staff and the provision of a safe and healthy work/study environment.
1 It is acknowledged that maintaining a safe workplace is an ongoing activity, and as such can not be achieved at once. Therefore, the resolution of outstanding OHS issues will be planned according to urgency and priority within the Hotel’s budget.
Responsibilities and accountabilities
The senior executive or the hotel manager has ultimate responsibility and accountability for the development and overall implementation of the Hotel's OHSMS. This responsibility includes ensuring that staffs are able to meet their obligations through the provision of adequate budgets, the allocation of resources, availability of health and safety guidelines and the establishment and functioning of the OHSMS.
Each member of the Executive then has the delegated responsibility and accountability for assisting the Hotel’s Manager in the overall implementation of and compliance with the Hotel's OHS policies. Where necessary, members of Executive will advise the Hotel manager of occupational health and safety implications of activities in areas under their control.
The manager and supervisor in their particular area or work have responsibilities to ensure the security of the staff and the assets.
Each Manager/Supervisor is responsible and accountable for taking all practical measures possible to ensure that the work environment under their control is safe and without risk to health by ensuring that:
I. Substances are used properly and plant/equipment is in safe working order and is maintained to a high standard;
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
II. Information, induction and on-the-job safety training is provided and that safe working procedures are clearly understood and consistently observed.
III. Staff follows instructions and do not put them or others at risk;
All Managers/Supervisors must ensure that the Universities policies and procedures relating to health and safety are applied in relation to the responsibilities of their position and that a risk management approach is used to ensure the adequate control of risk.
The Manager/Supervisor is also responsible for consulting with staff and monitoring the workplace to identify any unsafe or unhealthy conditions or behavior. Where they do not have the necessary authority to fix a problem they must report the matter promptly, together with any recommendations for remedial action, to the Head of the relevant Cost Centre.
In particular, Manager/Supervisors are responsible for incident management, which includes:
Reporting incidents and dangerous occurrences to the OHS Officer within 24 hours;
Emergency procedures and initial incident investigation and control.
Staffs also have responsibility; they have to make sure to follow the OHSS management system. Sometimes they might think its management duty to implement OHSS system in the workplace, but staffs have to remember they are one in the risk,
All staff must be aware of the Hotel’s policies relating to health and safety as they apply to their position.
Staffs are required to comply with the Hotel's health and safety policies, procedures and instructions to ensure their own health and safety and the health and safety of others at the Hotel. All staffs are also required to take corrective action to eliminate hazards at the workplace, or report those beyond their control to their immediate supervisor.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
All staff must:
I. Report to their immediate supervisor any situation which they have reason to believe could present a risk;
II. Report any “accident” or injury to health which arises on Hotel property or as a result of a Hotel activity;
III. Use equipment appropriately and not interfere or misuse anything provided for their safety;
IV. Co-operate with management by following instructions and wearing protective clothing or equipment if it is provided and they have been instructed in its use; and
V. Ensure that they do not hinder the provision of assistance to an injured worker.
Individual policies covering specific OHS issues exist separately.
Guests and Visitor:
All members of the Hotel’s community have a duty to care for their personal welfare and the welfare of their fellow colleagues or guests. To meet this commitment each person must follow instructions and safe working procedures at all times, and take all reasonable care to prevent personal injury or injury to others. They must report to Hotel staff any incidents and dangerous occurrences which affect or are likely to affect their safety or the safety of others.
All persons have OHS responsibilities and a duty of care to others. In the same way that we expect visitors to exercise reasonable care, the University is responsible for providing a safe environment for everyone.
Policy
1 I. Ultimately, OHS is everyone’s responsibility; therefore all persons in the hotel have a duty of care to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
2 II. Nevertheless, the Senior Executives has overall responsibility and accountability for occupational health & safety matters.
3 III. Within their respective areas, responsibility for OHS risk management matters has then been delegated to Heads of Cost Centers.
4 IV. Within each Cost Centre, responsibility has also been delegated to Heads of each part of the hotel and Managers for OHS matters in their areas. For example, in the restaurant or café the responsibility has been delegated to the restaurant manager.
5 V. In certain areas around campus, there are also other “identified responsible persons” who have specific safety responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in their Position Statements.
Communication means
No OHSS management system can exist in a vacuum. Communication lines need to be established through a hospitality organization to support the management system. If regular dissemination of information on OHSS issues is not initiated by the organization, the level of staff awareness of OHSS will drop and this will result in poor OHSS outcomes.
