Participate in OHS Process

EIS BCW1 01 0812 Participate in OHS Process
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Ethiopian TVET System
Basic Clerical Works Level I
Learning Guide
Unit of Competence: Participate In OHS Processes
Module Title : Participating In OHS Processes
MODULE Code: EIS BCW1 M01 0812

TTLM Code: EIS BCW1 01 0812
LO 1: Work Safely
LO 2: Implement Workplace Safety Requirements
LO 3: Participate In OHS Consultative Processes
LO 4: Follow Safety Procedures
PARTICIPATE IN OHS PROCESSES
Page 0 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

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This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to participate in
workplace occupational health and safety (OHS) processes to protect workers own health and
safety, and that of others.
ELEMENTS OF COMPETENCY:
1. Work safely
2. Implement workplace safety requirements
3. Participate in OHS consultative processes
4. Follow safety procedures
TTLM CODE: EIS BCW 01 0812
UNIT TITLE: Participate in OHS Processes
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to participate in
workplace occupational health and safety (OHS) processes to protect workers own health and
safety, and that of others.
Elements of Competency
1 Work safely
1.1 Follow established safety procedures when conducting work
1.2 Carry out pre-start systems and equipment checks in accordance with workplace
procedures
2 Implement workplace safety requirements

2.1 Identify designated persons for reporting queries and concerns about safety in the
workplace
2.2 Identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace, report them to designated
persons and record them in accordance with workplace procedures
2.3 Identify and implement workplace procedures and work instructions for controlling risks
2.4 Report emergency incidents and injuries to designated persons
3 Participate in OHS consultative processes

3.1 Contribute to workplace meetings, inspections or other consultative activities

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3.2 Raise OHS issues with designated persons in accordance with organizational procedures
3.3 Take actions to eliminate workplace hazards or to reduce risks
4 Follow safety procedures

4.1 Identify and report emergency incidents
4.2 Follow organizational procedures for responding to emergency incidents
1 WORKING SAFELY
In Australia there are approximately 500 work-related deaths and over 300,000 cases of work-
related injuries or disease every year. Such deaths and injuries have disastrous consequences for
the person involved, their families and their colleagues. They also result in a loss of production
for industry, and payouts in compensation.
Workplace accidents are not limited to the farming, construction, mining, transport and
manufacturing industries, however, many accidents occur within those industries – office
employees can also be victims of workplace accidents or workplace incidents.
All new employees can contribute to the health and safety of a workplace, in order to reduce the
number of workplace accidents and incidents.
1.1 Following safety procedures
ACTIVITY 1 Prepare a glossary of OHS terms and definitions.
OHS GLOSSARY
OHS
OHS legislation
OHS regulations
OHS standards
OHS policies
OHS procedures
PPE
MSDS

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Duty of Care
Hazard
Risk
Risk assessment
Hazard control
Risk control
Consultation
Incident register
Housekeeping
Manual handling
Noise pollution
Social and psychological hazards
Waste management
Biohazard
Workplace bullying
Your role in Workplace Health and Safety
Businesses in Australia must provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees,
customers, visitors and the general community. You must follow the workplace OHS policies
and procedures of your organisation. You have a responsibility to:
 Cooperate with OHS representatives

 Report any hazards to your supervisor
 Report any job-related injury or illness to your supervisor or health and safety
representative
 Understand and exercise your rights under OHS
 Wear personal protective clothing and equipment if appropriate
Workplace risks and hazards

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Risk in the workplace is the chance of something happening that will cause injury or damage.
Workplace hazards are those things in your workplace that pose a risk to you and/or your work
colleagues.
Hazards that office workers could be exposed to include anything that is a source of:
 Potential harm in terms of human injury or ill health

 Damage to property
 Damage to the environment
General sources of potential harm in an office may include:
 Cramped working conditions

 Extreme temperatures
 Inefficient fire and emergency procedures
 Lifting heavy loads
 Overwork or interpersonal issues
 Poor lighting
 Poorly designed workstations
In a medical setting, some sources of potential harm include:
 Blood
 Breakage/spillage
 Drug hold-ups
 Needle sticks
 Medical emergencies: eg. A fall, bleeding, a seizure, fainting, collapse, panic attack or
psychosis
 Spread of infection
 Potential sources of infection, such as:
o Breakages
o Contaminated waste
o Patients with colds, flu and other infectious diseases
o Sharps (needles and scalpel blades)
o Spillage
o Used dressings, bandages and equipment
o Unsterilized or poorly sterilised equipment and work surfaces
o Unwashed hands
You should become actively involved in your organisation and assist to identify hazards and then
eliminate or minimise the risk of harm they pose.
What you can do to prevent, eliminate or minimise risks and hazards
You can prevent, minimise and/or manage workplace risks and hazards by being alert to
potential hazards and reporting them to your supervisor and/or your organisation’s designated

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health and safety officers and/or representatives. If you are in a medical setting, you can talk
with doctors, nurses and/or the practice manager about safety issues.
You can also adopt safe work practices by following workplace policies and procedures, which
are based on laws that include regulations and standards. Your organisation must follow these
laws and regulations or else it will risk being fined or taken to court.
OHS legislation
Each state and territory in Australia has its own OHS legislation. There is a Commonwealth Act
covering Commonwealth employees. The OHS act in your state or territory describes the legal
requirements to ensure workplaces are kept safe and healthy including the following:
 Identify, assess, eliminate or control risks to health and safety

