BSBWHS201 Contribute to Health and Safety of Self and Others
Every lesson set up your workstation to meet Ergonomic Standards
This topic is a mandatory topic of the course and as such is assessed in the HSC examination. Click on the above link to download the competency requirements and download the HSC Syllabus page.
It covers the following outcomes:
The student:
Watch the video below.
It covers the following outcomes:
The student:
- demonstrates an understanding of work health and safety (WHS) compliance, participation and consultation in the business services industry
- explains workplace policy, procedures and practices that ensure the safety of the business services industry worker and their colleagues and customers
- applies risk management in a business services industry workplace
- proposes appropriate responses to emergency situations.
Watch the video below.
Work Health and Safety (WHS) is no joking matter. Each year Australian businesses lose billions of dollars due to worker accidents and/or illnesses in the workplace. In the 2012-2013 financial year this was $61.8 Billion which represented 4.1% GDP (SafeWork Australia, 2014). As you can imagine employers (PCBU) are keen to minimise the financial impact these accidents/incidences have on their business and similarly the Australian government is also keen to minimise this impact. Thus the WHS legislation was introduced. The most recent of these are the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (as amended) and Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW) (as amended). A number of Codes of Practice have been added to help clarify some items in the WHS Act these are; hazardous substances and dangerous goods, manual handling, risk management and WHS consultation.
Watch the following video and then work through the activities below.
Watch the following video and then work through the activities below.
Task 1:
- After watching the above video complete the definitions found in your 11BSS Drive folder titled WHS definitions.
WHS is everyone's responsibility and all employees and employers should do everything 'reasonably practical' to ensure the workplace is safe and free from risk.
Go to the Talking Safety with Young Workers and read the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers in the workplace.
It is therefore important that all employees and employers participate in the WHS consultation process to ensure that their workplace is safe and as free from risk as is possible. Many larger organisations have WHS Consultation Committees specifically for this purpose.
Task 2:
In a Google Doc briefly explain the rights and responsibilities of a worker as they relate to WHS. Use the PEEL paragraph structure in your writing.
Task 3:
1. In a Google Doc create a table with a 2 column table and 6 rows. The first column should be labelled Organisation and the second column should be labelled Primary Role. Outline the Primary Role of the following organisations as they relate to WHS, use the internet or textbooks to assist you to find the answers.
Organisation
2. In a Google Doc briefly explain the difference between an act, regulation, code of practice, guidance material and standard (Australian, industry and workplace). Use a PEEL Paragraph for each explanation.
3. Read the following documents;Perhaps the biggest hazard in an office industry is the risk associated with manual handling. Watch the following video.
Organisation
- WorkCover NSW
- Safe Work Australia
- local councils
- unions (e.g. SDA, AWU, ASU)
- professional associations (e.g. Charted Accountants, MDA)
2. In a Google Doc briefly explain the difference between an act, regulation, code of practice, guidance material and standard (Australian, industry and workplace). Use a PEEL Paragraph for each explanation.
3. Read the following documents;Perhaps the biggest hazard in an office industry is the risk associated with manual handling. Watch the following video.
Task 4:
Create an A4 Manual Handling Poster using any program you want. The poster must include the 8 Steps of manual handling and images to assist in explaining the 8 steps. See the example below. Print your poster in colour, laminate and hand to your instructor.
Task 5:
After completing your poster and when you feel ready, demonstrate your ability to safely lift a box provided by your instructor using the 8 steps of manual handling.
WorkCover NSW has Safety Inspectors whose role is to ensure that Business comply with the WHS Acts and Regulations. While their role does include fining or shutting down organisations they deem unsafe, they are also there to support businesses in providing a safe work environment. To this end they will come and talk to employers about implementing strategies that could help their organisation such as consultation committees.
WorkCover NSW has Safety Inspectors whose role is to ensure that Business comply with the WHS Acts and Regulations. While their role does include fining or shutting down organisations they deem unsafe, they are also there to support businesses in providing a safe work environment. To this end they will come and talk to employers about implementing strategies that could help their organisation such as consultation committees.
