local government work health and safety induction insert council logo version 4 - last updated 18...

Local GovernmentWork Health and Safety

Induction

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Version 4 - Last updated 18 February 2015

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OVERVIEWThis Centroc Local Government Work Health and Safety (WHS) Induction Program has been designed by Centroc member Councils to provide Council, contractors, workers and volunteers with an understanding of the WHS hazards associated with the business of Local Government.

Purpose• Centroc WHS Induction• Organisation-specific WHS Induction• Centroc Induction licence• Site specific Inductions

Centroc WHS Induction ProgramInsert Council logo

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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES


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LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

Please Note – failure to comply with obligations may result in dismissal or cancelling of contracts.


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LEGAL OBLIGATIONS (cont.)PCBU (Employer)The PCBU must meet its obligations to provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers or others by ensuring:• Safe systems of work• A safe working environment• Safe use of plant, structures and substances• Facilities for the welfare of workers are adequate• Notification and recording of workplace incidents• Adequate information, training, instruction and supervision• Compliance with WHS regulations• Effective systems are in place for monitoring the health of

workers and workplace conditions.


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LEGAL OBLIGATIONS (cont.)Managers and Supervisors

It is the responsibility of Managers and Supervisors to ensure:• Workers work in a safe manner and safe environment• A positive program of action to minimise risks• Prompt remedial action and elimination of unsafe or unhealthy

conditions or behaviour.


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LEGAL OBLIGATIONS (cont.)Workers (including Councillors, labour hire, contractors, volunteers and work experience)

Workers must:• Take reasonable care for their own health and safety• Take reasonable care that their acts or omissions do not

adversely affect the health and safety of others• Comply with any reasonable instruction that is given by the

PCBU• Cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the PCBU


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WHS BREACH PENALTIES

Centroc WHS Induction Program

Category 1 - Reckless conduct, death or serious incident

Category 2 - Failure to comply with health and safety duty

Category 3 - Failure to comply with health and safety duty

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Type of offenceMaximum penalty

for PCBU

Maximum penalty for individual as PCBU or

Officer of a PCBU

Maximum penalty for individual as worker or

other

Category 1 $3,000,000$600,000 or 5 years'

imprisonment, or both$300,000 or 5 years'

imprisonment, or bothCategory 2 $1,500,000 $300,000 $150,000Category 3 $500,000 $100,000 $50,000

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WHS BREACH PENALTIES (cont.)Employer• Duty to consult• Employer must not charge workers for statutory requirements under WHS Act

2011

Workers• Workers may be fined for not complying with their identified duties• Person interfering with or misusing things provided for health, safety and

welfare• Must not hinder aid to injured worker


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DUTY TO CONSULT

Centroc WHS Induction Program

It is Council’s duty to consult with its own workers, as well as labour hire and contractor workers to ensure that there is meaningful and effective consultation about matters that may affect the worker’s health, safety and welfare while at their place of work.

Consultation in the Workplace

Health & Safety Committees

WHS Issue Resolution

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RISK MANAGEMENTSite specific risk assessments must be carried out in consultation with all workers, contractors, sub-contractors and volunteers on site at the commencement of any activity.

Step 1 – Identify

Step 2 – Assess

Step 3 – Eliminate/control

Step 4 – Monitor and review


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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

• Health and Safety Information• Safe or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)• Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)• Site Specific Risk Assessments• Toolbox Talks/Site Inductions• Industry Codes of Practice• Australian Standards/ISO


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INCIDENTSIn the event of an incident ensure the supervisor, manager and responsible WHS officer are notified immediately.

Notifiable Incidents• The death of a person,• A serious injury or illness of a person, or• A dangerous incident

Notifiable and dangerous incidents must be reported by the organisation to the relevant authorities by the fastest means possible.


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INJURY MANAGEMENTFirst Aid – When a worker injures themselves, they must seek medical attention of the injury warrants.

Notification of Injury – It is the worker’s responsibility to notify their Supervisor if they sustain an injury prior to leaving the workplace or as soon as practicable if not physically possible due to the nature of the injury.


