OH&S Industry News…
Harrassment... Is it happening in your workplace?
Many of us would associate bullying or harassment with the schoolyard or playground, however, workplace harassment is a very real problem being faced by many workers on a daily basis. When not addressed, harassment can cause significant damage to the workplace by:
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Workplace harassment is where a person is subjected to behaviour, other than sexual harassment that:
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Workplace harassment can be committed by:
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Workplace harassment covers a wide range of behaviours ranging from subtle intimidation to more obvious aggressive tactics, including:
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So how do you prevent harassment in your workplace?
Educate yourself, your workers and management.
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ACHS offers a four hour workshop – understanding workplace harassment for managers, supervisors and workers, which introduces all parties to their legal obligations for dealing with all sources of bullying and harassment in the workplace. |
For further information about this course or to make a booking please contact the college 07 3822 3228 or info@austchs.com.
WHO's your WHSO?
In accordance with the Workplace Health and Safety Act, organisations with 30 or more workers are required to appoint a Workplace Health & Safety Officer (WHSO).
A WHSO is required to understand legislative requirements and standards, establish educational programs, investigate injuries or incidents and liaise with employers, employees and statutory health and safety officials. To ensure the appointed WHSO understands their role and is competent in performing it's functions, it is important they receive appropriate training. |
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ACHS offers the WHSQ accredited 30596QLD Functioning as Workplace Health & Safety Officer (WHSO) training. The accreditation is completed in two parts - participants must first complete the Core modules, followed by one of the three industry specific electives; Construction, Industrial or Service.
Already a WHSO? Upgrade your accreditation to a nationally recognised qualification. ACHS now offers the WHSO to Certificate IV in OHS – bridging course.
For a full list of upcoming course dates and prices please refer to the Training Program . To enrol, complete the Enrolment Form or contact the college info@austchs.com or 07 3822 3228.
The Consequences of Non-Compliance
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in conjunction with the Queensland Government is embarking on the state's largest medium-sized business education and audit campaign to help keep workers safe from workplace injury and death. The campaign will specifically target medium-sized business. These businesses will be inspected to ensure they have effective workplace health and safety systems in place.
ACHS is continuously working to raise employers’ awareness of their obligations under current workplace health and safety legislation, which has prompted the question “What are the consequences of non compliance?”
When an employer fails to meet their obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 inspectors may use a range of compliance and enforcement measures including:
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- advice and information |
For further information about Enforcement Measures please refer to the WHSQ website.
Unsure of your obligations in regards to OH&S? Contact the college today to arrange a free Health Check.
Hear today.. Gone tommorrow
Reducing workplace noise is vital to safe work. Employers have a duty of care to ensure that the noise level in the workplace does not harm workers. Noise at the workplace is a major cause of hearing loss in Queensland.
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The effects of hearing loss can have a massive impact for not only the worker, but also their families, friends and co-workers. It contributes to social isolation, reduced quality of life, increased absenteeism, worker turnover and lowered work performance. It also can become a contributing factor to workplace injuries and accidents. |
Some early warning signs of hearing loss include:
- A ringing in the ears after noisy activity.
- Difficulty in understanding what people say, especially with background noise.
- The need to turn the volume up to hear the radio or television when others appear to hear adequately.
- Failing to hear background noises such as a ringing telephone or doorbell.
If your workplace puts you at risk of exposure to excessive noise or if you're experiencing any of the warning signs of hearing loss, inform your supervisor or health and safety representative. Once your hearing is gone, it’s gone for good.
For further information on managing noise in the workplace, refer to the Noise Code of Practice
Delivering the goods safely - Manual tasks in road freight.
The safe loading and unloading of trucks is an important step in preventing injury to workers and preventing damage to property. To encourage safe work practices the National Transport Commission has developed a Load Restraint guide for companies specialising in Freight Transport.
In addition to the Load Restraint Guide, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has run a series of free workshops throughout Queensland to provide information and education about managing manual task risks in the workplace. Aimed at owners, managers, supervisors, WHSO’s, Safety Reps and Safety Professionals, the workshops focused on preventing muscular and joint injuries particularly from loading and unloading vehicles.
Manual tasks include any activity requiring the person to; grasp, manipulate, strike, throw, carry, move (lift, lower, push or pull) hold, or restrain an object, load or body part. Such movements, if done incorrectly can cause a range of injuries, most commonly to the lower back, shoulders and knees.
Development and implementation of Manual Tasks Management Systems can prevent serious injury and help to eliminate risk. Training in correct Manual Handling techniques can help to educate workers in the dangers associated with these tasks.
The Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2000 can also provide guidance on how to manage the risks associated with manual tasks and the obligations of employers to provide an equal or enhanced level of protection.
Electrical Safety Codes of Practice.
The Electrical Safety Office Queensland has announced the New Electrical Safety code of practice for Risk Management, which came into effect 1 January 2010. The codes of practice support the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and give practical advice on how to meet your electrical safety obligations.