 Promote and maintain the health, safety and welfare of people at work
 Protect people at work from injury and illness
 Protect the health and safety of the public in workplaces
 Consult workers and encourage participation in maintaining workplace health and safety
 Provide rehabilitation and maximum recovery for injured workers
For example, the following table below shows the main OHS legislation in each state and
territory: Similarly, List the main OHS legislation in Ethiopia at Federal and regional level.
Region OHS legislation
Australia Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (Cth)
ACT (Australian Capital Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 (ACT)
Territory)
NSW (New South Wales) Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 (NSW)
NT (Northern Territory) Work Health Act 1986 (NT)
Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld)
South Australia (SA) Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 (SA)
Tasmania Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Tas)

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Victoria Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (Vic)
Western Australia (WA) Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (WA)
The table below lists the national, state and territory bodies responsible for OHS. Similarly, List
the main responsible bodies responsible for OHS in Ethiopia at Federal and regional level
Region OHS body Website
Australia Australian Safety and www.ascc.gov.au

Compensation Council (ASCC)
ACT ACT WorkCover www.workcover.act.gov.au
NSW WorkCover New South Wales www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
NT NT WorkSafe www.worksafe.nt.gov.au
Queensland WorkCover Queensland www.workcover.qld.gov.au
SA WorkCover SA ww.workcover.sa.gov.au
Tasmania WorkCover Tasmania www.workcover.tas.gov.au
Victoria WorkSafe Victoria www.workcover.vic.gov.au
WA WorkSafe www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
It is essential that you work in line with legislative requirements, Australian and industry
standards, and the relevant codes of practice.
OHS regulations
Every state in Australia has regulations that establish requirements, duties and procedures
applying to specific work areas. Some regulations apply to all workplaces and some apply to
specific industries.
Codes of practice
Codes of practice provide practical advice to organisations, employers and workers in specific
industries to help them meet their obligations. Codes of practice are developed through

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consultation involving industry representatives, employers, workers, professional associations

and relevant government agencies.
Workplace policies and procedures
A policy describes the overall approach the organisation has adopted toward a particular aspect
of its operation. A procedure is a set of instructions that an employee must follow to complete a
task effectively and/or safely, in a way that maximises efficiency and effectiveness. When you
are unsure of how to perform a task at work, your supervisor may expect you to access your
workplace procedures for information. A procedures manual may be available in printed form or
electronically on your organisation’s computer system and you should familiarise yourself with
this information.
OHS policy and procedures
OHS procedures are a set of instructions that have been developed to ensure all employees work
safely and effectively. OHS policies and procedures will include important information about:
 Use of personal protective clothing and equipment

 Personal presentation
 Standard precautions
 Safe handling of chemicals, poisons and dangerous materials, including material safety
data sheets (MSDS)
 Emergency, fire, accidents and drills
 General safety precautions
 Housekeeping
 Implementation of hazard identification and control systems
 Manual handling
 Staff development and training programs
 Waste management
 Workstations
 Emergency contact numbers
 OHS personnel
 Location of first aid equipment
 Selection, use and storage of personal protective equipment
 Information on local doctors, hospitals and ambulance services
Personal presentation
Employees in retail, health and hospitality may have to ensure they maintain a clean, neat and
tidy appearance and dress in a manner that is not likely to offend customers or patients, or risk
contamination. You may be required to wear a uniform. It is important that your clothing is
ironed, clean and kept in good condition. Jewellery and makeup should be kept to a minimum,
with long hair tied back neatly.

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Personal protective equipment
Some aspects of your work may require you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE
is clothing and equipment designed to protect workers from direct exposure to blood, body
fluids, and potentially infectious materials. PPE is provided by your workplace and you should
use PPE correctly to protect your own health and safety.
PPE may include:
 Overalls (to protect the body from grime and hazardous substances)
 Safety boots (to protect feet – compulsory on a construction site)
 Safety gloves (to protect hands against cuts, extreme hot and cold, chemicals and
poisons)
 Safety helmets (to protect the head against injury from falling objects)
 Respirators (to protect lungs where workers may be working in noxious atmospheres or
confined spaces)
 Ear muffs (to protect against industrial deafness)
ACTIVITY 2 Identify the PPE that would be most suitable for protecting the health and
safety of the employee.
Hazard PPE
Julia is preparing sandwiches for lunch in the board room
Sean is a laboratory technician handling chemicals
Carrie needs to deliver a handwritten phone message to workers

on a construction site
Martin is a nurse and he has to clean up a patient’s wound
Standard precautions
Standard precautions are work practices. In a medical environment standard precautions include
washing and drying hands before and after patient contact and exercising care when handling
sharps and contaminated or infectious waste.
Material safety data sheets
Organisations use a range of chemicals, hazardous substances and work-related equipment.

Workers in office environments may be exposed to chemicals (toners for a printer or
photocopier) that pose a risk to workplace health and safety if they are not used correctly.