Safety Signs are important for organisations to help their workers understand where there are risks. These signs are used to ensure that fire extinguishers and exits, along with other risks are readily identifiable. To ensure that all workers understand these signs they are universally the same. They are in 4 colours, yellow, blue, green and red with symbols being black or white and easily understood without the use of words. The following video explains these colours and symbols in greater detail.
Task 6:
Create two (2) Safety posters. Each poster should include one of the universal colours.
- One poster should be humourous
- One poster should be for someone from a Non-English Speaking Background
Task 7:
In a Google Doc explain the difference between Incidence, Hazard and Inspection reports. Do these always need to take the form of a formal report?
Workers can provide input into the WHS consultation and participation processes through a number of avenues. These include
Workers can provide input into the WHS consultation and participation processes through a number of avenues. These include
- formal and informal discussion
- meeting
- surveys
- training
- WHS audit
- WHS inspection
- PCBU
- manager/supervisor/team leader
- self
- other workers
- union
- WHS issues and concerns
- workplace hazards
- unsafe work practices
- breaches of health and safety
- informed decisions by management through gathering a wider and more reliable source of ideas about WHS
- greater employee commitment to WHS procedures due to a better understanding of the decision-making process and the reasons decisions are made.
- greater openness, respect and trust between management and employees through the development and understanding of each other's point of view
- higher employee morale and job satisfaction by employer demonstrating that their employee opinions are valued
- healthier working environments and increased productivity
- opportunities for learning through the sharing of information, concepts and ideas
- reduced rates of injury and disease leading to savings.
Task 8:
- In a Google Doc Outline why it is important for employees to identify and report WHS issues and concerns, workplace hazards, unsafe work practices and breaches of health and safety. Provide examples of each. Write your document using PEEL.
- Watch Risk vs. Hazard
- In a Google Doc Briefly explain the difference between a Risk and a Hazard.
It is important for a PCBU to manage risks in the workplace. To do this a PCBU must be able to;
- identify hazards:
- potential hazards to self,
- colleagues,
- customers and others typical to the industry
- understand the range of hazards which may be related to
- business equipment
- electricity and cabling
- hazardous and non-hazardous materials
- human factors (self and others)
- manual handling
- work environment
- work processes and practices
- be able to assess risk
- be able to control risk (hierarchy):
- be able to eliminate the risk (where possible)
- if unable to eliminate, be able to minimise the risk through:
- substitution
- modification
- isolation
- engineering control
- other controls:
- administration
- safe work practices
- personal protective equipment (PPE)
- and monitor and review all potential risks
Task 9:
In a Google Doc explain, providing examples how a PCBU could;
A PCBU must ensure that they undertake safe work procedures and practices. Safe work procedures and practices include the following;
- eliminate a risk
- minimise a risk using
- substitution
- modification
- isolation
- engineering control or
- other controls
A PCBU must ensure that they undertake safe work procedures and practices. Safe work procedures and practices include the following;
- WHS induction training
- adherence to:
- standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- work documentation and
- plans work instructions workplace policy
- selection, use and maintenance of PPE
- manual handling techniques:
- when working individually, in pairs and with a team:
- moving, lifting, carrying and placing items down
- bending and twisting
- loading and unloading
- undertaking repetitious tasks
- using mechanical aids/lifting equipment
- recommended weight limits
- when working individually, in pairs and with a team:
- ergonomics and posture:
- correct placement of equipment
- sitting and standing positions
- task rotation
- use of adjustable furniture and equipment
- hazardous substances and dangerous goods:
- correct handling, application, labelling, transport and storage
- safety data sheet (SDS)
- tools and equipment:
- selection appropriate to task/work activity
- pre-operational checks and correct use
- regular maintenance and correct storage
- safety tags and lockout
- working with electricity
- general electrical safety
- cabling and leads:
- proper placement and securing
- maintenance
- appropriate storage
- housekeeping:
- clean-up procedures
- storage and movement of materials
- storage and disposal of waste
- consideration of WHS and the environment
Task 10a:
In a Google Doc, Outline the reasons why a worker should undergo an induction program when commencing employment.
