1. Identify a new site and the state or territory it will operate in.
My name is Joshua Pickford and I work for Urbanflow Plumbing. We are a plumbing company located in Melbourne, Victoria. Recently we have taken on a new client interstate for a new Development Project called “Sea-mist by Scarborough Beach” in which we will have to travel to Scarborough Beach, Perth to work. We have been set to work on the site for 12 months from start to finish. The site consists of 5 ground floor shops which can be purchased or leased and 5 Apartments that will be a mixture of 2 and 3 bedrooms. It is located in Scarborough Beach and is going to draw a lot of great business as-well as new living style for local residents. The projects scope of works will consist of underground civil work, the installation of both new water and gas services, all roughing in of sanitary fixtures i.e. toilets, basins etc. and the final fitting off of all fixtures including hot water services, cooktops and other associated appliances.
2. Develop a plan to establish, implement, maintain and evaluate a work health and safety (WHS) management system for the nominated work area in accordance with local WHS legislation.
A WHS Management Plan has been developed to outline our approach to managing work health and safety (WHS) at the “Sea-Mist by Scarborough Beach” at 100-105 Sandy Rd, Scarborough Beach.
We will:
Establish:
– Identify the form and content as well as the purposes of the WHS management system that’s most suited to the organisation and the risks that follow.
– Help teach individuals and locals parties about the form, content and purposes of the management system and why it is being implemented.
Develop WHS Policy
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3. List and briefly explain the contents of the local WHS policy and procedure manual.
Work health and Safety (WHS) laws require employers an all other workplace parties to consult and cooperate in the management of workplace risks, in order to protect the health and safety of workers and others who might at risk from the work.
Western Australia uses the model WHS act which forms the basis of the WHS Acts that have been implemented in most jurisdictions across Australia.
The main objective of the Act is to provide a balanced framework to secure the health and safety of workers and workplace. It does this by:
– Protecting workers and other personal from harm by eliminating or minimising risk.
– Providing for fair and effective representation, consultation and cooperation for all persons on the job.
– Encouraging unions and employer organisations to take a constructive role in promoting improvements in WHS practices.
– Promoting the provision of advice, information, education and training for WHS.
– Securing compliance with the Act through effective and appropriate compliance and enforcement measures.
– Ensuring appropriate scrutiny and review of actions taken by persons with powers or functions under the Act.
– Providing a framework for continuous improvement.
– Maintaining and strengthening national harmonisation of WHS laws and facilitating a consistent national approach to WHS.
4. Summarise the necessary WHS record keeping obligations.
General
An employer must keep information and records relating to the health and safety of employees otherwise they could be hit with a hefty penalty. An employer or self-employed person required to notify Work Safe of an incident must keep a copy of the record for at least 5 years.
Inductions
This would be the most important record because it proves that you have shown the worker through the requirements of the role, how the business works and what to do to be safe. The new employee will be taught all safety procedures in case of emergency, this includes fire escape points and also first aid points.
Training Records
Anytime you train a worker to do a task you must record it and keep it. If they were to get injured completing a task you trained them then the employer will need proof that you trained them in the correct way to complete that job. Training certificates must also be recognized that the person for the job is allowed to be completing the task at hand.
Incidents and Injuries
When an injury or accident occurs onsite an employer must record everything that follows. Photos and records of medical bills are essential. An employer should be willing to look after all expenses and cost of any treatment necessary to getting the employee back to 100%.
Risk Management
This includes things like SWMS, SOP’s and Risk Assessments. These should be kept even though they are generally short-term documents. All of these documents should be thoroughly acknowledged and learned by all personal as they are a perfect example of what can occur and what to do if in the situation of an accident.
Plant (Machinery and Equipment)
An employer must ensure that any record of inspections and maintenance carried out on specified plant is retained for the period that the employer has management or control of the plant.
A supplier of plant who hires or leases plant must ensure that a record detailing any inspection or maintenance carried out on the plant is made and retained while the supplier has management or control of the plant.
Hazardous Substances
An employer must retain a record of the results of atmospheric monitoring for 30 years or a period determined by Work Safe.
An employer must retain any health monitoring report given to the employer for 30 years or a period determined by Work Safe.
It is the responsibility of the Office Personnel to maintain all records and to ensure that all relevant documentation is completed within the time lines and kept on file.
5. Develop a strategy to ensure organisational WHS compliance.
WHS doesn't just land with the owner/director of the organisation/company, it lies with each and every one the employees. One of the biggest successes a business can have it maintaining a high level of OHS throughout the company. It has been shown that creating and maintaining a safe working environment can help:
– Retain staff
– Maximise employee’s productivity
– Minimise injury and illness in the workplace
– Reduce the costs of injury and workers compensation
– Ensure you meet your legal obligations and employee responsibilities
6. Describe how you will establish, implement, maintain and evaluate effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS including identifying duty holders, identifying and approving the required resources including the conditions that would prompt the need to request expert WHS advice.
A systematic approach is required to manage health and safety. There are numerous models for WHS management systems. Any system to manage Work health and safety includes systems to prevent injury and illness through the management of hazards and potential emergencies.
If there is no one in the workplace with the right skills or knowledge to provide this advice, you should consider engaging an external consultant. Its similar to using a lawyer to handle legal affairs or an accountant to help with financial matters. They can give you advice on:
– Establishing, maintaining or improving safe stems of work
– Identifying, eliminating or controlling workplace hazards
– Actions to eliminate or reduce the risk of a worker being injured
– Taking samples or measurements of workplace environments
7. Summarise the WHS training program that would be developed and implemented.
A WHS training program will need to be implemented on site permanently for the safety of not only the workers but also the public.
The training requirements are as followed:
– First Aid training
– OHS training
– White Card Induction
– Safety committee training
– Safety of Heights training
– Hazardous substances training
– Forklift driving training
– Construction induction Training
Other than the above listed training requirements for the program there are other aspects in which the program will need to be added to the program such as emergency evacuation, general safety induction, risk assessments and also incident investigation just to name a few.
Safety training should always be more than just a checklist exercise. It should follow careful consideration of processes, activities, hazards and risks and include all OHS consultative mechanism (such as OHS committee) in discussions. This will help set in the importance of Safety in the workplace and get the workers to be more mindful of what they are doing at work and what is around them.
8. Outline the steps you would take to establish, implement, maintain and evaluate procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks using the hierarchy of risk control.
A hazard is any situation with the potential to cause injury or illness, (to employees, contractors, visitors or the public) damage to property or plant. Hazards can also be related to changes in work practice or procedures.
Hazard Identification is the process for identifying all situations or events that could give rise to the potential for injury, illness or damage to plant or property.
Risk Assessment is the process of determining the likelihood of any injury, illness or damage to plant or property.
Hazard Control is the process of implementing measures to reduce risk associated with a hazard. The control process must follow the control hierarchy, in order, as prescribed in health and safety legislation. It is important that any control measures do not introduce new hazards, and that ongoing effectiveness of the control is monitored.
The Hierarchy of Control is:
i) Elimination of the hazard
ii) Substitution, e.g. of the equipment or substance
iii) Isolation, e.g. distance or enclosure
iv) Engineering controls, e.g. guarding
v) Administrative controls, e.g. supervision, training, rotation
vi) Personal protective equipment
A combination of controls may be appropriate however the combination must be based on the control hierarchy. Provision of protective equipment should always be the last control option considered.
The three components of the hazard identification, risk assessment and control are:
• Control measures at the planning and purchasing stage.
• Control measures while work is in progress.
• Control measures relating to housekeeping, e.g. safe behavior on site, personal protection.