Occupational Health and Safety Management - Woolworths Ltd - Case Study Example

Work Health and Safety Report (Woolworths Ltd) Student’s name: Course Lecturer: Course code: Submission dates: Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 3 2.0 Methodological approaches 3 2.1 Checklists 4 2.2 Surveys 4 2.3 Questionnaires 4 2.4 Personal interviews 5 3.0 Description of work 5 3.1 Construction and expansion of available facilities 5 3.2 Servicing of machines 5 3.3 Packaging 6 3.4 Inventory handling 6 3.5 Management of the electrical gadgets 6 4.0 Hazard identification 6 4.1 Falling objects 7 4.2 Electrical shocks 7 4.3 Chemical contamination and inhalation 7 5.0 Risk register 8 6.0 Control of hazards in the workplace 9 6.1 Recommendations 10 6.2 Monitoring procedures 13 7.0 Legal implications 13 References 14 1.0 Introduction Workplace health and safety (WHS) is a big issue in any work environment. This is because the worker, occupant and other users of the workplace facility has the right to be protected from any form hazard that may put his life at risk both in physical safety and personal health (Archer et al 2012). It is absolutely important for any organization to take an initiative to ensure that any possible hazard in the workplace is identified and it is potential risks in terms of health and safety assessed and determined. This is to ensure that the right control measures are taken to protect the occupant of the place from any form of harm that may be caused on him by the hazard. Woolworths Ltd is the real case to demonstrate this scenario and how health and safety is an issue at the workplace. Since it is opening in 1924 in Sydney’s Pitt Street, the company has grown to become a household name operating in different parts of Australia and New Zealand. Woolworth Ltd is the largest retail store operating in Australia and deals with different products and services (Woolworths 2013). This report will cover the different tasks that are performed in the company stores and that are potential risks to the occupants, the possible risks, control of hazards and legal implications in the management of hazards. 2.0 Methodological approaches In collecting this information, the presenter used different methods. This is to ensure that as much information as possible was collected. The main methods that were used in this study included: checklists, surveys, questionnaires and personal interviews. 2.1 Checklists The checklist was a very important tool that was used in this study. The checklist was used in this study to review on how the business has been dealing with issues that are hazardous and that need management (Archer et al 2012). On the same line, through the checklists it was also possible to know which areas of the business that are a risk to the health and safety of the worker. This is important I determining the various measures that have been taken by the management to ensure that the worker is safe and that his health is protected. 2.2 Surveys Surveys were also an important instrument that was used in collected information and relevant data as pertaining to hazard identification and their management at Woolworths Ltd. With the surveys, the researcher was able to go round the company premises to check on how the work is being done and the overall working conditions. In simple terms, observation was being used to get the relevant information about the health and safety situation at Woolworths Ltd (Simpson and Gardner 2001). 2.3 Questionnaires This study had also utilized the questionnaires to obtain information. The workers were expected to respond to the various questions in the questionnaires given to them. This was a very important instrument as many of the participants felt free to share any information they had since it was not easy for them to be victimized (Simpson and Gardner 2001). 2.4 Personal interviews This study was also supported by the use of personal interviews. The personal interviews were used to interrogate the employees on the health and safety situation in the company. This method helped get a lot of information from the participants since they were not limited in the information that they could share. 3.0 Description of work There are different work activities that take place in the workplace of Woolworth Ltd. Being a large retail store that deals with different products services, a variety of work activities are most likely. The common work activities that are performed by the employees and that can be hazardous to the workers if not well handled include: construction and expansion of the available facilities, servicing of different machines, and packaging of products, inventory handling and management of the electrical gadgets (Simpson and Gardner 2001). 3.1 Construction and expansion of available facilities Since the company has continued to expand in response to the increasing demand, it has become absolutely necessary to expand its available facilities to serve more customers. Now, since the available facilities cannot be closed from operating, the employees are forced to work as expansion activities go on. 3.2 Servicing of machines The company normally handles a large amount of inventory. To make the process easier, different machines are used. The machines normally require servicing for them to function properly. Most of the servicing work is done by the company employees. 3.3 Packaging Packaging is a daily work activity in the business. This is because inward inventory has to be taken to the store and then dispatched to the shelves. This is the work that is done by the company employees. 3.4 Inventory handling Apart from packaging and dispatching inventory there are some products that need careful attention of the workers. For instance the company operates its own petrol stations. This is a highly risky business activity. 