Civil Engineering: Detailed Workplace Health and Safety Policy Report

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Added on 2023/04/21

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This report presents a comprehensive analysis of workplace health and safety (WHS) in a civil engineering context. It begins with an overview of WHS policy documents, outlining the roles and responsibilities of employers, employees, and key personnel such as WHS representatives, first aid officers, and fire wardens. The report then defines and categorizes various types of workplace hazards, including biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical, work organization, psychological, and safety hazards. It also explains risk assessment methodologies, including hazard identification and risk evaluation, and details the hierarchy of risk control, illustrating its application in a workplace setting. The second part of the report includes a hazard checklist, assessing potential hazards related to fire protection, electricity, machinery, building structures, air conditioning, lighting, cabling, environment, windows/doors, emergency procedures, first aid, and storage areas. The checklist details potential hazards, assesses risks, and outlines action plans for mitigation. The report also addresses the frequency of hazard checks, record-keeping procedures, legislative compliance, and sources of expert WHS advice. Finally, the report outlines a WHS training session plan for new employees, including learning objectives, handouts, and program structure.

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CIVIL ENGINEERING
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

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Task One
Part A
(1) The policy document is normally placed on an area that is open to all. This may include
pinning on the notice board. Here is a sample of the WHS policy document.
Figure 1: Sample of policy document(Pouliakas and Theodossiou 2013)
(2) Role of employers and employees in health and safety
According to the policies of this particular company or health facility, it is the duty of the
employer to protect safety, welfare and health of their employees and other members of the
public who may be in one way or the other affected by the business. Employees, on the other
hand, have full responsibilities of engaging into those activities that promote safety in the
workplace and report any suspicious phenomenon to their supervisors.

(3) In the chosen health facility or company there was a company representative of WHS. This
was basically an individual who has been selected or elected to represent the interest of workers
within their groups in relation to safety and health(Pouliakas and Theodossiou 2013).
(4) First aid officer refers to an individual whose key responsibilities is maintenance and
monitoring of the facilities of first aid in their offices, assisting the officer in charge of WHS in
the site and administering first aid. Considering that accident normally occurs unannounced and
demand quick attention, it is important that first aid kits be located in places that are known to all
and easily accessible(Smith and Eastman 2012).
(5) A fire warden refers to a designated individual within administration whose allocated
responsibilities include assisting in the management of fire safety. This is achieved through
contribution to the safety of people in case of fire incidences(Landsbergis, Grzywacz and
LaMontagne 2014).
(6) Hazard definition and identification of types of Hazards
Any possible source of danger at the workplace is called hazard. There are actually 7 types of
Hazards. These include the following:
I. Biological Hazards: They include exposure to harm as a result of working with people,
animals, and infectious plant species. They may include body fluids and blood, insect
bites among others.
II. Physical Hazards: Refers to those factors that can potentially harm the body without
necessarily touching it although it is within the environment. They may include extreme
temperature, high radiation among others.

III. Ergonomic Hazards: This kind of work normally occur when the body position,
conditions for work and the type of work subjects the body to a lot of strain. They may
include the lifting of objects frequently, poor posture among others.
IV. Chemical Hazards: Are normally found in the cases where the operator becomes exposed
to the preparation of chemicals like paints, fuel etc.
V. Work Organization Hazards: These are hazards that are responsible for causing either
long term or short term stresses or both. They may include violence at the workplace,
demands of the workloads etc.
VI. Psychological Hazards
VII. Safety Hazards: These are basically unsafe conditions of working that may result in
illness, death or injury. They may include things that may results in fall like from a
height.
(7) Definition of risks and assessment of risks
Risk basically refers to the chances of losing something that has value or the situation which
involve being exposed to danger(Shantha 2013). Risk assessment, on the other hand, is actually
a term that is used in the description of the entire process or method where one seeks to:
 Evaluate and analyze the risks that are associated with the hazards
 Identify risk factors and hazards that are potentially capable of causing harm
 Determine proper ways of eliminating hazards or controlling risks in the event that the
elimination of hazard may not be possible.
(8) Hierarchy of risk control and its application at the workplace

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 Elimination: This involves the physical removal of hazard. It is the most effective means
of controlling the hazard
 Substitution: It is the second most effective way of controlling hazards and it involves
replacement of the material believed to be causing a hazard(Zin and Ismail 2012).
 Engineering Method: It is the third-ranked effective method of hazard controlling
method. They seek to isolate individuals from the hazards rather than hazard removal
 Administrative control: Refers to the changes the way people work including employee
training among others.
 Use of PPEs: It is normally the least and involves the use of equipment like gloves to
achieve protection from the possible hazards
Figure 2: Model of Hierarchy control(Pouliakas and Theodossiou 2013)
Part B
(1) The policy document that has been in use by the clinical workers has greatly improved
the quality of the services that are offered to the patients. Causes disease spread has been
controlled within the premises of the health center(Kazutaka 2012).