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Manufacturers of chemicals and hazardous substances must provide material safety data sheets
(MSDS) to their customers. MSDS explain the correct storage, care and handling of
manufacturers’ products.
As an employee you have a responsibility to ensure you follow the MSDS instructions. You will
be given training on how you can use the information on the MSDS to assist with health and
safety in the workplace.
OHS in your workplace
When you start work you will receive an induction, where you will receive information about the
organisation and your conditions of employment and basic information about OHS. Other
information covered in an induction may include the following:
 Duty of care
 Employer duty of care
 Employee duty of care
 Fire and emergency procedures
 First aid facilities
 General work instructions
 Health and safety rules
 OHS committee and health and safety officers
 OHS training programs available in the workplace
 The organisation’s health and safety policy
 Risk management
 Personal protective equipment
Duty of care
Duty of care describes the legal obligation that individuals and organisations have towards
customers, visitors and each other in ensuring the workplace is kept safe. A person or
organisation is obliged to remove or minimise any possible cause of harm.
Employer duty of care
An employer must provide, as is practicably possible, a safe and hazard-free workplace for
employees. Your employer’s duty of care requires them to do the following:
 provide competent staff to manage and supervise the business

 provide sufficient staff to carry out the work safely
 provide and maintain a safe working environment and equipment
 provide information, instruction, training and supervision so you can perform your role
safely
Employee duty of care

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An employee’s responsibilities may vary depending on the type of work performed by your
organisation. You should clarify your duty of care with your supervisor. You may find it involves
some or all of the following:
 Being careful and look after your own safety

 Cooperating with your employer in their efforts to comply with their OHS responsibilities
 Ensuring customers and visitors are aware of any special OHS requirements
 Following all safety regulations and procedures in your workplace
 Never putting the safety of colleagues and others at risk
 Reporting hazards, accidents and injuries
 Taking care not to interfere with health and safety equipment
 Taking care not to deliberately endanger another’s safety
 Wearing personal protective equipment as required
1.2 Checking systems and equipment
At work you may be required to use a range of technology and equipment. Equipment can pose
a risk to health and safety if it isn’t in correct working order or used incorrectly.
Equipment and systems safety checks
As part of your daily routine you should check the various systems and equipment you will use
during the day and make sure it is in correct working order. You may need to perform this
checking procedure at the beginning of your working day or at specified intervals during the day.
Documenting equipment and systems safety checks
Records may need to be kept of regular safety checks carried out on medical instruments if you
work in a medical office. Maintenance records are kept for the equipment that is used to sterilise
instruments. Records would usually document information such as:
 Model and serial number of each steriliser

 Date of servicing
 Reason for the service request
 Maintenance performed and a description of the parts that were used
Equipment start up and operation procedures
Your workplace policies and procedures should include detailed information on how to clean,
start and operate machinery. You should receive training in the safe operation of this machinery
and equipment. You will be required to wear appropriate PPE including goggles, gloves,
hairnets, safety boots or shoe covers. It is your responsibility to ensure you wear the PPE
correctly.

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2 IMPLEMENTING SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Reporting OHS queries and concerns
Participating in OHS in your workplace involves asking questions and reporting concerns to
either your supervisor or specialised OHS personnel.
Your supervisor
If you are unsure about any aspect of your work it is important to ask questions. Your supervisor
has a duty of care toward you and they are responsible for identifying any risks and minimising
or eliminating those risks. Supervisors will generally appreciate your participating in workplace
health and safety.
OHS representatives
Staff can elect health and safety representatives to promote their interests with regards to OHS.
The role of an OHS representative is to:
 Investigate incidents and accidents

 Identify hazards
 Accompany government safety inspectors on inspections in the workplace
Health and safety officers
Health and safety officers have extensive experience in workplace safety, and expert knowledge
of legislation, regulations, codes of practice, equipment and work systems. They are employed by
the organisation and perform the following tasks:
 Analyse incident reports

 Assist in preparing standard operating procedures
 Conduct safety audits
 Coordinate fire and emergency responses
 Coordinate OHS training
 Inspect plant, equipment, processes and working methods
 Investigate accidents and incidents
 Provide advice on safety matters to supervisors and senior management
 Provide information to employees
 Provide specialist advice to the OHS committee
ACTIVITY 3 Complete the following table.

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Who is the OHS representative/health and safety

officer in your workplace?
What is their role and responsibilities?
2.2 Identifying, reporting and recording hazards
Hazard
A hazard is a source, or potential source, of human injury, ill health or disease.
A risk is the likelihood of a hazard resulting in an injury or disease, together with the seriousness
of the injury or disease; for example, electricity is a hazard, and there’s a risk that someone may
receive a shock if it is incorrectly wired or if wiring is exposed. A toxic chemical is a hazard,
and there’s a risk that a person may be poisoned, burned or suffer breathing problems if it is not
handled according to the manufacturer’s instructions and with the necessary PPE.
There are five types of hazards:
 Biological (bacteria, viruses, mould, mildew, spillages of blood or body fluids and waste,
needle stick injury, contaminated sharps, dressings and waste, fumes and insects)
 Chemical (acids or poisons and those that could lead to fire or explosion, cleaning
agents, materials and fumes, scheduled drugs and poisons)
 Mechanical and/or electrical (electricity and equipment, plant and machinery)
 Physical (floors, stairs, work platforms, steps, ladders, fire, falling objects, slippery
surfaces, manual handling, excessively loud and prolonged noise, vibration, radiation,
poor lighting, ventilation, hold-ups, threatening customers or patients)
 Psychological (workplace stressors arising from sources such as workplace bullying,
conflict and poor time management)
TYPES OF HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE
Area Hazard

