Occupational Health and Safety Issues

Occupational Health and Safety Issues

• Government Legislation

• Signage

• OH&S Principles and Requirements

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Safe Working Practices

• First Aid

• Materials Handling

Government Legislation

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000

The objects of this Act are as follows:

(a) to secure and promote the health, safety and welfare of people at work,

(b) to protect people at a place of work against risks to health or safety arising out of the activities of persons at work,

(c) to promote a safe and healthy work environment for people at work that protects them from injury and illness and that is adapted to their physiological and psychological needs,

(d) to provide for consultation and co-operation between employers and employees in achieving the objects of this Act,

(e) to ensure that risks to health and safety at a place of work are identified, assessed and eliminated or controlled,

(f) to develop and promote community awareness of occupational health and safety issues,

(g) to provide a legislative framework that allows for progressively higher standards of occupational health and safety to take account of changes in technology and work practices,

(h) to deal with the impact of particular classes or types of dangerous goods and plant at, and beyond, places of work.

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001  

The new Regulation contains provisions in respect of the following matters:

(a) the identification of hazards by employers and the elimination or control of risks at employers’ places of work,

(b) the establishment of occupational health and safety committees and the election of employees’ representatives in connection with an employer’s duty under the Act to consult with employees in respect of decisions affecting their health, safety and welfare at work,

(c) particular risk control measures (including provisions regarding lighting, noise, atmosphere, electricity, confined spaces and manual handling),

(d) the manufacture, supply and regulation of hazardous substances for use at places of work including such processes as spray painting

(e) the notification of accidents and other matters.

Signage

• What kind of signage is in a furniture workplace?

• What is the importance of signage in a workplace?

• How does a business use signage to encourage safe and healthy work practices?

 

Safety Signs

There are three main types of safety signs used in the workplace:

1) Picture signs using symbols or pictures.

2) Signs with only text based messages.

3) Picture signs with a short message. Picture signs are universal - they reach as many people as possible in the workplace, including workers with low reading ability or non-English speaking backgrounds.

Colour and Shape

There are seven categories of safety signs identified by colour and shape:

1) Prohibition signs – Indicate something that you must not do: They are made up of a red circle border with a line through it, a white background and black symbol

2) Mandatory signs – Tell you that you must wear special safety equipment: They are made up of a blue solid circle, white symbol, with no border.

3) Restriction signs – Tell of a limitation placed on activity or use in an area:They are made up of a red circular border, no crossbar, and a white background.

4) Hazard warning signs – These signs warn you of a danger or risk to your health: They are made up of a yellow triangle with a black border, and a black symbol.

5) Danger hazard signs – Warn of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that could be life-threatening: They are made up of a white rectangular background, with the word DANGER in white on a red background, and black border and black text.

6) Emergency information signs – Show where emergency safety equipment is kept:They are made up of a green solid rectangle, with a white symbol or text.

7) Fire signs – Tell you locations of fire alarms and fire fighting facilities: They are made up of a red solid rectangle, with white text.