Model Work Health Safety Regulations

Module: Common WHS Hazards

Workbook p24

What are common hazards?

The common hazards likely to be found in most workplaces are considered to be:

• Electrical work

• Noise

• Falls

• Hazardous manual tasks

• Plant and Structures

• Hazardous chemicals

Workbook p24 Q.1, 2

Electrical Safety

The regulation mainly applies to specialist electrical work but has some common workplace application.

Electrical Equipment is defined generally but does not include vehicles.

Electrical installation is a group of electrical equipment permanently connected (not plug and socket connection).

Electrical work covers the work done by licensed people and not tasks such as changing a light bulb.

Workbook p24

Must be used if supplying electricity to equipment through a socket outlet where:

• The equipment is used in hostile environments.

• The equipment is frequently moved between locations as part of its normal use.

• The equipment forms part of an amusement device.

Electrical WorkResidual Current Devices

Workbook p25

PCBU must

• Ensure unsafe electrical equipment disconnected and repaired or replaced

• Inspect and test equipment

• Keep records of testing until next tested or permanently removed

Electrical SafetyEquipment and Installations

Workbook p25

Electrical Safety:Energised Electrical Equipment

•Work on energised electrical equipment prohibited except in certain circumstances.

• Must determine whether equipment is energised.

• De-energised equipment must not be inadvertently re-energised.

Workbook p25

Electrical Safety: Overhead & Underground Electric Lines

• Ensure that no person, plant or thing at the workplace comes within an unsafe distance of an overhead or underground electric line.

• If it is not reasonably practicable to comply, conduct a risk assessment

Workbook p25

Falls

Manage the risk of a fall by a person from one level to another by:

• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that any work that involves the risk of a fall is carried out on the ground or on a solid construction.

• Providing safe access to and exit from the workplace or any area within the workplace with the risk of a fall.

Workbook p26 & 27

Manage the risk of a fall by a person from one level to another by:

• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that any work that involves the risk of a fall is carried out on the ground or on a solid construction.

• Providing safe access to and exit from the workplace or any area within the workplace with the risk of a fall.

Falls

Workbook p26 & 27

If not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk of falling then minimise the risk by providing adequate protection such as (in order):

• Providing a fall prevention device or

• Providing a work positioning system or

• Providing a fall arrest system

Falls

Workbook p26 & 27

Noise

• Ensure that a worker is not exposed to noise levels above the exposure standard.

• Audiometric testing is required if a worker frequently needs to wear hearing protection because noise exceeds the exposure standard and in combination with other factors.

Workbook p28

Hazardous Manual Tasks

Take into account risk factors including:

• Postures, force, duration and frequency.

•Workplace environmental conditions, design and layout of workplace.

• Systems of work used.

•Nature, size, weight and number of persons, animals or things involved in the hazardous manual task.

Workbook p29

• Correctly label hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.

•Obtain and provide access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for workers.

• Display safety signs.

Hazardous chemicals

Workbook p30

• Provide information, training and supervision to workers.

• Identify risks of physical or chemical reaction.

• Keep chemicals isolated and stable.

• Eliminate or minimise ignition sources.

Hazardous chemicals

Workbook p30

•Maintain a register of hazardous chemicals used at the workplace.

• Prepare and display a manifest of hazardous chemicals if the quantity requires same.

• Display a placard if the quantity exceeds the placard quantity.

Hazardous chemicals

Workbook p30

• Controls risks in commissioning and de-commissioning of plant.

• Ensure competent persons are used, provide information and undertake inspections.

• If guarding is used to control risks a hierarchy from fixed or interlocked to presence guards is followed.

Plant and Structures

Workbook p31

• Ensure that plant not in use does not create a risk to the health or safety of any person.

• Ensure that the maintenance, repair, inspection and, if necessary, testing of the plant is carried out by a competent person and in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Plant and Structures

Workbook p31

• There are additional controls for some plant

(e.g. tractors, earthmoving machinery and

industrial lift trucks)

• Certain plant has to be registered (e.g. tower

cranes and lifts ) and also have additional

controls

Plant and Structures

Workbook p31

Key Changes: These hazards are no longer specified in the WHS Regulations

• Abrasive blasting

• Spray Painting

•Welding

• Electroplating

•Molten metal

Managing the risks associated with these hazards is a duty of a PCBU

Workbook p31

If the noise is above the exposure standard, the PCBU must provide audiometric testing for the worker