Watch the video below on Workplace Accidents but be WARNED some images may be disturbing.
Watch the video below on Workplace Accidents but be WARNED some images may be disturbing.
It is important that workers recognise the difference between an accident, incident and an emergency situation. No matter how safe a workplace is or how diligent they are with maintaining safety standards, emergency situations can arise that threaten health, security and safety of staff and customers. These can include:
Incident: An unplanned, undesired event that hinders completion of a task and may cause injury, illness, or property damage or some combination of all three in varying degrees from minor to catastrophic. Unplanned and undesired do not mean unable to prevent. Unplanned and undesired also do not mean unable to prepare for Crisis planning is how we prepare for serious incidents that occur that require response for mitigation.
Near Miss: A subset of incidents that could have resulted in injury, illness or property damage, if given a different set of circumstances, but didn't. Near misses are also known as 'close calls.' Perhaps the better term to consider is 'near hit.'
Accident: Definition is often similar to incident, but supports the mindset that it could not have been prevented. An accident is the opposite of the fundamental intentions of a safety program, which is to find hazards, fix hazard, and prevent incidents. When we accept that accidents have no cause, we assume that they will happen again.
The most common injuries that occur in the Business environment are injuries related to manual handling. Businesses need to ensure that their staff are properly trained in regard to manual handling and setting up ergonomic workstations. Other incidents may occur from violent customers, trip hazards or poor storage.
- robbery
- suspicious or unusual characters or objects
- fires
- bomb threats
- medical emergencies.
Incident: An unplanned, undesired event that hinders completion of a task and may cause injury, illness, or property damage or some combination of all three in varying degrees from minor to catastrophic. Unplanned and undesired do not mean unable to prevent. Unplanned and undesired also do not mean unable to prepare for Crisis planning is how we prepare for serious incidents that occur that require response for mitigation.
Near Miss: A subset of incidents that could have resulted in injury, illness or property damage, if given a different set of circumstances, but didn't. Near misses are also known as 'close calls.' Perhaps the better term to consider is 'near hit.'
Accident: Definition is often similar to incident, but supports the mindset that it could not have been prevented. An accident is the opposite of the fundamental intentions of a safety program, which is to find hazards, fix hazard, and prevent incidents. When we accept that accidents have no cause, we assume that they will happen again.
The most common injuries that occur in the Business environment are injuries related to manual handling. Businesses need to ensure that their staff are properly trained in regard to manual handling and setting up ergonomic workstations. Other incidents may occur from violent customers, trip hazards or poor storage.
Task 10b:
In a Google Doc, List 10 common injuries associated with the Business industry. Describe how the injury could occur, the cause of the injury and the basic first aid steps that would be taken to deal with this injury.
The procedures for responding to incidents, accidents and emergencies are:
The procedures for responding to incidents, accidents and emergencies are:
- emergency situations as above
- seek assistance
- know your emergency contact numbers
- know any organisational emergency signals, alarms and exits:
- location and use
- be aware of the procedures to follow: notification, workplace policy and procedures for:
- evacuation
- security
- reporting
- Know the basic process of fighting a fire and use of firefighting equipment:
- fire blanket
- fire extinguishers (see image above)
- fire hose and reel
- understand the role of personnel in an emergency
- know who the first aid person in the organistation is and the location of first aid kits:
- basic principles
- personnel responsible
- apply workplace policy and protocols and regulatory requirements when recording and reporting in relation to incidents, accidents and emergencies
Task 11:
In your 11BSS folder you will find a document titled Task 11: WHS Activity. Read the instructions and complete the task.
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS YOU HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
Please complete the next competency before attempting Assessment Strategy 1.
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS YOU HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
Please complete the next competency before attempting Assessment Strategy 1.