OHSS information can be distributed throughout and by e-mail, in-house websites, newsletters, posters, meetings, notice boards or staff manuals. Other options include staff workshop, visit to worksites and other organizations, use of video, visiting experts or trainers.
Communication options will need to be established as part of the OHSS management system. Thought also needs to be given to who will be given the responsibility for the coordination, production and dissemination of OHSS information and material as well as ensuring that the material is up-to-date and consistent across the organization.
Security Perimeters
It is essential to establish a security perimeter in an organization to control the movement of clients, guests, members of the public and
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
staff throughout a hospitality establishment and the surrounding grounds, based on the ‘need to go’ principle.
Once these perimeters are determined they are uses as the basis for the introduction of access control systems with any associated security equipment. Therefore it is vital to establish these security perimeters as part of the development of an OHSS management system.
It is recommended that a security audit be conducted in the first instance to determine security hazards, risks and the current security access control if they exist. As a same time it may be advised to conduct a safety audit as well.
Once all the access points to the property and grounds have been determined, management needs to decide who needs to go where, when and for what reason. For example, access to the plant room or kitchen area may be restricted for safety as well as security reasons.
Training Program
There is a legal requirement for employers to provide information, instructions and training on OHS issues. Under section 19 of the OHSW ACT employers must train employees in safe work practices. This applies equally to security under the ‘duty of care’ provisions of common Law and to safeguard the organization against damages claims.
Basic OHS information is provided to all new staff as part of the UNE Induction program. On-the-job instruction, information and on going training must be provided for staff to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge required to perform their work safely. OHS Consultation training will be provided for all OHS Committee members and OHS Representatives.
All staff (except trainees under the supervision of qualified staff) requiring Work Cover certificates of competency must complete a recognized course of training prior to commencing work.
OHSS training will consist of either generic or broad-based, hotel-wide training or more specific training to meet the equipments of hazards, tasks, or areas of an establishment.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Generic
General of generic training will be required for all staff of a hospitality establishment to ensure consistent application of safety and security procedures apply across the entire organization. This type of training includes staff introduction to the OHSS policies and also general OHSS procedures such as,
Security procedures; e.g. Staff ID Cards, uniforms, key control, security reporting of suspicious behavior, restricted areas and general personal protection. OHS procedures e.g. hazards and accident reporting, use of personal protective equipment, safe operating procedures, emergency and evacuation procedures.
Specific
Specific training involves training for particular tasks, hazards, operational areas or for those personnel with particular OHSS roles to play.
Training of OHS representatives, OHSS committee members, security personnel, fire wardens, first aid officers etc. Training of managers and supervisors in their responsibilities regarding OHSS policies and procedures for their operational areas. OHS safe operating procedures for cash handling, banking, handling aggressive customers, duress alarms, guest security procedure, armed robbery etc. OHS procedures for safe lifting, safe storage, noise, use of specific personal protective equipment, use of chemicals, etc.
Reporting Incidents in the Workplace
All staff are required to report incidents, dangerous occurrences or “near hits” to the Occupational Health and Safety Officer. Any staff
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
member who is informed by a student or visitor of such an incident should either advise them to report to Safety & Security, or will need to report the incident to the OHS Officer.
All staff are required to report incidents, dangerous occurrences or “near hits” to the Occupational Health and Safety Officer. Any staff member who is informed by a guest or visitor of such an incident should either advise them to report to Safety & Security, or will need to report the incident to the OHS Officer.
An Incident should be submitted in Report Form, which must be completed within 24 hours of the event occurring.
Risk Management System
Anything that has the potential to cause injury, illness or disease, damage plant or property or harm the environment. The basis of modern OHS law is the principle of risk management. Risk management is a simple way to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. It is something that everyone can be involved in and it encourages employers and employees to work together.
Risk management should be applied to the use of all materials and the types of activities carried out in your workplace. This means that as you use a substance, or carry out a task, you need to be on the lookout for potential hazards. Risk management means that you evaluate the hazards and develop strategies to avoid or minimize the potential for an injury to you or any other person. OHS law requires your employer to provide you with systems or opportunities for reporting hazards as they arise, and must respond to the problem when it is brought to their attention.
The process encourages everyone to work together to prevent workplace injury and illness, and is a way of demonstrating Duty of Care. The following outlines the basic approach to identifying and managing all hazards at your workplace.
There are four (4) steps involved in the risk management process:
I. Identifying hazards; II. Assessing the risks associated with the hazards;
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
III. Identifying and implementing the best practicable measure to eliminate or control the risk IV. Monitoring the effectiveness of control measures.
