You must also take responsibility for looking after your own health and safety, and not put others at risk.

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1 Welcome to the General Module of Your first job, whether it's full-time, part-time, casual or an apprenticeship, can be an exciting and demanding experience as new responsibilities and expectations are placed on you. Common hazards exist in many work places. It is important to learn about these hazards, and how they can be controlled so that people at work are not exposed to risk. This module contains information on: 1. Introducing Health and Safety Responsibilities 2. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control 3. Manual Handling 4. Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods 5. Noise 6. Electricity 7. Mechanical Equipment 8. Personal Safety 9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 10. Dealing with an Emergency 11. Health and Safety Laws 12. Duties of Employers 13. Duties of Employees 14. Health and Safety Representatives and Committees 15. The Role of Inspectors 16. Resolving Health and Safety Issues 17. The Right to Refuse Work. will help you understand occupational health and safety hazards and laws, and will provide some practical solutions to common health and safety problems. 1. Introducing Health & Safety Responsibilities Employers provide students with valuable opportunities to gain experience in the work place. It is important to understand that employers have responsibilities towards you, and that you also have responsibilities towards them. While you are at a work place completing structured work place learning or for work experience, the employer is responsible for ensuring the work place is safe and that your health and safety are not placed at risk in any way. You must also take responsibility for looking after your own health and safety, and not put others at risk. Health and safety at work is everyone's responsibility.

2 The key responsibilities for work place health and safety are set out by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (OHS Act). This Act is supported by various Regulations, including the Manual Handling Regulations 1999, Noise Regulations 1992, Plant Regulations 1995, Hazardous Substances Regulations 1999, Incident Notification Regulations 1997, Issue Resolution Regulations Victoria s other principal piece of OHS legislation is the Dangerous Goods Act This Act is supported by the Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Regulations Because an employer has control and management of the work place, they have the primary responsibility for ensuring it is safe. Employees must also take responsibility for looking after their own health and safety, and must not place others at risk by their actions (or by any failure to act which could result in an accident or incident). Young workers are usually keen to work hard and do well. They also have a much higher risk of being injured at work than older workers. WorkSafe believes one reason so many young workers are injured is that they are not made aware of their rights to be properly trained, supervised, cared for and provided with a safe and healthy working environment. 2. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control Each year in Victoria, many people are injured and some die as a result of accidents in the work place. WorkSafe aims to protect people in work places from occupational injury and disease. Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control are three key steps in the process used in work places to manage health and safety. Section 21 of the OHS Act 1985 makes it compulsory for employers in all work places to provide and maintain, so far as is practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health. Under each hazard-based OHS Regulation (such as those dealing with Plant, Noise or Manual Handling), it is the duty of employers to identify hazards and assess and control risks. The three ThinkSafe Steps (Spot the hazard, Assess the risk and Make the changes) are a simple way of expressing these three key steps. At work you can use the ThinkSafe steps to help prevent accidents and injuries. Using the ThinkSafe steps Spot the hazard First of all, what is a hazard? A hazard is anything that could hurt you or someone else. Each day, you will be around many different hazards. For example, while on work experience you may notice badly frayed electrical cords, which are a hazard as they could result in electric shock or electrocution if they are not fixed.

3 Use all your senses to spot hazards while on work experience. Look around, listen, notice any strange smells (like smoke or chemicals) and use your knowledge about things that might be dangerous. You could talk to your work experience supervisor or your teacher about likely hazards while on work experience. Assess the risk Assessing the risk means working out how likely it is that a hazard will harm someone, and how serious the harm could be. Whenever you spot a hazard, assess the risk by asking yourself two questions: How likely is the hazard to harm me or someone else? How badly could I or someone else be harmed? To help decide which hazards are the most likely to cause serious harm on work experience, talk to your work experience supervisor or teacher. Always tell someone about hazards you can't fix yourself. It is more urgent to make the changes if a hazard could kill someone or hurt someone badly. For example, it is very likely a young person using a power tool might be hurt if they are not given instructions and training on how to use it correctly. If you are not sure of the safest way to do something on work experience, always ask your work experience supervisor. Make the changes Make the changes means telling someone who is able to fix it. It is your employer's responsibility to fix hazards. Sometimes you may be able to fix simple hazards yourself, provided you don t put yourself or others at risk. For example, you can pick up things from the floor and put them away to eliminate a trip hazard. If you have any concerns, tell your supervisor or employer about the hazard. The best way to fix the hazard is to get rid of it altogether. This is not always possible, but your employer should seek to make hazards less dangerous by looking at these options for controlling their risks (most effective to least effective): Elimination - Whenever possible, the hazardous item or substance or work practice should be removed. For example, you can help by reporting any damaged equipment to your supervisor while on work experience so it can be fixed. Substitution - Sometimes a less hazardous thing, substance or work practice can be used. For example, there may be a non-toxic glue that can do the job just as well as a glue which presents toxic risks to the user.