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Surfaces Wet floor
Electrical Frayed electrical cords, incorrectly wired equipment, poorly

maintained equipment
Knives Poorly trained staff
Chemicals Incorrectly labelled or stored, lack of MSDS or appropriate PE
Training Insufficient induction or on-the-job training
Clothing Slippery soles on shoes
Work practices Shift work may lead to fatigue-related hazards
Manual handling Medical staff lifting patients
Imaging equipment in a Risk of exposure to chemicals and radiation

medical centre
ACTIVITY 4 Answer the following questions.
1. List five potential physical hazards that can exist in an office environment
2. List three potential chemical hazards that can exist in an office environment
3. List two potential psychological hazards that can exist in an office environment

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ACTIVITY 5 Read the following scenario, and writes down your answers to the questions.
James is 17 years old. He has just started working at a local stationery retailer. John, his team
leader carried out his induction training which took less than one hour. The induction included
a brief tour of the warehouse and storeroom.
During the induction, John explained to James that in the mornings he would serve customers at
the front counter. In the afternoon stationery products would have to be located to fill customers’
orders and then the items would have to be placed into cartons then transferred to the dock
where they would be picked up by the delivery driver.
On his first day at work, James filled the cartons which were very heavy. There was no-one to
help him lift them. He also could not see any equipment to move the cartons to the dock. He soon
became tired but did not want to make a bad impression on his first day by asking for help or
advice. Later in the day while carrying cartons, he felt a sharp pain in his back. He decided not
to tell his supervisor as he did not want to look like a trouble maker. He is now worried his back
will be too sore to work tomorrow.
Questions
What information should James have been given at his induction training?
What questions should James have asked his supervisor before starting work at the
warehouse?

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What specific advice should have been given to James before he started work in the
warehouse?
Should James report his workplace injury (strained back)?
Hazard identification
The hazard identification plan for your organisation may include the following:
 Analysing injury and illness records

 Analysing work processes
 Collecting information on trends and developments in workplace health and safety
 Consulting with OHS representatives and OHS committee members
 Gathering feedback from employees (consultation)
 Investigating workplace incidents and near-miss reports
 Performing inspections or safety audits
 Reviewing the potential impact of new work practices or equipment introduced at work
Workplace inspections
Workplace inspections are conducted on a regular basis with the assistance of the OHS
representative or health and safety officer. The purpose of these inspections is to identify the
health and safety hazards in the workplace before they cause harm.
ACTIVITY 6

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In groups of 3 or 4, select an area of the school (check with your teacher firstly). Identify
and explain two potential hazards observed in your area. Pay particular attention to
stairways, floors, hazardous materials/chemicals, electrical, lighting and ventilation, fire
extinguishers, machines, noise, first aid.
Draw up a table outlining the types of hazards you have identified and possible injuries.
2.3 Controlling risks
Risk assessment
Risk assessment involves:
 Identifying hazards
 Working out the chance of injury or damage occurring as a result of the hazard
 Working out the likely degree of seriousness of the injury or damage
 Finding the most appropriate method for managing that risk
Once a hazard has been identified, the next step is to assess the risk it poses. Your supervisor
may collaborate with OHS specialists to give priority to:
 Control or
 Eliminate the risk based on the likely degree of seriousness of the injury or damage
After a risk assessment is carried out, results should be recorded and employees affected by the
hazard should have access to this information.
Eliminating the risk
In your workplace you may be able to control some situations such as the following:
 Move objects that people may trip over

 Replace hazardous materials or equipment with less dangerous items
 Move files that are normally stored on high shelves to waist height
 Replace a manual-lifting task by using a hoist
 Help workers eliminate back strain by providing training in better posture and work breaks
Taking action

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Where you feel an immediate risk to health and safety, you should take action to protect your
colleagues and other people in the work environment. You may need to clean up a spill, turn off
the electricity, or shut down machinery to control an immediate hazard.
After a risk assessment your organisation may take the following actions to control risk in a
specific department or work team:
 Analyse existing work practices to find ways to make them safer

 Arrange fire or emergency response training and drills
 Coordinate workplace health and safety training
 Counsel employees about unsafe work practices
 Investigate an accident or incident
 Maintain or modify plant and equipment
 Revise or prepare standard operating procedures or manuals
 Purchase new equipment
Commonly used hazard signs and safety symbols
Signs and symbols are used to warn people of existing hazards, to inform them of the location of
safety equipment and give guidance in an emergency. The advantage of signs and symbols is
that everyone can interpret them, regardless of their literacy level or nationality.
ACTIVITY 7

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Complete the table below.
SIGN WHAT THE SIGN MEANS
2.4 Reporting emergency incidents and injuries

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Incident reports
All employees are required by law to report hazards, emergency incidents and injuries that occur
in the workplace. An incident report form should be completed and submitted to the supervisor
as soon as possible.
Incident reports provide an organisation with information on the types of injuries occurring in the
workplace and their causes. These can then be investigated and steps taken to eliminate or
minimise the risk of the incident occurring.
The following is an example of an incident report form.
WORKPLACE INCIDENT REPORT Report no:
Surname: First name:
Address:
Telephone no: Mobile no:
Date of injury: Time:
Details of injury:
Describe the circumstances of the accident:
Description of accident by witness:
Signature of witness: (please also print name) Date:
When was the injury reported? Date: Time:

