Two Supported Policies And Examples For Workplace Health And Safety

WHS Practices

XYZ is an Information Technology company considered for this research. This company follows Victoria based Workplace Health and Safety policies. 

“XYZ” Company is a dedicated firm that religiously follows and practices the WHS legislations such as (Australia.gov.au, 2018):

• Risk Assessment, implementation of best measures and control check.  
• Safe work premises
• Employee satisfaction
• Furnishing suitable workplace and facilities.
• Offences and penalties are mentioned clearly.
• The inspector powers and functions are described in the job description.
• The assessment of workplace layout, for delivering safe system for working.
• Dispute resolution
• Consulting the workers.
• Respecting to each worker/ Bullying behavior

Example 1- Bullying Behavior

If any worker humiliated with bad comments, or teasing with nick names and other offensive acts then, they are entitled to severe punishment (Fair Work Commission, 2018).

Procedure to handle Bullying Behaviour of Workers

• Ensure a process for managing the performance at workplace.
• Enforce disciplinary action, for any type of misconduct.
• Make sure to inform all the workers about the workplace conduct.
• Inform the worker about their unsatisfactory work performance/ behaviour
• Ask the workers to maintain reasonable workplace goals and standards. 

Example 2- Dispute Resolution:

Based on WHS Act 2011, dispute resolution provisions exist in Part 5, Division 7A. If two parties fight in a workplace and if their issues are big, then this Act ensures to provide on time resolution for the people who face disputes. The mediator/ inspector helps to resolve the matter. Whereas, if the inspector finds the problem silly, then both the parties will be penalized by paying certain cost. This Act is limited only to the following cases (WorkSafe Queensland, 2018):

1. If a worker faces any WHS related issues.
2. If a representative of health and safety is affected by WHS issues.
3. If an individual running a business involves in a dispute.
4. If the union faces WHS problems. 

The procedure to resolve the dispute based on WHS is mentioned below (WorkSafe Queensland, 2018):

• The QIRC (Queensland Industrial Relations Commission) can ponder on the issue with the help of a mediation. This step ensures to negotiate and settle the dispute.
• The next step is reviewing the inspector’s decision, to resolve the problem. In case of improvement notice sent by the inspector to the QIRC, it can review and confirm the decision made by the inspector.
• If the matter lacks substance, or it is silly then the dispute must not be dealt instead and it is better to order costs. 

Job description of staff, supervisor in terms of WHS

For Staff:

Follow Work Health and Safety ethics at workplace. 

For Supervisor:

Evaluate and discard/control the risks based on the company’s Work Health and Safety Procedures. 

Application of WHS to business

The business requires the following WHS legislative framework:

• WHS Act
• WHS Regulations
• Codes of Practices
• Australian Standards
• Industry Standards
• Guidance Material  

The Codes of Practices is missing in XYZ Company. It is applicable if the people in the workplace don’t follow the set codes like workplace ethics. This can harm the workplace safety, ethics and work atmosphere. It can lead to differences and increase the problems. This is when the code of practice comes to picture and educates the people about the WHS duties. The codes of practice guides to recognize and manage the risks at work place (WorkSafe Queensland, 2018).

If no Code of practice exists for a certain risk, then the owner of the business should select right method to expose the risk with precautions. Thus it requires risk assessment. Code of practice plays a vital role in achieving WHS Act and regulations.

The XYZ Company must follow the guidance notes that are issued by the state. This helps to get right advice to ensure safety in workplace through the products used, and activities being processed. 

XYZ Company must invest more on these above mentioned aspects. For this, it requires the following resources:

Resources	Funds
Legal assistances from the knowledgeable person, as a legal advice provider for the company.	$52000
It requires resources like supervisors to manage the set tasks and.	$42000
Proper file storage facility	$12000
Proper sitting area	$22000
Comfortable chairs and desks.	$32000
Proper wiring system	$62000
Waste management	$32000
Total	$254000

Bullying Behavior

Therefore, WHS Practices can help XYZ Company to achieve long term success for its business. Further, it can increase the productivity of their employees and ensure a safe work environment. 

The hazards are listed below are missing aspects:

• Health and safety of workers: One of the employee faces back pain, this shows that their health and safety is not monitored and they are not provided right chairs to sit comfortably.
• Workplace safety: It is missing in the picture. Because, the worker is unaware of the document falling on him, when the other employee handles the documents.
• Electrical safety: The phone wire is on the way and can cause any mishaps.
• Office property is not placed on the right place: The resource like book and office paper are left on the floor, unattended. The storage rack hurts the employee while passing through it.
• Workplace cleanliness: The office in the picture is a mess. It lacks health and safety issues.
• Necessary resources/ facility is not provided for the workers. For example: File storage space. The office is not organized well. 