4 Isolation - The hazard can be separated from people, by marking the hazardous area, fitting screens or putting up safety barriers. For example, welding screens can be used to isolate welding operations from other workers. Another practical example is placing a physical barrier and/or marking a boundary line where forklifts operate, to separate forklifts from pedestrians in the work place. Safeguards - Safeguards can be added by modifying tools or equipment, or fitting guards to machinery. These are called engineering risk controls. They must never be removed or disabled by workers using the equipment for which they have been designed. Instructing workers in the safest way to do something - Developing and enforcing safe work procedures to reduce the risk of injury or harm. Students on work experience must be instructed in procedures and must follow instructions to ensure their safety. Using personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE). If risks remain after these options have been tried, or to increase the level of protection, it may be necessary to provide PPE for the worker. For example, you should wear safety glasses and gloves when handling hazardous chemicals, a safety helmet on a construction site and hearing protection in a noisy environment. Sometimes, more than one of these measures should be used to reduce the exposure to hazards. There are situations where you can make the changes yourself provided you do not put yourself or others at risk, eg. picking up things from the floor and putting them away to eliminate a trip hazard. Sometimes it isn't possible for you to take direct action. If you have any concerns, tell your supervisor or employer about the hazard. 3. Manual Handling Manual handling is not just about lifting heavy objects. It includes any activity requiring the use of force by a person to lower, push, pull, hold or restrain a person, animal or thing. Placing boxes and other items on shelves, painting, gardening, cleaning, writing and typing are some examples of manual handling tasks. Manual handling injuries are referred to as musculoskeletal disorders and they include: strains and sprains neck and back injuries slips, falls and crush incidents cuts, bruises and broken bones hernia occupational overuse syndrome (OOS), once known as repetitive strain injury (RSI). People who sustain a manual handling injury at work may spend the rest of their lives coping with pain, and be unable to do a lot of things other people can do. As a young worker, you are more likely to be injured through manual handling activity than an older worker.

5 You should be informed and trained in: safe manual handling methods specific manual handling hazards safe work procedures use of any required manual handling aids the right to ask for help. Most manual handling injuries to young people can be prevented by designing the task to minimise risk. Instruction, training and supervision are essential to ensure that the hazards are recognised and safe work methods used. Employers, with the help of employees, should prepare safe work procedures to care for the special needs of young and inexperienced workers. Even though you may be young and new to the job, as a young employee you have a responsibility to speak up - talk to your supervisor - if you feel your job is too heavy, too difficult, too tiring or puts you at risk of injury. It is the employer's responsibility to provide you with safe work procedures, and with instruction, training and supervision for manual handling tasks. Ways to reduce the risk: lighten loads (break loads into smaller quantities) reduce bending, twisting and reaching movements use team lifting use mechanical assistance (e.g. trolleys and adjustable height workbenches and seating) prevent muscle strain and fatigue. This includes warming up before working, setting aside time for rest breaks, and allowing time to gradually get used to a new task. Slippery floors Slippery and uneven floors in the work place are a serious hazard and can result in far more serious accidents than simply slipping or falling over. For example, in food preparation areas, young people have received burns when they have accidentally pulled pots of hot liquid onto themselves as they have fallen to the floor. Floors should be cleaned regularly so that oil, fat and other spills do not create an unsafe surface. Employers must ensure that floors are even, slip resistant and free from any obstruction that could cause an employee to trip or fall. 4. Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Effects of hazardous substances and dangerous goods depend on the type of substance, what it is made of, how it enters the body, the quantity that enters the body, and its immediate physical or chemical effect. Your work place may use a lot of different hazardous substances and dangerous goods. Some may be things you see every day such as paint, glue, cleaning liquid and powders.