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Who was the injury reported Name: Position:

to?
Details of action by management:
Date ceased work: Time ceased work:
Total time lost (days, hours, minutes):
Details of preventative measures taken (to be completed by OHS representative):
Signed: Date:
ACTIVITY 8
Read the following scenario and complete the incident form supplied.
You have been working as an administrative officer at Carswell and Sons. On Tuesday this
week you were working in the store room with a colleague (Jane Preston) and climbed onto a
wobbly stool to reach some folders on the top shelf. You fell to the floor, twisting your ankle
and also hurting your back. The first aid officer immediately applied ice and put your ankle up.
A short time later the ambulance was called because your foot started to swell up. The
ambulance officer said you had sprained your ankle and you ended up taking a day off work to
rest your ankle. The stool has since been replaced with a more stable, single step box. You
decide that everything is all right and you return to work on Thursday.
WORKPLACE INCIDENT REPORT Report no:

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Surname: First name:
Address:
Telephone no: Mobile no:
Date of injury: Time:
Details of injury:
Describe the circumstances of the accident:
Description of accident by witness:
Signature of witness: (please also print name) Date:
When was the injury reported? Date: Time:
Who was the injury reported Name: Position:

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to?
Details of action by management:
Date ceased work: Time ceased work:
Total time lost (days, hours, minutes):
Details of preventative measures taken (to be completed by OHS representative):
Signed: Date:
OHS incidents
An OHS incident is any accident or event that occurs in the workplace that involves:
 Dangerous occurrences that could have but didn’t injure any person
 Disabling injuries
 Exposure to hazardous substances or circumstances
 Minor injuries
 Occupational illnesses
 Serious equipment, plant or property damage
 Uncontrolled fire and explosions
 Any other serious incident that could put employees, visitors, contractors or customers at
risk
There are five categories of incidents you may have to report on:
1. near miss – an accident in which a person just avoids being injured

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2. damage to plant or equipment – a serious occurrence but one in which no-one is

hurt
3. minor injury – this could highlight a more serious safety problem
4. major injury – a serious incident
5. work-related travel injury – occurs while a worker is travelling to or from work
Reporting serious injuries
By law the types of injuries that must be reported include:
 injury that results in the death of an employee

 fracture of the skull, spine or pelvis
 fracture of any bone in the arm (not wrist or hand) and leg (not ankle or foot)
 loss of sight
 injury resulting in a likely absence from work of 10 or more days
Incident report processes
When a hazard, accident, emergency or incident occurs, your immediate priority is to take action
to prevent further people from being hurt.
This may involve:
 barricading the area

 contacting security, the fire warden or a health and safety officer
 telephoning emergency services
 administering first aid or medical treatment, if you have the appropriate knowledge and
skills
3 PARTICIPATING IN OHS PROCESSES
3.1 Contributing to meetings, inspections and consulting activities
Consultation
Consultation is the term used to describe the process of gathering information, sharing ideas and
giving feedback.
Your organisation will undertake consultation with you and your work colleagues regarding
OHS issues including:

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 Changes to policies, work practices and procedures

 Changes to premises, plant or substances used at work
 Conducting workplace risk assessments
 Incorporating new health and safety requirements imposed by legislation, regulations and
codes of practice
 Making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for the health and safety of workers
 Making decisions about the organisation’s consultative procedures
 Reviews of policies, procedures and work practices
 Risk control
Methods used for consultation purposes include:
 Appointing OHS representatives and providing them with reasonable access to you and
your work colleagues during working hours
 Involving you in workplace inspections and/or asking for your comments and feedback
during workplace inspections
 Involving you in risk assessments and/or asking for your comments and feedback during
risk assessments
 Ensuring that OHS is included on the agenda, and encouraging you to discuss OHS at
regular team meetings
 Forming an OHS committee, and providing OHS committee members with reasonable
access to workers during working hours
 Asking you for your comments and feedback during informal conversations
OHS representatives
Part of the OHS representative’s role is to consult with employees on workplace health and
safety.
Contributing to OHS consultation
OHS issues may be raised in team meetings. Discussion may cover the following:
 Recent workplace incidents

 Production time lost to workplace injuries
 New practices to improve workplace health and safety
 Hazards that have been identified
 Minutes of OHS committee meetings
OHS committees

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An OHS committee must be established when the majority of employees request one or when the
organisation employs 30 or more staff.
OHS committees identify health and safety problems, consult with workers and make
recommendations to improve health and safety in the workplace, and monitor and report on OHS
performance.
3.2 Raising OHS issues
Communicating about OHS
The first step in reporting an OHS issue is to decide the best person to advise. Your supervisor
will generally be your first point of contact on OHS issues; however your induction should
include advice on the standard communication channel for reporting OHS issues.
How to report OHS issues
You should advise your supervisor or other appropriate OHS staff by speaking to them in person.
When reporting an OHS issue you should remember to do the following:
 Explain the issue clearly

 Refer to any evidence you have
 Make a suggestion on how to solve any problems raised
 Follow this up with a formal notification eg. Email
 Check with your supervisor or OHS specialist on whether this incident should be
recorded
ACTIVITY 9
Write a memo, using the template below to the OHS representative raising hazards you
previously identified in ACTIVITY 6.
MEMORANDUM

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TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:

____________________________________________________________________________________
Feedback
Your supervisor or other appropriate OHS personnel should report back to you on issues you
have raised previously with them. If this fails to happen you should talk to your supervisor once
more.
3.3 Taking action to eliminate hazards and risks
How to eliminate hazards and control risks
Hazards may be dealt with in the following ways:
 Substituting the hazard with a hazard that poses less risk of harm
 Isolating the hazard from the person at risk
 Minimizing the risk by engineering means
 Using administrative means to minimize the risk
 Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
 Eliminate tripping or slipping hazards
Other ways OHS risks can be controlled in an organization include:
 Keeping work areas clean

