topic 1 assess & improve the safety of environments

8/22/2019 Topic 1 Assess & Improve the Safety of Environments

1/27

Assess & Improve

The Safety OfEnvironments


2/27

IntroductionIn this section, we will look at:

relevant legislation and your obligations as a worker

what makes a suitable and safe environment, and

assessing, improving and reviewing identified risk areas.

On completion of this section, you should be able to compile andcomplete a checklist, assess any risks, determine necessary

improvements and evaluate the effectiveness of your improvements.


3/27

Legislation

Every State or Territory will have legislation about Workplace Health

and Safety or Occupational Health and Safety.

States and Territories also have Childrens Services Legislation thatcovers how we must act in regards to Workplace Health and Safety

in Childrens Services.


4/27

Who Is Responsible? You have seen from the above exercise that there is Legislation in

place to guide Workplace, Health and Safety within childrensservices. Legislation will impose penalties on employers whobreach the legislative requirements within the workplace and placeemployees and clients at risk.

Workplace, Health and Safety Legislation nominates that ALLpeople in the workplace have responsibilities to ensure the safety ofthe workplace.

This means that employers, contractors, people in control of aworkplace, designers and manufacturers, employees, visitors andvolunteers all have a responsibility to be alert and observant withinthe workplace, report any risk areas, correct or remove anydangerous situations and ensure the safety of everyone in theworkplace.


5/27

As an employee:

you must follow the instructions and processes within yourworkplace

use any personal protective equipment provided for you in theworkplace

you must act in a way that protects from risk your own andothers health and safety

attend training as directed by your employer to ensure yourunderstanding of the workplace health and safety guidelineswithin your workplace, and

report any dangerous situations straight away to yoursupervisor/manager.


6/27

What Is A SafeEnvironment?

A safe environment is one wherethe health, safety and hygienepractices are valued, assessed,written, taught and improved in acontinuous cycle that shows acommitment to providing a quality

environment for the employer,employees, visitors and childrenwho attend the service.

The environment is observed andassessed, staff are alert and scan

each day, hazards areremoved/repaired and allparticipants at the service worktogether to ensure safe practices.


7/27

Assessing TheEnvironment

How can we do this?

Organise a Workplace Health

and Safety Committee for your

workplace. This could bemade up of parents and staff.

Hold regular meetings and

write Minutes for each

meeting.

You need to assess the

environment and identify thehazards and risks that could

cause injury or illness to children,

employees and visitors.


8/27

Compile Safety Checklists.

Decide how to assess the risk.

Evaluate the effectiveness of

current Safety Policies.

Review and update current

Safety Policies, as needed.

Identify the areas that may

pose a risk within the service.


9/27

Team Input

The old saying that many hands make light work alsoapplies to solving problems of riskthe more brains

the more varied and innovative the solutions!


10/27

set the schedule for Safety

Checklists to ensure all areas

of the service are checkedregularly

review the completed

Checklists and assist with Risk

Assessments

brainstorm innovative solutions

to control potential risks

update the services Policies

and Procedures on an annual

schedule, as required.

The Workplace Health and

Safety Committee is one avenue

to involve parents and staff in

consultation and continuousimprovement. This committee

can:


11/27

Compiling A Safety Checklist


12/27

Scanning involves really looking

at all aspects of the environment,

both indoor and outdoor, up and

down, left and right, in cupboards,opening doors, and breaking

down large areas into smaller

ones.

Look at a wall and divide it intofour parts and look at each part

closely, so that you see any

fixtures, power points, electrical

cords, holes, paintwork and truly

evaluate the condition of eachpiece.

A comprehensive Safety Checklist

will help you to focus on the areas

within the services environmentthat could cause a problem or

risk.

To make the assessment more

comprehensive, you will alsoneed to scan the environment and

be alert for items that are not on

the checklist.


13/27

Activity

Draw up a list of safety statements under each of the headings given

on the safety checklist on the next slide. Remember to write thestatements in a positive way, so that yes means compliance, eg.

All windows operate smoothly with latches in good working order;

all furniture is stable, tilt-proof and in good repair.

After developing your checklist, use it to undertake an assessmentof one childrens room at your service.


14/27

SAFETY CHECKLIST: Check each area within the room and note yes for compliance; no for non-compliance and N/A for notapplicable.

ROOM: DATE:

Item Yes No N/A Action Required / Comment

Doors, Windows and Lighting:

Walls:

Flooring:

Curtains and Blinds:

Furniture and Fittings:

Equipment:

Electrical Fittings and Equipment:

Bathrooms and wet areas:

Any other items:


15/27

Risk Assessment

In every situation, there can be a multitude of items that could cause

injury and harm.