6 A hazardous substance can be any substance, whether solid, liquid or gas, that may cause harm to your health. Dangerous goods are substances that may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, spontaneously combustible, toxic, oxidising, or water-reactive. Th ey must be identified in the work place (and when being transported) by a coloured diamond symbol. Hazardous substances are classified only on the basis of health effects, whether acute (immediate) or chronic (longer term). Dangerous goods are classified on the basis of immediate physical or chemical effects, such as fire, explosion, corrosion and poisoning. An incident involving dangerous goods has the potential to seriously affect property or the environment. Not all hazardous substances are dangerous and vice-versa. Many hazardous substances however, are also classified as dangerous goods. Harm to health may occur suddenly (acute), such as dizziness, nausea and itchy eyes or skin; or it may occur gradually over years (chronic), such as dermatitis or cancer. Some people can be more susceptible than others. We use hazardous substances and dangerous goods almost every day of our lives. It may be antiseptic for a cut, paint for the walls, or a cleaning product for the bathroom or toilet. They may seem harmless, but even these ordinary things can make you very sick if they are used incorrectly. It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with safe work procedures for handling hazardous substances and dangerous goods, and to provide information, training and supervision. First aid treatment for hazardous substances and dangerous goods should be part of your training. Material Safety Data Sheet A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides detailed information about a hazardous substance or dangerous good. It gives more details than a label. Manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are legally required to provide MSDSs for use by your employer. It is important that hazardous substances and dangerous goods in work places are used strictly according to the manufacturer s or supplier's written instructions, any risk controls specified by the MSDS and the procedures developed by the work place. Remember: follow safe work procedures always correctly wear the appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing provided by your employer do not eat, drink or smoke while working with a hazardous substance or dangerous goods do not keep food or drink near the substance wash your hands and face and ot her exposed areas with soap and water before going to the toilet or eating and drinking read the MSDS before using the substance.

7 5. Noise When someone loses their hearing, it can be devastating for them and annoying for others around them. People with poor hearing are often left out of conversations and social activities. Hearing loss can also cause people to become less efficient at work and study. Some early warning signs of hearing loss include: ringing in the ears after a noisy activity having difficulty understanding what people say needing to turn the volume up to hear the radio or television when others appear to hear adequately, and failing to hear background noises such as a ringing telephone or doorbell. If you are experiencing any of the warning signs of hearing loss, discuss ways to control and reduce your exposure to the noise with your supervisor and your health and safety representative. As a general rule, if the noise around you forces you to raise your voice to make yourself heard a metre away your hearing may be at risk. Noise levels are measured in decibels (db). The scale used to measure noise as it is heard by the human ear is db(a). Normal conversation is about 60 db(a) to 65 db (A). 85 db(a) is the level at which you have to raise your voice, whilst at 90 db(a) you will have to shout to make yourself heard. Prolonged exposure to noise above the level of 85 db(a) significantly damages hearing. This is the level at which noise control measures must be taken by employers. The table below is a guide to some typical noise levels. Noise Sources Noise Level db(a) (at operator s ear) Heavy traffic 80 Lawn mowing 90 Angle grinder 105 Chainsaw 105 Every effort must be made to reduce the noise at the source. If noise cannot be reduced or removed at its source, and there is no other way to separate people from damaging noise exposure, personal protective hearing equipment (PPE) must be worn. It is the responsibility of your employer to provide the correct personal hearing protectors (earmuffs or earplugs). It is the responsibility of your employer to provide the correct personal hearing protectors. Personal hearing protection (earmuffs or earplugs) should be used as a temporary measure or as a last resort. Personal hearing protection should be regularly cleaned and maintained. Worn or damaged parts should be replaced and protectors kept near the area of noisy activity. Headphones for radios and tape recorders do not provide good protection from noise.

