Reviewing WHS Policy and Procedures for WorkSafe Audit

This document outlines the current procedures of an organization for WHS policy and procedures and provides recommendations for improvement. It includes a brainstorming session and identifies the best improvement for each procedure. The document also explains why certain recommendations were chosen over others. The reference list includes sources for further reading.

Skills and Knowledge Activity
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Unit Name: Unit ID:
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Your organisation has been advised that an auditor from the WorkSafe/Work Cover Office
in your state/territory is going to be in the office in three weeks. The aim of the audit is to
ensure that your organisation has continuously improved their processes in the last twelve
months.
1. You have been delegated with the task of reviewing WHS policy and procedures within
the organisation. Using the table below, briefly outline the current procedures of your
organisation in the second column. In the third column make recommendations in regards
to ways in which the procedure can be improved.
Procedure Current practice Recommendation
Ongoing hazard
identification, assessment
and control of associated
risks.
Review and monitor
procedure pertaining to risks.
Include documentation
procedure for policies and
procedures. Map standards as
per documents to review
standards.
Policies and procedures on
who to consult for various
WHS issues
Work place manager or shop
floor manager is consulted in
case of WHS issues
A WHS manager needs to be
appointed for handling
exclusive cases pertaining to
issues in the matter.
Induction and training plan
for new employees in
regards to WHS policy and
procedures
A briefing session regarding
WHS policy and procedures
existing.
A proper induction and
training plan incorporated for
new employees regards to
WHS policy and procedures
has to be developed. New
employees has to attend such
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sessions.
Measuring and using WHS
records
Measuring arbitrarily incidents
related to WHS records.
Assign appropriate KPI (Key
Performance Indicator) scores
for measuring WHS activities.
KPI scores will be matched
against WHs records as per
documentation.
WHS consultation
In cases of major incidents or
reports regarding injury
reporting.
WHS manager consultation
has to be undertaken in cases
of any reports regarding injury
or incidents taking place.
2. Complete the two rows on your own. Make at least one recommendation for each
procedure.
Procedure Current practice Recommendation
Monitoring WHS situation Overviewing any practice
relative to override in case of
WHS procedure
Apply appropriate monitoring
by accommodating measures
as monthly KPI reporting.
Implementing changes in
WHS
Make changes orally Implement changes in
documented format and
sharing it amongst stakeholder
groups.
3. Committee meeting – for this step, your team must use your recommendations as part of
a brain storming session.
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In a committee meeting goals for WHs procedures has to be highlighted. In auditing of WHS
procedure relative to changes made in the last year, there can be various flaws highlighted.
Teams within the organization will be asked to brainstorm ideas relative to any new
implementation or improvement procedures that can be adopted for any possible lag areas. There
have been other brainstorming ideas such as re-designing of the WHs procedures and policies
existing within the organization (Quinlan 2010). While the suggestion might be lucrative, it
would involve immense number of challenges to do away with the entire existing procedure all
at once. Moreover this process does not hints at improvements rather it aims at reframing the
entire process altogether. As per latest WHS policies and procedures existing, all areas within the
purview of WHS policies will be overviewed. Then recommendations in every specific areas will
be applied such that any possible gaps can easily be rectified.
4. Discuss each recommendation and:
 Identify the best improvement for each procedure
 Write the name of the person who made the recommendation, write the recommendation
 Briefly write in your own words why this procedure was recommended over any others
listed in the brainstorming session.
Best improvements for each procedure is impossible to achieve at the current stage. Only
recommended course of action following gaps in identified procedures can be undertaken. In
order to improve procedures relative to WHS policies record keeping, documentation,
implementation, evaluation and monitoring has to be adopted (Leggat 2011). A step by step will
be the best practices adopted that can allow meeting objectives at the auditing procedures.
Chris Bradshaw has recommended the practices for overcoming challenges faced within various
departments relative to WHS policies. His recommendations were aimed at reducing current and
on-going hazards in the workplace and improve overall processes. The organization did not
earlier document procedures related to WHS, which can be a great challenged faced while
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auditing. While auditing in the organization, auditors will like to look at current documented
procedures, then only improvements accommodated can be understood. In absence of WHS
policies and procedures documents, there can be issues concerning compliance faced in those
procedures. Earlier all standards, policies and procedures used to be orally said. But latest
procedure of documentation will allow better monitoring of performance procedures with respect
to WHS policy procedures. Monitoring and evaluation using KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
scores will allow reviewing of standards in an easy manner. It will also allow to properly
evaluate procedures pertaining to current state of affairs. There can be tallying of such policies
with documented procedures that would enhance effectiveness of WHS procedures.
In other recommendations obtained at brainstorming procedures documentation was not advised.
Rather all suggestions appeared vague in front of this current recommendation. Through
documentation, the organization could easily map its developmental progress in case of WHS
procedures and policy. Moreover, such records can easily be referenced in case of need regarding
any requirement pertaining to cases of injury. The organization will be easily able to produce
such documents in courts of law in case any employee or outside agencies makes falsified
claims. In absence of documentation, the organization will face immense challenges and
difficulties in resolving cases related to WHS or in settling any sort of claims. All proceedings
will flow against the organization and in favor of the other party. Therefore, this
recommendation appeared to be the most effective amongst all others brainstorming ideas
obtained during the course of the meeting.
5. If no recommendation for improvement is recommended, explain why.
There have been a lot of recommendations that has been suggested at improving current state of
affairs. All improvements hints at making significant changes to procedures currently followed at
the organization.
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Reference List
Leggat, S. G., Bartram, T., & Stanton, P. (2011). High performance work systems: the gap
between policy and practice in health care reform. Journal of health organization and
management, 25(3), 281-297.
Quinlan, M., Bohle, P., & Lamm, F. (2010). Managing occupational health and safety. Palgrave
Macmillan.
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