Look around your home. Where do you store your medications and

cleaning products? Are sharp knives accessible to children? Do you

use extension cords? Are there trip hazards such as a cord, rubbish,

hose?


16/27

Risk Assessment is a process involving the following

procedures:

identify possible hazards (through checklists and

scanning

lighting

flooringfalling objectsliftingtemperaturenoise

misuse of equipmentchemicals or poisonous materialssharp objects


17/27

assess the likelihood of risk is it likely to

happen? What could the result be? (minor injury,

major injury, fatality) How often are we exposed tothe risk? (daily, annually)

decide how to control, minimise or eliminate the

risk

implement the measures decided (action plan)

monitor and evaluate the result and effectiveness

of the measures taken (remember that,

sometimes, we can create other hazards while

trying to minimise the original hazard).


18/27

Hazard GroupsThere are six general groups of hazards:

1. Physical Noise, vibration, poor lightening, electrical, heat & cold,

dust, fire, explosion, unguarded machinery,

overcrowding & slippery floors

2. Chemical Gases, dusts, fumes, vapours & liquids

3. Ergonomic Tool design, equipment design & task design, work

(postural) station design & manual handling

4. Radiation Microwaves, infra-red, ultraviolet, lasers & X-rays


19/27

5. Psychological Shift work, workload, dealing with the

public, harassment, discrimination,

threat of danger, stress etc.

6. Biological Infections by bacteria, viruses, fungi

& parasites.


20/27

Example:

The service has identified a potentialrisk after completing the Safety

Checklist and scanning the centre as

the checklist was completed. Staff

found that the carpet square in the

room had a frayed corner thatchildren/staff/visitors could catch their

foot on. This is a potential hazard.

To assess the likelihood of risk the

following table was used on the next

slide.


21/27

Is it likely to happen? What could the result be? How often are we exposed to the

risk?

Highly unlikely Minor Injury Infrequent

Not likely Moderate Injury X Occasional

Likely Major Injury Frequent X

Extremely likely X Fatality Constant

Crosses on the first line represent minor risk, line two

moderate risk, line three high risk and crosses on thebottom line indicate very high risk. Our assessment shows

an average score of HIGH RISK and means we need to do

something about the potential risk, very quickly.

A ti Pl &


22/27

Action Plans &Timeframes

The next step in the Risk Assessment process is to review the options

for controlling the potential risk, and set the actions and timeframes

needed.

In order of priority, the methods of controlling risk are: Elimination of the hazard

Substitution of the hazard by a lesser hazard

Isolation of the hazard

Redesigning to overcome the hazard

Administrative process to minimise the hazard

Use of PPE personal protective equipment


23/27

Using the example of the frayed carpet square, you

could use the following methods to control the hazard:

Elimination remove the carpet square from

use and have the edges repaired

Substitution we may have another carpet thatcan be used

Redesigning the carpet square may be able

to be turned around, so that the frayed edge is

under a shelf unit and no longer a hazard.


24/27

Evaluation The last step in the Risk Assessment Process is to evaluate the

effectiveness of the control measure that has been implemented.

All steps in the process must be documented and dated.

In our example about the frayed carpet square, if we used

elimination, and removed the frayed carpet and replaced it with a

new square or had the edge repaired, we have solved the risk in that

instance. The action and the result need to be documented and

signed off by the Workplace Health and Safety Committee.

A review three months later can be undertaken to ensure that the

risk remains controlled.


25/27

SummaryAs you have worked through this section, you have seen that each

state has different legislation for:

Workplace health and safety (or occupational health and safety),

Regulating your service type (long day care, family day care, outside

school hours care). However, there are many aspects of this

legislation which are common to all States and Territories.

Every service or family day care scheme should have writtenpolicies and procedures for all health and safety issues that might

occur. These must be evaluated annually, with input from clients,

peers and community.


26/27

The process for ensuring safe environments is to:

check the environment regularly, using scanning and

checklists

document potential hazards and rate theirseriousness

look at effective ways to rectify the problem through

elimination, substitution, isolation, redesign,

administration or personal protective equipment

(PPE).


27/27

Everyone is responsible for health and

safety issues workers, managers,

owners, visitors, volunteers and clients. If

you see something that is a possible risk,

you have an obligation to report that risk.This includes dangerous situations in the

community as a whole, as well as within

your home and workplace. This should

become a way of living.

topic 1 assess & improve the safety of environments

Documents