8 Hearing protection may be used in combination with other noise reduction measures (such as reducing the time over which an employee is exposed to noise). Employees must make sure that no employee s exposure to noise exceeds the prescribed exposure standard. People do not become "used" to noise. It only seems that way because of hearing loss. Lost hearing is gone forever. It is also important to be aware that exposure to noise outside of working hours can pose a hazard. Noise in nightclubs and pubs as well as from personal sound systems, can exceed levels that would be acceptable in the work place. 6. Electricity Electric shock occurs when a person becomes part of an electrical circuit and the current flows through their body. A fatal shock is called electrocution. Accidents and deaths can also result from equipment becoming "live" due to electrical faults, lack of maintenance, or short circuit. Electrical accidents are most often caused by a combination of factors, such as a lack of training; lack of supervision; inadequate work practices; poorly maintained equipment or installation; and a hazardous work place environment. One of the most common causes of electrocution in the work place is contact with overhead wires. This is because people can misjudge heights and distances between the ground and overhead wires when carrying equipment like poles and ladders, or operating equipment with height extension such as cranes. Doing maintenance work on live electrical circuits is another frequent cause of electrocution. Electrical accidents are most often caused by a combination of factors such as: a lack of training a lack of supervision inadequate work practices poorly maintained equipment or installation including lack of electrical testing and tagging and a hazardous work environment. General safety precautions: Keep your appliances in safe working order through inspection and preventative maintenance programs. Disconnect and report faulty appliances: for example, frayed cords or broken power points. Even after a piece of electrical equipment, appliance or machine has been disconnected from the power source, it may still partially operate. This is because of stored energy within the equipment. After disconnecting the power source, activate the machine or appliance to release the stored energy.

9 Always switch off appliances at the power point before you pull out the plug. Keep electrical cords off the floor to reduce the risk of damage from drag or contact with sharp objects. A damaged electrical cord can cause a fatal electric shock. Know the location of your main electricity supply. Check the location of overhead wires and stand clear of any fallen power lines. Use your appliance correctly. Read the instruction booklet and follow all instructions. Electricity and water don't mix. Bare feet and wet skin lower the body's electrical resistance. Keep electrical appliances and electrical leads away from water and wet areas. Apprentices, trainees and work experience students must be supervised at all times by a qualified worker. Don't overload circuits and fuses by using too many appliances from the one power point. Don't use double adaptors to "piggy back" plugs. Use a power board with individual switches. Only licensed electrical workers can legally perform electrical work. An unqualified person must not be employed to undertake electrical work. Employees who use portable electrical equipment at work places must be protected against earth leakage by means of a Residual Current Device (RCD) (also known as a safety switch). 7. Mechanical Equipment Mechanical equipment ( plant, machinery and hand-held power tools) can cause serious injuries, including open wounds, fractures and amputations. Some injuries can result in death. Sprains and strains can also occur through the way mechanical equipment is used awkward postures contribute to many such injuries. The most common mechanical equipment injuries are to hands and fingers, which may be cut, sprained, dislocated, broken, crushed or severed by machinery or tools. A large number of eye injuries are due to mechanical equipment. Eye injuries caused by mechanical equipment accidents include being hit by an object, heat, radiation and hitting an object. Your work place must have a maintenance program to ensure that all equipment and machines are in safe working order. Mechanical equipment injuries can cause lengthy periods of time off work, and sometimes permanent disability. A large number of injuries occur in the construction, agricultural and manufacturing industries. When working with mechanical equipment, personal protective equipment may include protective gloves; arm guards; safety glasses; hard hats; and safety boots.

