Jan 15, 2013

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Cert IV OHS Training Video with Inspire Education

Hi Guys!

Have you been thinking about taking on a new career path in 2013? Like many Australians, you may be contemplating a career in Australia’s booming occupational health and safety industry. There are a variety of safety representative / safety officer training courses available including the nationally recognised and nationally accredited Cert IV OHS or the Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety.

If a career in safety is something you are interested in, why not check out Inspire’s great training videos?  The video is part of the TAE Introductory Webinar Series titled ‘Introduction to Training & Workplace Health and Safety’. Check it out HERE or watch it below.


After watching the occupational health and safety video you should be able to explain:

  • Duty of Care
  • Risk Management Process
  • Hazard Identification
  • Risk Assessment
  • Hierarchy of Control
  • WH&S Reporting

Duty of Care

  • Safe environment
  • Safe work systems
  • Safe resources and equipment
  • Communication of safety requirements
  • Information about hazards
  • Supervision, instruction and training

Risk Management Process

“Risk management is the process of finding and fixing health and safety problems” – WorkCover NSW

Hazard Identification

What exactly is a hazard? Learn to distinguish OHS hazards within the workplace through a variety of training mediums. There are many types of hazards that workplace health and safety regulations deal with:

  • Physical: causing trips, falls, cuts, sprains, bruising
  • Ergonomic: causing strain injuries and illness
  • Psychological: causing mental health issues
  • Hazardous Substances: such as chemicals, materials or other substances
  • Biological: causing contamination or disease
  • Radiation: caused by light, heat, or energy sources

To appropriately manage risks within the occupational health and safety setting, you must learn to:

  1. Identify hazards
  2. Assess risks
  3. Control risks
  4. Monitor risks
  5. Overall consult the entire process and always be on the lookout to improve your occupational health and safety policy, procedure and management systems

Hierarchy of Control

From most serious to least serious

  • Eliminate
  • Substitute
  • Isolate
  • Engineer
  • Administrative
  • Personal Protection Equipment

Workplace Health and Safety Reporting

When training follow your organization’s WH&S Policy and Procedures for the recording and documentation when:

  • Reporting hazards
  • Completing risk assessments
  • Reporting and recording an incident and/or injury
  • Planning and following-up risk management action plans

Training and Workplace Health and Safety

When training you need to consider Workplace Health and Safety:

  • Prior to the commencement of any training
  • At the start of training

Hope you have enjoyed the article! For all information on Australia’s OHS industry as well as occupational health and safety courses and training, subscribe to the RSS feed to ensure you never miss a post! Alternatively, check back soon for more great training videos from one of Australia’s leading OHS training providers, Inspire Education.

 

Brent

Jan 11, 2013

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Computers and Occupational Health and Safety

Hi Guys!

Hope you are all having a fantastic start to 2013!  Two weeks have passed and we are well and truly into the New Year! In light of everyone being back at work, I have decided to compile a post addressing correct computer usage to ensure excellent Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.

There are a large number of health hazards associated with computer use in the office. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has a number of Guidelines for Screen Based Work the employers must comply with in the workplace. You can check out the original document here, but for your convenience I have compiled a list of the guidelines main points below.

Screen-based Equipment

In summary, screen-based equipment includes computers and computer work such as data input and data access. However, computer work is associated with many health hazards including, but not limited to:

1. Visual Problems

Where computer tasks reach beyond two hours per day, they are deemed to be visually demanding and thus impact the health and safety of a person. Visual health complications can include eyestrain, burning, sore and irritated eyes, blurred vision, changes in perception of colours, tiredness, headaches, migraines and nausea.  However, though annoying, these symptoms are directly associated with the computer work and will not cause long term negative effects.

Get Your Cert IV OHS with Inspire Education Today!

2. Musculo-Skeletal Difficulties

This is generally caused by keeping muscles in one position for too long. An example of this would be a person siting in one position for a prolonged period of time (say at the computer), and can lead to an abnormal muscle use and cause substantial pain and injury.  Muscular issues normally occur in the back, neck and head area and known as Occupational Overuse Syndrome.

