Occupational Health and Safety Australia - Case Study Example

Occupational Health and Safety Australia Students Name: Institutions Name: Instructors Name; Course Code: Date of Submission: Table of Contents Occupational Health and Safety Australia 1 Students Name: 1 Institutions Name: 1 Instructors Name; 1 Course Code: 1 Date of Submission: 1 Introduction 3 OHS Safety audit findings 3 Implementing the risk control strategies 4 Back strain due to lifting heavy objects 4 Staff falling from ladders 4 Staff cutting their hands when moving objects with sharp edges 5 Relevant codes of practice 5 Hierarch of the measures recommended 7 Control Measure 1 7 A case of an individual who sustains a burn of an arm from a machine 8 Causes of the incident 8 Steps to investigate and record facts surrounding incident in the workplace 9 Conclusion 9 References 10 Introduction Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a very important concept in the workplace. This is because it helps address the incidents in the workplace that can cause injuries to the occupants (Work Health and Safety Act 2011). The motive behind OHS is to help enact different policies and procedures which can be used to identify the possible hazards in the workplace which can cause harm to the employees, contractors and any other users of the organizational facility. In this discussion, the analysis will be directed to the concept of managing OHS risks in the workplace. This will be done in reference to ABC Steel Company which is a relatively small company with 100 employees with a majority of whom are production workers and tradesmen. In so doing, the discussion will try to depict how the risk control strategies are implemented to address the various causes of accidents that have been identified, documenting the risk register together with the reasoning behind each strategy of risk control and the various steps that are followed in investigating and recording different facts about an incident. OHS Safety audit findings From the case of ABC Steel, various causes of accidents that the occupants suffer from include: back strains which is as a result of lifting heavy objects, staff falling from the ladders in trying to reach for the stock that has been placed in the shelves above the standing height from the ground and staff cutting their hands when moving objects with sharp edges. These are actually major OHS concerns at ABC Steel since they continue to expose the workers and tradesmen to various accidents. This is actually against the Australian OHS Policy which demands that all the occupants in the workplace be protected from any hazards that may cause harm unto them (An Australian Government Initiative 2014). Actually OHS management is a legal requirement for every organization irrespective of their size and nature of business. In regard to that therefore, every organization is obligated to finding out what hazards that exist in the workplace, the magnitude of the hazards and the possible control measures which can be initiated in four major steps which include: identifying the risk, assessing the risk, implementing control measures and finally, reviewing the control strategies that have been implemented. Implementing the risk control strategies Risk control strategy entails the process of deciding what ought to be done in order to eliminate or even reduce the impact of the hazard (Winder 2000). Where possible, it is advisable that the hazard be removed or even completely eliminated from the workplace. However, since it is not easy to completely eliminate the risk from workplace, the most suitable strategy which is highly rated should be adopted. In the case of the three hazards identified in the case of ABC Steel, the specific risk control strategies that ought to be implemented have been proposed as shown below. Back strain due to lifting heavy objects At ABC Steel workplace it is not easy to eliminate completely the practice of lifting heavy objects. This is because of the natures of the activities that are being performed there that warrantee regular lifting of the objects. This means therefore that the problem of back strain cannot be completely eliminated but minimized (Work Health and Safety Act 2011). What ABC Steel OHS Manager ought to do is to provide the trolleys, lifts and other equipments that will the worker use less energy when lifting heavy objects. This could significantly reduce the problem of back strain among the workers. Staff falling from ladders This problem can mainly be attributed to the poor designing of the company stores. Since it is not possible to redesign the building again in order to reorganize its stores, other suitable measures need to be adopted. The most suitable control strategy for this cause of accidents is the use of the lifts. With the lifts, it is possible for the workers to move stock to and from the store without having to climb through the ladders. This will help to a greater extent in avoiding a situation where the workers will be falling from the ladders while trying to handle the stock (An Australian Government Initiative 2014). Staff cutting their hands when moving objects with sharp edges This is a problem that is related to lack of personal protective (Borys et al, 2006). This means that most of the workers move objects with sharp edges using their naked hands. This helps expose them to this very serious risk. This most suitable risk control strategy for this kind of risk therefore, is to provide the workers with protective equipment to use (Australian Business 2014). Some of the protective equipment that can be used includes the gloves. This will help the workers reduce the incidents of cuts of their hands by objects with sharp edges. Relevant codes of practice Communicating occupational health and safety across languages – Compliance code (WCC003/01/07.08): This code is aimed at explaining the importance of providing practical guidance to the employers who speak different languages in order to be able to comply with their duties without exposing themselves to various hazards (An Australian Government Initiative 2014). Confined spaces – Compliance code (WCC004/02/03.09: This compliance code dwells on the importance of identifying various risks in the workplace with regard to confined places so that one can be able to take appropriate control measures (An Australian Government Initiative 2014). Prevention of falls in general construction – (Compliance code WCC005/01/07.08): This compliance code is applied to all hazards that are related to falls in the workplace (An Australian Government Initiative 2014). This is important in ensuring that the workers do not get injured either from the falling objects or from themselves falling from the ladders. Figure 1: Risk Register of the hazards that have been identified at ABC Steel Hazard Identification and Risk Register Name of organisation: ABC Steel Date: Compiled by: Category of staff effected Work activities Hazards