10 Guards Guards are attached to mechanical equipment and must be used to protect you from the moving parts of machines. Machine guards must never be removed by the operator, and if a guard is damaged or missing, the machine must be taken out of service until it can be repaired or replaced. Keep all guards in place. If guards are removed during cleaning, make sure they are replaced. Do not start the machine during cleaning. Locking out of equipment Locking out is one way of preventing machinery or electrical current becoming operational during maintenance. This means that a lock is attached to the machine switch so it can't be turned on. The person working with the machine should hold the only key to the lock. A lock must only be removed by the person who attached it to the equipment or machinery. Procedures must be put in place for the removal of the lock should the person not be available (for example, if there has been a change of shift workers, or if the person authorised to remove the lock has been called away). 'Danger' and 'Out of Service' Tags Red and black "DANGER" tags are designed for the protection of individual persons. The only person permitted to remove a personal danger tag is the person whose name is on the tag. Yellow and black "OUT OF SERVICE" tags are used to prevent accidents or damage to machinery that is out of service for repairs. Any faulty equipment should be tagged so that it cannot be used until it is replaced or repaired. The safe work procedures for the removal of "DANGER " and 'OUT OF SERVICE" tags at your work place must be followed. Generally, workers should not work alone with machinery unless it has 'dead man' switches. This is a type of switch often used on electrical vehicles. It is designed so that if the driver releases his/her pressure on the switch (handle or pedal) owing to sudden illness or other causes, the current is cut off and the machine ceases to operate. If a worker must work alone, the machine's controls (including emergency stop buttons or switches) should be clearly marked in such a way that another person who may not be familiar with the machine would be able to turn it off in case of an emergency. However, apprentices, trainees and work experience students must be supervised at all times by a qualified worker.

11 8. Personal Safety Working Alone In Victoria, many people in out-of-the-way places have to work alone. A person is alone at work when they cannot be seen or heard by another person and when they do not expect a visit from another person for some time. Often they face risks because they work away from other people and settlements. Examples of people who may work alone include employees on farms or stations or in forest operations. People may also have to work alone in towns and cities. They include people who work: where there are no other employees when everyone else has gone home inspecting large structures such as cranes, when nobody else is close by cleaning offices in high rise buildings outside normal business hours as rangers in parks and reserves and inspecting vacant land for fire. Things that may increase the risk of working alone include: the length of time the person may be working alone the time of day when a person may be working alone the lack of communication tools such as a telephone the location of the work the skills, experience and character of the person who is to work alone. Some tasks for example, working with powered tools like chainsaws should never be undertaken by a person working alone. Other tasks must be carefully assessed by employers before they are considered suitable for a lone worker. Arrangements for contact and emergency must always be made before work commences. To reduce the risk of injury or harm to health, employers should provi de adequate information, instruction and training for people who work alone. It is also essential that the person knows the work well, and the work procedures that should be followed. Students completing work experience and structured work place learning must be supervised at all times if practicable and would not be expected to work alone. Work-Related Stress No job is free from stress. All work involves some responsibilities, problems, demands and pressures that may be stressful. We are paid to work and a reasonable amount of pressure can be expected. Stress is usually described as the reaction in people to excessive demands, pressures and expectations. Usually people who are stressed feel a sense of loss of control over their lives, or that they cannot cope. Not all pressure is harmful. People are often kept motivated by the challenges and difficulties they meet and are able to solve at work. However, the ability to deal with pressure is not limitless. Performance can drop, inefficiencies can occur and the health of employees may decline. Generally, periods of stress last only briefly and have little or no long-term effect.

12 When relief from a stressful situation is not available or when the relief is for a short period only, the body has no time to repair, and the stress becomes long lasting and more serious. Long-term problems emerge and recovery time, even with professional help, takes much longer. You should talk to your supervisor if you feel stressed at work for long periods of time. Employers can take steps to reduce work related stress. This might include making sure workers are treated fairly, or rotating boring repetitive work tasks. There will always be times at work when you experience some stress. Talking to others about your concerns often eases the pressure. Keeping fit and healthy will increase your ability to deal with stress. Violence and Bullying at Work Unfortunately violence and bullying can be a work place hazard. Work place violence and bullying is an action, incident or pattern of behaviour that harms, injures or upsets another person. It includes situations where employees and other people are threatened, bullied, attacked, hit or pushed. Employers must take steps to protect employees and other people in work places from violent incidents that may cause injury or harm, and from situations where they are victimised or subjected to bullying behaviour. People who work alone or at night may face added risks. This includes employees such as taxi drivers, pizza delivery drivers and workers in video hire stores. Employees such as bank tellers or workers in chemists who handle items such as cash or drugs are more likely to face the threat of robbery or attack. If you experience bullying, it is important that you talk to someone in your work place. Bullying can only continue where it is not reported. When employers become aware that it may be happening, they must take immediate action. 9. Personal Protective Equipment When hazards in the work place cannot be eliminated or reduced sufficiently by other risk controls, employers are required to provide personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE.). Employees should be made aware of the reasons for, and the requirement to use, personal protective equipment and clothing before they commence work or before they are required to wear or use the personal protective equipment and clothing.