Risk Management – Summing Up
Stay on the lookout I. Be on the lookout for hazards at all times. II Your employer needs to provide you with systems for hazard reporting so that something can be done about them.
Anticipate hazards Think about possible hazards BEFORE you start each task.
Account for change I. Change may occur as a result of a new project commencing, a work system altering, the introduction of new staff, and/or the addition or change of tools plant or substances. II. Change can introduce hazards so be aware and implement the hazard identification process.
Report new hazards As soon as a new hazard is identified, report it immediately.
Conduct hazard ID/Risk assessment Everyone is responsible for being on the regularly lookout for hazards, and the process should be part of everyday work practices, as well as more formal procedures.
Check hazards are controlled/ fixed. I. Implemented hazard solutions should be monitored to ensure that they are working. II. Report any solutions that fail to control hazards or crate new hazards.
Keep records Your employer is required to keep a record of risk management processes.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
What is a hazard?
There are many different types of hazards, some are:
> Wet or slippery surfaces, trip hazards, > Working at heights, > Manual handling, > Confined space, > Toxic fumes /fire, > Dust, > Plant and equipment, > Objects in the waste, etc.
Risk Assessment
When a hazard has been identified, the next step is to make sure it doesn’t harm you or others in the workplace. This means assessing the risk associated with the hazard. Risk is normally assessed in terms of how severely someone could be injured or become ill (the consequence) and the likelihood of someone becoming injured or ill from exposure to the identified hazard.
Means of prioritizing both identified hazards and security risks through risk management,
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Identifying the likelihood
Keeping the severity/consequence in mind, think about the hazard and ask yourself how likely it is that someone might be affected by the hazard:
A risk assessment of your workplace may lead to the discovery of many hazards. It is likely they can’t all be fixed at once, so it is essential to plan and priorities actions so that the hazards can be fixed. The worst hazard must be fixed first i.e. those that could happen at any time and are most severe and likely to cause injury or illness.
Hazard control
The ultimate aim of a risk assessment is to identify and rank hazards so that something can be done about them. This is known as hazard control. Hazard control refers to the process used after conducting a risk assessment to identify all practicable measures for eliminating or reducing a risk.
Managing hazards is done in accordance with a hierarchy of controls. The hierarchy dictates the best possible way to control a hazard always striving for elimination. If this cannot be done, then you work down the list of hierarchy controls until you find a suitable.
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Risk Control Methods
The basic set-up of the hierarchy of controls is:
Level 1 Eliminate the hazard; Level 2 Change equipment/materials or environment; Level 3 Change work methods; Level 4 Use personal protective equipment.
Monitoring the effectiveness of controls
This means going back and regularly reviewing that the control measure is working. For example, if a new procedure has been put in place for controlling traffic on site at the resource recovery facility, make sure that people are following the procedure. You should always document when effectiveness of control measures have been reviewed, this is usually seen in the minutes of meetings. If the procedure is not being followed, then this will need to be reviewed, or an alternate control measure will need to be investigated.
Hazard Control Hierarchy
Control measures should be considered in the following order:
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Elimination of the hazard if practicable. This involves removal of the risk e.g. by removing the plant or substance or changing work practices. Always try to do this.
Substitution of the hazard with a hazard that carries a lesser risk e.g. replacing the plant or substance with another with a lower risk.
Isolation of the person at risk from the hazard e.g. by removing or separating people from the source of the hazard.
Engineering controls involving redesign to minimize the risk. This involves changing the physical characteristics of plant or workplace to remove or reduce the risk.
Administrative controls to minimize the risk. These could involve developing policies, training, changing work methods to ensure safe behavior (safe work procedures), ensuring proper maintenance and housekeeping.
Use of PPE including equipment or clothing designed to provide Protection. This is the least effective option as it does not change the hazard.
Response and Equipment
Emergency response procedures cover the roles and responsibilities of employees and the steps that should be taken in the event of an emergency on site. This ensures all employees;
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
contractors and visitors are familiar with what they have to do to minimize the potential impact of the emergency.
“The most important thing to remember in an emergency situation is to STAY CALM”
Emergencies can occur due to a variety of circumstances such as chemicals leaking, waste materials igniting, someone being injured or power failures affecting equipment.
When an emergency occurs, ensure you follow the site’s emergency response procedures for the specific emergency and where advised, follow the instructions of the Emergency coordinators. Evacuate to the designated emergency Assembly Point if you are ordered to do so.
