Work Health and Safety in Sydney City Council

This report discusses the Work Health and Safety policies of Sydney City Council, including compliance with WHS regulations, potential work hazards, recommendations on risk management steps, review of the existing WHS consultation process and recommendations on the consultation process. The report also highlights the obligations of the Council and the legal duties of the WHS Representative.

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 1
REPORT ON WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL
by (Name)
The Name of the Class (Course)
Professor (Tutor)
The Name of the School (University)
The City and State where it is located
The Date

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 2
Executive Summary
Sydney is a vibrant modern, cosmopolitan city with a diverse population featuring a rich
history, internationally-recognised tourist attractions and an exciting calendar of events. The city
is under the care of Sydney City Council which is responsible for keeping the city environment
to the best standards possible. The council not only contributes to the physical environment, but
also to the fostering Sydney economy, society, and culture.
The Council is regulated by WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2017. The organization
is committed to creating a working environment where workers are comfortable free from any
form of risks and injuries. This report highlights the following with regard to Sydney City
Council: Compliance with WHS Regulations, Potential work hazards in Sydney City Council,
Recommendations on risk management steps, Review of the existing WHS consultation process
and Recommendations on the consultation process.

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Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Sydney City Council........................................................................................................................4
Compliance with WHS legislation..................................................................................................5
Obligations of the Council...........................................................................................................5
Legal duties of WHS Representative...........................................................................................6
Potential Work Hazard in Sydney City Council..............................................................................6
Recommendation on Risk Management Steps................................................................................8
Review of the Existing WHS Consulting Process...........................................................................9
Recommendations on the Consultation Process............................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 4
Sydney City Council
According to safework.nsw.gov.au (2017), Sydney City Council is responsible for
keeping the city of Sydney the glory by keeping it clean, safe and beautiful. The council is
responsible for providing local services such as:
 Cleaning the street
 Road maintenance
 Assessing development application
 Collecting waste and recycling
 Providing network libraries
 Maintaining parks, playground, and gardens, sports venues, and community centers.
The organization is guided by Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and
Safety Regulation 2017. It is committed to the health, safety, and welfare of all the workers,
volunteers and visitors to the Council’s workplace. The organization considers work, health and
safety responsibilities as the essential practice for protecting the workers and the public and as
such, the needed resources are made available to in compliance with the act and regulations. We
endeavour to have the best working environment for our workers free from health risks.
Key features of the WHS policy (Legislation.nsw.gov.au, 2017):
 Developing safe systems for work
 Achieving a safe working environment
 Promoting good health within the workplace
 Providing work, health and safety advice, information, education, and training to workers
and others in the workplace

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 5
 Reducing the number and severity of injuries in the workplace
 Complying with all relevant acts, regulations, standards, and codes of practice
 Consulting with workers, worker representatives, and management
Compliance with WHS legislation
The WHS of 2017 regulates the organization. The Regulation defines Sydney City
Council in terms of WHS as a ‘person conducting a or undertaking ‘ (PCBU). A person who
performs work for a PCBU is considered a worker.
As a PCBU (Legislation.nsw.gov.au, 2017), the organization must meet the obligations, so far as
is reasonably practicable, to ensure that its workers, visitors, and volunteers are protected from
hazards and risks.
Obligations of the Council
 Safe systems of work
 Safe use of plants, structures, and substances
 Adequate facilities for the welfare of workers
 Notification and recording of workplace incidents
 Adequate information, training, instruction, and supervision
 Compliance with requirements under the WHS Regulation
 Effective systems for monitoring the health of workers and workplace conditions
 A safe work environment
 Maintain the premises used for accommodation for workers, if required

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 6
Legal duties of WHS Representative
As the Councils WHS Representative, am responsible for maintaining the adherence to
work, health, and safety within the organization, including the visitors and volunteers
(Legislation.nsw.gov.au, 2017). The following responsibilities are bestowed, but not limited to,
on me
I must ensure that:
 The work environment, systems of work, machinery and equipment are safe and properly
maintained.
 Chemicals are used, handled, and stored safely
 Adequate workplace facilities are available
 Information, training, instruction, and supervision are provided
 Workers’ health and workplace conditions are monitored
 There is safe accommodation for workers if any
 Make consultations with anyone likely to be affected by the health and safety matters
 Help in identifying hazards and risk assessment
 Take part in risk elimination and control
 Come up with proposals for improving health and safety of workers
 Contributing to the decision-making process on safety issues, monitoring workers’ health
and conditions training
Potential Work Hazard in Sydney City Council
(Safework.sa.gov.au, 2013)
 Dust or spray in the air – this is hazardous as the dust or spray may contain harmful
chemicals or infectious diseases. The cleaners should always be in their dust protective