13 Personal protective equipment and clothing can include: overalls safety hats safety boots safety glasses gloves goggles respirators ear muffs. Use of personal protective equipment Employees must be instructed and trained in the correct use of any personal protective equipment and clothing provided by the employer. The employer has a duty to provide this training. Where personal protective equipment and clothing is provided, you must use it correctly in accordance with your training. When purchasing protective equipment and clothing, employers should ensure it complies with the relevant Australian Standard. The employer has the responsibility to ensure that personal protective equipment is stored in a clean and fully operational condition. Storage arrangements should ensure that the equipment is safe from interference and damage, and is easily accessible when needed. Personal protective equipment should also be checked regularly during storage, and visually inspected before use, to make sure it is in good working order. Damaged or defective personal protective equipment must be discarded or repaired. 10. Dealing with an Emergency Employers should give you instructions on how to deal with emergencies. Incidents and accidents do sometimes happen in work places, so you must know how to respond to them. Every work place is different, so it is important that you are told where to find trained first aiders, who your fire wardens are, and the emergency evacuation procedures for your work location. Listen carefully when you are told about the first aid and emergency arrangements, and other procedures at your work place. If you are still not sure, ask for further information. First aid facilities If you or your workmates are involved in an accident, first aid is crucial. Your employer must provide first aid facilities, and must tell you where they are. They may be in a room set aside specifically for first aid treatment, at a number of stations within the work place, or just a first aid box on a wall. If you re not sure, find out what first aid facilities you have at your work place, and who your first aiders are. Fire extinguishers Your employer must also tell you where the fire extinguishers are located, what types of fire they are suitable for, who is authorised to use them, and who your fire wardens are.

14 Alarm signals If a fire or other emergency does occur, there will be an alarm of some kind. You must be able to identify the alarm signals so you know what they mean. Your employer must provide training so you know what to do and where to go if there is an emergency. 11. Health and Safety Laws Victoria s occupational health and safety laws aim to make work places safer and prevent work-related deaths, injury and disease. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 covers all work places in Victoria such as offices, hospitals, schools, factories, construction sites, farms, forests, boats, aircraft or vehicles, and any place where employees or self employed persons work. The mining and petroleum industries and Commonwealth agencies are covered by separate health and safety laws. The government, employers and unions developed the Act through talking and working together. The Act allows employers and employees to deal with work place health and safety through consultation (discussion) and cooperation (teamwork). Consultation between employers and employees in work places is very important. The Act encourages consultation, particularly through employee health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees. Under the Act, all parties involved with work have responsibilities for occupational health and safety. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations The Act is supported by various Regulations [Occupational Health and Safety (Manual Handling) Regulations 1999, Occupational Health and Safety (Noise) Regulations 1992, Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1995, Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1999, Occupational Health and Safety (Incident Notification) Regulations 1997, Occupational Health and Safety (Issue Resolution) Regulations 1999, and Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000]. These Regulations cover more specific requirements than the Act. Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control is made compulsory for employers in all work places by the Regulations. Laws to protect people from occupational injury and disease apply in every work place in Victoria. The Act and the Regulations are enforceable, and work places can be prosecuted for not complying with their requirements. These laws give every person in every work place a right to be involved in health and safety through a process of consultation and cooperation. They also provide penalties for any employer or employee who tries to prevent this process from happening.

