Personal Safety And Participating In WHS Systems

Scenario

A: Hazard

B: Potential risk

C: Procedure to minimise risk

D: Related policy and procedure

A. You turn up in the morning to a client’s home. The front door is unlocked and the windows are open. The client is in bed, asleep.

Trespassing

Burglary

 Physical Assault

Theft of wealth and precious materials

Bodily Injury caused trespasser

Murder of loss of life

All possible entrances like doors, windows should be locked properly

Using blinds or non-transparent curtains to prevent people from looking inside the house[1]

Safety alarm should be installed in order to generate signal to residents

Installation of timer switches that would keep up the sound and light inside the house even when it is empty fooling outsiders.

B. The client becomes frustrated that the train is late. They start to swear loudly on the train platform and bangs the seat.

Disturbance to people around

Injury to own self

Anxiety attack

High blood pressure

The person can cause serious threat to own health if he has nerve, heart and blood pressure related issues. He might fall sick for being excited suddenly.

There should be supervisor on the platform to address

such issues

Frequency of trains should be increased in order to minimise the problems of delay.

Strong digital monitoring

Availability of emergency health aids in every station

Provision and updation of information to passengers through announcements or display on LCD screens.

C. In the community, a member of the public yells abusive things at the client and support worker, and begins following them about the shopping mall. The stranger gets closer and closer.

Encroachment of personal space or privacy

Threat of disrupted peace

The incident can cause physical injury or assault based on the motive of the stalker

The person should take help of security system installed in the shopping mall avoiding personal attempt to resolve the matter[2].

Strong surveillance system should be operating in the shopping mall complex.

A general body of security should be alert and ready to provide service to individual.

D. The client falls over on an uneven path in the complex where they live. They start crying and saying that they can’t get up.

Injury to head and any part of body can take place.

Internal haemorrhage

Brain Injuries

Breaking of bones

On immediate note, a sign board of caution should be positioned in order to aware people.

The path should be flatten up

Supervisors or security should be assigned to keep notice of such problems

Marking the zones of danger

Provision of emergency health aids like ambulance, doctors, first aid[3].

E. You are setting up a new activity centre in the community. It is the first day. The clients all arrive at once, and there is much commotion. The clients seem stressed, and look angrily at the support workers.

Over-crowd and jostling

Disruption in the atmosphere

Jostling can lead to fall or stampede leading to injuries to one or many

Violence can evoke out of stressed clients

The centre should be spacious enough in order to keep enough room for all

Provision of entertainment or refreshment should be made to welcome the visitors as it can help in releasing stress of the clients.

Inquiry and grievances forums should be created to address individual problems if any from the clients’ side.

F. Your example:

Your workplace is deprived of proper house keeping and sanitation

Bad odour

Infections

Serious health problems

Any bacterial or virus caused disease can affect workers.

 Fever, respiratory issues are common

Daily clean up with follow up is mandatory

Application of improvised system so that individual can contribute to personal hygiene.

Availability of  adequate cleaning stuffs should be there

Automated dirt detector and air cleaner can be installed[4].

Automated aromatic fresheners can be installed

G. Your example:

The workplace is a confined place stuffed with good number of workers

Suffocation

Breathing disorder

Lungs or respiration troubles

In case of fire break out no scope of escaping or evacuating fast

Arrangement for more spacious cabins or rooms for workers

Air conditioning system should be advanced to provide good air to people inside

Provision of small windows or ventilation that can be operated based on requirements

Authority should take note of this while construction of the workplace

There should be adequate windows and doors in the construction designs

Sitting arrangements for workers should be widely dispersed[5].

A: Describe why older people or people with disability are at a higher risk for a fire starting in their homes.  (50-100 words)

Older or physically disable people face various challenges related to health that prevent them take proper action in situation of emergencies like fire breakout at one’s residence[6]. Their physical inability that can stem from any serious ailments like hearing problem, poor vision and forgetfulness, the lack of strength and sense, inadequate knowledge about safety and security -keep them unaware of the upcoming risk as well as act promptly in such case. These put them at high risk disrupting personal safety.

B: What behaviour might older people or people with disability display that contributes to increased risk of fire? (50-100 words)

Older people are mostly victim of hearing and vision problem which is common ailment in certain age group. On top of that are the diseases like dementia, schizophrenia and other mental or psychological problems that restrict people from sensing as well as fighting the risk. People with autism or other physical disabilities like paralysis, blindness, completely deaf and dumb are physically unable to adopt safety requirements all by themselves alone[7]. Often they fail to encounter proper demonstration about the issues and measures to be taken which enhance the risk of even detecting the issue at first place putting their lives at highest risk.

Describe how smoke alarms are placed within the home. (20-50 words)

Location of the smoke alarm is very crucial in order to convey proper signals to targeted people. Following the general trend of fire break outs in late night or early morning, installation at bed rooms are mandatory[8]. Moreover all floors including basements should be included in the list of important locations.