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MANUAL TASKSSome examples of actions that may cause manual task injuries are:• work involving sudden, jerky or hard to control movements or

work which causes discomfort and pain,• work involving too much bending, reaching or twisting, • work where a long time is spent holding the same posture or

position,• work that is fast and repetitious,• work where force is needed to carry out a task, or• heavy weights which have to be lifted and

carried manually


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MANUAL TASKS / CORRECT LIFTING TECHNIQUES

Correct lifting techniques include:• Use mechanical aids whenever possible to eliminate the need

for lifting,• Plan the lift – check the route, distance, size and weight

before starting,• Do not overload yourself,• Have good footing and balance,• Stand as close as possible to the load,• Get a firm secure grip - use the palms of the hands not the

finger tips,• Bend at the knees - keep back in a straight plane• Use your strong leg muscles - keep load close to body, and• When turning, turn whole body - not just at the waist.


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HOUSEKEEPINGGood housekeeping practices must be observed in all areas. Keep work areas, aisles, passageways, stairs, escape routes, access to fire extinguishers, etc., free of tools, rubbish and equipment. Keep work areas clean and tidy. Most incidents result from slips, trips and falls, lifting objects, punctures or cuts and being caught in or between things. Slips are caused by slippery floors, uncleaned spillages or shoes with poor grip. Trips occur over objects lying on the ground or jutting out into aisles or standing on chairs to reach an object. This includes indoor sites, outdoor sites and vehicles.


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WORKPLACE AMENITIES

The work environment should be maintained so that it remains in a clean and safe condition. Broken or damaged furniture, fixtures and fittings, including chairs, plumbing, air-conditioning and lighting should be repaired promptly. Facilities should be clean, safe, accessible and in good working order. Consumable items, including soap and toilet paper, should be replenished regularly. Equipment and furniture such as toasters, fridges, lockers or seating should be maintained in good working order.


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IN THE OFFICE

The workplace can be a healthy and comfortable place to work with the following elements being maintained:

• Temperature and air conditioning• Humidity • Ventilation• Contaminated Air• Photocopiers • Plants in the Office• Lighting • Office floor space


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EMERGENCY EVACUATION

You will be made aware of the emergency evacuation procedure at all sites.

In the event of an emergency:• Follow instructions from the Fire Warden• Quickly follow the designated route from the danger

area to the designated assembly area• Do not re-enter until the ‘emergency warden’ advises

that it is safe to do so.


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DRUGS AND ALCOHOLWorkers must present for work in a fit state to perform their duties, not affected by alcohol and/or other drugs. The consumption of alcohol during work hours, or at any work premises is strictly prohibited, unless specifically authorised by the General Manager.

The consumption of illicit substances during work hours, or at any work premises is strictly prohibited.

Council asks staff to be aware that some medication inhibits performance. Ask your Doctor if this is the case.

Council Supervisors reserve the right to ask you to leave the worksite if suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All workers may be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.


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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)• Reflective safety vests in traffic • Safety footwear• Hearing protection• Eye protection• Safety helmets• Gloves• Sun and heat protection, including

o Sunscreeno Wide-brimmed hatso Tinted safety glasseso Sun protective clothing

All workers and contractors working on Council land are required to comply with the Sun Protection or UV Policy.


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WORKPLACE SUBSTANCESSafety Data Sheets (SDS)

An SDS tells you:• the active ingredients of the product,• the health effects of the product and first aid

instructions,• exposure standards,• personal protection required,• precautions to follow when using the product,• fire and spill control measures,• safe handling and storage information, and• emergency contact details.


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HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & DANGEROUS GOODS

A hazardous substance is any substance that has the potential to harm the health of persons in the workplace, when used at work.

• Labelling

• Disposal

• Spills


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WORKPLACE BEHAVIOURStaff are not expected to be able to physically defend themselves against a violent physical attack, although they are allowed to use a reasonable level of force to protect themselves.

Verbal cues include:• raised voice,• threats,• racist, sexist and other types of verbal abuse

Non-verbal cues include:• agitated movements,• threatening gestures,• eye to eye staring,• standing very close,• towering posture.