The other serious issues noted from the picture are listed below:

The employees are seen wasting time during work hours by chatting and relaxing with tea breaks. One of the employee is seen frustrated at work, which is a negative sign for the workplace environment. The file storage system is not handled effectively and this can cause missing file issues. The work responsibilities and ethics are not fulfilled correctly by the workers. The workers are irresponsibility at work. Productivity at work is missing. Supervising the employees is missing. 

The selected hazard to be discussed is irresponsible employees. To discard this hazard, the office must mainly set WHS Act and regulation and the employees must willing to comply with the set regulations. This can be done by benefiting regulations for the employees. This can make drastic changes in this office, because the workers will become responsible to gain the rewards/ benefits of the Act and regulations. The cluttered space will be cleaned by the staff themselves, ensuring cleanliness. The workers will demand the necessary resource and they will be provided by the company, to meet employee satisfaction. Therefore, the productivity at work will also increase and the business will benefit from this.

Both the company and the staff must work together for a successful workplace as per the WHS Act and regulations.  

XYZ is an IT company, which is an emerging company. We deliver custom based IT solutions for the businesses, to functioning of their processes. Our organization follows Work Health and Safety Act and regulations. The Health and Safety Representatives will explain you all about your working conduct and WHS Act and Regulation benefits. The human resources staff will help you with the process for salary account formalities. You Co-workers will help you to understand the workplace and its regulations in a long run.

The induction program is conducted to help both the new working and non-working staff know about the health and safety induction. Even the employees who have completed three years in the company will be provided with the program. The safety measures that are required for any individual to help him / her for their safety in emergency case is trained in this program. 

Dispute Resolution

Work Health and Safety Guidelines and management system helps the management to communicate and process well. Thus, each individual of the company must follow the rule and regulations followed by the company. 

Date:14 April, 2018	Team: WHS Team	Equipment Required: handouts, Different department Representatives for guidance to the employees
Venue: Seminar Hall	Duration: 1 hour
Introduction: · Welcoming new employees. · The aim and objective of the company. · The work culture · Remind about the workers’ responsibilities at work. · Their role as team players. · Work ethics · Induction training · Safety issues of the company. · Each employee should follow the following WHS Act Section 28, and WHS Regulation 46(Community Workers Work health and safety guidelines, 2014):
Employment terms and conditions · Responsibilities and Job description · Working hours · Break timing · Procedure for recording the entry time · Leave entitlements · Sick leave or absences notification · Out-of-office enquiries and emergency procedures. · They must take care and protect their health and safety. · They must stay away from bullying and other misconducted behaviour. · They must follow the WHS Act and regulations. · They must not harm other’s health and safety at workplace. · They must equip themselves with the provided facility. Introducing managers and representatives · Representatives for Health and Safety · Human resource staff · Colleagues · Roles of the contractor · Roles of the volunteers Daily duties to care for the workers · The consultant must recognize and define the issue. · They must collect information from the client and the workers. · They must analyse the collected information · They must prepare substitute solution, to resolve or control the problem. · The solution must be practical and cost effective (Community Workers Work health and safety guidelines, 2014). Other issues · Policy and procedures for Quality management · Sexual harassment	Explaining Health and safety · WHS policy and procedures · Health and safety related roles and responsibilities · Hazard related details · Representative details (for Health and Safety) · Process followed in Health and safety. · Process to report any incident. · Emergency procedures Evacuation Tips · Safety of workers is the responsibility of the company. · During emergency, the workers must not panic instead they have to hasten towards the exit. · But, they must ensure not to use the elevators and must only use the stairs. · Cooperation is very important at time, as each individual must not push each other. Because, it can result into chaos. · The evacuation map/plan present in the building must be checked to find the exit. · The sign symbols and its important are educated to the employees.	Payroll details are explained · Salary account details · Taxation · Deductions · Membership · Award conditions Security · Parking rules · Care for personal belongings Review · The work practices and procedures are reviewed with the employees · Session for Q&A (Question and Answer) · Additional training required or not
Conducted by: ……………………………………………….. (Signature)…………………  Date: ……………. Worker’s Signature………………………………………………………………………………. Date: …………..

 Employee 1:

1. In your opinion, how effective was the WHS induction session for new employees?	The session was welcoming and informative. It taught me the health and safety measures during evacuation and at workplace. It also introduced what is the company’s background and its goals. The process followed in Health and safety, for reporting the incidents and Emergency procedures were highlighted.
2. What would you do differently in if you were running this induction session?	I would provide a notepad so that the employees can make a note of the Acts and Regulations, to serve them better in future.