 Following correct procedures
 Storing chemicals appropriately
 Using correct manual-handling procedures
 Managing noise pollution appropriately
 Preventing slips, trips and falls
 Preventing social and psychological hazards
ACTIVITY 10
Make suggestions of possible methods of eliminating, reducing or preventing the

hazards/risks raised previously in ACTIVITY 6.
HAZARD REMEDY

____________________________________________________________________________________
Housekeeping
Each organisation has a housekeeping policy which covers general cleaning and presentation of
the workplace including reception and waiting areas. As an employee you should become
familiar with this policy and understand your responsibilities.
Stock requiring special handling
Some stock may require special handling and storage so employees must observe the correct
procedures and any legislative requirements. Flammable goods must be sealed in metal
containers or cupboards, with restricted access.
Storing chemicals
Chemicals may be hazards because they may be:
 Poisonous
 Flammable
 Explosive
 An oxidising agent or corrosive
 A combination of these properties
Chemical hazard may include:
 Industrial cleaners used by cleaning staff

 Printer or copy-machine cartridges
 Glass-and-surface cleaner
 Antibacterial soaps
 Furniture polish
Waste management
Organisations have specific workplace procedures to advise staff on the correct handling, storage
and disposal of waste. Waste is a biohazard which is any organism, or material of biological
origin, that causes harm to humans, plants, animals or the environment.
Manual handling
Manual handling is any work-related physical task or activity, effort or movement such as:
 Lifting heavy boxes

 Holding, lowering, pushing or restraining an object or a load
Manual handling is the major cause of injury in workplaces as people often lift or push items that
are too heavy or too high up, without using the proper techniques.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Injuries caused by manual handling include:
 Hernia
 Neck and back injury
 Occupational overuse syndrome
 Slips, falls and crush incidents
 Strained heart muscles
 Strains and sprains
ACTIVITY 11
Make 5 suggestions of ways to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Noise pollution
Too much noise can result in a lack of concentration, errors and a loss of communication
between workers. If you feel that the noise in your work area poses a hazard to health and
safety, you should notify your supervisor or OHS specialist.
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls in workplaces can be caused from uneven and slippery floors, items left in
walkways or electrical cords on the floor.
Social and psychological hazards
Social and psychological hazards include those that affect your emotional, psychological and/or
social wellbeing. The most common of these hazards is stress. Causes of stress include:
 Lack of variety in work tasks

 Lack of independence
 Not enough feedback from supervisors or managers
 Poor ability to interact with other people
 Harassment and bullying
 Insufficient personal satisfaction in the work
 Not enough training opportunities
 Being overworked or not having enough to do

____________________________________________________________________________________
Workplace bullying
Many organisations that have failed to prevent bullying have been prosecuted. Reported effects
of bullying include:
 Stress, anxiety and tension

 Feelings of social isolation at work
 Loss of confidence and self-esteem
 Loss or deterioration of personal relationships
 Headaches, backaches, stomach cramps, depression
 Deterioration of work performance
Any incidents of bullying should be recorded in a diary, noting the date, time and location of the
incident and any comments or behaviour by the other party. If you are being bullied you should
ask the person bullying you to stop the behaviour. If they fail to do this, you should then refer the
matter to your supervisor or OHS specialist. If you feel threatened you should immediately refer
the matter to appropriate personnel. The police may also be notified.
4 FOLLOWING SAFETY PROCEDURES
4.1 Identifying and reporting emergency incidents
Emergency incidents may involve employees or visitors to the organisation such as suppliers,
contractors, customers and members of the public. Types of emergencies include:
 Acts of terrorism
 Bomb threats
 Environmental threats including spills
 Explosions
 Fire
 Hold-ups
 Medical emergencies
 Motor vehicle accidents
 Natural disasters including flooding
 Toxic release
Reporting emergency incidents
All employees are required to report hazards and emergency incidents that occur in the
workplace, in the form of a verbal report and completing a hazard or incident report. Many
organisations conduct regular drills where staff practise responding to an emergency.
Immediate response
In emergency situations it is important to act quickly to protect your personal safety and safety
and health of other people around you.

____________________________________________________________________________________
An emergency should be reported to an appropriate person or department including the

following:
 Communications officer
 Emergency services (police, ambulance, fire service)
 Fire warden
 First aid officers
 Floor wardens
 Health and safety officer
 Internal security staff
 OHS representative
 Owner-manager
 supervisor
Making emergency calls
To report an emergency you will need to know:
 a telephone number for the organisation

 the address of your workplace
 the nature of the emergency
 the nearest cross street to your workplace
 whether people are trapped or injured
ACTIVITY 12
On the table below, write down whether each of the scenarios describe an emergency situation.
SCENARIO IS THIS AN EMERGENCY

SITUATION
You are running late to open the office
The photocopier jams while you are copying documents for a

meeting
People are trapped in an elevator
A patient is threatening a nurse with a syringe, and demanding to see

a doctor immediately
You can smell smoke coming from the storeroom
You have opened a mail item that contains white powder
4.2 Following organisational procedures for responding to incidents

