Bsbsus201 eBook

BSBSUS201

PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY

SUSTAINABLE WORK PRACTICES

EBook BSBSUS201 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

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Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................ 3

What is sustainability? ............................................................................. 3

1. Identify current resource use ................................................................ 5

1.1. Identify workplace environmental and resource efficiency issues .......... 5

1.2. Identify resources used in own work role ........................................ 11

1.3. Document and measure current usage of resources using appropriate

techniques .............................................................................................. 12

1.4. Record and file documentation measuring current usage, using

technology ............................................................................................. 14

1.5. Identify and report workplace environmental hazards to appropriate

personnel ............................................................................................... 15

2. Comply with environmental regulations ................................................ 18

2.1. Follow workplace procedures to ensure compliance .......................... 18

2.2. Report breaches or potential breaches to appropriate personnel ......... 24

3. Seek opportunities to improve resource efficiency .................................. 26

3.1. Follow organisational plans to improve environmental practices and

resource efficiency................................................................................... 26

3.2. Work as part of a team, where relevant, to identify possible areas for

improvements to work practices in own work area ....................................... 29

3.3. Make suggestions for improvements to workplace practices in own work

area 30

Appendix .................................................................................................. 31

Legislation in Australian Business .............................................................. 31

Conservation and environmental considerations .......................................... 39

Glossary ................................................................................................... 41

References ................................................................................................ 43


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Introduction

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to effectively measure

current resource use and carry out improvements, including reducing the negative

environmental impact of work practices.

It applies to individuals, working under supervision or guidance, who are required

to follow workplace procedures and instructions, and work in an environmentally

sustainable manner within scope of competency, authority and own level of

responsibility.

What is sustainability?

Organisations need to recognise the importance of protecting the environment

and should minimise the environmental impact of work practices carried out by

the organisation.

Every industry has different needs and ways to minimise their impact and

resource use from an environmental perspective. Every industry has different

resources to manage and be aware of. Looking at four very different industries we

can see this to be true.

The work of all industries can affect the environment both inside and outside the

workplace. Companies have a duty of care to make sure their operations have a

minimal impact on the environment.

Operating in an environmentally responsible manner takes into account elements

such as:

Office

•Paper products and stationery

•Toner and ink cartridges

•Chemicals for cleaning

•Office furniture and business equipment

Communications

•Lengths of cable and electrical leads

•Hardware items

•Data points

Restaurants

•Raw materials

•Energy

•Water

•Euipment for cooking

•Furniture

•Technology

Resources industry

•Waste

•Noise

•Dust

•Land degradation

•Erosion

•Air and water pollution

ClimateMarine and freshwater organisms

Fauna Soils

Flora Topography Land useThe type of work

being done


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Every organisation has resources they need in order to conduct their business.

Each and every one of these resources adds up to make an enormous difference

to the cost efficiency of the organisation and the efficiency of environmental

sustainability.

How we handle these resources makes an enormous difference to the

sustainability of the plant.

It is not an issue for others, it is an issue for us all.

Consider that Sustain means to ‘keep going’ and able means ‘can’. If we use this

resource until it’s gone, can we keep going? This is the question we need to ask.

http://www.olliesworld.com/planet/aus/info/info/sr_nr04.htm

http://www.olliesworld.com/planet/aus/info/info/sr_nr04.htm


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1. Identify current resource use

1.1. Identify workplace environmental and

resource efficiency issues

When understanding the use of resources in the workplace it is important to

consider issues of environmental and resource efficiency and how to identify

these.

In this section we are going to cover four areas to help you in identifying these

issues and understanding the concepts behind them.

The four areas are:

Understanding sustainability

Environmentally sustainable work practices

Key terms and concepts

Environmental issues and concerns

1.1.1. Understanding sustainability

Interaction between humans and natural systems can impact significantly on

society and the environment, which in turn, affects our way of life and our future.

Sustainability is about being able to continue an activity for a prolonged period of

time while minimising the risk to the environment. To be sustainable, we must

develop new approaches to our lifestyle, including the way we do business, so

future generations can enjoy the natural environment as much as we do today.

Current environmental issues applicable to business services industry include:

Issue Description Examples

Sustainability Using resources in a way

that reduces the impact on

the environment.

Living within the means of

the earth so as to not

jeopardise the way we live

in the future.

Using less paper or electricity.

Reducing waste by recycling or

arranging with another to use your

waste.