Remember some emergencies are controlled by external emergency authorities such as the fire brigade, police, ambulance etc. If external authorities are required they will assume control of the emergency situation.
Just as people need to know what to do if something goes wrong, the workplace itself needs to be ready in the event of an emergency. Some items of safety equipment are specific to the work activities of an organization, whilst others are mandatory or a requirement of the law.
Fire extinguishers and first aid kits are two examples of the types of emergency equipment found in the workplace and are required by law.
Eye wash stations and emergency showers are two examples of the types of emergency equipment that would be required due to the organizations activities.
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In case of any emergency occurs,
What are your organization’s emergency response procedures?
The People or Authority Should be Contracted
Emergency Contact Numbers
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is defined as any clothing, equipment or substance designed to be worn by a person to protect the person from the risks of injury or illness.
Referring to the section on risk management, PPE is the last control measure to be used. This is because PPE does not change the hazard itself; it puts a barrier between you and the hazard. PPE should be used in conjunction with other control measures to increase the level of protection from the hazard.
Employers are required to take all practicable measures to ensure the health and safety of people in their workplace. Sometimes fulfilling this obligation requires employers to supply appropriate, well maintained PPE and instruction and training on its use.
Employees have a Duty of Care under OHS law when it comes to PPE. You must cooperate with your employer by wearing all PPE when instructed, instructions can be designated signs such as “Hearing protection required in this area” or a safe working procedure may stipulate requirements such as “face shield to be worn when decanting”. It is essential that you also wear required PPE correctly.
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Important aspects of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that you must know are:
> When are you required to use it? > How do you use it correctly? > How do you care for and maintain your PPE? > When does it need to be replaced? > Does it comply with the relevant Standard? > Where do you access the required PPE?
HAZARD AUDIT - CHECKLIST
The attached check list contains points to consider when conducting a hazard audit. The information contained can form the basis of a hazard management program. Not all sections will be applicable to all workplaces and the list is not exhaustive. Specialized areas are encouraged to add their own items to the list which should be modified to suit the situation. Answering ‘no’ to any of the questions indicates a need for corrective action to be taken.
SAFETY AUDIT DETAILS
Agency Section/area: Name of Manager: Date audit conducted:
DETAILS OF PERSONS CONDUCTING THE AUDIT
Name: Position: Telephone number:
Name: Position: Telephone number:
Name: Position: Telephone number:
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Review Date:
HAZARD AUDIT – CHECKLIST
PERSON DATE YES No COMMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTION FIRE SAFETY CORRECTIVE COMPLETED ACTION
Is there an effective fire alarm?
Is the fire alarm tested every three months?
Is the fire alarm functioning correctly?
Are fire exits clearly marked and easily identifiable?
Are fire exits free from obstruction?
Are emergency procedures displayed?
Are the telephone numbers of emergency services clearly displayed?
Have fire wardens been appointed and trained?
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Are fire extinguishers available?
Are the fire extinguishers suitable to the type of fire that may occur (e.g. carbon dioxide for electrical fires).
Are fire extinguishers serviced regularly?
Evaluating OHS&S systems:
All employees are entitled to workers compensation if they are injured as a result of / or during the course of their employment.
Workers Compensation/Rehabilitation
Where an incident has resulted in an injury, the injured worker/s must report the injury / injuries to their supervisor as soon as practicable.
Workers claiming Workers Compensation must complete a Work Cover Workers Compensation Form and obtain a Work Cover Medical Certificate from their medical practitioner.
Rating System
The work cover self-audit and evaluation process was introduced to enable exempt employers to determine how effectively they are managing health, safety and security and how well they meet the requirements of the exempt employer standards.
Basic OH&W legislative compliance without a planned approach to
Imtiaz Sadat Hossain THHGLE04B Establish and maintain a safe and secure workplace C61041
Level 1 other OHS&W activities.
A planned approach to planning and programming with effective Level 3 OHS&W management systems operating.
Effective implementation of programs and a cycle of Level 3 continuous, improvement, and the integrating of OHS&W into the everyday management of the organization.
Each employee is rated on a scale of 1-3 according to their performance including,
Injury Prevention,
Claims Administration,
Rehabilitation,
The Hotel will take proactive measures to devise a suitable “Return to Work Plan” and facilitate the early return to work of injured staff members.
References
The Work-Cover website at: http:// www.workcover.vic.gov Manual Handling Code of Practice (No.25, 2000), – now referred to as guidance material, Manual handling risk, Assessing and controlling, Internet.
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