BUSM3122 Semester 2, 2019: Workplace Health and Safety Report

This report provides a comprehensive risk assessment for Prickly Pear Landscaping Company, operating in Melbourne, Victoria. The assessment covers various hazards associated with landscaping activities for a new warehouse complex, including chemical hazards from herbicides and fertilizers, biological hazards from compost, manual handling risks from clearing vegetation with tools like brushcutters and chainsaws, plant and equipment hazards, and sun exposure/ultraviolet radiation risks. The report identifies specific hazards, assesses their likelihood and consequences, and provides risk ratings based on the WorkSafe Victoria handbook. It recommends control measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls, and proposes a sun protection policy to mitigate UV exposure. The report emphasizes the importance of safe work procedures and highlights the need for proactive measures to protect workers' health and safety in the landscaping environment.

Running head: WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Work Place Health and Safety
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Hazards Related to the Specified Jobs.......................................................................................2
Chemical Hazards..................................................................................................................2
Biological Hazards Associated with Compost.......................................................................3
Manual Handling Associated with Clearing of Vegetation...................................................4
Plant and Equipment..............................................................................................................4
Sun Exposure/Ultraviolet Radiation......................................................................................5
Risk Assessment.........................................................................................................................6
Recommended Controls.............................................................................................................7
Sun Protection Policy.................................................................................................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8

2WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Introduction
Prickly Pear Landscaping Company is operating in Melbourne, Victoria. In existing
condition, each of the tasks performed in the work premises has a specific safe work
procedure and in every situation, they are strictly followed. In recent time, management had
decided to undertake the preparatory landscaping work for the new warehouse of the
company. In this regard, the organization will perform a few tasks and they are mainly
associated with cleaning of the current vegetation, including bushes, gorse and blackberries.
Along with this, several fallen trees and decaying logs of the tress will also be cleaned by
using the petrol-driven bush cutters, chippers and chainsaws. After this, the management had
decided to use herbicides in order to prevent further regrowth of the bushes in the work
premises of the new warehouse of the company. No only this, but the organization also had
decided to use chemical fertilizers and compost to enhance the quality of soil by replenishing
the nutrients present in the soil previously. All these components were delivered to the
responsible persons by using backpack having the capacity to carry liquid fertilizers. In case
delivering composts to the soil, a combination of backhoe and shovel will be used.
Hazards Related to the Specified Jobs
Chemical Hazards
While analysing the condition in the context of chemical hazards, it can be said that
there are high chances of having different types of adverse health conditions due to the
chemical exposure during the use of chemical fertilizers. In this case, it is reported that, the
workers will be involved in using two of chemicals. First one is chemical herbicides in the
work premises of the company and the second one is the use of chemical fertilizers to
replenish the soils. According to the study of Nicolopoulou-Stamati et al. (2016), it is

3WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
reported that, chemical exposures to the workers using the chemical fertilizers or the
chemical herbicides may cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, skin burns, irritation in
the eyes of the individuals. The health effect of the users engaged in the use of chemical
fertilizers and herbicides is dependent on the nature of the chemicals used in the process.
Therefore, it can be said that, the health effect can be either chronic or acute based on the
duration of the exposure as well. Hence, it can be stated that, the in case of single time
exposure of the chemicals can show the symptoms of skin or eyes or respiratory irritation.
Therefore, the study also reported that, use of the liquid chemical herbicides or fertilizers are
more hazardous than that of the solid one. In this case, it is reported that, for replenishing the
soils, liquid chemicals will be used and thus more hazard will be faced by the users.
Biological Hazards Associated with Compost
While analysing the impact of compost use, it can be said that, there will be also cases
of biological hazards while using the composts. According to the study of MacFarlane et al.,
(2013), it is reported that, there is a high chances of having bioaerosols exposures to the
users of the composts. This issue is a major area of concern as the exposure of bioaerosols
can affect the health of the human beings. The biological hazards regarding the use of the
composts is primarily associated with the emissions of bioaerosols from the composting
activities include bacteria, endotoxin, fungi, and 1-3 β-glucans (MacFarlane et al., 2013). In
those materials, there are various pathogenic organisms that may cause adverse health
condition to the individuals or the users of these composts. The main risks identified with the
use of composts are different type of infections among the individuals who have weak
immune system. The main adverse health condition is characterized by the conditions like
organic dust toxic syndrome, allergic rhinitis, , extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA), upper
airway irritation asthma and mucous membrane irritation (Helaskoski et al., 2014).

4WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Manual Handling Associated with Clearing of Vegetation
During the process of cleaning of the vegetation, it is reported that, the tasks will
involve the cleaning of bushes, fallen trees, decaying g logs by using the petrol driven brush
cutters, chainsaws and chippers. Therefore, it can be said that, the performances of this tasks
may cause adverse health effects to the users in terms of the physical hazards. In this regard,
it can be stated the use of those instruments will involve the manual handling of those
instruments and thus, it may possible that, the users may face awkward body posture during
the use of the instruments. Not only that, it is also quite evident that the use of such heavy
instruments during the process, may affect the musculoskeletal system of the users in a
negative manner. The main reason of this adverse health condition is associated with the
shifting of the centre of gravity of the users’ body (Mozafari et al., 2017). According to the
study of Hasegawa et al. (2017), it is reported that, the more amount of deviation of the body
from the natural centre of gravity position during using any kind of heavy instruments can
produce more stress to the specific portion of the body involved in the use of that particular
instruments. Hence, it is recommended that, there should be minimum deviation of centre of
gravity position during performing any kind of heavy instrument related tasks. Not only that
the use of chainsaws and chipper for cutting the fallen trees and decaying trees in the work
premises will cause exposure to the vibration related hazards to the users as using of those
operating those instrument produce severe vibrations and thereby may cause injury to the
users’ hand and wrist as they are directly exposed to the vibration.
Plant and Equipment
In case of analysing the risks related to the plant and equipment it can be said that,
the cases of electrical shock, burns, fires, explosions are very common and thus it is the duty
of the management to take possible actions regarding the use of the electrical instruments
present in the plant. Not only this, the improper use of other instruments may also cause fall

5WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
and cut injury to the users as well and it may cause severe bone injury or cut injury to the
body of the users. Therefore, it can be stated that, any type of metallic wire present in the
work places in an uncovered manner can cause electrical shock related injury among the
users. As the company is operating a warehouse business, thus it is quite possible to use
various types of instruments for packaging and delivering the equipment to the right places.
Therefore, it may possible that, during the use of those equipment may involve holding of
static postures for a long period of time and thus promote the risks of musculoskeletal
disorders such as back pain, leg pain among the workers of the users. Apart from that it may
also possible that, the use of conveyor belts in the ware house is quite common and it may
possible that due to the use of this equipment will also affect the bodily system in a negative
manner (Kamat et al., 2017). According to the study of Lasota (2014), it is reported that the
use of conveyor belts in the warehouse is associated with the onset of musculoskeletal
disorders among the workers engaged in the packaging process. The REBA based analysis
showed that, the workers are more prone to injury due to the prolonged awkward postures
during the tasks of packaging in the warehouse industry.
Sun Exposure/Ultraviolet Radiation
From the above case scenario, it is reported that, most of the work exerted by the
management is mainly outdoor type work and there are high chances of having sunlight or
UV exposures among the workers. Therefore, the exposure to the UV lights or sunlight is not
at all safe. The prolonged sunli0ght exposure can cause heat stroke or heat burn to the
workers. Not only this, there are high chances of having skin irritation and redness of skin dur
to the prolonged heat exposure as well. Apart from that, the study of Surdu et al. (2013),
reported that, this exposure to the workers can cause various adverse health effect to the
workers and it is reported that, skin and eyes of the workers are primarily affected by the
prolonged solar exposure. Non-melanoma skin cancers, actinic keratosis, and malignant

6WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
melanoma are the leading long-term adverse skin effects, whereas in the eye cataracts,
pterygium, and macular degeneration may be induced among the workers . On the other
hand, the study of Modenese, Korpinen, & Gobba, (2018), it is reported that , the in most of
the cases, workers exceed the permissible limit of the UV exposures while doing their tasks
outside and so the adverse health effects are reported by the workers.
Risk Assessment
Name of the Risk Likelihood Consequences Risk Ratings
Chemical hazards Likely Major High
Biological hazards
associated with
compost
Possible Moderate Medium
manual handling
associated with
clearing of vegetation
Likely Extreme High
plant and equipment Possible Moderate Medium
Sun
exposure/ultraviolet
radiation
Possible Extreme Medium
Fig.1- Risk Assessment Table
From the above risk assessment table it can be stated that the risk ratings of the
chemical hazards is very high as it have the likelihood of likely and consequences are major.
The risk rating of the biological hazards associated with the use of composts is medium as it
have the likelihood of possible and consequences are moderate. The risk rating of the manual
handling process is high as it has the likelihood of likely and consequences are extreme. The
risk rating of the plant and equipment is medium as it has the likelihood of possible and
consequences are moderate. The risk rating of the sun exposure or UV exposure is very
medium as it have the likelihood of possible and consequences are extreme.

7WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Recommended Controls
For improving the condition of the current risks which are present currently in the
company, a few recommendations can be suggested. They are as follows-
 For improving the chemical exposure cases, the workers must use personal protective
equipment (PPE) such as proper masks can be recommended during the use of
chemical fertilizers and herbicides. The use of gloves are also recommended to
protect the skin from the chemical exposures.
 For improving the biological hazards associated with the composts it can be said that,
the users must use exact amount of composts to avoid unnecessary exposure.
 For improving the manual material handling process, proper engineering controls and
automatic machine may be used by the workers.
 For avoiding the sun exposure, the workers may use UV-absorbent shades, hats, sun
screen and along with this it is recommended that the workers should use such dresses
that can cover the body parts.
Name of the Risk Likelihood Consequences Risk Ratings
Chemical hazards Likely Moderate Medium
Biological hazards
associated with
compost
Possible Moderate Medium
manual handling
associated with
clearing of vegetation
Possible moderate Medium
plant and equipment unlikely Moderate low
Sun
exposure/ultraviolet
radiation
Possible Moderate Medium

8WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Sun Protection Policy
For protecting the workers from the UV exposures a policy is proposed for improving the
condition. The policy is as follows-
 All of the workers must use sun screen during working outside.
 Using of hat is mandatory for all workers during the working hours
 All the employees must carry water bottles to combat against the heat stroke or heat
burns.
 The management will be responsible for supplying UV-absorbent uniforms to all the
employees.
 The uniforms of the workers must be UV-absorbent in colour .
 The management should conduct awareness program regarding the adverse events due
to UV exposures.
Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded that, the management of the selected company has
initiated the risk assessment in the warehouse area and it is very crucial for maintaining a
good work place culture and to give protection to the workers. As per the nature of the work,
there are various type of risks such as chemical hazards, manual handling related hazards and
they must be considered as serious manner. In order to minimize the risks a few control
measures are recommended and in most the cases, they are able to reduce the risks of the
identified hazards.

9WORK PLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
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