15 Employers and employees should work together to eliminate hazards and to find practical ways to protect the health and safety of everyone in the work place, including members of the public. Duty of care The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 contains sections that describe the responsibilities of: employers employees self-employed persons persons who have control of work places (e.g. owners or managers) persons who manufacture or supply plant (machinery, equipment or tools) and substances used at work persons who design or construct buildings and structures. These responsibilities are known as duties of care. The duty of care applies to each person as far as is practicable. Practicable means reasonable measures must be taken, bearing in mind: the severity of any injury or harm to health that may occur the likelihood of the injury or harm occurring how much is known about the hazard and the ways of reducing, removing or controlling it and the availability, suitability and cost of safeguards. 12. Duties of Employers An employer's main duty of care (responsibility) is to ensure employees are not exposed to hazards at work. Employers must take all practicable steps to see that work is done safely. Employers must ensure that persons not directly employed by them (such as contractors and subcontractors) are not exposed to hazards in the work place, and that other persons in the work place who are not employees (such as other peoples' employees or members of the public) are not harmed by the work. The Act sets out an employer s responsibilities, which include: maintaining work areas, machinery and equipment in a safe condition organising ways of working safely providing information, instruction, training (including induction training) and supervision of employees to enable them to work safely making sure that employees are aware of potential hazards providing protective clothing and equipment where hazards cannot be avoided and consulting and cooperating with health and safety representatives, if any, and other employees at the work place, on occupational health and safety matters. Information: Employers must provide information that tells employees about hazards in the work place, and improves their understanding of safe work procedures. The information does not always have to be written, but can be verbal or in the form of videos and tapes. Instruction and training: The type of instruction and training to improve health and safety may vary from work place to work place.

16 New employees are often inexperienced and unfamiliar with their new work environment, procedures, equipment and materials. Induction training helps employees do their job safely, particularly in the first twelve months when they are most at risk of injury. Induction is much more than having a one-hour chat, completing a few forms and being introduced to your workmates. Information about hazards and the actions taken to control work place risks (including the use of personal protective equipment where necessary) should be part of an induction training program for new employees as well as explaining emergency arrangements. Supervision: Employers must provide supervision to ensure that employees are not exposed to hazards as they are working. Supervision should include regular checks to make sure health and safety instructions are being followed. Consultation: Consultation with employees is one of the easiest and best ways to identify and control hazards in work places. Employees' experience with a job means they usually know what can go wrong, and why. Employers should consult with employees and health and safety representatives on health and safety matters and make sure equipment and materials are used, stored, transported and disposed of safely. 13. Duties of Employees Once you have been properly trained and instructed, you should take care to look after your own health and safety, and not put other workers at risk. Your responsibilities include: following health and safety instructions provided by the employer correctly using personal protective equipment and clothing taking care to use equipment safely and for its intended purpose reporting hazards and potential problems without delay reporting all work-related injuries and incidents that you think could result in harm to health and cooperating with the employer on health and safety matters. Remember that cooperation and consultation are the keys to a safe and healthy work place. Employers and employees should talk to each other to solve health and safety problems at work. 14. Health & Safety Representatives and Committees Health and Safety Representatives Health and safety representatives are an important link between employees and employers, telling employers about health and safety concerns and cooperating with employers to implement and maintain work place safety. Health and safety representatives are people elected by co-workers to act on their behalf in resolving health and safety issues in the work place and maintaining safe conditions. Employees at every work place are allowed by law to elect their own health and safety representative.

