HTTOHS300A: Contribute to OHS processes

Raise OHS issues in accordance with organisation procedures

Contents

Raise OHS issues in accordance with organisation procedures 3

Consultation and risk management 3

Raising OHS issues 4

Contribute to workplace meetings, inspections and other consultative activities to improve safety 5

The purpose of workplace meetings 5

Provide assistance to workgroup members to contribute to workplace safety 7

Apply knowledge of roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives and OHS committees 8

Functions of OHS committees/ representatives 8

Summary 9

Additional resources 10

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651 © NSW DET 2010

Raise OHS issues in accordance with organisation procedures

Consultation and risk managementTo participate constructively in the consultative process for managing OHS, employees need information and training on work hazards they may face, and in relevant strategies for protecting health and safety. Without this information and training, workers will not be able to play an effective role in identifying, assessing and controlling OHS risks.

They also need to be given information on the employer’s duty of care in maintaining a working environment and work practices which do not present risks to workers’ health or safety.

Another important pre-requisite for participation in consultative procedures is that workers must be assured that they will not dismissed or otherwise disadvantaged by exercising their functions as OHS representatives or committee members, or for reporting health and safety problems to their supervisors.

Activity 1

Consultation action and feedbackTo ensure the ongoing effectiveness of consultative arrangements employees must receive feedback to the issues they raise and the suggestions they make. If this doesn’t happen, the whole process can lose credibility and lead to a reduction in commitment to the consultative arrangements.

For effective consultation, it is essential that:

relevant information is shared employees have the opportunity to express their views, and the employer takes those views into account.

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651© NSW DET 2010

Raising OHS issuesIndividuals and groups in any workplace have an important role in raising OHS issues or requesting health and safety information and data. Both employers and employees may initiate these actions.

Employers have a legal responsibility under Section 8(1) of the OHS Act 2000 to provide a safe and healthy workplace and to inform workers about any risks that may be present in carrying out their jobs. For example, technical and farm assistants working in an agricultural research organisation may be required to use the hydraulic corer to take soil samples. Therefore, they must be trained in how to use the corer safely, be instructed about any risks associated with coring, such as exposure to noise, and be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and trained in its use.

On the other hand, employees are also responsible for raising OHS issues or requesting information or data that is relevant to their workplace. For example, a laboratory worker who has noticed that the extraction fan in the fume hood isn’t working should raise this OHS issue with their supervisor, or organise maintenance and tag the equipment to alert others to the fault.

An employee may request further training or OHS information from their employer. On the other hand, their expertise may allow them to recommend to their supervisor or employer a safer or more effective way of managing risks. For example, a kitchen hand browsing in a catering supply company noticed a new slip-in cuff product that could be worn over the hands to reduce the risks in handling hot cooking pots. This OHS idea was conveyed to management.

This exchange of information is the essence of workplace OHS consultation.

Activity 2

Activity 3

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651 © NSW DET 2010

Contribute to workplace meetings, inspections and other consultative activities to improve safety

The purpose of workplace meetingsWhy is it important to have meetings and discussions at work?

If we don’t have such meetings we don’t know what is going on around us, we don’t have the opportunity to learn new skills and progress in the job and we don’t have the chance to give our own ideas and suggestions.

Here are some areas that might be discussed in a workplace meeting that you attend:

work duties work rosters new equipment new workplace procedures health and safety quotes/costings work progress.

Meeting structureWorkplace meetings can range from short informal discussions to formal meetings with a written agenda, a chairperson and someone to record the Minutes. If you don’t have formal meetings in your workplace you may have attended them at other times such as at a sport club or at a parent’s meeting at school.

Think about the following questions as they apply to your workplace:

How often are meetings held? Where are meetings usually held? How do you know that there will be a meeting? Do you know before the meeting what the meeting will be about?

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651© NSW DET 2010

Does the meeting usually have a chairperson? Does everyone usually have an opportunity to express an opinion during

the meeting? Are decisions recorded in writing or just agreed on verbally?

Listening skillsOne way to improve your listening skills is to listen for specific information. In particular listen for information and decisions that you will need to act on. During a meeting you need to think about:

why the meeting has been called what new information is being given how this information will effect the way you do your job what decisions are being made in the meeting who needs to act on these decisions.

