Week 7

13 September, 2011

This morning's lesson we covered workplace bullying and sexual harrassment. We used TV News database to find videos relating to bullying or sexual harrassment.

I found the following video on bullying to be of interest:

Bullied Workers Shattered: A number of work place bullying victims tell their personal stories. [online]. Today Tonight (SEVEN NETWORK); Time: 18:35; Broadcast Date: Wednesday, 7th September 2011; Duration: 5 min., 1 sec. Availability: <http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=TEX20113601063;res=TVNEWS> [cited 13 Sep 2011].

Racial abuse - Racial abuse can be overt or subtle and includes racial "jokes" at a particular worker's or group of workers' expense. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 makes racial discrimination in employment against the law throughout Australia.

The Racial Discrimination Act aims to ensure that people of all backgrounds are treated equally and have the same opportunities. The  law protects people across Australia from discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, and immigration status.

Under the Act, it is against the law for people to discriminate against you in:

• Employment, such as getting a job or applying for a promotion
• Education, whether at school, university, TAFE or other colleges
• Access to premises such as shops, libraries or hospitals and other buildings used by the public,
• Buying goods and using services, such as being served in a restaurant or using taxis, banks and legal services
• Accommodation, such as renting a unit or house or buying and selling land
• Activities of clubs or associations, such as joining a sports club or RSL
• Commonwealth Government laws and programs, such as voting and information in accessible formats
• Playing sport, including when enrolling, competing or access to mainstream competitions

We were given time towards the end of the lesson to work on our OH&S blogs, so they could be submitted in the coming weeks. 

Week 6

6 September, 2011

This morning's lesson started off with an emergency scenario quick question and answer exercise. It was entitled "The emergency you don't want to have..".

We had the opportunity to answer five short questions and then discuss our answers with the group. We discussed emergency evacuation procedures and responses to hazards and risks.

We also recieved a colour CPR (Cardio Pulminory Resusitation) Chart issued by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales.

After the discussion took place, the class had the opportunity to assess the TAFE Library as part of
"Implement workplace health, safety and security procedures" assessment 1. The weighting of the assessment is 20% of the overall grade for the subject. Class members evaluated the Library and used a checklist to identify existing or potential risks and hazards.

We also learned about managing stress. Research shows that a certain amount of stress is a good thing, but feeling "stressed out" isn't.

Symptoms of excessive stress include: headache, fatigue, anxiety, skin rashes and pimples, tension, irritability, tremors, aggression, reduced appetite, indigestion, depression, weight loss or overeating, dizziness, poor memory, insomnia, irregular bowel movements, inability to concentrate and indecisiveness.

There are several causes of stress in the workplace which can attribute to stress. We discussed effective self-help remedies as well.

 

For homework we read about:

Good Housekeeping:

Work areas should be maintained in a clean, orderly and organised way. Work area inspection should include the condition of the work area. This includes cleaning as a hazard and storage hazards.

Noise:

Noise is a hazard in many workplaces and should not be treated simply as an environmental nuisance. Exposure to excessive or prolonged noise causes irreversible deafness or hearing impairment by physically damaging the inner ear.

We discussed noise in the workplace in class. We learned that noise is measured in decibels. The following chart shows differing levels of noise:

Security:

Workplaces where cash is handled are at the risk of robbery. The employer's duty of care extends to taking all reasonable steps to minimize the risk of armed hold-up and to support victims through any resulting psychological trauma caused by such an event. 

Personal Threats:

Personal threats can arise from members of the public or fellow workers. It is the responsibility of every employer to ensure that personal threats of any kind are not tolerated in the workplace.

Sexual Harassment: 

Sexual harassment is any uninvited or unwanted sexual behaviour directed at a person that is found offensive, embarrassing, intimidating, humiliating, or unwelcome.

Week 5

30 August, 2011

This week we resumed class discussion on dangerous goods and how they should be handled. 

Dangerous goods, also called hazardous materials or HazMat, are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations. "HazMat teams" are personnel specially trained to handle dangerous goods. 

