Workplace Health And Safety: Ensuring A Safe And Healthy Working Environment.

Questions Related to Workplace Health and Safety

Assignments may include short answer questions or longer answer questions and are designed to test how you apply your knowledge into a real-world situation.  Your assessor is looking for how you apply your knowledge and how you think critically about the topic area.  An important aspect of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) understands how it applies to your specific workplace and the roles of workers there.  All responses should be at least between 50 and 100 words (4-8 sentences) in length.

Task 1

The following questions must be answered within the context of your current workplace or the workplace you intend to work within in your chosen industry.  Anytime “your workplace” or “your role” is referenced, it is to be contextualised to working within your current workplace or your intended workplace. 

Question 1.1

Take some time to think about safe work and how it relates to your workplace and your role within the industry.  Outline steps that you could take to ensure your own health and safety within your job role.
Outline the processes or activities that can be undertaken to ensure that the general public or clients are not exposed to hazards or risks within your workplace.Question 1.2

• Identify at least three.
• Outline how they are performed.
• Outline why they are important.
• Name four workplace hazards relevant to your work role and controls that can be put into place for each hazard.Question 1.3
• List at least five ways in which information on safe work practices and procedures can be shared with members of a work group.Question 1.4

• Identify which you think are the most effective, and explain why.
• Summarise in your own words why it is important for the WHS practices of less experienced workers to be checked by more experienced workers.Question 1.5

• How can you contribute to the development and implementation of safe workplace policies and procedures when undertaking your own work?
• Reflect on your own levels of stress and fatigue.  Identify what methods of control you can undertake to reduce or eliminate these hazards at the workplace for yourself and others.Question 1.6
• Emergencies can happen at any time.Question 1.7

• Explain in five steps the procedure for an emergency situation in your or a simulated workplace.
• Explain proactive measures that could be undertaken to avoid emergency situations.
• List at least five safety signs that you could come across in your workplace. These could include those on emergency equipment, PPE, or industry-specific hazards.Question 1.8

Question 1.9 

Briefly outline the roles and responsibilities of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and Health and Safety committees (HSCs) in relation to WHS.
Briefly outline the legal responsibilities of workers in relation to WHS.Question 1.10
Task 2 

In the following scenario, you will be presented with a selection of observations from a person going about their role in the workplace of a multi-modality health clinic. You are to read across the worker’s observations and answer the questions at the end. These will examine what the worker should have done reactively within that situation and proactive steps that the worker could take in order to improve future workplace safety.

Case Study

Wendy is an experienced worker. During one particular day, the following things happen:

1. a) Wendy observes a new person, Mandy, using cleaning products. Mandy is not wearing gloves even though Wendy knows that Mandy has had induction training, which includes wearing PPE whenever using cleaning solvents in the workplace.
2. b) Wendy sees a client walk into reception and trip on the edge of a rug that is worn and lifted up. Wendy has noticed the worn rug before.
3. c) Wendy sees Tracey, who is another experienced worker, standing on a chair whilst trying to open a window up high. The window is stuck, so Tracey is pulling on it quite hard.
4. d) Wendy has her handbag on the floor beside her desk. Tracey comes in to talk to her and as she walks around Wendy’s desk, she trips on Wendy's bag. Wendy apologises, picks it up, and puts it on the shelf.

Question 2.1

Pick one of the observations of another worker, and outline what advice Wendy should give to this co-worker. Identify the following information:

• When she should have provided advice
• Her role in providing the advice
• The manner in which the advice should be provided
• Any further steps she could have taken
• And then write out a sample dialogue of the advice provided.

(approximately 100 words).

Question 2.2

What steps should Wendy take after observing the client tripping on the rug?  What process of risk management could be taken with the rug?
Based on Wendy's observations, does it sound like her workplace has adequate WHS policies, procedures, and training?  Where would she go to confirm this information?Question 2.3

What further steps should Wendy investigate for the workplace?  Points to consider when writing the answer include:Question 2.4

• Keeping up to date with WHS issues
• Reliable sources of WHS information
• Roles and responsibilities of HSRs & HSCs
• Addressing WHS at a systemic level in a workplace

Write your thoughts.