Describe how smoke alarms are installed. (20-50 words)

There are few precautions to be kept in mind while making installation of smoke alarms. Generally alarms are installed on the wall(12 inches away from ceiling) or ceilings. Distances should be made from cooking appliance to avoid false alarm[9]. Proximity to windows and doors are also avoidable in order to make the operation interference free..

Describe how smoke alarms are maintained. (20-50 words)

Alarms should be picked from range of manufacturer having recognised laboratory for testings. For interconnected alarms wireless technology is used to keep them working simultaneously. In order to avoid malfunctioning painting and decorations should not be applied on it. Testings should be followed up at least on a monthly basis[10].

Rights

Responsibilities

Employee

1. Participation in discussion forums that focus on identification and management of probable risks that might occur in workplaces.

2. Election of representative who would work as communication bridge between employee and employer regarding issues and perceptions of health and safety concerns[11].

1. Actions should be taken to ensure personal as well as general safety avoiding external effects to be created for others.

2. Follow up of the instructions provided by employers and reporting issues encountered by the clients or themselves in case of health related hazards[12].

Employer

Discretion in taking any decision regarding taking up of regulations that he thinks suitable to provide health safety to the workers.

Power to take stringent actions when instructions are violated to sustain healthy workplace safety system.

Making provision of information about hazards that emanate from the assigned job role.

Maintaining adequate atmosphere and providing instruction, training and supervision to the workers with regards to ensure safety at workplace[13].

Client

Accessibility to information regarding design and quality of services related to health safety, being provided and maintained by the authority.

To be cared and dealt with respect, dignity and target specific treatment or care irrespective of any personal attribute like age, status or type of disabilities.

Making regular communication about any relevant issues or grievances or even any requirement so that proper actions can be taken in order to meet up the problems and provide proper services.

Respecting rights, safety concerns of other service takers as well as maintaining discipline to enhance the overall service quality of the authority.

Scenario:

What a support worker would do:

a. The supervisor introduces a new way of doing things in order to improve safety.

The first thing a support worker should do is to understand the new mechanism or technique from the supervisor so that he can apply that in situations of requirements. This way he can learn as well as assist the supervisor in application of the new techniques and also infiltrate that to co-workers[15].

b. After the supervisor introduces a new way of doing things, they leave the room for five minutes. During this time, a support worker states that he does not agree with this new procedure and will not do it.

The support worker should come up with proper reasons of disagreeing. First of all he should be able to detect the problems in the new concept introduced and have valid clarification about that. Then he should communicate with the supervisors about his views and convey his suggestion if required. A general discussion should be undertaken in order to resolve such issue than being stringent or rigid about changes made.

c. The supervisor asks the staff team to comment upon the new WHS policy and procedure.

At this point workers should present a consensual as well as genuine feedback to the supervisors since they are going to deliver services at the time of emergency or general requirements[16]. Their lack of comfortability with the policies might reflect in the poor deliverance of service further affecting the motive of safety system. Uninterrupted yet clear presentation of workers’ view is important for the policies to be effective.

d. You notice a hazard in the work environment that the supervisor missed.

The worker should take note of the hazard, the kinds, roots and probable impacts it has on the clients or other co-workers. After that he should inform the issue to health representative to convey that further to supervisor or management so that they look into the matter[17]. This is the way the matter can come into light and gain concerns of the authority so that adequate policies can be undertaken to resolve the matter.

e. The staff seem annoyed by having to do things differently. They complain a lot.

The grievances should be taken note of and addressed with rounds of discussion, and training if the staffs miss out something in order to understand the role he is vested with. The importance of their role and service should be thoroughly made understand to them so that they can overcome the dissatisfaction or annoyance in their task.

MANUAL HAZARD ANALYSIS REPORT

Manual handling hazard:

Way to minimise the risk:

Who you should report this to:

1) Cuts, fractures bruises, burns.

Carefully observing before executing such tasks

The health and safety representative assigned to the client would be contacted and reported to in such case.

2) Musculoskeletal Disorder leading to damage in joints, bones, ligaments, muscles[19].

By strictly staying away from manual handling tasks since the client already has arthritis which can get accentuated

The health and safety representative assigned to the client would be contacted and reported to in such case.

3) Infection through contaminated objects- can be respiratory or skin allergy

Wearing gloves and masks to avoid direct contact of skin and breathing

The health and safety representative assigned to the client would be contacted and reported to in such case.

4) Internal haemorrhage by falling accidentally[20]

Avoiding manual handling tasks.

The health and safety representative assigned to the client would be contacted and reported to in such case.

(20-50 words)

To release my stress from a hectic task I would prefer doing something that enriches my creativity as it is the source of pleasure and self-satisfaction to me. Painting or doing any handcraft work would be great stress burster for me. Listening to music or cooking new dish can also do the same.

B: How might you deal with the stress of a work related incident?

(20-50 words)

Stress mostly stem from deadlines assigned to any task. Stress can Be avoided by managing time properly and finishing them way before the submission edge[21]. The best way to keep stress away from taking us over are having deep understanding of the task & strategic work plans, follow ups and execution with proper time management.