It is often helpful to write a few notes during the meeting to remind you of what you need to do following the meeting.

Giving your opinion

Activity 4

Tips for giving your opinionWhen speaking at meetings it is important to:

think before you speak state your opinion clearly and give reasons offer suggestions.

Statements to avoid:

‘I don’t know anything about this.’ If possible find out what meetings are about before you attend and think about the issues that will be discussed.

‘I don’t agree with any of that!’ You need to say what you do and don’t agree with and why. Listen carefully to the views expressed by others.

‘That’s my opinion and I’m not changing it.’ First, listen openly to what others have to say.

‘I don’t want to say anything. I’ll just go along with what everyone else thinks.’ The group will find it much easier to reach a decision if everyone says what they think.

Activity 5

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651 © NSW DET 2010

Provide assistance to workgroup members to contribute to workplace safety

Workers may need our assistance at times to cooperate and contribute to workplace safety. Workers may be hesitant to contribute ideas and concerns about workplace safety issues unless the culture of the service is one that promotes mutual respect for all staff and effective communication practices between staff.

Every member of the team must feel supported, valued and confident to follow OHS practices and procedures, use equipment safely and respond to hazardous situations in line with service OHS policy and procedure. Staff must feel comfortable questioning practice and raising OHS concerns in the team.

We can encourage this cooperation and contribution to workplace safety by:

encouraging attendance at regular team meetings where ohs is always on the agenda

actively seeking each staff members opinions on safety issues ensuring our policies and procedures are based on up to date safety

information from reputable sources. checking that staff know who to report ohs concerns to and how this is

done i.e. verbally and/or written considering and valuing all suggestions provided by the team encouraging staff to discuss any concerns even where they are not sure it

is an ohs issue. remind them its always better to discuss issues and clarify procedures to ensure a safe work place for the team.

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651© NSW DET 2010

Apply knowledge of roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives and OHS committees

Unlike this committee, OHS committees must be representative of the workers

Functions of OHS committees/ representativesThe Act sets out the basic functions, powers, rights and duties of OHS committees and OHS representatives. The functions of committees and representatives are essentially the same:

to keep under review the measures taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of persons at the place of work

to investigate any matter that may be a risk to health and safety at their place of work

to attempt to resolve the matter but, if unable to do so, to request an investigation by an inspector for that purpose.

Chapter 3 of the OHS Regulation creates some additional functions for committees and representatives:

to accompany an inspector on an inspection that affects the workgroup to be an observer during any formal report by an inspector to the

employer concerning the workgroup to accompany an employee of the workgroup (if requested by the

employee) during any interview by the employer regarding an OHS issue

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651 © NSW DET 2010

to be an observer during any formal in-house investigation of a notifiable accident concerning the workgroup (a notifiable accident means one that has to be notified to WorkCover NSW)

to assist in the development of arrangements for recording workplace hazards and accidents

to make recommendations about the training of OHS representatives or members of OHS committees.

Once a consultative mechanism is established, the next step is to have agreed procedures for its operation. This could include procedures for

meeting protocols communication within the workplace functions and roles of the employees involved the training of employees involved in consultation resolving OHS issues and disputes role of the union any other matter that may be necessary.

Activity 6

Activity 7

SummaryIn this topic we have highlighted:

The importance of all employees being involved in OHS through participative processes established in the workplace

The role of the OHS representative or committee in overseeing OHS issues, induction and compliance

The importance of all staff committing to workplace safety by attendance at team meetings and supporting OHS audits and inspections

The importance of employers and employees working together collaboratively to ensure the work environment is hazard free

The necessity of all staff members reporting OHS issues according to their service procedures.

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651© NSW DET 2010

Additional resources For more information on consultation requirements under OHS Legislation:

http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/FAQs/OHSResponsibilities/OHSConsultation/Pages/default.aspx

For more information on consultation training: http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/OHS/Consultation/ConsultationTraining/Pages/default.aspx#

Certificate III in Children’s Services: HTTOHS300A: Reader LO 9651 © NSW DET 2010