3. Stress

According to statistics:

  • 18% of workers experience occupational related stress most of the time
  • 66.7% feel stress part of the time
  • 1/4 workers take stress related leave each year
  • Stress is induced by computer based work
  • Programs that monitor employee performance and encourage percentage schemes are linked to creating high levels of stress

4. Chemical Exposure

While computer related environments generally have low chemical exposure rates, there is cause for concern around laser printers which have been found to omit ozone gas. Very low concentrations of ozone can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Another similar compound is toner powder that can become airborne when cartridges are replaced. All employees should have access to Material Safety Data Sheets containing this information.

5. Noise Exposure

While loud sounds can cause temporary deafness, long term exposure can cause permanent hearing damage. Australian law ensures employees must have an ‘excessive noise’ free workplace and comply with exposure standards. If your workplace has excessive noise and is becoming a source of stress for you, chat to your safety representative or manager.

Controlling Occupational Health and Safety Hazards in the Workplace

The principles of control methods to reduce the risk of workplace injury and disease are quite simple. They consist of a hierarchy of controls:

Elimination: The first option for the control of health and safety hazards is the elimination of the hazard.  In screen based work,  elimination of a hazardous processes might occur by using non computer-based methods to complete tasks when practical.

Substitution: Where complete elimination is not possible, the next option for control is substitution with a safer alternative.  For screen based work, an example of substitution might be upgrading software packages to more “user friendly” systems, providing easier and better control over the work with larger text and images.

Isolation: Where control is inadequate following the best efforts at elimination and substitution, the next option is isolation.  An example of isolation might be the placing of noise, chemical or other hazards either at a distance from people performing screen based work, or in a separate room entirely.

Engineering Controls: Engineering controls provide a further level of control where a combination of elimination, substitution and isolation controls still do not provide adequate control.  In relation to the screen based work environment, engineering controls might be applied to limit the level of 50 hertz electromagnetic fields in the working environment by re-phasing high-voltage transmission lines, or shielding some mains power cabling and electrical switch rooms.

Safe Work Practices: Safe work practices are administrative practices which require people to work in safer ways.  Limiting the amount of time to be spent per day involved in screen based work could be considered to be a safe work practice.

These sections of ACTU Guidelines for Screen Based Work provide guidance on safe work practices that need to be implemented in the physical and organisational environment for screen-based work.

I hope this article has outlined important precautions needed when doing computer-based work. To keep up to date with all the latest in OHS training information and courses, subscribe to my RSS feed.  Don’t forget to check back next week when I will be compiling a post on appropriate workplace environments for screen and computer based work! This will include information on adequate training, workload, lighting and air quality as well as the all important workplace workstation specifications regarding desk, chair, footrest, screen raiser and input device regulations.

Until Next Time,

Brent

Inspire Education is a leading provider of the nationally accredited and nationally recognised Cert IV OHS.

 

If you liked this post, check out:

OHS Training with Inspire

Q&A New OHS Law and OHS Training

OHS Call for Asbestos Removal

Job Insecurity and OHS

Sources:

ACTU. (2002). Guidelines for Screen Based Work. Available from Here.

Dec 05, 2012

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Q&A New OHS Law and OHS Training

Current Situation of OHS Regulations

As many of you know this year marked the introduction of the new harmonised occupational health and safety laws across Australia. While not all states and territories jave adopted the legislation at the moment, by 2013 we hope to have harmonisation nation-wide.

However, the new laws have many of us asking questions about what is it we need to change? For your convenience, I have done some research into the changes and found answers to some common questions asked by individuals, businesses, employers and employees and the general public.

Q: Will there be a national regulator?

No. Each State and Territory will continue to have its own regulator that will administer the laws in their jurisdiction.

Q: Will the new Act apply to individuals that employ a full-time nanny to care for children?

Yes. When an individual chooses to employ a worker directly, rather than engage a contractor, they are entering into an employer-employee relationship. As an employer, the individual exercises a higher degree of control over the work being carried out by the employee. As a result, while there is no formal business organisation involved, the worker carries out activities on behalf of their employer and therefore the employer has a duty of care to their employee.