Question 1.1

As a nurse working in a hospital environment, the steps that one should take to ensure worker health and safety include;

• Understanding the available environmental hazards
• Taking precautions when handling patients to avoid bloodborne pathogens
• Proper use of equipment and protective
• Practicing hand hygiene at all times
• Proper disposal of wastes and sharps (Park & Kim, 2013)

Question 1.2

1. Create an action plan to promote workplace health and safety. In order to make sure there is safety in a hospital setting an action plan should be developed consisting all intervention that needs to be addressed in a given period of time
2. Inspection of the workplace. This includes regular checking and maintain equipment and personal protective, storage and fire assembly areas and updating instructions and guidelines in order to maintain the safety of the general public and workers at all time.
3. Training of employees such as nurses and doctors about the workplace safety and regulations. This should be done regularly so as to equip all workers with the knowledge and skills that can enable them to understand the need for workplace safety practices (Mullen, 2015).

Question 1.3

Bloodborne pathogens- this can be controlled through the use of personal protective and proper handling of patients and waste products

Injuries from sharps- injuries from sharps can be controlled by proper handling of sharp equipment and use of    safety sharp boxes for disposal

Fire –fire in a hospital setup can be controlled by an indication of precaution on materials and gases that can ignite fire easily, use of fire assembly points and emergency fire extinguishers.

The risk for development of musculoskeletal conditions- This can be controlled through practicing of proper patient transportation techniques and use of modern hospital equipment (Park & Kim, 2013)

Question 1.4

1. Use of safety signs and symbols- use of safety signs and symbols is one of the most effective methods of sharing information about safety in the workplace since they are easily understood.
2. Use of guidelines charts can also be effective as they tend to give direct orders on what exactly should be done
3. Direct instructions
4. Demonstrations
5. Acting as an example to others (Mullen, 2015)

Question 1.5

The more experienced worker may have witnessed various impacts of health hazards in a hospital thus they have a greater insight than less experienced workers.

In order to implement safe workplace policies, first one should understand the impacts of the health hazards and the cost of prevention as compared to the cost of treatment. Others contributions include using safety equipment as instructed by the manufacturer, following occupational health safety regulations, reporting any accidents and injuries and adhering to all workers compensation laws and regulations (Park & Kim, 2013).

Question 1.6

Always act professionally and responsibly at all times which is likely to eliminate stress and fatigue in the workplace and at the same time maintaining safety.

Inform the employer the available breaches of the regulation and recommend what should be done

Ensure hygiene and safe environment in accordance with the individual authority and responsibility.

Follow safe precaution in the easiest way possible.

Question 1.7

Giving an example of a fire emergency in a hospital, the following steps should be followed;

1. Raise the alarm and if possible ensure the safety of all patients
2. If safe and trained try to extinguish fire using the right extinguisher
3. Call the firefighters
4. Close doors but do not lock them, leave the lights on and try not to use elevators
5. Evacuate the building and move to fire assembly area (Mullen, 2015)

Measures that should be taken to avoid emergency situations include;

Always make the workplace is safe with correct measures

Use the correct safety workplace regulations

Use the correct personal protective and equipment’s in the workplace (Park & Kim, 2013)

Question 1.8

No smoking signs where there oxygen in use

Single use only signs where the personal protective can only be used once

Caution of patients and staff against hazards like radiations, needles and infectious wastes

Cautions like protective clothing required in this areas where there is high risks

Cautions indicating emergency exits and fire assembly area (Mullen, 2015)

Step by Step Guidance for Ensuring Health and Safety at Your Workplace

Question 1.9

Roles and responsibilities of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

1. Facilitate the flow of safety health information between the hospitals and workers
2. Monitor health and safety actions that are been taken by the hospital and investigate workers complaints if they are been taken care of
3. Direct all unsafe work to stop if they think it is exposing workers at risks
4. Provide provision improvement notice to the regulatory body where there is a controversial (Jahangiri, Rostamabadi, Hoboubi, Tadayon & Soleimani, 2016)

Roles of  Health and Safety committees (HSCs) in relation to WHS

1. Facilitate cooperation between the hospital and workers
2. Help to review the work health and safety policies in the hospital  including al, the procedures and making sure the hospital meet their duty and obligations to promote workers safety
3. Deal with all other health and safety related matters as agreed with the hospital