(2) It is recommended that the copies of the policy document be produced on leaflets and be
issued to the patients who may visit the place next time. This will at least help them
familiarize with the policies.
Task Two
Part A
Hazard Checklist
Potential Hazard Hazards
Identified
Assessment of
risk
Action Plan Action Date
Fire protection.
Sprinklers
Detectors
Some of the
sprinklers bolts
at the joints were
found to be
loose leading to
leaking of
carbon dioxide
gas that causes
suffocation
Fire detector
alarm box was
found to be
opened thus
Medium Tightening of
the loose bolts
The closing of
the detector
casing
14/08/2019

exposing it to
moisture.
Electricity
Power
Outlets
Circuits
Naked electric
wires and
circuit outlets
could potentially
cause electric
shocks
Low Insulation of the
naked wires by
use of a proper
insulator
material
Fixing of the
broken sockets
15/08/2019
Machinery
Servicing/Equipment
safety
Misaligned
shafts and
exposed rotation
parts of the
machine.
Access to these
rotation parts
can potentially
cause harm
Medium Securing of the
pars that are
subject to
motion and
ensuring that
they are
properly
protected.
16/08/2019
Building
Access
Rails
Stairs
Corroded rails
that are very
rusty and can
potentially cause
LOW Repair of the
staircase steps
Painting of the
rails
17/08/2019.

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tetanus in the
event of a cut
Slippery stair
steps
Covering of floor Broken tiles and
the presence of
potholes that can
possibly result in
falling of
workers
Worn out
wooden floor
covering that
was actually
slippery
Medium Repair and
replacement of
the wooden
components
Repair of the
potholes.
18/08/2019
Air Conditioning
and heating
Loosely hanging
fan that could
easily be
detached
Dusty window
scenes
High Repair of the
fan to ensure
that is it
properly secures
during its
operation
Cleaning of the
19/08/2019

window panes
to remove
specks of dust.
Lighting Very dim energy
saver bulbs that
lead to straining
for workers to
see.
Outdated
florescent tubes
in the corridors
that have been
left dark thus
people easily fall
at night
Low Replacement of
dim bulbs with
medium bright
bulbs
Replacement of
fluorescent
tubes with the
operational ones
20/08/2019
Cabling
PCs, Phones
The sockets
pinpoints were
not compatible
with most of the
phone chargers
and laptop
chargers. This
induces stress on
Low Purchase of
extensions to
aid in the phone
charging
exercise.
21/08/2019

the workers who
rely on their
phones for
frequent
communication
Environment
Radiation
Noise
Odors
Poorly
maintained or
cleaned toilets
produced odors
especially in the
afternoon when
the temperatures
were high
This was as a
result of the
broken sealing
board
Low Replacement of
the ceiling board
Proper toilet
cleaning
routinely
22/08/2019
Windows/Doors
Ease of accessibility
Rusted window
handles that
were in need of a
lot of effort to be
opened
Rusted door
Low Greasing and
oiling of the
hinges of the
door.
24/08/2019

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hinges which
needed a lot of
force to be
moved
Emergency
Procedures of
evacuation.
The points of the
exit especially
fire exits were
not properly
labeled or
demarked
This could
possibly create
confusion during
the emergency.
Medium Proper labeling
and marking of
the emergency
exit points.
25/08/2019
Procedures for
Safety
Exit signs
Posters
The points of the
exit especially
fire exits were
not properly
labeled or
demarked.
Medium Proper labeling
and marking of
the emergency
exit points.
26/08/2019
First aid
Equipment
It was placed in
an area that was
Low Relocating first
aid kit to a place
27/08/2019

not accessible to
all
that is
accessible to all
Areas of Storage The storage area
was left a dark
room with
materials not
properly
arranged. This
implies people
could easily
knock
themselves on
these objects
Medium Arranging
properly the
materials in the
store.
Introducing bulb
in the store to
provide light
28/08/2019
Part B
(1) How often will the hazard check be done?
It should be done routinely. However, the hazard check will be done whenever significant new
hazards are brought by new jobs. In the case, there is a high turnover of the staff, the manner in
which the news team conducts their duties should be subjected to check. This should be followed
by the provision of training in the working practices where it is deemed necessary.

