Make all current WHS information readily accessible to staff.
Work instructions
Work instructions provide workers with a detailed description of how to accomplish a specific job. They include a set of step-by-step instructions to help workers to complete a specific task. They often include visual aids and assembly instructions.
Work instructions may:
➢ Have fewer than ten separate actions
➢ Be completed in a short amount of time
➢ Only need one person to be involved.
Examples of work instructions in relation to health and safety within the workplace include:
➢ User instructions
➢ Labels
➢ Assembly instructions
➢ Equipment maintenance
➢ Work standards.
Although these three things have different purposes, in order to guarantee the smooth running of an organisation, they should all be used together.
WHS procedures and legislation
The WHS procedures and work instructions that are in place within your organisation should be identified and implemented by every worker. They should comply with the relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
The WHS Act 2011 sets out a consistent framework that must be complied with in order to secure the health and safety of workers.
The WHS Act 2011:
➢ Protects workers from harm by eliminating or minimising risks
➢ Provides effective workplace representation
➢ Encourages organisations to help achieve a safe workplace
➢ Promotes the use of health and safety advice, information, education and training
➢ Uses compliance and enforcement measures effectively and appropriately
➢ Monitors and reviews people with duties and power
➢ Ensures continuous improvement and higher standards.
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The topics discussed within the WHS Act 2011 include:
➢ Health and safety duties
➢ Incident notification
➢ Authorisations
➢ Consultation, representation and participation
➢ Enforcement measures.
The WHS Act 2011 can be found in more detail at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
When designing and implementing WHS procedures and work instructions, the organisation should involve workers. This will help to promote awareness, increase understanding and improve compliance. Once procedures and work instructions are in place, they should be reviewed and assessed regularly.
The format of WHS information
It is important that work health and safety policies and procedures are in formats that staff can access and understand. It is a good idea to use a variety of formats and methods in different ways in order to help promote the relevant WHS information.
Formats and methods may include:
➢ Promotion of WHS information during training
➢ Group meetings
➢ Formal and informal discussions
➢ Electronic via your organisation’s website, sent via email, printed and stored in a designated place
➢ Posters and information booklets specific to each area of work and the hazards
involved.
➢ Safety signs
➢ Work instructions.
Relevant WHS information may include:
➢ WHS policies and procedures
➢ Work instructions
➢ WHS legislation.
Work health and safety policies and procedures may cover:
➢ Coaching or mentoring in safe work practices
➢ Formal training programs in safe work practices
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➢ Hazard identification, risk assessment and control
➢ Work health and safety policy and procedure induction
➢ Work health and safety representative or committee
➢ Provision of information, fact sheets and signage to ensure safe work practices.
Policies
Policies are adopted and used by organisations to ensure their long-term goals and objectives are reached. They are usually guidelines or statements that outline certain principles and rules and are often published in a booklet. An example of a policy that might be used within an organisation is a Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) policy.
Procedures
Procedures are the specific methods that are put in place to ensure the daily operations of the organisation are carried out in a way that expresses the policy that has been adopted. A procedure defines how work should be performed, detailing who should do what and when they should do it.
A procedure may:
➢ Have three or more small tasks
➢ Involve more than one person
➢ Have several separate actions
➢ Be completed within one continuous time frame.
An example of the procedures that should be in place within every organisation is the WHS procedures. Following on from the policy, the WHS procedures ensure that the daily operations of an organisation are done in a safe way.
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Activity 1B
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- Monitor safe work practices.
2.1. Monitor adherence to organisational WHS procedures.
2.2. Monitor ongoing compliance with safe work practices.
2.3. Take prompt action to address non-compliance with procedures and safe work practices.
2.4. Monitor day-to-day effectiveness of WHS practices in maintaining the health, safety and security of personnel.
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