Get First-Class Training in the Nationally Accredited and Nationally Recognised Cert IV OHS with Inspire Education Today!

Q: What defines “reasonably practical”?

“Reasonably practical” can be determined through a number of factors. One can be what is reasonable in terms of controlling risk. To do so, a person must take into account all relevant matters including:

  • The likelihood of the hazard occurring
  • Degree of harm possible
  • What the person knows about the hazard and how to minimize the risk
  • The availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimize the risk

Q: Are workplace safety officers needed?

No. According to the 1 January 2012 implementation, the requirement for workplace safety officers is abolished. However, employers still have a duty to exercise due diligence and the employment of a safety officer with appropriate training like the Cert IV OHS, will ensure the employer maintains compliant with the WHS Act.

Q: What is due diligence?

All employers must show due diligence to ensure they meet workplace health and safety regulations and duties. Due diligence is shown when employes:

  • Acquire and update their knowledge of health and safety matters
  • Understand the operations being carried out by the PCBU in which they are employed, and the hazards and risks associated with the operations
  • Ensure that the PCBU has, and uses, appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks arising from work being done
  • Ensure that the PCBU has appropriate processes in place to receive and respond promptly to information regarding incidents, hazards and risks
  • Ensure that the PCBU has, and uses, processes for complying with duties or obligations under the WHS Act.

Q: Is there a Certificate (issued by an RTO) issued to a person who has successfully completed a health and safety representative course?

There is no requirement for safety representatives to have a certificate before starting their training. Most training organisations who supply safety training courses like the Cert IV OHS and the Diploma of Occupational health and Safety grant a certificate and statement of achievement on completion to show the certificate training course has been completed.

Q: What are the new requirements for volunteers under the regulations?

Under the new legislation, a ‘volunteer’ is someone who acts on a voluntary basis. It is important to distinguish whether the volunteer is  acting on their on behalf or as part of a volunteer association. If part of a volunteer association, they are excluded from the new regulations where they have a ‘community purpose’ and are not technically carrying out work for the association itself.

A community purpose includes philanthropic purposes including art, culture, science, religion, education, medicine or charity as well as sporting or recreational purposes like clubs and associations. If this is the case then the volunteer is not conducting an undertaking as stated under the WHS Act.

All other volunteers are classified as workers and are owed a duty of care. The volunteer also owes a duty of care to take reasonable care of their own health and safety.

Q: What are the new requirements for charities under the regulations?

If the charity or not-for-profit organisation has an employee, the organisation has a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their workers at work so far as is reasonably practical. The charity will also have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of other people is not affected during the businesses undertaking. However, volunteer associations are excluded from the charity category. For more information see the previous question, “What are the new requirements for volunteers under the regulations?”

Q: Will there be separate mining or electrical safety laws in Queensland?

Yes. The Government has determined that separate legislation will be maintained for electrical safety and mining safety.

Oct 30, 2012

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OHS Call for Asbestos Removal

Asbestos is a harmful substance that can cause serious illnesses and disease. It was used in construction and other industries for many years, as it had applications in roofing, insulation, cementing, pipes, various building materials and other products. Hundreds of people die in Australia because of asbestos-related disease.

It is illegal to use in new products in Australia but it is still present in many public spaces and homes.

Why was Asbestos Used?

Asbestos is a very strong and heat resistant fibre used in a huge variety of products. It is a term given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. Asbestos is used in:

  • Tiles
  • Plastic
  • Textiles
  • Boilers
  • Building materials
  • Insulation
  • Pipes
  • Cement
  • Gaskets
  • And many other building related products.

When was it Banned?

Asbestos and all products containing asbestos have been banned in Australia since the 31st December 2003. No asbestos containing product can be imported, stored, supplied, sold, installed, used or re-used anywhere in Australia. Asbestos products that are already installed, such as asbestos cement roofing or sheeting, or vinyl floor tiles, are not banned and can be left in place until they need to be replaced.