3.5 Management of the electrical gadgets The business is a large consumer of electrical energy. Different gadgets such as freezers which are used in the preserving different products which are perishable and more especially those from the farms. These gadgets require some attention especially on switching on and off the power. 4.0 Hazard identification After exploring the work environment at Woolworths Ltd it has been established that are various possible hazards that can put at risk the health and safety of the workers and therefore require the attention of the management and more so the safety team (Pearse 2002). However, the three main hazards that have been established are: falling off of objects from the site being constructed and in the stores, electrical shocks and chemical contamination and inhalation. 4.1 Falling objects Based on the findings of the study carried out at Woolworths Ltd it is clear that the workers are exposed to the hazard of the falling objects. This is after it had been found that the company has continued to expand its facilities in order to enhance its capacity to serve the increasing demand from the market (Simpson and Gardner 2001). Different construction projects are underway and yet the every business is continuing as normal with the workers moving as always. This subjects them to a great risk of being hit by the falling objects. On the same line, the stores have long shelves where different products are placed as shown in the appendix 1. This risky in the sense that the products can fall and cause some harm to the employees. 4.2 Electrical shocks In the company retail stores, it has also been found out that the way electrical gadgets are being handled is also a wanting one. This is because even the workers who are not power technicians do switch on and off the sockets (Gallagher 2003). In addition to this, there are different household goods such as burners, cookers, air conditions, electrical kettles, iron boxes and many more which must be tested before they are packed for the customer to carry. This is not only endangers the workers from mishandling but are also subjected to electric shocks especially if the goods have some faults. 4.3 Chemical contamination and inhalation Woolworth Ltd is known to be a major dealer of various farm produce. This is because the demand for these products is very high and is categorized as groceries. However, the problem with these products is that some of them are sprayed with different chemicals while in the farm to protect from pesticides and also to ensure faster growth and enhanced production. Now, the worry is the process of cleaning these farm products given the fact that the workers handle them with bare hands. This is really a big issue in the sense that there is a high possibility that the workers can get contaminated and even inhales the chemicals used in spraying the products while in the farm. This could lead to chronic disease if there is prolonged exposure (Kogi 2002). The same problem is reflected in the case of the employees working at the company’s petrol stations. This is because they are subject inhaling harmful fumes from the petrol which can have some long-term health complications to their lives. This problem is also aggravated by the fact that the workers are most likely to come into contact with the petrol something that can have a direct effect on their natural skin. 5.0 Risk register Given the above findings, it is absolutely important to point out developing to develop a risk assessment register to determine the magnitude of the hazard and the likely risk to the workers as shown below: Hazard identification register Risk assessment Location Job/task Hazard Priority Construction and storage sites Constructing and storing of inventory -Being hit by falling construction materials -Accidents from falling inventory from the stores High Electrical gadgets management Switching on and off of the light and handling electrical goods -Irregular switching on and off of electrical power -Mishandling of electrical goods -Faulty electrical goods Medium Grocery and petrol station Handling of farm products and petroleum products -Handling of farm produce that have been sprayed with pesticides with naked hands. -Getting contaminated with pesticides and petroleum perfumes and also in inhaling some of them. Low As indicated in the risk register above, the three identified hazards have different magnitudes in terms of risk and deserve different levels of intervention. In addition to this, the three hazards have different levels of priority in terms of attention of the management and this is as a result of the impact each of them could have on the workers (Archer et al 2012). The implication of this finding is that each hazard deserves it is own independent treatment based on the impact it could cause to the business. This is the reason as to why in the next display of the risk register different recommendations that could be used to control the risks will be proposed. 6.0 Control of hazards in the workplace To be able to control any form of hazard in the workplace, one must of all be able to identify and understand the potential hazards. This is important in determining the appropriate measures which are developed in the form of recommendations. Once the hazard has been identified, top of the priority is possible to eliminate the hazard completely (Gallagher 2003). In the case the hazard cannot be eliminated completely then, different ways which are safer are established in order to help minimize the impact of that particular hazard or even try to change the work environment by re-engineering certain controls. This can also entail the process of reorganizing different work activities. It is from this basis that this study has undertaken an initiative to develop certain recommendations which if properly implemented would eliminate or lessen the risks that can be posed by the already identified hazards. 