Question 1.10

The legal responsibilities of workers in relation to WHS include

1. Work in way to ensure they have personal safety and safety of others
2. Use safety equipment as instructed by the manufacturer
3. Only use safe equipment where there is required
4. Follow all occupational health and safety guidelines as required by the law
5. Report all incidents and accidents including injuries or illness to the appropriate person
6. Report all equipment that require repair or replacement
7. Adhere to workers compensation laws and regulations
8. Provide enough cooperation with the employers
9. Always acts responsibly and professionally at all times
10. Enforce health and safety issues to other workplace (Jahangiri, Rostamabadi, Hoboubi, Tadayon & Soleimani, 2016)

Question 2.1

Advice on safety at the workplace should be given immediately in order to reduce health hazards. Like for example, Wendy should immediately start advising Mandy how to use safety protection when cleaning. Wendy as an experienced worker should always try to advice new workers about safety at the workplace.  Wendy should try to approach Mandy by first showing her the health hazards she is exposed to in order to convince her to always wear personal protective. Further training should be taken to ensure such incidents will not happen in future. After that, Wendy should request Mandy for confidential purposes whether she is to write a dialogue of advice provided or not (Valent, Sincig, Gigli & Dolso, 2016).

Question 2.2

After seeing a client tripping on the rug, Wendy should take the following steps

1. Wendy should provide first aid to the client in order to minimize the impact of the health risk incurred.
2. If the injury requires assistant Wendy should call for help from other workers and help to take the client to the hospital
3. Wendy should now report the incident to the required person
4. Wendy should later advocate for a notice showing there are worn out the rug and people should take precaution in order to prevent such incident from occurring again
5. Wendy should convince the employer the risks of the worn out rug to the clients so as to make it replaced and be regularly checked
6. If the person undertaking the business in the place Wendy is working do not replace the rag, Wendy should report the risks to the regulatory body (Valent, Sincig, Gigli & Dolso, 2016)

Question 2.3

Based on Wendy's observations the workplace does not have adequate work health policies. First, the workplace has worn out rags that have been there for sometimes and are not yet replaced to an extent they are causing harm to clients. The employer also does not seem to have a good health and safety committee or representatives who should regularly train employees and follow if they are adhering to safety procedures giving, for example, the incident of Mandy and Tracey. Wendy should confirm if the workplace has proper regulation in accordance with workplace and regulation act and other regulatory bodies (Kim & Cho, 2016).

Question 2.4

Wendy should check if the workplace is up to date with the current WHS issues including compensation and proper maintenance of standards (Kim & Cho, 2016). Wendy should counter check this with Work Health and Safety Act 2011, work health and regulation 2011 act, Act Codes of Practice and the Work safe Act which should be retrieved from reliable government websites and from the law. In addition, Wendy should check if the health safety representatives and the health safety committee adheres to their roles and obligations of ensuring the workplace is free from all health hazards to both employees and the clients ("Work Health and Safety (OHS) acts, regulations and codes of practice", 2018). 

References

Jahangiri, M., Rostamabadi, A., Hoboubi, N., Tadayon, N., & Soleimani, A. (2016). Needle Stick Injuries and their Related Safety Measures among Nurses in a University Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Safety And Health At Work, 7(1), 72-77. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2015.07.006

Kim, W., & Cho, H. (2016). Unions, Health and Safety Committees, and Workplace Accidents in the Korean Manufacturing Sector. Safety And Health At Work, 7(2), 161-165. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.02.005

Mullen, K. (2015). Barriers to Work-Life Balance for Hospital Nurses. Workplace Health & Safety, 63(3), 96-99. doi: 10.1177/2165079914565355

Park, Y., & Kim, S. (2013). Impacts of Job Stress and Cognitive Failure on Patient Safety Incidents among Hospital Nurses. Safety And Health At Work, 4(4), 210-215. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2013.10.003

Valent, F., Sincig, E., Gigli, G., & Dolso, P. (2016). Maintenance of Wakefulness and Occupational Injuries among Workers of an Italian Teaching Hospital. Safety And Health At Work, 7(2), 120-123. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2015.10.002

Work Health and Safety (OHS) acts, regulations and codes of practice. (2018).