Waste

management

Minimising usage of

resources in the first place,

work with other companies

to reuse your waste to

prevent resources going to

landfill

Collecting, recycling or disposing of

waste materials like paper, toner

cartridges and other resources used

in offices. Check out organisations

like Reverse Garbage

http://www.reversegarbageqld.com.

au/

http://www.reversegarbageqld.com.au/

http://www.reversegarbageqld.com.au/


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Energy use and

efficiency

About using less resources

to produce the same

outcome.

Reduce electricity use in order to

reduce costs as well as the impact

on the environment

Make the car more efficient by

conducting regular maintenance so

it is running as well as possible.

Walk, don’t drive! Use public

transport.

Water

resources

management

Ensure water is not wasted

or polluted

Dual flush or waterless toilets, water

saving fixtures, not disposing of

chemicals into the gutters and down

the drains.

The drain is just for rain!

Recycling/

reuse

Recycling turns used

materials into new products

to save resources, energy

and land fill

Reuse is considered to be

another use for the product

with no further effort

Some organisations recycle soft

plastic for you. Paper is obvious, but

what if your organisation didn’t use

the paper in the first place?

Reuse lengthens the life of an item

before it has to be discarded a filing

cabinet no longer needed in a

paperless office could be good

storage in the home, or workshop.

Clean-up

practices

What are you cleaning up?

Make that decision before

you begin.

Environmentally friendly products

are used in clean-up practices to

reduce the impact on the

environment.

Resources

renewable

Can be replaced or made up

again. Some renewable

resources, can be used over

and over again.

Energy from the sun

Energy from the wind

Resources non

renewable

Once they are gone, they

are gone!

Fossil fuels, coal, gas

1.1.2. Environmentally sustainable work practices

Environmentally sustainable work practices are those which reduce harm to the

environment and reduce wastage of resources. Business services employees can

help protect the environment by following the three Rs:

Reduce Re-use Recycle


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Reduce

Reduce the amount of use or waste of resources you use. Reduce is a concept

that involves only using what you need.

Case Study

A business needs to have a small office. To reduce the cost associated with

heating, airconditioning and lighting, the property manager could only use one

portion of the office or close off areas that do not need to be used. Similarily

they may purchase a building that is the right size for their needs.

Look at your organisation and its practices to see what is really happening in terms

of waste. Don’t use it in the first place unless it is really needed.

Power for technology and air-conditioning is another resource in an office

environment which is used in large quantities. Consider reducing this use by

removing light bulbs, using the stairs instead of a lift. Of course turning off

equipment at the wall is another way to reduce costs and resource usage. Run air-

conditioning with thermostats set to the right temperatures.

Consider also the impact of dumping materials into landfill, hazardous and

nonhazardous, or water management. Reducing your waste by forming an

arrangement with another organisation who can potentially use your waste is

another great way to reduce your resource use.

Some ways to reduce wastage of resources:

Don’t use a resources if you don’t need it, printing, lighting, furniture

repair. E.g. only print on both sides of paper, don’t use disposable cutlery

when reusable is available, or wash and reuse it

Use electronic files rather than paper files

Reduce the amount of junk mail that your office receives by refusing

Reduce waste by choosing products that have minimal packaging and can

be used productively and then recycled or repurposed

Re-use

Reuse or repurposing is another way we can all affect change in this area. Recycling

is of course, great but also uses power and energy to process the recyclable material

and convert it to a useful product to be manufactured into something new. When

reusing and repurposing we deal with by products or waste which have a value as

is. Many products are now using the waste from one industry in products created

for sale.

Case Study

Old tyres are a real problem, they do not break down, when burnt do so slowly

and emit toxic gasses into the atmosphere and the water supplies. Tyres can


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be reclaimed for fuel, engineering projects, flooring just to name a few great

repurposed examples. In Cambodia some enterprising soul is reusing tyres to

create rubbish bins. For very little effort and virtually no cost an object has

been re purposed into very useful product and saves the world from yet

another unusable waste product.

Some other products which can be reused may sound crazy but offer real

opportunity over and above simple paper reuse. Think outside the square! You can:

Re-use containers, packaging or waste products, wherever possible

Re-use paper for printing draft copies or make scribble pads from paper

used on one side

Use recycled toner cartridges by refilling

Use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use batteries

Repair something if it is broken, don’t just discard and start again, demand

products that can be fixed, or are strong in the first place so that they last

Rescue products for reuse, someone’s trash is definitely someone’s treasure

Recycle

When a certain products can no longer be re-used they may be able to be

recycled. Many offices have recycling bins for cans, glass and paper products.