Though asbestos was banned nearly a decade ago, it is still a huge occupational health and safety concern for many Australians. People doing work such as renovations, or any other occupation that puts them in contact with asbestos that was installed before the asbestos ban, is at risk of exposure to the harmful substance. Occupational health and safety regulations in Australia require that only trained and licensed asbestos removalists are allowed to remove large amounts of installed or fixed asbestos-containing materials.

Why was Asbestos Banned? Future OHS Training?

The harmful effects of asbestos have become apparent ten, twenty and thirty years after people worked with the material, now that hundreds of Australians are dying from asbestos related diseases. Over 500 Australians each year die from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos and asbestos products. Asbestos is linked to a number of health issues including cancers and lung diseases such as hardening and thickening of the pleura, a protective membrane surrounding the lungs.

Asbestos not only affects individuals but also their families. Asbestos can be spread from those directly working with the material to their family, if they have physical contact, because of asbestos fibres left on skin or clothes.

Future OHS Action?

With strong community support for government action, over two thirds people want to see OHS trained regulators ensure the removal of asbestos in all homes and buildings by 2030. Over one million sites in Australia are thought to contain asbestos, including homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces and shops. Almost 90 percent of people want to see a national safety training program for the removal of asbestos as well as ensuring property sellers have accurate hazard safety certificates.

Safety Officer Training: Cert IV OHS

If you are interested in entering the OHS sector, the current industry standard is the Cert IV OHS. For those students who complete the Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety, they have the opportunity to progress onto OHS management training through the Diploma of OHS. To find out more about a career in OHS, check out these OHS courses.

Oct 04, 2012

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Job Insecurity and OHS

Employee Health

New research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has brought to light the importance of job security, employee health and occupational health and safety training. Workers who believe their jobs are insecure report higher rates of anxiety and depression. The study sampled more than 440 working age adults using interviews.

Secure VS Insecure

Approximately 20 per cent of workers stated there is a high likelihood of them losing their jobs or being made redundant within the next year. When compared to employees with more secure positions, workers concerned about staying in their job long term were more than three times as likely to rate their health as poor. It is is evident mental and physical effects are manifesting as a result of anxiety over jobs, and employers are being called upon to fix the issue. These statistics have been revealed during the ongoing economic effects many nations are experiencing following the Global Financial Crisis. Researchers expect these figures to persist until economies have fully recovered.

 

Sep 21, 2012

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New OHS Training Campaign

More than 5,000 people are injured and 25 killed in workplace accidents each year in Queensland. Occupational health and safety failures resulting in accidents are a huge cause for concern and a new fight for better OH&S has begun. Workplace accidents, injuries and illness cost the QLD government more than $6 billion every year. All types of workers are susceptible to OHS injury.

One of the most vocal campaigners is Tiffany Ward. Ward appears in a new government funded film created to educate women about the importance of safe practices at work. During her employment at a potato processing plant, Ward nearly lost her entire arm after becoming caught in a slicing machine while cleaning it. Colleagues had to hold Ward up as she was lifted from the ground by the force of the machine. Since the accident, Ward has stated her family have been struggling both mentally and financially to deal with the aftermath of the injury.

A mother of two children, Ward is incapable of working and her husband carries the sole responsibility of supporting the family. Though the incident occurred more than four years ago, Ward still struggles daily. Workplace health and safety is one of the biggest issues in the workplace today. Adequate safety officer training is of the utmost importance and staff should be clearly briefed on their expectations and responsibilities of OHS.

For more on OHS training see the Cert IV OHS.

Sep 18, 2012

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OHS Training Prevents Injury

Lack of Facilities Leading to OHS Training Problems

A lack of beds available for ambulance drivers and paramedics at the Sunshine branch of Ambulance Victoria, is leading to health staff falling asleep at the wheel of a vehicle. This is extremely endangering to their life and that of others on the road, and is exactly the kind of issue workplace health and safety laws aim to prevent.

