Diploma In Occupational Health And Safety - Assignment Example

Systematic approach to OHS management Insert Name Module Tutors Name 10th August 2008 Safe work procedures The management of most organisations in Australia recognizes that written safe work procedures are supplementary instructions and they are highly important to ensure a safe working environment, for they form an essential part of the overall Occupational Health and Safety Program. The procedures assist in the training and orientation of new employees in job hazards, as well as providing them with the rules and procedures necessary to ensure that they can perform their work in a safe and hazard free manner. (Cohen. A, 1999) Safety work Procedures generally used all across Australia are used as a way to communicating with the employees and also educating them on how best they should ensure s their own safety and the safety of the rest of their colleagues in their workplace. The publics who often happen to be part of the workplace group for they happen to be there form time to time are also included for these safety procedures on how to be in the workplace safely. The safety procedures are developed in a step by step manner starting from Risk Assessments and pre-start checks, to Personal Protective Equipment, Operating Equipment through to completion and maintenance A safety procedure should have be well detailed and should include all the major steps and at the same time be to the point to make it easier enough for an individual to able to familiarize him/herself with the Safety Procedures in a short period of time. This will be an advantage to the organisation because there is a reduction of the risk which might have been poised by the lack of knowledge by this individual. (NTIS, 2006) In the organisation there are several changes that have taken place; some of these changes are taking place in the following written procedures which have also been developed to provide instruction for work which is particularly hazardous. 1. Hazard identification/control procedures 2. Risk management/emergency procedures On these two procedures, there is need to change them in order to improve their efficiency in accordance to the workplace safety. Improvements on the procedures 1. Hazard identification/control procedures There is need to source formal and informal techniques/tools, this will help in the identification of the hazards easily. Once a suitable technique/tool is selected and modified as appropriate to identify hazards the organisation will be a piece with its risks management. Another important aspect of an improvement will be involving the workers, as hazard identification technique/tool(s) are reviewed its important that its done in consultation with workers in the area, and Occupation Health and Safety specialists to ensure it is suitably comprehensive. Risk management/emergency procedures Risks should be prioritised putting into consideration the severity and likelihood of the risks and the consequences. In this procedure, the organisation needs to select a tool for risk assessment. The selected tool will be used to identify key factors that are contributing to risk. Another important improvement will be to put into apply workplace sources of information and data to help in evaluating the effectiveness of risk management. The last changes on these two procedures last took place during the last two years strategic plan. Reasons for the changes that took place The changes that took place during that period on Hazard identification/control procedure came into place due to the changes of time at the same time the need to involve the employees and their representatives and give them an opportunity to participate in workplace hazard identification. The involvement of employees has not worked well over the time and that’s why it’s noted for improvement. Changes also took place because f the need to utilise hazard identification procedures to identify hazards. The changes that took place last improvement on risk assessment procedures took place due to the need to have the risk assessment documented in accordance to the legislation law on risk assessment/management in Australia. Not forgetting the need to involve the stakeholders and key personnel in risk assessment. Success in the hazard identification procedures have been minimal, this is because it was not well implemented for most of the workers/employees were left out of the process which they were supposed to be part of in the first place. Action Plan This documented plan developed within the workplace to implement OHS management, which include allocated responsibilities and time frames. OHS performance indicators for the organisation Occupation Health Safety action plan is put into place to prevent accidents and occupational diseases. For this reason some form of a program is required under occupational health and safety legislation in most Australian legislation. A health and safety program must include the elements required by the health and safety legislation as a minimum. This action is to help the organization to develop programs to deal with the specific needs that arise on the Occupation health and Safety, it is important that the organisation involve all employees in health and safety activities. This action pan is comprehensively centred to have more employee involvement. (NTIS, 2006) This is because when carrying out OHS policies and procedures the knowledge of the employees and employer responsibilities is required under the OHS Act, enterprise procedures relating to hazards, fires, emergencies, accidents and risk control, and OHS signs and symbols relevant to area of work. Legislative compliance The Occupational Health and Safety plan is initiated by a written policy statement by the employer. The organisation has a policy statement that sets forth the objectives. The organisation has well structured Occupation Safety and Health plan where the roles and responsibilities of the entire workforce is detailed. The organisation has an Occupational Safety and Health in accordance to the legislative regulations which guards against hazards in the workplace, Management systems The organisations Risk Management system involves having a systematic process for addressing hazards in the workplace. The process involves Identifying; any foreseeable hazard - anything in the workplace that has potential to harm anyone at the workplace, e.g. moving parts in the machinery, naked electric cables or manual handling tasks. Assessing the risk from the hazard - finding out how significant the risk is, e.g. will it cause a serious injury, illness or death and how likely is this to occur? Eliminating the hazard or if this is not possible, controlling the risk from the hazard - implementing strategies to eliminate or control the hazard, e.g. design equipment differently, add machine guards, use safer chemicals, providing lifting devices to minimise manual handling or use personal protective equipment. Workplace Inspections The organisation recognises workplace safety inspection as one major component of risk management. Inspections are a major tool in ensuring that a workplace remains safe.  They help to identify and address new hazards or unsafe conditions.  OH&S Regulatory details about Workplace Safety Inspections can be found in the Regulation which states that “Every employer must ensure that regular inspections are made of all workplaces, including buildings, structures, grounds, excavations, tools, equipment, machinery and work methods and practices, at intervals that will prevent the development of unsafe working conditions” (Safety order 2005) Regular inspections in this organisation are done at intervals that will prevent the development of unsafe working conditions.  The inspection is done in both the high risk areas and the lower risk areas. In addition, general building inspection is done to all parts of the building not only to those at the eye level. During this inspection, anything that is missing is put in place. Training; Workers are trained and periodically retrained to ensure that they are capable of competently performing their duties safely. Training is also done to provide the employees with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of those workers in carrying out their work and to ensure the health and safety of other workers at the workplace. New employees are put into training and are supposed to complete the training upon being hired, and all employees should participate in annual safety training which is done annually. So far so good, the status of the Occupation Health and safety plan is on the best course. The implementation of the organisations plan is in the line of full operation because of the corporation that exists between the employees and the organisations authority. The safety of the workers is put first and this has really worked on well. References Carry out workplace OHS procedures. 2006 Retrieved on 11th September 2008 from http://www.ntis.gov.au/Default.aspx?/trainingpackage/RTE03/unit/RTE3713A, Assessing Occupation Safety and Health Training,1999. Retrieved on 10th September 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-145-b.html Read More