Risks Initial risk rating no controls Control plan - list controls measures to be implemented Responsible person Risk rating after controls Comments L C R L C R All the stakeholders who include the workers, contractors, the managers and the customers Moving stock to and from point to another Lifting of heavy objects Causing of back strains, pains and muscle strains A 4 VH Using trolleys, lifts and training the workers on how to handle heavy objects. HS Manager D 4 M More attention needed to ensure that the new equipment is well applied. All the workers Moving stock to and from the stores that are located above the worker’s height from the ground Climbing of tall ladders Falling of the workers, workers being hit by falling objects A 4 VH Using lifts to handle stock to and from the store, Training the workers on how to use the available ladders and the lifts. HS Managers and the workers D 4 M Monitoring to ensure that the workers now how to use the lifts. All the workers Using sharp objects to cut other objects and also when trying to sharpen some objects. Handling of objects with sharp edges Workers suffering from finger, hand or even leg cuts and other general body cuts A 4 VH Using protective equipment, employee training HS Manager and the workers D 4 M More attention needed to reduce exposure to objects with sharp edges. All the workers Melting steel or even when drilling through some steel metals Handling of burning machines Burning scars, pains and even total burns A 4 VH Using protective measures, employee training, availing first aid kits. HS Manager and the workers D 4 M Awareness is required on how to use first aid kits. Source: WHS401A Sem 1 2014 A Ebeling Hierarch of the measures recommended Control Measure 1 The control measure number 1 is to substitute the process of handling and moving stock. This will involve the use of the lifts. This measure is recommended is the only one that can help reduce the associated risks. This measure is found in the hierarch level 2. This is most effective control measure because the hazard cannot be completely eliminated. Control Measure 2 The control measure number 2 is to substitute the problem by using of lifts. This measure is chosen because it will help minimize the hazard. This control measure is in level 3 in the hierarch of control. This measure is the most effective because employees falling while handling stock could be completely avoided. Control Measure 3 The control measure number 3 is substituting the process of handling sharp objects with naked use of gloves and other protective clothing. This is because protective devices will protect the workers from being cut. This is a control measure in the level of hierarch 2. This control measure is considered the most effective because the hazard could only be minimized and not eliminated completely. Control Measure 4 The control measure 4 is to substitute the handling of hot objects with use of gloves and other protective clothing. This is because it will not be ease to eliminate the problem of hot objects. This measure is hierarch level 2. This is because No further measure as the solution only lies on the substitution of the operational process. A case of an individual who sustains a burn of an arm from a machine Causes of the incident Burns in the workplace is among the many cases of accidents that OHS Policies and Procedures seek to address. However this varies with the industry. For instance, burning cases reported in the steel and energy sectors are much more than any other sector (Work Health and Safety Act 2011). In the case of ABC Steel, the sustained case of a burn to a worker could be as a result of a number of factors and which include: lack of protective equipment, lack of proper training, negligence or as a result of the work not knowing how to apply the first aid kit immediately after the burn. To start with, the burn of the arm is case of a worker handling a burning object with a naked hand. This could be attributed to the fact that the worker lacked suitable protective equipment such as gloves to use when handing a hot machine (Work Health and Safety Act 2011). In addition to this, the employee may have lacked proper training on how to handle the machine when hot. Further, there is also fear that the worker may have neglected any advice given about handling hot machines. Finally, the burning incident might have worsened because either the first aid kits lacked or the inability to do first aid to the arm. Steps to investigate and record facts surrounding incident in the workplace There are 9 steps to investigating and recording facts surrounding the case burn incident as outlined below: 1. Reporting the burning incident to the destined person in the company for further action. 2. Providing the required first aid and other medical care to the worker that has sustained the burn and try to prevent any further injuries. 3. Carrying out an investigation to establish what had caused the burn. 4. Identifying the cause of the burn 5. Reporting the findings of the investigation to the responsible authorities for further action. 6. Developing a plan of corrective action that should be adopted by the company. 7. Implementing the plan that will help reduce or even eliminate incidents related to burns in the workplace. 8. Evaluating the effectiveness of the plan. 9. Making any appropriate changes to the plan of action for continuous improvement. Conclusion This discussion as mentioned in the introductory part has covered the concept of OHS by trying to show what the major causes of accidents in the workplace are. More important, is how a risk register can be used by the person in charge of OHS in the workplace in order to manage the related issues related to health and safety. In general, it has been found out that in the workplace there is a possibility of experiencing hazards and therefore the need to implement different codes of compliance as provided for in the Work health and Safety Act 2011. References Australian Business 2014, Managing OHS risk in your workplace, accessed on May 4th 2014, available online: http://www.australianbusiness.com.au/whs/resources/managing-ohs- risk-in-your-workplace An Australian Government Initiative 2014, OH&S/WHS Acts, Regulations and Codes of Practice/Occupational health and Safety, accessed on May 3rd 2014, available online: http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Occupationalhealthandsafety/Pages/OHa ndSActsRegulationsandCodesofPractice.aspx Borys, D., Else, D., Pryor, P., & Sawyer, N. 2006, Profile of an OHS professional in Australia in 2005. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia NZ, 22(2), 175-192. Winder, C. 2000, OHS research in Australia J Occup Health Safety- Aust NZ, 16(3), 187- 192. Work Health and Safety Act 2011, An act relating to work health and safety, and for related purposes, accessed on May 4th 2014, available online: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011A00137 Read More