Employee 2:

1. In your opinion, how effective was the WHS induction session for new employees?	It was an informative session for me. The company and its staff educated us about the WHS act and regulations. This ensures the workplace ethics and safety of their employees.
2. What would you do differently in if you were running this induction session?	I would have provided a manual with all the WHS Acts and regulations, which can be easily accessible for the employees.

Employee 3:

1. In your opinion, how effective was the WHS induction session for new employees?	The WHS induction program was ok. The representatives introduced the safety measures to be taken while evacuation in some emergency situation. It defined the role and responsibilities of the contractors, workers, and the representatives. But, the Act and regulations were not mentioned clearly.
2. What would you do differently in if you were running this induction session?	I would encourage the employees to actively take part in the session. Then provide effective examples, which will help the employees to remember the WHS regulations well. Moreover, I would prefer to conduct a practical evacuation session too.

The hazards identification is the process of determine each work area and work task for the purpose of identifying all the hazards. The work area includes the machine workshop, laboratories, office areas, stores and transport, teaching spaces and more. The work task includes the industrial equipment, hazardous substances with people, construction and more. The WHS legislation requires the hazards requires for Job safety analysis to identify the all potentially hazardous situations and things that may cause harm (SafetyLine, 2018). The identified hazards are,

• Work management and design
• Work tasks and how they are performed.
• Physical work environment
• Substances, materials and equipment’s used.

Examine the past accidents/incidents to see what happened and whether the accident and incident could occur again. To find out the employee safety issues to provide the information about the workplace hazards. Examine the work sites and work areas to find out the what is happening now. The identified hazards are should be documented to allow the further action on the workplace. Also work equipment, tool and environment tasks and procedures are should be examined for risks to WHS (Smallbusiness.chron.com, 2018). Identified hazards in XYZ IT company as follows,

1. Workplace violence
2. flexibility
3. Workload Demands
4. Social Support
5. Social Relations
6. Lack of controls and respect
7. Intensity
8. Embarrassing movements
9. Having to life heavy objects too often
10. Dealing with frequency vibrations
11. Poorly adjusted chairs and workstations 

The Identification of risk is the process of determining the risks that must be potentially prevent the organization achieving and its objectives. The risk identification also includes the communicating and documenting the concern. The XYX IT organization can be dangerous occupation with many various types of risk and it cause the serious damage that can be time consuming and costly to repair (Osha.gov, 2018). It creates the dollar losses, negative impact, loss time and productivity on customers can all be minimized. Once the risks are identified, it provides successful operations and it is a key components of organization business planning. The organization risk management identified risks by using the myriad of methods to analysis the business activities that present the company challenges. It eliminates and reduce the external and strategic threats. The identified risks are listed in below.

• Operational Risk
• Acquistion Drivers
• Technical Maturity
• Non-Development Items
• Key performance parameters
• Internal and external dependencies
• Use capability evolution
• Skill level
• Historical information
• Information security
• Interoperability and integration
• Cost Risks
• Environmental and organizational factors 

The Risk level is used to understand the process and it able to illustrate the management security threats that can negatively affect the business objectives. The risk levels are achieved by reducing the risk to a tolerable level. Once risk level is achieved, after risk avoidance, control measures and elimination are taken and the residual risk should be acceptable. The risk levels are based on types of risk and it categories into four types such as operational risk, compliance risk, strategic risks and financial risk. These risks are used to identified by risk management and it attached to data protection (Comcare.gov.au, 2018). It could be considered to review the operations and business compliance. The risk management is used to maintaining the work health and safety up to date skills for an organization. The risk level is shown below. 

Procedure to Resolve Dispute

In XYZ organization follow the Work health and Safety Act 2011 to conducting a business have a primary duty to manage the risks to health and safety. The organization effectively manage the work health and safety risks within a workplace by using the systematic approach which involves the five key elements such as,

• Governance
• Prevention
• Management Hazards
• Recovery
• Response

It is shown below. 

The risk preventive is used to minimize the impact of disruption on XYZ IT company operations. It creates the managing a risk a strategic priority also it performing the other business in their industry financially. The distance between the risk prevention and perception that may help to create a business advantage. It creates the evidence to shows the relationship between the organization that focus on risk prevention. The risk preventive measures are use the business continuity that is used to putting the methods, tools and processes to identified the major threats for an organization (The MITRE Corporation, 2018). It easily setting the aside the financial reserves to ensuring the effective computer backup and IT support procedures. To preventive the risk by using the risk management processes that used to identify and address the risks facing in user organization. It is used to increases the likelihood of successfully achieving the XYX IT business objectives. The process of risk management is used to preventive the risk in organization. The processes are listed in below.