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 7
wear to avoid inhaling such dust and sprays while doing City cleaning and spraying.
 Site structures in poor condition – some prove weak over time due to their deterioration
and weathering which make them risky to the public or Council workers. It is hazardous
to the workers when they are doing their routine checks to assess its stability and to the
general public coming into contact with it.
 Sharp objects – these pose a risk of injury to the unware Council worker and the public.
These sharp objects may be found in garbage collector centers and dumpsites. They are
threats to the health of workers and the public who may come into contact with them.
 Diseases – garbage in the collectors and dumpsites may have infectious pathogens which
may cause severe illnesses to the workers. Workers need to wear protective gloves when
handling all types of garbage to shield themselves from such micro-organisms.
 Accidents – these are incidents which may occur when driving Council vehicles or
operating machinery at work. These mostly face the workers dealing with those
machines.
 Electrical hazards – when working in pits and tunnels where electric cables pass through,
electric cables may not be insulated, or power surges occur exposing workers to electric
current.
 Exposure to asbestos and pesticides – it becomes hazardous when working with them
without protective gears. They are risky to workers and the public intact with treated
areas.
 Biological hazard indicators such as dead vegetation or animals, or ground that appears
sterile. They are harmful to the workers assigned to clean them

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 8
Recommendation on Risk Management Steps
Potential Hazards Risk Assessment –
Likelihood
Risk Assessment –
Consequences
Control Measure
Dust or spray in the
air
It is caused by dust in
the street when
workers are cleaning
May cause lung
infections and other
diseases
Use of protection -
Wearing gas masks
Site Structures in
poor conditions
The structure may
fall on people and
workers doing the in
it.
May cause injuries or
death
Eliminate the
structure – the
structure should be
destroyed to
eliminate the looming
risk of collapsing on
people.
Sharp objects Although they are not
rampant, they are
found in garbage sites
and dump sites
Wounds to the
workers which might
be infected with other
contaminations
Protect workers from
such sharp debris.
Workers should be
encouraged to use
gumboots and gloves
in the campsite.
Harmful micro-
organisms
Can be found in the
garbage and domestic
waste materials
Workers develop
diseases and become
ill
Use of protection and
control mechanisms.
Workers need to wear
protective wears. To
control such
incidents, workers
should be trained on
health and safety
when handling such
wastes.
Accidents Can be caused by
vehicles and
machinery in use by
the workers
Permanent disability,
wounds, and other
physical injuries
Control and reduction
measures. Workers
need training on how
to use those machines
and their safety with.
Also, they can be
reduced by using less
prone to risk
machines.
Electrical shocks Presence of bare
electrical cable in
sewage tunnels and
pits.
Can cause
electrocution and
eventual death
Use of control and
protection measure.
Workers need
training on handling
cases of electric
cables and protection

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY IN SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL 9
by use of insulating
boots and current
testers
Exposure to
asbestos and
pesticides
Come during
treatment and
insulation works
Lung infections and
other breathing
complications
Reduce and protect.
Replacing asbestos
with less harmful
insulating materials
and use of less toxic
pesticides. Workers
should also have
protections.
Review of the Existing WHS Consulting Process
In reference to Section 47 WHS Act 2011, PCBU must make necessary consultations
with those affected by the WHS policies in the organization.
Sydney City Council has put efforts to make sure all the workers are engaged, and their views
are taken with regard to matters of health and safety of workers. To achieve this, the WHS
Representatives arrange for seminars and forums in which workers are invited to contribute and
discuss on health and safety issues. In doing so, workers are motivated, better solutions to the
health and safety are found, there is job satisfaction, more informed decisions are made, and
workers become identified with the WHS Policies of the organization. However, the organization
is not able to integrate the workers feedback in their consultation process. The HSR and HSC
have not been responsive to those reactions coming from the workers in their policy reviews
after a consultation process.
Recommendations on the Consultation Process

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Consultation is an obligation of any PCBU to the people affected by the decisions being
made in the organization (Allan, McPhail and Wilkinson, 2008). It is an essential element of
managing health and safety hazards. WHS is achieved when everyone affected is involved and
proper communications made. The communication of these changes can effectively be achieved
through internal memos, social media and seminars. Effective health and safety consultation
create greater awareness and commitment and bring positive working environment.

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References
Allan, C., McPhail, R. and Wilkinson, A. (2008). Introduction to employment relations.. 1st
ed. Pearson Education.
Legislation.nsw.gov.au. (2017). NSW Legislation. [online] Available at:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2011/10/full [Accessed 23 May 2018].
safework.nsw.gov.au, (2017). How to manage work health and safety risks. [online]
Available at: http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/50070/how-
manage-work-health-safety-risks-code-of-practice-3565.pdf [Accessed 23 May 2018].
Safework.sa.gov.au. (2013). Definition of hazards. [online] Available at:
http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/EducationAndTraining/HazardManagement/
DealingWithHazards/dealDefinition.htm [Accessed 23 May 2018].