Hazard assessment will be done whenever there is an occurrence of something that actually alerts
the employer to the hazard presence. This may include an unusual volume of absence which
results from sickness, complaints of stress or finally high staff turnover.
Whenever there will be changes in the level of response from one person. This may be in the
case that the employee returns to work after a long period of being sick
In the event that the employee is breastfeeding or pregnant and her work may involve risk to her
unborn, then hazard check must be done.
(2) Where a record file of hazard should be kept?
A safety and health file should be kept in places where there are readily available for inspection
exercise. The files can be electronic provided they can be quickly and easily retrieved. It is
important to note that a hard printed hardcopy of health and safety should be readily available for
mobility(Zin and Ismail 2012). This file should, therefore, be used as the central record for health
and safety for the company. The file should contain the following details
A current list of names of those people with important roles of safety and health, first aiders,
officers of a fire evacuation, safety representative are off work and their contacts(Holt and Allen
2015).
(3) Compliance of the process with a legislative requirement
The processes of hazard checks were done in strict adherence to the legislative requirements.
This is evident from the signature of approval from departmental heads.
(4) Sources of expert advice on WHS

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Most of the chief executive officers normally get their information regarding WHS from the
regulators and association of industries(Donham and Thelin 2016). The small business normally
obtains this crucial information from the pamphlets of the industries, newsletters, experience,
and other media sources. Supervisors to access such kind of information from the training,
meeting at work and media sources.
Task Three
Part A
(1) Session Plan
The new employees of the company will be undertaken through a vigorous exercise of WHS
training. The training exercise will involve introducing them to the facilities of the company. It
will be the primary duty of the WHS officer to ensure that all the potential areas of the facility
are covered during the study. During the training period, the employees will be required to
participate actively(Caruso 2014). This can be achieved by the introduction of some assessment
exercise just to confirm whether all the basics are mastered. In order to ensure that there is proper
and active participation of the trainees, most of the training programs will be conducted in the
morning. Afternoon programs will be used for assessment and reflection of what had been
learned in the morning. The learning objective will be as illustrated below.
(2) Handouts

The trainees will be issued with comprehensive notes. In order to simplify the learning exercise,
a breakdown of the requirement with the expected outcome will be issued to the trainees(Arcury
et al 2012).
Elements, topics, and expected learning outcome.

Part B
(1) The trainee's program will run from Monday to Friday. This will be between 8 am and 5
pm. During Saturday they will be exposed to similar cases outside the company.

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(2) It is important to note that all the health facilities involve the use of technology that keeps
changing every day. Moreover, diseases emerge with different methods of treatment. This
basically means that the new employees will be subjected to refresher courses that will be
conducted at least every six months(Kim, Park and Park 2016). This will be a routine
program. Introduction to new technology and means of handling a new disease will be
handled as soon as it comes along. In general, the policy document of the company will
be subjected to periodic revision and the same changes will be communicated to the
affected parties.

References
Arcury, T.A., O'Hara, H., Grzywacz, J.G., Isom, S., Chen, H. and Quandt, S.A., 2012. Work
safety climate, musculoskeletal discomfort, working while injured, and depression among
migrant farmworkers in North Carolina. American journal of public health, 102(S2), pp.S272-
S278.
Caruso, C.C., 2014. Negative impacts of shift work and long work hours. Rehabilitation
Nursing, 39(1), pp.16-25.
Donham, K.J. and Thelin, A., 2016. Agricultural medicine: Rural occupational and
environmental health, safety, and prevention. John Wiley & Sons.
Holt, A.S.J. and Allen, J., 2015. Principles of health and safety at work. Routledge.
Kazutaka, K., 2012. Roles of participatory action-oriented programs in promoting safety and
health at work. Safety and health at work, 3(3), pp.155-165.
Kim, Y., Park, J. and Park, M., 2016. Creating a culture of prevention in occupational safety and
health practice. Safety and health at work, 7(2), pp.89-96.
Landsbergis, P.A., Grzywacz, J.G. and LaMontagne, A.D., 2014. Work organization, job
insecurity, and occupational health disparities. American journal of industrial medicine, 57(5),
pp.495-515.

Pouliakas, K. and Theodossiou, I., 2013. The economics of health and safety at work: an
interdisciplinary review of the theory and policy. Journal of Economic Surveys, 27(1), pp.167-
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Shantha, M.W., 2013. Sleep loss and circadian disruption in shift work: health burden and
management. The Medical Journal of Australia, 199(8), pp.11-15.
Smith, M.R. and Eastman, C.I., 2012. Shift work: health, performance and safety problems,
traditional countermeasures, and innovative management strategies to reduce circadian
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Yoon, S.J., Lin, H.K., Chen, G., Yi, S., Choi, J. and Rui, Z., 2013. Effect of occupational health
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