Dangerous goods include materials that are radioactive, flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, biohazardous, toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic. Also included are physical conditions such as compressed gases and liquids or hot materials, including all goods containing such materials or chemicals, or may have other characteristics that render them hazardous in specific circumstances.

We also learned about the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). An MSDS is a document containing important information about a hazardous chemical (which may be hazardous substance and/or dangerous goods) and must state:

• a hazardous substance's product name
• the chemical and generic name of certain ingredients
• the chemical and physical properties of the hazardous substance
• health hazard information
• precautions for safe use and handling
• the manufacturer's or importer's name, Australian address and telephone number. 

The MSDS provides employers, self-employed persons, workers and other health and safety representatives with the necessary information to safely manage the risk from hazardous substance exposure.

It is important that everyone in the workplace knows how to read and interpret a MSDS.

We learned that the "diamond" sign on the label shows to which of the nine classes the dangerous goods belong. This label, or diamond sign has a distinctive symbol and colour.

In addition, some labels also show the Packing Group (abbreviated as PG), which indicates the degree of danger:

PG I - Great Danger

PG II - Medium Danger

PG III - Minor Danger

CLASS 1 - Explosives 

Substances and articles used to produce explosions or pyrotechnic effects.

CLASS 2 - Gases

These are gases which have been compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure.

Class 2.1 - Flammable gases

Class 2.2 - Non-Flammable, non-toxic gases

Class 2.3 - Toxic gases

CLASS 3 - Flammable Liquids

These are liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in suspension, which in most instances can be ignited and will burn.

Class 3 PG I - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint less than 23C and an initial boiling point not greater than 35C
Class 3 PG II - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint less than 23C and an initial boiling point greater than 35C
Class 3 PG III - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint less than 23C or more, but less than or equal to 60.5C

 CLASS 4 - Flammable Solids

Class 4.1 - Flammable solids, self -reactive and related substances and desensitized explosives

Class 4.2 - Substances liable to spontaneous combustion

Class 4.3 - Substances which emit flammable gases when in contact with water

Class 5 - Oxidizers

Class 5.1 - Oxidizing agents

Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides

 Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances

 These are poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances.

Class 6.1 - Toxic substances

Class 6.2 - Infectious substances

 Class 7 - Radioactive Substances

 These omit ionising radiation. 

 

 Class 8 - Corrosives

 These are substances (either solid or liquids) which will damage living tissue, goods or equipment on contact, by chemical action.

 Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

These are substances and articles which have potentially dangerous properties that are relatively minor.

Week 4

23 August, 2011

This week we learned about manual handling. After an overview of each class member demonstrated how to lift and carry an object correctly according to what they had been instructed.

We learned that manual handling is any activity that involves lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, holding or restraining. it is essential that these tasks be completed as correctly as possible to minimise the risk of injury or aggravation to existing injuries.

Manual handling principles can use the SMART approach.

S - size of the load
M - move in close to the load
A - always bend your knees
R - raise the object with your knees
T - turn by moving your feet

Risk management with respect to manual handling is a step by step process to help employers identify, assess and then eliminate or control risks so as to avoid injury in the workplace.

There are three steps for solving manual handling problems:

1. Risk Identification - This is where you identify a task that may be a risk.  
2. Risk Assessment - After the risk has been identified as a risk, it must be assessed to find out what the specific risk factors are.
3. Risk Control - Controls are steps taken to eliminate or at least reduce the risk factors in a task.

We also looked at four case studies that involved manual handling. We identified risks, assessed risks and how to control the risk.

We concluded the lesson by watching a video on the human spine. We also began a discussion on dangerous goods which would resume to following week.

Week 3

16 August, 2011

For homework we did some research in anticipation of today's lesson. We researched classes of fire and fire extinguishers.

I found the following two websites to be helpful:

FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA
www.fpaa.com.au

and

FIRE AND RESCUE NSW
www.nswfb.nsw.gov.au

 

This week was spent learning about fire safety and emergencies.