1. Improve the decision making. prioritization and planning.
2. Significantly improves the probability and it deliver the business plan on time and budget.
3. Minimizing the amount of firefighting.
4. Preventing a disaster and serious financial loss
5. Allocate the resources and capital more efficiently.

The XYZ IT company potentially faces the various risks including potential demage, likelihood for non-employees and employees to be injured in their works at company premises. So, to control the business risk by using the business risk control approach that is used to evaluating the potential business loss and takes the strategic and appropriate actions to eliminate and reduce the company threat. It also involves the physical changes, procedural changes and implementation of new standards and policies that are used to eliminate and reduce the certain risk in an organization. The control measures are used to control the risk in an organization by follows the below steps,

1. Review the internal controls of existing system that is used to provide the balances and checks for every aspect of an organization. It implements the organization checklist of precaution before entering a work zone to provide the safety internal controls. It reduces the operational risk.
2. Develop the risk management plan to having the sufficient insurance to protect the organization losses. It is general way to avoid the risk.
3. Finally, employ the internal control consultant services to investigating the organization process weakness. It is used to identify the areas in need of improvement for an organization.

The workplace health and safety are also referenced as Occupational health and safety and it involves the mitigation and assessment of risks that my impact the welfare, safety and health of those in workplace (Business.gov.au, 2018). It also includes the health and safety of volunteers, suppliers, contractors, visitors, employees and customers. It requires the legal requirement to ensure the workplace to meets the Workplace health and safety obligations. It used to meet the business requirements and legislation will based on territory and state you are in. The state of territory includes the codes, acts and regulators of practice in a workplace. The WHS is responsible to,

• Provide the safe work premises
• Provide the safe materials and machinery
• Maintain the safe materials and machinery
• Provide the safe systems of work
• Ensure the safe use in workplace.
• Handling the organization goods and substances
• Implement the appropriates measures and controlling them
• Assess the risks and controlling the,
• Provide the insurance for organization workers.

Application of WHS to business

The workplace health and safety policies and procedures are used to provides framework for management of health and safety. It is used to provide the health and safety workplace and it states the health and safety goals for a workplace. The policies and procedures are also used to demonstrate the employer acknowledgement of their legal duties. It also used to address the particular hazards and issues (Doresearch.stanford.edu, 2018). To control the workplace hazards by using the administrative measure that will be eliminate and reduce the workplace illness and injury. The Occupational health and safety Act 1985 is used to eliminate the source of risks to provide the safety and healthy welfare of persons at workplace. t requires the elimination of risks by using the administrative controls and substitution methods (Industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au, 2018).

The Workplace health and safety is used to ensure the participatory arrangement of appropriate authorities in an organization. It is sued to provides the information to clarify the responsibilities and duties of officers and managers or supervisors to contributing the healthy and sage work environment (Prestonhire.com.au, 2018). It implements the effective work health and safety management system. It also ensures the consultative mechanisms to meet the requirements of legislative and it is utilized by an organization. It also shared the WHS responsibility with other organizations. It also provides the guidance on considered the reasonable practicable and it includes the reasonable and possible for the particular circumstances. The reasonable practicable is based on below factors,

1. Severity and nature of the particular hazard
2. Nature and size of the workplace
3. Low risk environment
4. Availability of the workers
5. Work arrangements

The Workplace health and safety information are disseminated by the,

• WHS Committees
• Safety personnel
• OH&S
• Managers
• Supervisors

And individuals with competency to gives the training, instruction and induction. The dissemination of WHS is to be mandatory the information and methods of WHS communication are as follows,

• WHS notice boards
• WHS consultants newsletter/Report
• WHS policy
• WHS induction
• WHS Training
• Emergency Information
• WHS Documents

The implementation of workplace Health and Safety is undertaking the process of risk management. The risk management process included the any relevant worksheets, identification of people and relevant procedures. To implement the procedures by follows the below steps,

1. Conducting the risk management process
2. Eliminating and controlling the risk
3. Also perform the risk management process
4. Developing the training program.
5. Incorporate the segment about WHS policies and procedures.
6. Promote a procedure and policies in internal newsletter.
7. Consulting the organization policies and procedures and must be consult with all relevant contractors, employees, health and safety representatives and stakeholders.
8. Define the obligations clearly
9. Create the policy realistic
10. Must publicize the WHS policies and procedures
11. Provide the training for all employees in policies and procedures 

The hazard/risk checks and assessment are the process of risk management/ It is used to eliminating the hazards or minimizing the hazards at workplace (Comcare.gov.au, 2018). The risk and hazard assessment are used to recording the risk management activities including risk consultation processes. It finding the hazards at work place, assessing the risk, determining the control measures to reduce and eliminate the risk level and monitoring the control measure effectiveness.  Assess the risk is used to determine the risks and reduce the risk level. It ensures the agreed safe working practices and review the demanding work target and new machinery working practices (Health & Safety Handbook, 2018).