17 Having a health and safety representative at your work place makes it easier to bring health and safety problems to the attention of management, so they can be dealt with and resolved. When an employee requests the election of a health and safety representative, the employer and employees must work together to conduct an election at the work place. An employer may also call for the election of a health and safety representative without waiting for a request from an employee. Young employees should be introduced to their health and safety representative as part of their health and safety training when they first start their job. As a new worker, you can ask the health and safety representative to help you recognise and avoid health and safety hazards and risks in areas where you will be working. Many organisations also have health and safety officers, who are not elected by employees. These officers are appointed by employers to manage OHS issues in the work place and make sure health and safety induction, information, training and supervision is provided for employees. Regular inspections of the work place by health and safety representatives are usually arranged with the employer in advance, but may be conducted without notice in the event of any accident, hazardous situation, dangerous occurrence or immediate risk to health and safety. Health and Safety Committees Any employee may request that a health and safety committee is set up. Once an employee has asked for a committee, the employer is required by law to take steps to establish one. Employers may also establish a health and safety committee on their own initiative. Committees are useful as they help employers and employees to work together to make the work place safe. In some larger work places, several health and safety representatives may be elected. There may also be more than one committee. Major employers may have health and safety representatives and committees at various work places around the State. 15. The Role of WorkSafe Inspectors WorkSafe has inspectors who are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation (Acts and Regulations). They have wide-ranging powers to help them fulfil their functions. Inspectors have powers to: enter, inspect and examine work places conduct examinations and enquiries take samples, photographs, records and measurements take possession of materials require that the work place be left undisturbed interview any person at the work place and obtain assistance from any person at the work place.

18 Inspectors have to avoid unduly or unreasonably interfering with the work being carried out in any work place. Inspectors may issue written directions called improvement or prohibition notices. Improvement and Prohibition Notices An improvement notice is a written direction requiring a person to fix a health and safety problem in a work place. The notice will state the part of the Act or Regulations covering the offence, and will set a date for the improvement to be completed. A prohibition notice is a written direction that prohibits (stops) at once any activity where the inspector thinks someone may be at risk of imminent (immediate) and serious harm. The inspector will remain at the work place until the employer has been told about the notice and the activity has stopped. In Victoria, WorkSafe inspectors may issue improvement or prohibition notices. Health and safety representatives may issue provisional improvement notices. Improvement and prohibition notices will give reasons explaining why they been issued, and may set out specific actions required to remedy the problem. The employer must display the improvement or prohibition notice in a prominent place at or near any work area affected by the notice until the requirements of the notice have been met. A person who has been issued a notice, or that person's employer, can ask for a review of the notice if they disagree with the inspector s opinion. Such appeals must be made in writing, within 7 days of receiving the notice. 16. Resolving Health and Safety Problems The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 and the Occupational Health and Safety (Issue Resolution) Regulations 1999 require employers, health and safety representatives and employees to attempt to resolve (work out) health and safety issues. The Act encourages cooperation and consultation between employers and employees to resolve health and safety issues before they become disputes. If you are working on a task that you believe is unsafe or unhealthy, there are a number of steps you can take. The first step is to talk to your supervisor and your health and safety representative about the problem. If the issue cannot be resolved on the spot, they should then go to the employer, whose responsibility it is to assess and control any risk. Together you should agree on ways to resolve the problem. If you are in immediate danger then you should be given alternative work until the risk has been effectively addressed.

19 If an issue remains unresolved, either the employer or the health and safety representative may request a WorkSafe Inspector to attend the work place. This should be viewed as a last resort, where discussion and consultation have failed to result in agreed action. Inspectors may take whatever action under the Act they consider appropriate. Improvement and prohibition notices may be issued. Alternately, the Inspector may decide that no action is required. 17. The Right to Refuse Work If you believe the work you are doing is dangerous and there is an immediate risk of serious injury or harm to yourself or others, then you can refuse to do this work. You must tell your supervisor (or employer) and your health and safety representative of your concerns. The problem then has to be resolved by your employer, your health and safety representative and the employees believed to be at risk. If these people cannot resolve the matter together, they may request a WorkSafe Inspector to attend the work place. An employer can give you other work to perform, away from the danger, while the issue is being addressed. If you have refused to work on reasonable grounds, you must receive the same pay and other benefits (if any) that you usually get. This is not the case if you have left the work place without the authorisation of the employer or if you have refused to do reasonable alternative work. Self-Assessment Questions Now try the self-assessment questions. There are 16 questions. If you get 12 or more correct, you will be awarded a certificate with your name and the name of the school. The Principal of your school will then sign the certificate and validate it with the school stamp.