____________________________________________________________________________________
Emergency manual
An emergency manual describes emergency procedures and fire-safety precautions within the
organisation, and guides those who are required to take action to protect lives and property.
Accidents
Accidents are events that result in human injury or damage to property or have the potential to
cause injury or damage.
Accidents may be the result of:
 careless staff
 fault, incorrect or unstable equipment
 inappropriate work spaces
 incorrectly stored items
 lack of safety precautions
 lack of training
 lack of use of personal protective equipment
 obstructions over exits
 poor maintenance of equipment
 poor supervision
 rushing to get a job done
Preventing accidents
Accident prevention involves ensuring all equipment and fixtures are organised, checked
frequently and maintained. Many organisations use a ‘breakdown and maintenance’ checklist or
register to record breakdowns and to make sure repairs are carried out promptly. Slips, trips and
falls are a common cause of injuries in the workplace. Notify your supervisor or health and
safety officer of any issues regarding flooring in your work environment. Substances that have
spilled on the floor are significant hazards. Lighting can also be a hazard. If an area is poorly lit
you should notify your supervisor.
Responding to an accident
In the event of accidents, take immediate action to prevent further injuries occurring, give first
aid if you are qualified to do so and get assistance from:
 colleagues
 customers
 emergency services
 a health and safety officer
 members of the public
 security staff
 your supervisor

____________________________________________________________________________________
Evacuation
An organisation will have developed an evacuation plan and will conduct regular emergency
drills. A well-written evacuation plan will cover:
 fire procedures
 bomb-threat procedures
 clearance of all people in the building
 assembly of everyone at evacuation meeting points
 checking of names of all evacuated individuals
Bomb threat
A bomb threat may be received via telephone, in written format or as a suspect object. Your
organisation will have a bomb-threat checklist that is kept in close proximity to each telephone.
If you receive a telephone bomb threat, keep the caller talking (don’t hang up at any time), and
note as many details as possible.
You should record the following:
 details of speech, accent, delivery and background noises

 exact wording of the threat
 gender and other details of the caller, such as estimated age
 location of the device
 time of detonation
Safety alarms
Alarms should never be ignored. Most alarms have an audible (sound) and/or visible warning
that something is wrong. An audible alarm could be a siren, hooter or bell. The visible
component may be a flashing light.
Service failure
Service failures can include interruptions to the supply of communications, electricity or water.
Your supervisor or workplace procedures manual may have advice on what to do. You will need
to refer to a telephone directory or Internet site to get information on reporting the interruption to
your service provider.
Toxic or noxious fumes
In situations where a spill is emitting toxic or noxious fumes you should:
 call emergency services on 000 and ask for the fire service
 notify the fire warden for your department
 provide as much information as possible about the hazardous material to the emergency
services contact
 open windows and doors to ventilate the area

____________________________________________________________________________________
 ask all people on the premises to evacuate

 assist with the evacuation to the assembly area
 remain at the assembly area until advised by emergency services
ACTIVITY 13
Find out if your workplace or place of study has safety procedures in place for dealing
with:
1. handling cash
2. armed hold-ups
3. reporting a ‘security event’ such as theft or attempted break in
PART A: WRITTEN ASSESSMENT
Question 1: Case Study
Read the following case study then describe the actions you would perform to be ready to
complete your supervisor’s request.
You are employed as an administration officer in a sales department. The annual sales
conference is being held next week and your supervisor is responsible for coordinating this
event. The supervisor has asked you to attend a meeting at the conference venue tomorrow,
along with the events manager. She wants you to bring a laptop and set it up ready to take the
minutes of the meeting.
What will you do at the venue to make sure your equipment is set up correctly and ready
for you to perform your work safely?

____________________________________________________________________________________
Read the following case study. Write down your answers to the questions.
Karen is a receptionist and being the first person to arrive at the office every morning, she is
responsible for unlocking the doors. The always hurts her hand on the door when opening it as
the key hole is too close to the doorjamb. She finds it hard to reach the wall socket behind the
bookcase where the photocopier is plugged in. The noise of the photocopier is loud as it is
located right next to her workstation and there are other staff positioned close also. Their
concentration is often disturbed. When Karen tries to retrieve a file from the top drawer of the
filing cabinet, she has to slide it open a little, then quickly turn the key to lock the other drawers
so they don’t all slide out and tip the cabinet over.
1. What are the hazards and risk in Karen’s work environment?
2. Who should Karen report her concerns to?
3. What process should Karen follow if an incident occurs where the cabinet
drawer slides open and hits her work colleague on the knee, cutting her leg?
Read the following case study. Write down your answers to the questions.

____________________________________________________________________________________
You started working as an administration officer two months ago. You enjoy work and get on
with the people you work with. You are also learning many new and interesting tasks.
However, you have a concern about the volume of work you have to complete each day. You
are required to process a large number of sales orders and invoices each day. Your supervisor
receives a report at the end of each day that identifies the number of orders and invoices
processed by each staff member.
You have worked through your lunch break every day and often staying back an extra hour each
afternoon to complete the necessary quota. You overheard your supervisor reprimanding a
colleague for not meeting their target and you don’t want to get into trouble as well.
You are finding that you lose concentration as you are driving home each day. Yesterday you
drove through a red light. You suspect you are overtired, and think you need to do something
about your situation.
1. What are the hazards you are facing?
2. Who can you talk to about your concerns?
3. What action would you take to eliminate the hazard?

