Reviewing the important aspects of regulating Occupational Health and Safety Act at workplace - Essay Example

?Running Head: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Reviewing the important aspects of regulating Occupational Health and Safety Act at workplace s Name University Name Reviewing the important aspects of regulating Occupational Health and Safety Act at workplace Question1): Ours is a mobile telecom solution providing company and consist of 50 workers/employees. I believe that good occupational health and safety (OH&S) practices are essential for preventing illness and injury at the workplace and to ensure a safer working environment. Some of the important elements that ensure compliance in my work place are structural organization of human resources like clear expectations, conflict resolution procedures, unambiguous reporting lines and well defined processes. We also practice flexibility to minimize conflict and avoid rigid bureaucratic regulations so that employees willingly contribute to a happier work place. These practices are supported by OHS policies and procedures. The most recent code for Occupational Health and safety came into effect on June 12, 2008 which replaced all the previous 27 entries. The OHS Act is the cornerstone of legislative and administrative measures to improve occupational health and safety. It sets out the key principles, duties and rights in relation to occupational health and safety. (Queens Printer for Ontario, 2009). It also prescribes technical or administrative matters, so as to support the Act, such as requiring licenses for particular activities, keeping records, or giving notifications about certain matters. Under the OHS Act everyone at a place of work has responsibilities – employers, employees, contractors and other third parties. From an employer’s perspective we have tried to integrate an effective risk management system keeping in mind the relative sections of the act and the Section 21 of the OHS act addresses the duties of employers to employees. It states that “An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain for employees of the employer a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.” To comply with this demand important steps are taken. For instance in a sub-section of this rule requires an employer to “provide such information, instruction, training or supervision to employees of the employer as is necessary to enable those persons to perform their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health”. In order to provide guard and operator’s control we provide manual and hands on training and instructions to ensure safety. The Section 22 requires “An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable keep information and records on the health and safety of employees; and employ experts (people who are 'suitably qualified') to provide advice”. (Occupational health and safety act 2004 - Sect 21, 2012) Our organization provides for proper awareness and implementation of health and safety measures and assigned representatives fulfill this task effectively. Health inspection is a must. So, with this brief account it can be concluded that my organization is in compliance with the currently effective OHS act. Question 2): A compliance code is a code of guidance and consultancy that deals with organizational health and safety regulations 2007. (Work Safe, 2007) It is not law but a series of advices to help understand the law. For example in an office, air- conditioning is often a cause of frequent complaints within a building, so, the code has advice about an optimum temperature, quality of air conditioning and ventilation. It is important to be in line with the compliance code in order to avoid risk of failure. A Work-Safe inspector and Health and safety representative (HSR) may cite a compliance code in an improvement notice or a prohibition notice as a means of achieving compliance and guide on how to remediate any violation of the OHS Act. This compliance code applies to all employers except for construction employees. We as employers provide adequate amenities for the welfare of employees taking in full consideration the requirements of our employees. Not only we provide separate toilets for ladies and gents which in total are 10 toilets, one for 5 people, but also proper seating and dining area, separate prayer rooms, changing areas and pure drinking water facility. Personal storage lockers are available with personalized number keys along with ablutions and hand washing facility. We also observe compliance codes for work environment facilities such as workspace, temperature and air quality, lighting and flooring and first aid facilities. For instance, our office temperature is to be held constant in the range of 21-23°C (69-73°F) during summertime to maintain “thermal comfort”. The new Compliance Code for First aid in the Workplace gives two options namely the 'prescribed approach' and the 'risk assessment approach' depending on location and quantity. Our work place falls within the low- risk bracket so we have 2 first aid kits one for 25 employees, to cope with any emergency. The means of access is same for both day and night shift employees, and all are given appropriate breaks at all times. To ensure their safety and security our work place building is well equipped with fire escapes, step ladders, lighting arrangements and ventilation. Flooring and spacing was conceptualized and constructed in a way which provides adequate room for computer workstations as our company provides a 24 hours help line service. Question 3): In legislation, Hazardous Substances are defined in a number of ways. In The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) they are identified as those substances classified as toxic, very toxic, corrosive, harmful or irritant. Biological agents and dusts in substantial concentrations are also classified as hazardous substances. Hazardous Substances are used in many workplaces and take many different forms. Solids, Liquids, gases, mists and fumes can be present in the workplace. Exposure to hazardous substances can affect the body in many different ways. (HSE, 2009) Skin contact, inhalation and ingestion can cause damage. Hazardous Substances can cause short- and long-term health problems ranging from cancers to dermatitis and asthma. Infections can be caused by biological agents as well. Employers are legally bound to control exposure to Hazardous Substances to preserve the health of their employees. In our work place we apply safety through Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). It is a comprehensive plan for providing information on the safer usage of hazardous materials. (Hughes & Ferrett, 2010) Information is provided by means of product labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and