This module reviews the main information in the General Module.
You should complete this Module before you start an industry module as it will help you understand the information in the industry modules.
Some of the questions in each industry module multiple-choice test are based on the information in this Module.
If you do not understand any of this Module information you should return to the General Module and read the more detailed information again.
Safety and Health Responsibilities
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Safety and health at work is everyone's responsibility. |
Safety responsibilities at work are outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, (OSH Act), which is supported by the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996. (OSH Regulations).
An employer is responsible for ensuring the workplace is safe.
You must take responsibility for looking after your own safety and health, and not put others at risk.
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Young workers have a much higher risk of being injured at work than older workers. |
Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control
OSH Regulation 3.1 makes it compulsory for employers in all workplaces to identify hazards and assess and control risks.
The three ThinkSafe steps (Spot the hazard, Assess the risk and Make the changes) are a simple way of expressing these three principles.
You can use the ThinkSafe steps to help prevent accidents and injuries. If you can't make the changes yourself, tell your supervisor or employer about the hazard.
Manual Handling
Manual handling is not just about lifting heavy objects, it includes any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lower, push, pull, hold or restrain a person, animal or thing.
Manual handling injuries include strains and sprains; neck and back injuries; slips, falls and crush incidents; cuts, bruises and broken bones; hernia; and occupational overuse syndrome (OOS).
You should speak to your supervisor or employer if you feel your job is too heavy, too difficult, too tiring or puts you at risk of injury.
It is the employer's responsibility to provide you with safe work procedures and with instruction, training and supervision for manual handling tasks.
Hazardous Substances
A hazardous substance can be any substance, whether solid, liquid or gas, that may cause harm to you.
How dangerous a hazardous substance is depends on the type of substance, what it is made of, the way it enters the body, and the amount of substance that enters the body.
Harm to health may occur suddenly, such as dizziness, nausea and itchy eyes or skin; or it may occur gradually over years, such as dermatitis or cancer. Some people can be more affected than others.
It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with safe work procedures for handling hazardous substances and to provide information, training and supervision. First aid treatment for hazardous substances should be part of your training.
Material Safety Data Sheet
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides detailed information on a hazardous substance. It gives more details than a label. MSDSs are provided by the manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances for your employer.
It is important that hazardous substances in workplaces are used according to the manufacturer or supplier's written instructions, (the MSDS) and agreed safe work procedures.
Noise
As a general rule if the noise around you forces you to raise your voice to make yourself heard a metre away your hearing is at risk.
Noise levels are measured in decibels (or dB). The scale used to measure noise as it is heard by the human ear is dB(A).
Normal conversation is about 60 dB(A) to 65 dB (A). 85 dB(A) is the level at which you have to raise your voice, whilst at 90 dB(A) you will have to shout.
Long lasting exposure to noise above the level of 85 dB (A) significantly damages hearing. This is the level at which noise control measures must be taken by employers.
If noise cannot be reduced or removed at its source, and there is no other way to separate people from damaging noise exposure, personal protective hearing equipment (PPE) must be worn. It is the responsibility of your employer to provide the correct personal hearing protectors (earmuffs and earplugs). They should be used as a temporary measure or as a last resort.
Electricity
Electric shock occurs when a person becomes part of an electrical circuit and the current flows through their body. A fatal shock is called electrocution.
Accidents and deaths can also result from equipment becoming "live" due to electrical faults, lack of maintenance or short circuit.
Electrical accidents are most often caused by a combination of factors such as a lack of training; a lack of supervision; inadequate work practices; poorly maintained equipment or installation; and a hazardous workplace environment.
Remember that only licensed electrical workers can legally perform electrical work. An unqualified person should not be employed to undertake electrical work.
The OSH Regulations require employers to provide protection to employees who use portable electric equipment at work against earth leakage by a Residual Current Device (RCD), also known as a safety switch.
Mechanical Equipment
Mechanical equipment can cause serious injuries, including sprains and strains, open wounds, fractures and amputations. Some injuries can result in death.
The most common mechanical equipment injuries are to hands and fingers, which may be cut, sprained, dislocated, broken, crushed or severed by machinery or tools. A large number of eye injuries are due to mechanical equipment.
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Your workplace should have a maintenance program to ensure that all equipment and machines are in safe working order. |
Guards are attached to mechanical equipment and must be used to protect you from the moving parts of machines. Do not remove guards.
Locking out of equipment is one way of preventing machinery or electrical current becoming operational during maintenance. A lock is attached to the machine switch so that it can't be turned on.
Red and black "DANGER" tags are used to warn workers about hazards associated with equipment and machinery maintenance.
Yellow and black "OUT OF SERVICE" tags are used to prevent accidents or damage to machinery that is out of service for repairs.
Any faulty equipment should be tagged so that it cannot be used until it is replaced or repaired.
Personal Safety
Working Alone
In Western Australia many people in remote areas have to work alone. People may also have to work alone in towns and cities.