For a fire to continue burning, three components are required:

1. Oxygen
2. Fuel
3. Source of Ignition
 

Fires can be divided into five classes:

Class A - Fires involving common combustibles
Common combustibles include paper, wood, textiles and plastics. Water is the best means to fight a Class A fire.

Class B -Fires involving flammable liquids
Flammable liquids include petroleum products like oil, petrol, kerosene, alcohol, paints and paint thinners and solvents.  A CO2 foam extinguisher is best used to fight this type of fire.

Class C - Fires involving gases
Common combustibles include LPG, butane, acetylene, hydrogen, natural gas and methane. Dry chemical or vaporising extinguishers are used to fight Class C fires.

Class D - Fires involving combustibles chemicals/metals
Common chemicals/metals include potassium, sodium, lithium, aluminium and magnesium. Special dry extinguishers are used for this type of fire.

Class E - Electrical fires
Involves live electricity or electrical equipment. Can include motor, generators, computers, lights, plugs and switches or cables. Fight Class E fires with dry chemicals CO2 or vaporising extinguishers.

Class F - Fueled by cooking oil or fat
Often in the kitchen area. Use wet, dry chemical or CO2 extinguishers to fight this type of fire.

 

We also briefly discussed evacuation proceedures and what to do in the event of such. 

Week 2

9 August, 2011

Today we learned about workplace hazards and the different types that existed. Below are some examples of hazards in the workplace, and examples of them:

1. Physical - noise, heat, spills
2. Chemical - air contaminants, moulds, smoking
3. Biological - infections
4. Physiological - stress, burnout
5. Mechanical - equipment not guarded, used by inexperienced and untrained
6. Ergonomic - non-adustable furniture, repetitive movement
7. Radiation - ultraviolet light

We then broke off in pairs and did a small activity. In my pair we briefly listed and described the activities and operations that take place in a Hairdressing Salon. We then identified typical hazards that are present or might arise in the workplace we had chosen.

We learned that hazard management is based on four broad principles for managing occupational health and safety:

•  Identification
• Assessment
• Control
• Evaluation

Next we learned about safety signs and their respective colours. We learned that safety signs are useful tools to help protect the health and safety of employees and workplace visitors.

Safety signs are used to:

• Draw attention to health and safety hazards
• Point out hazards that may not be obvious
• Provide general information and directions
• Remind employees where personal protective equipment must be worn
• Show where emergency equipment is located
• Indicate where certain actions are prohibited

Safety signs are coded as follows:

 Prohibition - Red and White, Circular

Indicate actions or activities that are not permitted

Mandatory Action - Blue, Circular

The word "must" is usually contained in the message

Caution / Warning - Yellow, Triangular

Warn of conditions that are not likely to be life threatening if the message is ignored

Emergency Treatment - Green or Red, Square or Rectangle

Indicate the location of or direction to emergency facilities and first aid equipment

Week 1

2 August, 2011

This week Diploma in Library and Information Studies students were introduced to the subject "Implement Workplace Health, Safety and Security Procedures".

We began by doing an activity which we identified hazards in a typical house. We later discussed the existing hazards as a group and why we thought they were.

We then read a summary of the OHS Act 2000 as a class. The Act aims to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work. The Act must be met at all places of work in New South Wales.

• Employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees when at work.
• Employees must take responsible care of the health and safety of themselves and others.

The risk for is the potential for the hazard to actually cause harm. To determine the level (or severity) of the risk, we must consider:

• OUTCOME - For each hazard, what is the worst likely outcome from the exposure to hazard?
• LIKLIHOOD - What is the likihood of harm occuring if the person is exposed to the hazard?
• EXPOSURE - How many people are exposed to the hazards and for how long?

Hazards were also discussed in class. A hazard is defined as "an actual or potential source of personal injury, ill health or disease in the work place".

Hazard identification is the process of investigating any item, activity, situation, product or service that could give rise to injury or illness in the workplace.

It was established that hazards can be grouped into 7 different classes:

1. Physical
2. Chemical
3. Biological
4. Physiological
5. Mechanical
6. Ergonomic
7. Radiation