Key terms and concepts

• Consultation and participation
• Emergency situations/incidents
• Employee and employer responsibilities
• Hazard identification and risk control
• Occupational health and safety (OHS)
• OHS legislation and codes of practice
• Safe work practices and procedures
• Workplace accidents, injury or impairment
  

Required knowledge

• Reponsibilities of employers and employees under relevant health and safety legislation
• Emergency procedures including procedures for fires and accidents
• Commonly used hazard signs and safety symbols
  

Cost of workplace injury

• Human

• Social

• Economic

• Organisational

Sources of information regarding OHS

• Workplace/organisation policies and procedures

• Emergency plan

• Training manuals

• WorkCover NSW and Australian Safety and  Compensation Council (ASCC) publications/safety alerts

• Legislation/regulations/codes of practice

• Manufacturer's specifications

Differences between legislation

• An act

• A regulation

• Codes of practice

Purpose of OHS legislation and codes of practice

• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW)

• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2001 (NSW)

• Codes of practice (WorkCover NSW)

• OHS consultation

• Risk assessment

• Labelling of workplace substances

• Storage and handling of dangerous goods

Employer responsibilities

• Maintaining places of work under their control in a safe condition, and ensuring safe entrances and exits

• Making arrangements to ensure the safe handling, storage and transport of plant and substances

• Providing and maintaining systems of work and work environments that are safe and without risks to health

• Providing information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees

• Providing adequate facilities for the welfare of employees

• Not require employees to pay for anything done or provided to meet the requirements of the Act or Regulation

• Consult with employees about OHS matters to enable them to contribute to decisions affecting their health, safety and welfare

• Ensure the health and safety of visitors or people working who are not employees.

Employee responsibilities

• Take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and others

• Cooperate with employers in their efforts to comply with occupational health and safety requirements

• Not interfere with or misuse things provided for the health, safety or welfare of persons at work

• Not obstruct attempts to give aid or attempts to prevent serious risk to the health and safety of a person at work

• Not refuse a reasonable request to assist in giving aid or preventing a risk to health and safety

• Not disrupt workplace by creating false health or safety fears.

Industry safety guidelines

• Safety Guidelines for the Entertainment Industry 2001

• Film Industry Recommended Safety Code 1983

• Film and Television Industry Safety Guidance Notes 1995

General awareness of safety requirements for entertainment venues

• Building codes

• Maximum patron numbers

• Hours of operation

• Noise and lighting levels

• Fire hazard minimisation

Safe work practices and procedures

• OHS induction training for employees and contractors

• Selection, use and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Selection of appropriate tools for the task

• Correct use, maintenance and storage of tools and equipment

• Correct handling, application, labelling and storage of hazardous and non-hazardous materials

• Safe posture (sitting, standing, bending and lifting)

• Correct manual handling (lifting and transferring)

• Location and use of safety alarms and emergency exits

• Access to first aid kits

• Procedures to follow in the event of an emergency

• Effective communication and teamwork

• Adherence to work instructions, workplace/organisation policies and procedures

• Housekeeping/clean-up procedures, including waste disposal, with proper consideration of OHS and the environment

Correct manual handling techniques

• Moving

• Lifting/carrying items (individually, in pairs, with a team)

• Using tools/equipment

• Placing items down

• Bending and twisting

• Using mechanical aids/lifting equipment

• Transferring hazardous materials

• Undertaking repetitious tasks

Legal requirements for weight limits

Safe work practices when working at heights

• Number of points of contact

• Types of ladders

• Appropriate harnessing

Product labels and material safety data sheets for safe preparation and use of dangerous goods and hazardous substances

• Direction and precautions for use

• Recommended dosage and dilution of chemicals

• Safe handling requirements

• First aid

• Calculating quantity required

• Disposal methods

• Suitable storage item/container

How and where to obtain required MSDS

Selection and use of standard OHS signs and symbols

• Legislative requirements

• Meaning of colour and shape

• Appropriate placement and positioning

Safety procedures

(I)

• Completing required documentation

• Local, state and federal legislation

• Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• National Health and Medical Reserach Council guidelines

• Following OH&S guidelines relevant to workplace

• Maintenance and use of cleaning apparatus in a work environment

- disposing of spilled substances, dangerous products 'sharps and waste correctly

- maintaining stocks of cleaning equipment (e.g. disposable gloves, liquid repellent aprons, disinfectant)

- sterilising and/or disposing of cleaning equipment

- using appropriate cleaning equipment to clean spillages and breakages

-wearing protective clothing, protective eyewear when in contact with body fluids or chemicals that may splash

Safety procedures

(II)

• Using and storing toxic and hazardous materials correctly

• Keeping workplace clean and tidy

• Office practice manual

• Displaying health and safety brochures, magazines and other material

• Undergoing operator training when using new equipment or processes

• Special guidelines in a medical setting:

- RACGP Code of Practice for the Management of Health Information in General Practice

- RACGP Entry Standards for General Practices

- RAACGP Sterilisation/Disingection guidelines for General Practice

Pre-start system and equipment checks

 • Importance of:

- Electrical tagging

- Safety audits

Acting within level of authority

• Taking initiative

• Problem-solving

• Decision-making

Appropriate persons

• Supervisor/team leader

• Manager

• Trainer

• Health and safety officer

• OHS representative/committee

• Union representative

Systems for monitoring and reporting of OHS

• Formal/informal

• Verbal

• Written

- safety inspection reports/safety audits

- accident reports

- WorkCover NSW notification

- registers/logs/files

Designated persons

• Designated health and safety officers

• Health and safety representatives

• Supervisors

• Managers

• Team leaders

• Other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry

Identification of potential hazards

• Self

• Visitors

• Colleagues

• Customers/clients/contractors

• The general public

Range of hazards

(I)

• Tools and equipment

- operation

- maintenance

• Manual handling

• Materials

- spills

- leakages

• Work processes/practices

• Work environment

- poor lighting and/or ventilation

- inadequate amenities

- poor housekeeping

- fire, chemical and electrical hazards

- noise

Range of hazards

(II) 

• Working

- alone 

- with electricity

- at heights

• Human factors

- stress

- violence/bullying/playing practical jokes

- fatigue

- failure to follow procedures

- lack of trianing or experience

- carelessness/taking shortcuts

- poor personal health/hygiene

- using incorrect techniques/procedures

- ignoring safety rules/signs

- knowingly using unsafe tools/equipment

- time constraints and pressures

Hazards can be the source of harm

(I)

• Potential harm in terms of human injury or ill health

• Damage to property 

• Damage to the environment 

• Potential harm in terms of human injury or ill health including:

- toxic or hazardous materials

- hazardous work processes

- unsafe work practices

- hazardous equipment

- unstable personnel

 Harzards can be the source of harm

(II)

• Potential harm in a medical setting: 

- blood

- breakage/spillage

-drug hold-ups

- needle sticks

- medical emergencies (eg. falls, bleeding, seizures, fainting, collapses, panic attack, psychosis)

- spread of infection

Hazards can be the source of harm

(III)

• Potential harm in a medical setting: 

- blood

- breakage/spillage

-drug hold-ups

- needle sticks

- medical emergencies (eg. falls, bleeding, seizures, fainting, collapses, panic attack, psychosis)

- spread of infection

Understanding of risk management

• Identify hazards

• Assess associated risks

• Use appropriate control measures to eliminate or minimise risks

• Monitor and review the control measures.

Define

• Accident

• Incident

Emergency situations

• Bomb threats 

• Accidents/serious injury/illness

• Fire 

• Robbery/armed hold-up 

• Natural disasters.

Causes of common workplace injuries

• Workplace hazards

• Lack of protection and safety equipment 

• Slips, trips and falls 

• Poor ergonomics 

• Unrealistic time frames 

• Negligence

• Medical conditions including epilepsy, diabetes and asthma 

• Exposure to toxic substances.  

Awareness of range of potential workplace injuries

• Allergic reactions 

• Dislocations and fractures 

• Puncture wounds and cuts 

• Sprains and strains 

• Poisoning 

• Shock 

• Burns

 
Emergency incidents

• Accidents 

• Emergency situations

• Fire 

• Flood 

• Sudden illness 

• Incidents

• External threats 

An acknowledgement that OHS is everyone’s responsibility in the workplace

The concept of ‘participation’ and ‘consultation’ as it relates to workplace safety and employee rights and responsibilities

An understanding of the election/formation, roles and responsibilities of the OHS representatives or committee in the workplace

An awareness of the roles and functions of key bodies involved in OHS

• WorkCover NSW

• ASCC

• Local councils 

• Unions 

• Professional associations.

Risk

Knowledge of emergency contact numbers

• ‘000’ – landline number

• ‘112’ – mobile phones

How and when to seek assistance

Appropriate personnel to seek assistance from

• Experienced colleagues

• Supervisor

• Manager

- stage

- floor

- technical operations

An awareness of the primary role of personnel in an emergency

• First aid officer

• Safety officer/safety representative

• OHS committee member

• Colleagues

• Manager/supervisor/team leader

• Emergency services

• WorkCover NSW

• Union representative

Knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency

• Notification

- appropriate authorities (emergency services and WorkCover NSW)

- colleagues

- supervisor workplace/

• Organisation policies and procedures

- evacuating

- securing the building

• reporting

An awareness of information required by emergency services attending the site

• Location

• Nearest cross-street

• Nature of the incident

• Number of casualties

• Nature of injuries

• Contact name and number