Frequently Asked Questions
The following represent the most commonly asked questions by staff and members.- What is the purpose of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation?
- What is the objective of Occupational Health and Safety
- How does the above objective translate into real terms for workers?
- What types of OHS hazards should I be aware of?
- General guidelines and principles all members should become familiar with.
1. What is the purpose of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation?
Answer
To promote and protect the public against risks to health or safety arising out of or in connection with;- the activities of persons at work
- the use of operation of various types of plant
- to involve employees and employers in issues affecting occupational health, safety and welfare
- to encourage registered organisations to take a constructive role in promoting improvements in OHS practices to achieve a healthier and safer working environment
2. What is the objective of Occupational Health and Safety
Answer
The objective is;- To promote and maintain to the highest degree the physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations and to reduce work-related accidents and diseases.
3. How does the above objective translate into real terms for workers?
Answer
OHS legislation is concerned at the grass roots level with;- the general well-being of employees while at work
- the prevention of work related injuries and work related fatalities and disease
- the investigation of the causes of work related injuries, disease and fatalities
- the rehabilitation and retraining of people who have suffered work related injuries
4. What types of OHS hazards should I be aware of?
Answer
Any type that could threaten your health and safety in the following manner;Physical
- noise, vibration, lighting, electrical, heat and cold, nuisance dust, fire/explosion, machine guarding, working space
- gases, dusts, fumes, vapours, liquids
- tool design, equipment design, job/task design,
- workstation design, manual handling
- microwaves, infra-red, ultra violet, lasers, x-rays, gamma rays
- shift work, workload, dealing with the public, harassment, discrimination, threat of danger, low level constant noise
- infections, bacteria and viruses
General guidelines and principles all members should become familiar with.
Acute and Chronic Hazards:- Some hazards are easy to recognize
- Some hazards particularly chemicals may look harmless but are very dangerous eg: acid
- Other chemicals have a much slower effect taking many years to become obvious eg: asbestos fibres
- Breathing in
- Skin absorption
- Swallowing
- When protecting workers against hazards all these routes of entry must be remembered
- Usually unseen hazards are the cause of ill health in the workplace
- These are often associated with chemicals, radiation and stress
- Health is now a major consideration and is viewed equally with safety
- Most workplace accidents and injuries are preventable.
- They can be prevented by adopting the following principles:
- Eliminate the hazard
- Substitute the hazard
- Control the hazard
- Introduce safe working procedures
- Removal of hazardous chemicals from a process
- Removal of noisy machines where people are usually involved in quiet tasks
- Non-combustible instead of combustible materials in paint, fabrics and electrical insulation
- Pneumatic or hydraulic systems where there is a fire risk
- Use of cordless battery tools which have a power level too low to cause injury
- vacuuming generates less dust than sweeping
- components requiring manual lifting should be placed on bench height storage platforms not on floor
- heavy bags of materials should be obtained in smaller quantities
- noise generated by air turbulence in ducting can be reduced by redesign
- modified tools
- machinery guarding
- interlocks to deactivate machines
- use of mechanical equipment or automation
For further information about OH&S legislation and obligations in your state, click one of the links below:
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