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Provide a safe working environment
  
 

Introduction

Occupational Health & Safety Legislation

Hazard Management Plans

Risk Management

Maintaining & Improving OHS Policies

OHS Administration

    

Workplace Safety Policies

The extent of the OHS standards in a workplace often depends on the attitude of senior managers. If they see OHS issues as important, the organization usually has a comprehensive approach. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true if a manager sees OHS initiatives as too expensive or unnecessary.

Policies and the Law

All current OHS procedures in a workplace should be validated against the legislative requirements to ensure that they comply. This process should be done regularly to ensure that your store's policies and related procedures are current.

The aim is to compare and contrast the legislation with your store procedures on health and safety in the workplace. During this process, make a note of any differences between what the legislation requires and what you are currently doing in your workplace. Any discrepancies should be addressed.

Essential OHS Policy Areas

Essential areas that your OHS policies and procedures should cover include:
  • First aid in the workplace
  • Hazardous substances
  • Manual handling
  • Fire and evacuation
  • Accident, injury and disease reporting
Check Your Store Procedures

Your OHS policies and related information should also include:
  • A copy of the OHS Act and associated regulations that apply to your workplace
  • Any relevant codes of practice


Activity Workplace OHS Policy


Codes of Practice and Guidelines

Codes of Practice and Guidelines highlight how to achieve the minimum standards when managing aspects of OHS. Codes of Practice and Guidelines give practical advice on:
  • how to deal with a particular hazard (eg manual handling)
  • how to complete a particular process safely (eg hygienic food preparation)
  • effective OHS management processes (eg injury recording).
Where there is no approved State or Territory Code of Practice, National Codes of Practice and Guidance documents can be used. Some examples of Codes of Practice include:

  • Prevention and management of occupational overuse syndrome
  • Manual handling
  • Safe use of compactors
  • Control of legionnaire's disease
  • Personal protective equipment
 Health & Safety Issues
Often the Codes of Practice are used as evidence during court proceedings. If the company is not seen to be complying with Codes of Practice, it can be viewed as a failure to meet their legal requirements.


Standards

Standards on the other hand describe the minimum acceptable level of quality, performance or technical specifications. They are designed to assist managers and employees to carry out specific tasks. Standards can refer to
  • hazard management
  • industrial processes
  • work practices
  • products.



   
Steering Documents for OHS Policy

Warning Signs

Warning signs must comply with the Standards that cover their:
  • size
  • shape
  • wording
  • colour
  • use
Today pictorial warning signs are widely used because they clearly and quickly communicate their message to everybody in the workplace. Warning signs may be displayed to:
  • prevent accidents
  • warn people of health and/or safety hazards
  • point out where emergency equipment is kept
  • tell workers where special safety equipment must be worn



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