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BULLYING AND HARASSMENTBullying and Harassment is one of the most common and most damaging health and safety issues in the workplace.

Bullying - Persistent unwelcome and humiliating treatment of an employee – or group of employees – that intentionally inflicts, or attempts to inflict, injury, hurt, humiliation or discomfort.

Harassment - unwanted, unwelcome, offensive and intrusive behaviour. It may range from unpleasant comments to physical violence.

Everyone has the responsibility to respect workmates’ differences and acknowledge that there are differences in the way people work and think.


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BULLYING AND HARASSMENTIf you believe you are experiencing or witnessing workplace bullying, report it as early as possible. Your employer cannot address the problem if they do not know about it. If your supervisor is the person whose behaviour is concerning you, speak to the next person of seniority in your workplace.

You can make a workplace bullying report in any of the following ways: • informing your supervisor or manager • informing your health and safety representative (HSR) or union

representative• using established reporting procedures.


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PLANT AND EQUIPMENTYou are not permitted to operate any equipment in any section unless you satisfy all of the following points:

• You have the relevant qualifications• You have relevant experience and induction training (on the job)• You are authorised and instructed to do so by the Supervisor.• You are not under the influence of medication, drugs or alcohol.

Certain items of plant and equipment require particular certification or licences before use:

• RMS Licence (car, truck etc.)• RMS Certification (traffic control)• WorkCover Certification (forklift, backhoe etc.)


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COMPETENCYUnder legislative requirement the PCBU or the controller of plant must ensure the operator is competent to do the job safely. To assist determine operators competency, appropriate training or experience could include:• Evidence of documents for each qualification must be sighted

before work begins and has been validated before work begins. • Hold a statement of attainment or a nationally recognised

qualification for the type of plant they will be operating.• Have been trained on the job by a competent person. • There is a 4 stage process in deeming competency. Gathering the

evidence, validate the evidence, assess the evidence and records the evidence.


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CONFINED SPACESA Confined Space means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:• is not designed or intended primarily to be occupied by a person;

and• is, or is designed or intended to be, at normal atmospheric

pressure while any person is in the space; and• is or is likely to be a risk to health and safety from:

• an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level, or• contaminants, including airborne gases, vapours and dusts,

that may cause injury from fire or explosion, or• harmful concentrations of any airborne contaminants, or• engulfment.


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COMPRESSED AIR

Compressed air is dangerous when improperly used and special care must be taken with it. Never direct a jet of compressed air towards any other worker or onto your own clothes or skin. Compressed air should only be used for inflating tyres and operating pneumatic equipment.


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TAGS AND SIGNSAny warning or danger signs displayed are for your protection and you must obey them. They provide directions and identify hazards.

The only person permitted to remove a Danger Tag from a switch, valve or other positive isolator is the person who put it there.

Unauthorised removal = immediate dismissal


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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

All fire protection equipment must be inspected and maintained every month in accordance the legislation and standard/s.


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TOTAL FIRE BANSDuring a Total Fire Ban (TOBAN) you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or to carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire. No general purpose hot works such as using tractors, slashers and/or welding, grinding or gas cutting can be done in the open either, and this includes incinerators and barbecues which burn solid fuel, e.g. wood or charcoal.


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WORK ACTIVITIES• Working Late/Alone• Trenching• Excavations• Ladders• Suspended Loads• Working at Heights• Scaffolds• Working over Water• Hot Work• Electrical Equipment• Overhead Powerlines• Compressed Air


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INFECTION CONTROLBlood and bodily fluid spills should be attended to immediately.

• Gloves• Protective clothing• Clean the area

Infection control

Hand washing

Sharps

First Aid Refer to Council’s procedures.


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CONCLUSIONAll information provided in this Induction (including policies and procedures of Council) apply to all personnel.

Incidents can be prevented if you follow standard operating procedures.

It is your responsibility to comply with safety policies and procedures.

Remember – safety is everyone’s responsibility.


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QUESTIONSWhere to from here…

• Assessment

• Issuing of Centroc Induction Card


local government work health and safety induction insert council logo version 4 - last updated 18...

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