An introduction to WHS
What is WHS?
 WHS stands for Work Health and Safety.
 It is all about keeping everyone safe when
you are at work.
Why bother with WHS
processes?
1.
Because it saves lives
Deaths in the workplace have dropped by
almost 20% since 2002.
That’s about 54 lives saved every year!
Why bother with WHS
processes?
1.
2.
1. Because it saves lives
2. Because it saves money
The most common workplace injuries were sprains
and strains, costing $565 million!
Second was back injuries, which cost $270 million.
Statistical Bulletin 2000/2001, WorkCover NSW)
Why bother with WHS
processes?
1.
2.
3.
1. Because it saves lives
2. Because it saves money
3. Because, legally, we have to
There are major fines for employers and
employees who don’t follow safety standards.
Why bother with WHS
processes?
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. Because it saves lives
2. Because it saves money
3. Because, legally, we have to
4. Because it doesn’t work unless we
have a system to make it work
It takes effort- safety won’t just happen!
Why bother with WHS
processes?
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. Because it saves lives
2. Because it saves money
3. Because, legally, we have to
4. Because it doesn’t work unless we
have a system to make it work!
So, what does it involve?
Responsibilities of the employer
The employer (the
boss) has a long list of
responsibilities:
Provide a safe working environment
- Provide proper training and information
- Supply personal protective equipment and
clothing
- Provide amenities
- Provide first aid facilities and personnel
- Provide a safe system of work
- Identify hazards, assess the risks and
eliminate or control the risks
- Provide supervision
- Consult with employees
- Provide for emergencies
- Ensure OH&S committee members and
representatives are trained
- No victimisation or unlawful dismissal of an
employee is allowed
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too!
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Co-operate with the
employer in WHS
matters.
EXAMPLE:
If asked, we should follow reasonable instructions to clean
up, move things, help with inspections etc.
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Take reasonable care for
the health and safety of
people who are at the
place of work.
EXAMPLE:
Sharlene made sure visitors kept their kids away from
equipment that wasn’t safe for them, even though they
weren’t there to visit her. She also makes sure her clients
aren’t bullied or hurt by other clients.
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Notify the employer or
supervisor of any risk to
health and safety.
EXAMPLE:
Sara told her boss and WHS rep when she noticed the
brakes on the bus seemed a bit dodgy. The boss doesn’t
drive the bus very often so she was glad to be told.
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Not to interfere with or
misuse things provided
for health, safety and
welfare.
EXAMPLE:
Sharlene makes sure no-one uses the first aid kit, fire
equipment or safety gear for anything it isn’t made for.
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Not hinder aid to an
injured worker.
Not to refuse help in
either receiving aid or
giving aid.
EXAMPLE:
When Jason hurt his wrist playing a game with kids, he
wanted to keep playing but Khaled made sure it was
looked at by the first aid rep.
Responsibilities of the employee
… but the employees
(the rest of us) have
some responsibilities
too! We need to:
Not disrupt the workplace
by creating health or
safety fears.
EXAMPLE:
Dennis is worried that one of the kids he works with has a
contagious disease, even though the doctor said it was
okay. He doesn’t make the other workers and clients
worried by telling them about it all the time.
The process
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
The Youth Services Toolkit has sample forms for these
processes
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
We need to actively look for hazards before they
become a problem. We do this through:
• Workplace inspections
• Consultation
• Looking at injury and illness records
• Recording complaints
• Observing the workplace
The Youth Services Toolkit has sample forms for these
processes
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Once we know the problem, we need to see how
much of a problem it can be.
We need to think about how much harm it
could cause and how likely it is.
First, look at how much harm it could do..
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
How likely is it
could it hurt someone?
that it will occur? EXTREME MAJOR MODERATE MINOR
Long
term
VERY
LIKELY
disabled
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
1
1
Broken leg
2
3
Cut finger
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
5
4
5
6
VERY
LookUNLIKELY
at the Youth Services Toolkit
3
Risk Assessment Form for more detail
2. Assess
1. Identify risks 2. Assess
hazards
risks
(harm)
(problems)
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Now look at how likely it is to happen…
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
How likely is it to could it hurt someone?
occur?
EXTREME MAJOR MOD.
MINOR
VERY LIKELY
1
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
VERY UNLIKELY
Cut by broken glass left on
football field
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
2
3Cut by broken
4 glass5
3
left in garbage bin
4
5
6
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Then look at the two together and give a score
out of six - like this:
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
Paper cuts - very
3. Risk
likely
but not very
control
dangerous
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
Poison in
How
likely is
it
could it hurt someone?
cupboard
- very
thatunlikely
it will occur?
but
EXTREME MAJOR MODERATE MINOR
dangerous
VERY LIKELY
1
1
2
3
LIKELY
1
2
3
4
UNLIKELY
2
3
4
5
VERY UNLIKELY
3
4
5
6
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
So - looking at these scores - we can decide if
the risks need to be addressed straight away:
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
How likely is it
could it hurt someone?
that it will occur? EXTREME MAJOR MODERATE MINOR
VERY LIKELY
1
1
2
3
LIKELY
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
3
4
5
6
UNLIKELY
VERY UNLIKELY
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
… or we can go on working but fix them as soon
as possible:
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
How likely is it
could it hurt someone?
that it will occur? EXTREME MAJOR MODERATE MINOR
VERY LIKELY
1
1
2
3
LIKELY
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
3
4
5
6
UNLIKELY
VERY UNLIKELY
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
… or we can plan to leave it a while because it’s
not very likely to happen and wouldn’t cause
much harm anyway:
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
LIKELIHOOD:
CONSEQUENCES: How severely
How likely is it
could it hurt someone?
that it will occur? EXTREME MAJOR MOD.
MINOR
VERY LIKELY
1
1
2
3
LIKELY
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
3
4
5
6
UNLIKELY
VERY UNLIKELY
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Okay - so now we have a list of hazards (problems)
and we know which are the most important to fix
first.
How do we fix them?
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Think about what would be the best way to fix the
safety problems.
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Don’t wait to be told to fix any problems you see.
The boss can’t be there all the time to tell you what
to do.
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
You need to always be looking for any health
problems, and taking responsibility for fixing them.
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Remember: it is your job to look out for
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Remember: it is your job to look out for
Safety issues that affect you
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Remember: it is your job to look out for
Safety issues that affect you
Safety issues that affect your co workers
1. Identify
hazards
(problems)
2. Assess
risks
(harm)
3. Risk
control
(solutions)
Remember: it is your job to look out for
Safety issues that affect you
Safety issues that affect your co workers
Safety issues that affect the public when they are at
your workplace
39
Tips for young workers
 Take responsibility for your own safety
 Know what to look for when entering a new or
different workplace
 Know what questions to ask about the job
 Report any health and safety concerns
 Follow all safety procedures
40
Ask your supervisor….
 What are the dangers of my job?
 What are the hazards?
 Should I have any job safety training?
 Do I need any personal protective
equipment?
 Should I be trained in how to use my PPE?
 Where are the first aid facilities?
 Who is the first aid person?
41
Ask your supervisor….
 What do I do if I get injured?
 Where are the fire extinguishers?
 Where are the emergency exits?
 How will I know if there is an emergency?
 What should I do in an emergency?
 Who do I go to in the workplace if I have a health or
safety question?
Disclaimer
This guide is an introduction to the general
principles of the Work Health and Safety
legislation. The guide is not intended to be a
substitute for advice on a particular work health
and safety issue from a qualified source.
More details are available through the links in
the final slide.