Testing should be carried out by qualified persons and results made available

Depending on results, measures should be taken to reduce exposure (e.g. better maintenance of saw, up-rated hearing protection)

Activity 4: Case study 1

Workbook p32

The work meets the definition of a hazardous manual task ie may contribute to a musculoskeletal disorder, including the duration and frequency of the hazardous manual task (Clause 60 (2)(b) WHS Regulations)

What would be reasonably practicable to minimise the risk? ◦use mechanical picker for products above head

height◦stack heaviest product on lower racks◦use shelf step

Activity 4: Case study 2

Workbook p33

Spray painting must continue to be undertaken without risk to health and safety

The hazards must be identified and risk controls used – the airborne contaminants, hazardous chemicals and lead process sections may all apply

Existing practices based on previous regulation and authoritative guidance will form the basis of the state of knowledge about the hazard and how it should be managed

Activity 4: Case study 3

Workbook p34

Work Health Safety Regulations

Module: High Risk Hazards

Workbook p35

high risk work means any work within the scope of a

high risk work licence

high risk work licence means any of the licences

listed in Schedule 3

What is High Risk Work?

Workbook p35

New class

Reach Stackers

Discontinued classes

front-end loaders

front-end loader / backhoes

front-end loaders -skid steer

excavators

High Risk Work: Requiring a licence

Workbook p35

Direct Supervision• Direct supervision of

person carrying out work, unless to do so is impracticable or unnecessary and reduced supervision does not cause risk to any person

Evidence of Licence• Written evidence that

the worker has the relevant high risk work licence

• Written evidence that the supervisor holds relevant license

• Must keep records for 1 yr

High Risk Work: Licensing

A PCBU must ensure :

Workbook p35

Demolition

A PCBU must give written notice to the regulator at least 5 days before the work commences:

a) demolition of a structure, or a part of a structure that is loadbearing and is at least 6 metres in height

b) demolition work involving load shifting machinery on a suspended floor

c) demolition work involving explosives

Workbook p35

• A PCBU must not carry out, or direct or allow a

worker to carry out, work involving asbestos

• A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably

practicable, that exposure of a person at the

workplace to airborne asbestos is eliminated or

if not practicable minimised

Asbestos

Workbook p35

• A PCBU must ensure asbestos at a workplace is

identified.

• A PCBU must assume a material is asbestos if

reasonably believed to be so or is

inaccessible but believed to be asbestos.

• Indicate presence and location of asbestos.

Asbestos

Workbook p35

A PCBU must: • Ensure an asbestos register is prepared and kept at the workplace; and kept up to date

• Review the register as required

• Make the register accessible to workers, HSRs

Asbestos:Register

Workbook p35

A written asbestos management is prepared and kept up to date

An asbestos management plan contains particular information

A copy of the asbestos management plan is readily accessible to workers and PCBUs

The plan is reviewed in certain circumstances and at least every 5 years

A PCBU must ensure:

Asbestos: Management Plan

Workbook p35

The following equipment must not be used on asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (ACM):

• high-pressure water spray (except by fire-fighter)

• compressed air

The following equipment must not be used unless controlled:• power tools

• brooms

• any other implements that cause the release of airborne asbestos into the atmosphere

Asbestos:Duty to limit use of equipment

Workbook p35

Lead Work

Lead risk processes include spray painting with lead paint, abrasive blasting on lead surfaces and foundry process involving melting or casting lead alloys

Workbook p35

PCBU duties include ensuring the following specific control measures are in place:

• Containment of lead contamination

• Cleaning methods

• Prohibition on eating, drinking & smoking

• Provision of changing & washing facilities

• Laundering disposal and removal of PPE

Lead Work

Workbook p35

If a small area (e.g. 5 sq metres) then it may be practicable to remove the sheeting

Another option would be to enclose the damaged area with a solid false wall and put bollards in the potential contact areas

Update the Asbestos register and Asbestos management plan to indicate what measures were taken and to indicate presence of AC sheeting behind the false wall

Activity 5: Case study 1

Workbook p36

The PCBU’s general duties apply including the responsibility to ensure that a worker is properly informed and trained has the necessary knowledge and skills to operate equipment

The Managing Risk section requires the PCBU to identify any risks and control them (e.g. complexity of tasks, operator skill and experience, worksite conditions)

The Plant section has requirements for powered mobile plant

Previously published competency standards for this equipment continue to provide sound guidance

Activity 5: Case study 2

Workbook p37