6.1 Recommendations Hazard identification register Risk assessment Recommendation Considerations Location Job/task Hazard Priority Controls Construction and storage sites Constructing and storing of inventory -Being hit by falling construction materials -Accidents from falling inventory from the stores High -Short-term: Caution people not to be careless when moving around the construction area. -Short-term: Avoid is stocking heavy inventory in high shelves. -Medium: Install stock handling facilities to move stock placed on high shelves. -Long-term: It is a reality that the workers in the company stores are exposed to falling objects from the stores and the construction sites. Because the impact can be severe there is need to take precautionary measures by protecting the workers. In this regard therefore, it is advisable that the company to provide personal protective equipments to all the workers that is working in more exposed areas. Protecting clothing will be important in ensuring that all the employees are protected from any falling object (Gallagher 2003). ALARP Electrical gadgets management Switching on and off of the light and handling electrical goods -Irregular switching on and off of electrical power -Mishandling of electrical goods -Faulty electrical goods Medium -Short-term: Have specific people who are experienced in putting on and off the electric switches. -Short-term: Install automatic electrical power sources so as to avoid the situation whereby the workers are handling the electric power sources without technical know-how. -Medium: Establish independent storage facilities for large electric gadgets where only the technicians will be available. -Long-term: Train its own staff on the technical skills required in handling electrical goods and electricity. ALARP Grocery and petrol station Handling of farm products and petroleum products -Handling of farm produce that have been sprayed with pesticides with naked hands. -Getting contaminated with pesticides and petroleum perfumes and also in inhaling some of them. Low -Short-term: Provide protective devices such as gloves and other devices that can be used to used to protect the workers from inhalation. -Medium: Work in partnership with the farmers to ensure that as they produce their outputs they ensure proper cleaning to protect both the consumer and the supplier from any form of contamination. -Long-term: It is important for the company to realize the need to go organic as the market demands. This means that the company will be forced to engage in producing farm outputs itself. This is important in eliminating the situation where there is extensive use of chemicals which can be very harmful not only to the workers but the customers as well. ALARP As indicated in the hazard register above, it is clear that there are various solutions to the established hazards. However, one important note one should make is that given the available conditions and of work activities, it is not easy to eliminate the hazards completely (Walker and Tait 2004). However, they can only be reduced to a certain level where the benefits outdo the cost of the risk caused by a hazard under what is referred as “as low and reasonably practical” (ALARP). To ensure that control is a continuous process and has been implemented effectively, the following monitoring procedures are necessary: 6.2 Monitoring procedures 1. Weekly visual checks by the team supervisors 2. Regular reporting on safety process and achievements 3. Regular review of control measures 4. Financial reports 5. Feedback from the workers. 7.0 Legal implications The work health and safety Act of 2012 forms the basis for the legal implication upon which the employers are expected to build their health and safety policies. This transfers the responsibility of providing safe and healthy workplace to the employers. The purpose of this act also is to protect the health and safety of the workers from any form of risks in the workplace and also to encourage the employers to take the role of employees more seriously. The act provides various codes and practice policies on how to go about ensuring a healthy and safe workplace. Based on the analysis above, there are two major implications for the company following the WHS codes, policies and regulations. The first one is that the company should cooperate with the Health and Safety Committee (HSC) in providing a safer workplace for the employees. The other implication is that the company must allow representation of employees in the health and safety issues committee. This is by allowing the employees to choose one of their own to represent them (WHS 2012). References Archer, R., Borthwick, K & Tepe, S. 2012. WHS - A Management Guide, 3rd Edition, Cengage Learning Australia, Victoria. Gallagher, C., Underhill, E. and Rimmer, M. 2003. Occupational safety and health management systems in Australia: barriers to success. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety 1, 67– 81. Kogi, K. 2002. Work improvement and occupational safety and health management systems: common features and research needs. Industrial Health 40, 121–133. Pearse, W. 2002. Club zero: implementing OHSMS in small to medium fabricated metal product companies. Journal of Occupational Health & Safety – Australia & New Zealand 18, 347–356. Simpson, I. and Gardner, D. 2001. Using OHS positive performance indicators to monitor corporate OHS strategies. Journal of Occupational Health & Safety – Australia & New Zealand 17, 125–134. Walker, D. and Tait, R. 2004. Health and safety management in small enterprises: an effective low cost approach. Safety Science 42, 69–83. WHS 2012. Guide to the model work health and safety act, accessed on 16th October 2013, available online: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/717/Guid e-to-the-WHS-Act.pdf . Woolworths 2013. Our story, accessed on 16th October 2013, available online: http://www.woolworths.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Website/Woolworths/About+Us/Our- Story/ Appendix 1: Shelves Read More