worker education programs. (canadienne limitee, 2006) The main components of WHMIS are hazard identification and product classification, labeling, material safety data sheets, and worker training and education. (Knowles & Castillo, 2010) It is every worker’s right to know about the safety and health hazards that may be associated with the materials or chemicals they use at work. Exposure to hazardous materials can cause or contribute too many serious health effects such as effects on the nervous system, kidney or lung damage, sterility, cancer, burns and rashes. (DIANE) Some hazardous materials are safety hazards and can cause fires or explosions. WHMIS was created to help stop the injuries, illnesses, and deaths as well as medical costs, and fires caused by such materials. (Schnepp, 2010) All these effects can be controlled through management, information and training. Question 4): Manual Handling is physical work activity requiring the use of force. Employees are prone to work related injuries. Manual handling activities includes lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. The load may be either inanimate such as a box or a trolley, or animate such as a person or an animal. Manual handling injuries can occur wherever people are at work. The factors that influence manual handling behaviors include equipment, task at hand, environment, objects, personnel resources, work place culture, work load demands and personal characteristics. (Safe Work, 2003) Strategies have been adopted at my organization to avoid all physical and physiological risk factors. To provide practical advice each one of the employees is handed over with informational booklets stating health safety rules by the health care staff. Systematic monitoring and reporting of frequent manual handling injuries is given due importance. Based on those reports employees receive further briefing on how to reduce the risk of injury because if there are risks, the regulations apply. As an Employer it is my duty to avoid the use of hazardous manual handling and assess the risks that can’t practically be avoided. Employees have duties too and they are asked to follow appropriate systems of work laid down for their safety. Such as make proper use of equipment provided for their safety, co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters, inform the employer if they identify hazardous handling activities. We tend to reduce the levels of risk associated with manual handling such as we avoid lifting equipment. We make equipment more stable, less bulky and easier to grasp and use lifting aids to reduce carrying distances. We try to avoid repetitive handling and remove obstructions to free movement by providing hassle free flooring and better lighting. We pay special attention to employees with physical weaknesses, timely maintenance checks and assessments are made after frequent observations Question 5): The OHS Regulations require the employer to identify any task which involves hazardous manual handling and then take actions to either eliminate or reduce the hazard and/or the associated risks. The Regulations include any task requiring the 'application of high force' as hazardous manual handling which means that any weight or force may be a risk to a worker, depending on factors such as posture, frequency, duration, actions and movements. So, the greater the force exerted will involve the higher risk. It becomes important for employers and workers both to understand their safety obligations. Manual handling includes repetitive tasks such as packing, typing, assembling, cleaning, sorting, using hand tools and operating machinery and equipment, is a health and safety risk which cuts across all industries and occupations. Regulating manual handling risk is to control the risk and protect workers from the risk of developing MSDs. For low and high risk work activities, section 6.16 of the OHS Regulation provides that the employer must inspect containment and a decontamination facility at least daily to ensure that their effectiveness is maintained (Hingston, 2008). The system should be airtight in design, be of substantial construction to support the anticipated stress factors likely to be encountered in the course of work. Also following parameters of control supported by occupational hygiene principles like good ventilation design, overlap of plastic poly sheet joints and water-resistant duct tape is important. When evaluating compliance with this requirement, the system should be checked to see if it is under negative pressure. Smoke or air current tubes can be used for this purpose. Physiological risk factors for my work place fall in low risk definition as lower are the chemical (acid/ base, asbestos) risks, and manual handling risks are carefully dealt with. Physical force is also low so percentage of injury is also very low and regular health reporting is done. However, medical threats or risks do exist such as seasonal viral Flu can get transferred. So a timely observation, identification becomes mandatory through sharp health inspections and regular monitoring. Medical care is duly provided at my workplace. References Queens Printer for Ontario. (2009). A guide to the occupational health and safety act. Ontario Ministry of Labour. Retrieved from http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/ohsa/ohsag_2.php Austlii. (2012). Occupational health and safety act 2004 - Sect 21. Victorian Consolidated Legislation. Retrieved from http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ohasa2004273/s21.html Work Safe. (2007). Victorian occupational health and safety compliance framework handbook. Work Safe Victoria. Retrieved from http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/8241cc004071f4bda075fee1fb554c40/Victoria%20Compliance%20Framework%20Handbook.pdf?MOD=AJPERES Knowles, R. A., & Castillo, C. (2010). Small business: An entrepreneur's plan. Nelson College Indigenous. HSE. (2009). Working with substances hazardous to health. Health and Safety Executives. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf Safe Work. (2003). Guidelines for managing OHS&W. Safer Industries. Retrieved from http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/docs/agedGuidelinesMgingOHSW.pdf Hingston, A. (2008). Asbestos management. BCIT Safety Manual. Retrieved from http://www.bcit.ca/files/safetyandsecurity/pdf/asbestos_management_plan_revised.pdf Schnepp, R. (2010). Hazardous materials awareness and operations. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Hughes, P., & Ferrett, E. (2010). Introduction to international health and safety at work. Routledge. canadienne limitee, C. (2006). Canadian master labour guide). CCH Canadian Limited. DIANE. (n.d.). Identifying and controlling immunotoxic substances. DIANE Publishing Read More