____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What action could you take to contribute to OHS in your workplace to ensure
others are not subject to similar hazards and risks?
Read the following case study then write down your answer to the question.
Harry works as an information officer at Maryborough City Council, a job he has held for the
last six weeks. He works on the 5 th floor of the building. He is very happy with the amount of
work he has done today. Raj, a Year 10 work experience student from Aldridge State High
School, has been helping him with his filing. Julie, Harry’s supervisor, has told Raj and Harry
that she is happy for them to listen to Raj’s iPod, while she is away on her lunch break.
Raj is standing on a carton, so that he can reach the top shelf. He notices smoke coming from one
of the windows in the storeroom. He is pretty sure the storeroom is locked – Julie usually takes
the key with her when she goes to lunch.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES IN THE CASE OF FIRE FOR

MARYBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL
 Assist people in immediate danger

 Warn others by shouting ‘fire, fire, fire’ and raise the alarm, if it’s not already sounding,
and telephone 000
 Decide if you can put the fire out. If you are not sure, don’t attempt to put it out.
 Don’t attempt to use a fire extinguisher if you have never been instructed on how to use
one
 If you can put the fire out then do so, if not, proceed to evacuate the building
 If you hear the fire alarm ringing, you must prepare to evacuate the building:
o Switch off all computers, printers and electrical appliances
o Close all windows and doors

____________________________________________________________________________________
o Gather your personal belongings in preparation to immediately evacuate the

building
o Help other people in the room
o Evacuate the building and proceed to your building assembly area
o Walk quickly, but don’t run
 If you have to move through a closed door that you cannot see through:
o Feel the door to see if it is hot
o Look for smoke coming under the door
o Open the door slowly and look around it to see if there’s a fire behind it
o If there is no fire on the other side, go through and close the door behind you
o Move to the assembly area as quickly as possible
 Report to your floor warden that you (or your group) is there and if you know of anyone
trapped in the building
 Remain in the assembly area until you are informed that you may leave or move by either
the building warden or a member of the emergency services
Describe the actions Harry and Raj should take to deal with this emergency situation. Include any
procedures they need to follow. You will need to refer to the emergency evacuation procedures above.
PART B: TEACHER OBSERVATION CHECKLISTS

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

____________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the activities you completed that demonstrate how you developed the following
employability skills while completing this unit.
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO DEVELOP THE

EMPLOYABILITY SKILL
Communication
Teamwork
Planning and organising
Initiative and enterprise
Problem-solving
Self-management
Technology
Learning
EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS SAFETY CHECKS

EQUIPMENT SAFETY CHECK
SEATING Make sure you are positioned in front of your computer and you
can reach your keyboard comfortably
COMPUTER MONITOR The monitor should be positioned out of direct sunlight. Maintain
a dust-free environment.
DUST Equipment shouldn’t be dusty. Dust can cause problems in the

monitor or central processing unit of a computer.
CABLES Make sure cables are correctly secured so no-one trips over them.
SUNLIGHT Use blinds and window coverings to reduce glare and heat at your
workstation.
TEMPERATURE As a general guide, temperatures should not exceed 26° and

humidity should be maintained in the range of 50% to 70%.

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EIS BCW1 01 0812 Participate in OHS Process

Ethiopian TVET System

Basic Clerical Works Level I

MODULE Code: EIS BCW1 M01 0812

LO 2: Implement Workplace Safety Requirements

LO 3: Participate In OHS Consultative Processes

LO 4: Follow Safety Procedures

PARTICIPATE IN OHS PROCESSES

Page 0 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

TTLM CODE: EIS BCW 01 0812

UNIT TITLE: Participate in OHS Processes

2 Implement workplace safety requirements

2.4 Report emergency incidents and injuries to designated persons

3 Participate in OHS consultative processes

Page 1 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

3.3 Take actions to eliminate workplace hazards or to reduce risks

4 Follow safety procedures

4.2 Follow organizational procedures for responding to emergency incidents

1.1 Following safety procedures

ACTIVITY 1 Prepare a glossary of OHS terms and definitions.

Page 2 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

Social and psychological hazards

Your role in Workplace Health and Safety

 Cooperate with OHS representatives

Workplace risks and hazards

Page 3 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

 Potential harm in terms of human injury or ill health

 Cramped working conditions

In a medical setting, some sources of potential harm include:

What you can do to prevent, eliminate or minimise risks and hazards

Page 4 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

 Identify, assess, eliminate or control risks to health and safety

Region OHS legislation

Australia Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (Cth)

NT (Northern Territory) Work Health Act 1986 (NT)

Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld)

Tasmania Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Tas)

Page 5 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

Victoria Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (Vic)

Region OHS body Website

Australia Australian Safety and www.ascc.gov.au

ACT ACT WorkCover www.workcover.act.gov.au

NSW WorkCover New South Wales www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

Queensland WorkCover Queensland www.workcover.qld.gov.au

Tasmania WorkCover Tasmania www.workcover.tas.gov.au

Victoria WorkSafe Victoria www.workcover.vic.gov.au

Page 6 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

consultation involving industry representatives, employers, workers, professional associations

Workplace policies and procedures

OHS policy and procedures

 Use of personal protective clothing and equipment

Page 7 of 39 Queens’ College TTLM Development

Personal protective equipment

PPE may include:

Julia is preparing sandwiches for lunch in the board room

Sean is a laboratory technician handling chemicals

Carrie needs to deliver a handwritten phone message to workers

Martin is a nurse and he has to clean up a patient’s wound