OHS Training

The antiquated building that housed the beds has ‘fallen into disrepair’, with water damage, security and bedroom facilities called to attention. Though employees have been promised a new branch for the past decade, the current lack of facilities means that after a fourteen hour night shift, paramedics have nowhere to sleep before driving home. And as there is very little to no downtime during a shift this can be extremely problematic and harmful to health.

Why Adequate Occupational Health and Safety Training is Needed

Many staff have reported having no memory of getting home with some falling asleep at red lights and one crashing their car after falling asleep at the wheel. Though there is a huge increase on staffing demands this issue needs to be rectified to keep occupational health and safety at the forefront.

 

Sep 06, 2012

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New OHS Training Apps

OH&S Application

The technologically savvy and hugely popular iPad now has an application dedicated entirely to occupational health and safety and training. The application can be downloaded via the internet and features a variety of new services.

What Does the New App Do?

The application is useful on a number of levels providing:

  1. Practical guides
  2. Case Studies
  3. Animated info graphics
  4. Interactive self-assessment tools

Why Create a Occupational Health and Safety App?

It was developed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, based on alarming research that indicated every 3.5 minutes a person dies in the European Union as a result of occupational safety issues. The report also found that approximately 7 million EU members are suffering accidents related to their work every year. The app is designed to bring occupational health and safety and OHS Training into the light and create awareness about the importance of prevention, and the consequences and impacts for both employee and employer. 

You can read more about the study and app @ NewEurope or find the app on the iTunes store

Sep 06, 2012

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Bullying and OHS

OHS and Bullying

While bullying is not a new concept, bullying within the workplace has come to light recently as workplace health and safety surveys have shown. Appropriate safety officer training, like the Cert IV OHS, is more important than ever before. Stress and bullying can impact individuals dramatically and cause long term effects. Workplace stress is defined as a discrepancy between the demands of the environment (or organisational workplace) and the individual’s ability to carry out and cope with these demands.

OHS and Workplace Stress

If workplace stress is affecting you or your staff it needs to be brought to the forefront. There are a variety of causes of occupational stress, including:

  1. Lack of workplace relationship
  2. Career ambiguity
  3. No support
  4. Undefined work roles and job uncertainty
  5. No sense of direction
  6. Isolation and lack of appreciation
  7. Customer service type roles constantly dealing with public
  8. Having too much or too little to do constantly and repetitious work
  9. Poor communication
  10. Zero control (or perceived control)

Employer OHS Training Duty

Employers have a direct duty to protect their staff from occupation based bullying and stress. All reporting procedures should comply with occupational health and safety policies employed by the company. If an employer is not adequately reporting procedures and failing to implement prevention methods, they are liable to a work claim.

Aug 20, 2012

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Victoria Falls Behind in Adoption of WHS Harmonisation Laws

Australian OHS Harmonisation

Victoria has not decided to adopt the new national harmonised Work Health and Safety Laws during the 1st January 2012 rollout. Instead, it is likely they will wait until at least 2013.

The new harmonisation of occupational health and safety laws brought in on 1 January 2012 bring significant changes of which workplaces need to be aware. Key points of the new harmonised WHS legislation include:

  1. The Model Act is a framework, which each state and territory will use as a model to create their own WHS legislation
  2. Individuals can now be fined up to $600,000 or be sentencced to 5 years imprisonment
  3. Due dilligence requirements for company safety officers have been clearly defined
  4. Company officers now have a ‘positive duty of care’ ie they must be proactive, rather than reactive, and seek to prevent accidents by minimising or controlling risks and hazards before an incident occurs
  5. Volunteers now have legal protection under the new WHS act
  6. Corporations can now be fined up to $3 million per OHS offence
  7. Legal obligations for WHS are now placed on the person conducting a business or undertaking, rather than employers. Volunteer organisations and small businesses are not exempt from OHS requirements
  8. The WHS legislation clarifies the obligations of contractors by using the definition of ‘worker’ rather than ‘employee’
  9. Everyone in a workplace, including visitors, clients and customers, have OHS responsibilities
  10. All ‘workers’ need to be consulted about OHS, not just employees.

WorkSafe Australia has published a guide to the new WHS model which can be accessed here: Guide to the Model Work Health and Safety Act