Occupational Health and safety

Occupational Health and safety (OHS)
Assessment Booklet 2
Assessment Task 3 – short answer questions

3.1. Duties of OHS/WHS required for the business (https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/)
 Safely operate the major hazardous facilities and mines
 Training for works that are of high risk
 Removal and management of asbestos
 Licences for some specified activities.
3.2 Key elements of OHS/WHS management systems
 For the persons conducting business or undertaking to ensure the safety and health of their
workers who are carrying out work are taken care of
 That care is taken to those involved in designs, manufacturing, importation, installation,
supplies and others in the work place.
 Requires that officers of corporate and those not from corporate bodies do demonstrate and
exercise due diligence to make sure their compliance.
 That reasonable care is taken from the workforce to ensure that there’s no omission that
adversely affects the health and safety of other people at workplace.
 Authorizations of documents like permits, registration documents and licenses
 Acquiescence and enforcement measures and sanctions that includes enforceable
undertakings
3.3 The OHS/WHS legislative guidelines that should be followed are:
 Acts
 Regulations
 Codes of practice
 Australian standards
 Industry standards or the guidance notes
3.4 a) company safety related policies to be created and implemented to help manage the safety of the
sites and hence compliance with state regulation
 Hazardous manual tasks
 Labelling of chemicals that are Hazardous
 Safe removal of asbestos
 First aid in the workplace
 Scaffolding at the site
 Demolition policies and guidelines
 Datasheet preparation of the hazardous chemical
 Noise management and loss of hearing at workplace
b) Selected 3 of the policies in (a), and each list 2 strategies that shall be used to communicate the
policy
 Hazardous manual tasks, this shall be communicated through:
 Work manual
 signposts at the entrance of the site
 demolition policies and guidelines
 Signs and posters
 Specifications
 Safe removal of asbestos
 Specifications sent to relevant bodies involved
 Instructions issued by the engineer concerned.
3.5 Internal Documents to rely on to ensure compliance with OHS/WHS

 Scaffolding standards
 Specifications
 Demolition standards
 Occupational health and safety management systems
 Company policies
3.6 documentation changes in case there’s work that was overlooked
The document that spells out the activities on a construction is the specification. The part of the
document that will have to be changed is the part that spells out the entrance of the excavator (since
the construction has already advanced), the part where this shall happen needs to have no body
walking there, meaning scaffold will need to be put. These changes will need to be communicated to
the site engineer, contractor and the site security who will ensure no access is made to that place.
3.7 a) training of OHS/WHS is provided to workers
Relevant manuals will be provided to the workers for them to refer. Then, before the work at the site
begins, the workers will have to be put on a rigorous training, this shall be by going through the
manual that they are given. Some of the posters will have to be put at the entrance of the site, which
shows some of the specific measures that new recruits or visitors needs to put before getting to where
construction is taking place.
b) steps taken to ensure appropriate and compliant OHS/WHS training has been provided
 If correct documentation regarding training manual have been issued.
 If they comply with state and territory WHS regulations and acts
 Ensure that the workers have mastered what is required of them as far as OHS/WHS is
concerned.
 Monitor and supervise their work frequently on site.
3.8 resources or documentations that can be used in the development of the OHS/WHS management
system
 AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management system – specification with
guidance for use
 AS/NZS 4804:2001 Occupational health and safety management system – general guidelines
on principles, systems and supporting techniques
3.9 Advisory standards that assists in compliance with WHS/OSH/OHS requirements
 Asbestos advisory standards
 Concrete plumbing supplement
 Construction workplace advisory demolition advisory standards
 Excavation advisory standards
 Falling objects advisory standards
 Falls from heights advisory standard
 Formwork advisory standard
 Noise advisory standards
 Plant advisory standard
 Works on roofs advisory standards
3.10 Requirements for preparing a safe work method statement for construction work
To allow supervisors, workers and any other persons at the workplace to understand the established
requirements that guides carrying out high risk construction work in a way that is safe and healthy.