The code was developed to assist employers and electricians alike in meeting their individual electrical safety obligations, both in the workplace and when working with live electricity.
It is important to note, the codes of practice do not cover everything you should do to meet your electrical safety obligations. However, electrical contractors and workers would fail to meet their obligations if they:
- - went against or acted inconsistently with a code of practice.
- - did not adopt a method as safe as, or safer than, the code.
Frequently Asked Questions - G.I. Construction course
Can I still use my blue card?
Yes. You may still use your blue card to enter a construction site and conduct construction work. However, any new students completing the General Induction for Construction will now receive the new national competency CPCCOHS1001A Work safely in the construction industry White Card.
Will my Blue Card ‘run out’?
No. There are no current plans to put expiry dates on blue cards. The will remain valid under the new scheme.
Will my blue card still be recognised in other states?
Yes. General construction induction training completed by construction workers in QLD is mutually recognised in SA, NSW and VIC. WA will also recognise a card as long as it is under 3years old. TAS, NT and ACT have no legal requirement for construction induction training.
What happens if I lose my blue card?
If your current Blue Card is lost, destroyed or stolen you will need to contact the RTO with whom you originally undertook the course and arrange for a replacement card to be issued.
If I have a Blue Card can I RPL the new white card?
RPL should not be required as the blue card is still valid. If for some reason RPL is required please enquire with the college. Charges will apply.
Where can I get a new white card?
ACHS offers public courses for the CPCCOHS1001A Work safely in the Construction Iindustry white card at our Training Rooms at Wellington Point. Courses are held fortnightly on a Wednesday morning from 8.30am – 2.30pm. For a full list of up-coming course dates please refer to the training program on the college website www.austchs.com. Group bookings can also be conducted on your site.
Power tools for Reps
The WHS Act will shortly be amended to allow Qualified Safety Reps (QWHSR) to write Provisional Improvement Notices (PINS) to hand to their employer.
A QWHSR has to have undertaken course 30630QLD AND another, as yet unspecified (prob 3hr), course in writing notices. Ordinary WHSRs who have only undertaken the 30630QLD course will not be able to write PINS until they complete the additional top up course. This short top up will eventually become part of the 30630QLD course.
New BFSR - 2008
You may, or may not, be aware the new Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 came into affect in Queensland on 1 July 2008.
A couple of key points that readers will need to act upon at some stage.
S34 (1) Appointment of fire safety advisers for high occupancy buildings
“the occupier of a high occupancy building must appoint a person who holds a current building fire safety qualification as the Fire Safety Adviser for the building.”
This regulation uses the QLD WHSO criteria, so it is now a requirement that any business with 30 or more workers in any building is required to have a Fire Safety Advisor. This person will have to undergo a three day training course, the syllabus of which is yet to be approved by QFRS. ACHS will be applying for scope to conduct this course when the syllabus is released. FSA’s will need to be appointed and trained within the next twelve months.
Another section to note is S 36 regarding first response fire training. The old regulation stated a requirement for 12 monthly re-training. That requirement has been extended to 24 months.
Should you have any questions please contact us.
Workplace Health & Safety - Making it Work!
An employer must work with the Workplace Health and Safety Officer to ensure that legislative requirements are met and proper procedures and policies are implemented. This is often a complex and time consuming task resulting in; development of a safety management system, safe work procedures, risk and hazard management, task and site specific training, maintenance of plant and equipment registers, accident and reporting procedures, just to name a few.
The process of developing these procedures can often be viewed, by some, as a waste of time, the time utilized to prevent workplace injuries and accidents far outweighs the cost to employers relating to increased WorkCover/Insurance costs, Common Law Injury Claims and Public Liability Claims, not to mention the penalties involved when someone is injured in the workplace and little or no procedures are in place.
The old adage “It won't happen to me” should be viewed as a warning to employers to utilize the full potential of those appointed to Health and Safety roles to reduce the possibility of workplace incidents having an impact on all processes of the business.
Fatigue Management
Yawning? Rubbing your eyes? Have heavy eye lids?… these are all signs and symptoms of fatigue. Fatigue occurs when an individual does not obtain adequate rest or recovery from previous work periods. With society now living ‘24/7’, when you are heading home from work today, someone is off to work.
Fatigue is not something new, but if identified as a hazard in your workplace, it needs to be managed.
Did you know…?
- That if you work longer than 17 hours continual, your co-ordination and concentration is the same as having a .05 BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentrate) ….. Think about it, you can’t drive at that level, should you be at work?
- If you work 17-23 hours continual, you are equivalent to .1 BAC… well, I know where I would like to be, in bed!
- 8 hours sleep will ‘buy’ approximately 16 hours of wakefulness, so that’s 1 hour sleep for every 2 hours awake
- Fatigue is often implicated as a contributory factor in many workplace and commuting deaths especially after the 9th hour of work
Employers, employees, the union/s and the government all have a shared responsibility for managing the risks associated with fatigue.