Employers should provide adequate information instruction and training for people who work alone. It is also essential that the person know the work well and the work procedures that should be followed.
Work Related Stress
Stress is usually described as the reaction in people to excessive demands, pressures and expectations. Usually people who are stressed feel a sense of loss of control over their lives or that they cannot cope.
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You should talk to your supervisor if you feel stressed at work for long periods of time. |
There will always be times at work when you feel more stressed. Talking to others about your concerns often eases the pressure. Keeping fit and relaxed will help you deal with a crisis better.
Violence at Work
Employers must take steps to protect employees and other people in the workplace from violent incidents that may injure or harm them.
People who work alone or at night may face added risks.
Employees who handle such items as cash or drugs are more likely to face the threat of robbery or attack.
Personal Protective Equipment
When hazards in the workplace cannot be eliminated employers are required to provide personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE.).
Employees should be instructed and trained in the correct use of any personal protective equipment and clothing provided by the employer. The employer has a duty to provide this training.
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If personal protective equipment and clothing is provided you must wear it and use it correctly. |
Dealing with an Emergency
Employers should give you instructions on how to deal with emergencies. Incidents and accidents do sometimes happen in workplaces, so you must know how to respond to them.
Every workplace is different, so it is important that you are told where to find trained first aiders or first aid items and fire extinguishers, how they are used, and the emergency evacuation procedures used where you work.
If there is a fire or other emergency there will be an alarm of some kind. You must be able to identify the alarm signals so you know what they mean.
Safety and Health Laws
The Legal Responsibilities of Employers and Employees
Western Australia's occupational safety and health laws aim to make workplaces safer, eliminate fatalities and prevent worker injury and disease
The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 was developed by Government, employers and unions working in consultation.
The Act allows employers and employees to deal with workplace safety and health through consultation (discussion) and cooperation (teamwork).
The Act is supported by the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, which cover more specific requirements than the Act.
Duty of Care
The Occupational Safety and Health Act contains sections that describe the responsibilities or duties of care of employers, employees, self employed persons, persons who have control of workplaces, persons who manufacture or supply machinery, equipment and substances used at work and persons who design or construct buildings.
Duties of Employers
An employer's main duty of care (responsibility) is to ensure employees are not exposed to hazards at work.
Employers are required to provide you with information, instruction, training (including induction training) and supervision so you are able to work safely. You should also receive instruction on how to deal with emergency situations.
Duties of Employees
As an employee you should take care for your own safety and health at work and not put other workers at risk.
You should follow your employer's instructions, use personal protective equipment and clothing correctly and use machinery and equipment safely and for its intended purpose.
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Employers and employees should talk to each other and work together to solve safety and health problems at work. |
Safety and Health Representatives
Safety and health representatives are people elected by co-workers to act on their behalf, in resolving safety and health issues in the workplace and maintaining safe conditions.
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Young employees should be introduced to their safety and health representative as part of their safety and health training when they first start their job. |
You can ask the safety and health representative to help you recognise and avoid safety and health hazards and risks in areas where you will be working.
Safety and Health Committees
Any employee may request a safety and health committee. Once an employee has asked for a committee, the employer is required by law to take steps to appoint one. Employers may also initiate steps to establish a safety and health committee.
Committees are useful as they help employers and employees to work together to make the job safe.
The Role of Inspectors
WorkSafe has Inspectors who are responsible for enforcing the Act and Regulations. They have powers to enter, inspect and examine workplaces, to conduct examinations and enquiries, take samples and photographs, require that the workplace be left undisturbed and interview any one at the workplace.
Inspectors may issue Improvement or Prohibition notices.
An Improvement notice is a written direction requiring a person to fix a safety and health problem in the workplace.
A Prohibition notice is a written direction that stops any activity where the inspector thinks someone may be at risk of immediate and serious harm.
Resolving Safety and Health Problems
The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers, safety and health representatives and employees to attempt to resolve (work out) safety and health issues.
If you are working on a task that you believe is unsafe or unhealthy you should first talk to your supervisor and safety and health representative about the problem. They will then go to the employer whose responsibility it is to assess the risk. Together you should agree on ways to resolve the problem.
If you are in immediate danger then you should be given alternative work.
If an issue remains unresolved, either the employer or the safety and health representatives may request a WorkSafe Inspector to attend the workplace. Inspectors only become involved as a last resort.
The Right to Refuse Work
If you believe the work you are doing is dangerous and there is an immediate risk of serious injury or harm to yourself or others, then you can refuse to do this work.
You must tell your supervisor or employer and safety and health representative of your concerns.
The problem then has to be resolved by the employer and the safety and health representative or committee, or employees. If these people cannot resolve the matter, they may then request a WorkSafe Western Australia Inspector to attend the workplace.
Industry Modules
| Now choose one of the industry modules. There will be some questions based on information in this Review Module in each of the industry module multiple-choice tests. |