Helps in setting out work activities in a sequential way and makes identification of hazards and gives
guidelines for control measures.
It allows a systematic analysis of each part of the activity for hazards and accidents that are likely to
occur.
Question 3.11
a) Examples of relevant personnel to be consulted with before a decision on the best
communication strategies are used.
 Main contractor
 The client
 The consultant (Architect, engineers etc.)
 The site foreman
b) Communication strategies to be considered
 Meetings
 Procedure manuals
 Signages
 Email
c) Worker from non – English language background understands new policies and practices
 By asking the person to explain their understanding of the situation, if a group of
employees come from one language group then they need to be lumped together and
a meeting is held so that they are communicated to by a translator. An employer can
explore the practical demonstration technique.
d) To ensure I am understood
I will see by a way of their demonstration of what was communicated to them, or by the way
they carry out the task which was communicated to them.
Assessment Task 4 – Analysis: Workplace Inspection
4.1 The activity selected is Bricklaying and the table below are the hazards that are likely to occur
Hazard
Classification and
hazard
Construction example
hazard Likelihood Consequence Risk
rating Priority
Occupation: Brick laying
Physical
Noise Power tools Likely Long term illness 2 2
Temp Hot and cool air Likely Dehydration 4 4
Slips, trips, falls Falling from ladder Likely Injury or even
death 2 1

Mechanical Being hit by brick Likely Injury or even
death 1 1
Vibration
Eye damage Dust from bricks entering
eye Likely Long term illness 2 2
Radiation Sun's radiation unlikely Long term illness 3 3
Electrical Electrocution unlikely Injury or even
death 4 5
Working heights Falling from ladder Likely Injury or even
death 2 1
Structural collapse Weak construction Likely Injury or even
death 2 1
Chemical
Gases, dust Dust from bricks Likely Long term illness 2 1
Intoxication
Inhalation Dust from cut bricks Likely Short term Illness 1 1
Ingestion Dust from cut bricks Likely Short term Illness 1 1
Skin Dirt from the bricks Likely Being dirty 5 5
Chronic exposure
Biological
Bacteria Pathogens from the tools Likely Short term Illness 2 2
Mould and Mildew Metal surfaces unlikely
Medical attention
and several days
off
2 1
Body fluids
Legionella
Electrical
Electricity Electrical faults unlikely First aid needed 4 5
Power lines and
underground power
Power tools
Psychological
Stress Time constraints Likely
Medical attention
and several days
off
3 5
Fatigue Repetitive tasks Likely
Medical attention
and several days
off
3 4
Bullying other trades causing
difficulties
unlikely
Medical attention
and several days
off
4 5
Harassment other trades causing
difficulties
unlikely
Medical attention
and several days
off
4 5

Aggression Complaints from
neighbours unlikely
Medical attention
and several days
off
4 3
Depression Repetitive tasks Likely
Medical attention
and several days
off
2 2
Ergonomics
Poor workplace
design Working at an angle Very likely Long term illness 1 2
Stress
Over-use Repetitive tasks Very likely Long term illness 3 2
4.2 Inspection
Criteria Details for your workplace
Scope of inspection Potential hazards, specific inspections arising from complaints
Accident and incidents on site
Method for
inspection
Observation, inteview
Frequency for
inspection
twice in a month
Staff Involved in
inspection
main contractor, casual workers
Accountabilities or
Responsibilities
Need to show the checklists
Checks to ensure
corrective action is
implemented Need to create a checklist and tick the boxes for satisfactions
4.3
Activities Occupants Scope of
inspection
Method of
inspection
Frequency
of inspection
Preliminary works
(scaffolding, site clearance
etc.)
Client, and
contractor
Potential hazards,
accidents Observation Daily
substructure construction
(foundation digging,
bricklaying, slab pouring
etc.)
Contractor,
foreman, and
casuals
Potential hazards,
accidents
Observation,
interviews Once a month
Bricklaying Mason, main
contractor, casuals
Specific
inspections arising
from complaints
Observation,
interviews
Twice a
week