Resource

The risk control is used to takes the actions to eliminate the health and safety risks. If risks are cannot eliminated, the implementation of control measures are required to minimize the risks. To remove the appropriate risk by using the risk control measures because it was controls the overall risk assessment and management processes (Victoria’s Volunteering Portal, 2018). Once risks are controlled, next review and monitoring the identified hazards and risks. The risk control processes are used to provide the working is effectively and clearly. The risk control measures are evaluated the hazard and risk rating by using the evaluation of control effectiveness table that is shown below. 

Occupational Diseases are adverse the condition of health in the human being and it used to provide the severity and occurrence related to exposure the factors at work place. To recognizing the health hazards by using the below techniques,

1. Walk through Occupational hygiene survey
2. Process Inventory
3. Air sampling programs
4. Material inventory.

The occupational injury is physical damage to body tissues caused by an accident or environment stressor. It may cause partial disability to sick leave. So, takes the preventive measures to reduce and eliminate the hazards which may leads to accident.

The staff induction process is must be cover the following activities,

• Safe work practices
• Addresses the hazards and risks at work place
• Eliminate the hazards and risks
• Use special equipment
• Emergency procedures
• Work health and safety legislation
• First aid
• Another emergency contacts
• Fire alarms
• Firefighting equipment’s 

References 

Australia.gov.au. (2018). WHS (Workplace health and safety). [online] Available at: https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/jobs-and-workplace/whs-workplace-health-and-safety [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Community Workers Work health and safety guidelines. (2014). Government of South Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/CommunityWorkers.pdf [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Fair Work Commission. (2018). Anti-bullying. [online] Available at: https://www.fwc.gov.au/disputes-at-work/anti-bullyinghttps://www.fwc.gov.au/disputes-at-work/anti-bullying [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

WorkSafe Queensland. (2018). Codes of practice. [online] Available at: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/workplace-health-and-safety-laws/laws-and-legislation/codes-of-practice [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Comcare.gov.au. (2018). Managing risks in the workplace. [online] Available at: https://www.comcare.gov.au/preventing/managing_risks_in_the_workplace [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Osha.gov. (2018). Hazard Identification and Assessment | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. [online] Available at: https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/hazard-Identification.html [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

SafetyLine. (2018). Are you aware of these 6 types of workplace hazards?. [online] Available at: https://safetylineloneworker.com/blog/workplace-hazards/ [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Smallbusiness.chron.com. (2018). The Top Five Types of Workplace Hazards. [online] Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/top-five-types-workplace-hazards-16112.html [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

The MITRE Corporation. (2018). Risk Mitigation Planning, Implementation, and Progress Monitoring. [online] Available at: https://www.mitre.org/publications/systems-engineering-guide/acquisition-systems-engineering/risk-management/risk-mitigation-planning-implementation-and-progress-monitoring [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Business.gov.au. (2018). Workplace health & safety. [online] Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/workplace-health-and-safety [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Doresearch.stanford.edu. (2018). 7.2 Health and Safety: Principles, Responsibilities and Practices | DoResearch. [online] Available at: https://doresearch.stanford.edu/policies/research-policy-handbook/environmental-health-and-safety/health-and-safety-principles [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au. (2018). Workplace_policies_and_procedures. [online] Available at: https://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/oirwww/Employment_info/Managing_employees/Workplace_policies_and_procedures.page [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Prestonhire.com.au. (2018). Hazard Identification and Control Policy. [online] Available at: https://www.prestonhire.com.au/Safety/HSE/HazardIdentificationandControlPolicy.aspx [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Comcare.gov.au. (2018). Work health and safety procedures. [online] Available at: https://www.comcare.gov.au/preventing/governance/procedures [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Health & Safety Handbook. (2018). Step-by-Step: How to implement effective policies and procedures. [online] Available at: https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/step-by-step-how-to-implement-effective-policies-and-procedures/ [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].

Victoria’s Volunteering Portal. (2018). Implementing policies and procedures. [online] Available at: https://www.volunteer.vic.gov.au/manage-your-volunteers/policies-and-procedures/implementing-policies-and-procedures [Accessed 14 Apr. 2018].