Recycling is an industrial process, it uses energy and resources to convert waste

to new products. It is always better to reduce your use or reuse before you

recycle. Composting is a recycling process which requires little input from us,

sometimes the process of being environmentally aware is simple.

Case Study

An organisation which receives freight in cardboard with large amounts of

packaging can ask the supplier to change their packing methods, thereby

reducing the amount of packaging waste which may or may not be recyclable

in your area. By putting this sort of pressure on suppliers there is a chance we

can affect change. If they don’t respond to you perhaps there is another

supplier who will.

Going back to the tyre example it is possible to shred, granulate tyres for other

uses. Coffee grounds from a local coffee shop will feed a worm farm in the basement

of the building or on the roof of your building and makes great fertiliser for renewing

your garden. Wooden pallets are a fantastic resource for building furniture. Use

cooking oil for bio fuel. Coal, petroleum and gas are non-renewable fossil fuels, once

they are gone that’s it. Using alternative power sources solar, wind or wave power

will help but so will biodiesel options. This clean energy fuel source can be made

onsite from locally produced resources, to be used in specially converted cars as

well as blended with conventional fuels for use in regular motors.


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Remember recycling is more than just throwing stuff in a bin and forgetting about

it. It is a process which turns something into something else, it requires further

energy to be used in the process. Research potential in your area.

Resource use efficiency examples include:

Reduce first, reuse second then recycle waste material wherever possible

Maintain air-conditioning at a constant temperature of 23-24°c

Close correctly fitted blinds or curtains to minimise heat build-up or heat

loss

Maintain only security lighting after business hours

Use power saving options for computers and monitors

Switch off equipment overnight wherever possible, unplug from the wall

Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent

bulbs, remove light bulbs if possible to maintain safe working conditions

Ensure that air conditioner filters are cleaned regularly

Install solar electricity

Check all the purchasing stipulations, buy in bulk only if you need the goods

1.1.3. Key terms and concepts

Term Definition

Environmental

issues

Negative effects on the sustainability of a quality

environment.

Environmental

hazards/risks

Actual or potential threats to the environment as a result of

an organisation's activities.

Environmentally

sustainable

work practices

Practices which reduce harm to the environment and reduce

wastage of resources.

Organisational

plans

Business documents developed to identify where the

business wants to go and what it needs to do in order to

achieve these goals.

Resource

consumption

The rate at which natural, non-renewable resources are

being depleted.

Resource

efficiency

Using resources efficiently so they can be reused or recycled

to limit the depletion of the stock of natural resources, as

well as to limit the harm to the environment.

Sustainability

The result of using resources to meet the needs of the

present generation without jeopardising or depleting the

resources for future generations.

As discussed each workplace has different environmental concerns and issues

due to the:

Type of work and resources used


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Geographic and environmental location

An organisation’s style of management also influences how environmental issues

are dealt with. Successful environmental management has the following

benefits for a workplace:

Sustainable work practices- practices that work now and into the future

Improved productivity

More efficient use of resources

Reduced costs

Reduction of waste and pollution

The rapid identification of, response to and containment of emergencies

(spills, leaks, pollution and so on)

1.1.4. Environmental issues and concerns

It is important to be aware of the types of environmental concerns that may

impact on your work.

Establishing good data and information is essential when planning and

implementing adequate rehabilitation strategies. Consulting the local community

is an excellent way of identifying solutions for conservation that will benefit

everyone. Rights of land holders must be respected at all times. Requirements of

cultural areas, recreation and conservation areas must be observed.

A key aim of the planning is to work out a way of allowing the project to proceed

while minimising disturbance to, or taking steps to conserve the environment. Any

new sites discovered or uncovered are to be reported to a supervisor. The

supervisor will report these to the client officer or appropriate authority.

Operational issues of resource inefficiency

•We need to maximise our opportunities to reduce, reuse or recycle to improve our environmental performance

•Promote efficient production methods

•Seek alternative sources of energy

Overuse, mismanagement

and/or negligence of resources

•Fossil fuels exclusively used for energy (e.g. petrol, coal, oil, natural gas)

•Natural resources conservation (e.g. timber and animals)

•Synthetic chemicals that can be damaging to nature (e.g. dyes, drugs some fabrics)

Contamination and pollution

•Air

•Land

•Water

•Flora and Fauna

•Community

•Workplaces

•Homes

•Society


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To summarise, environmental and resource efficiency issues may include:

1.2. Identify resources used in own work role

A resource is any input used in an activity in order to help earn a living. Resources

used in a business include:

Human resources - employees

Facilities - buildings, structures and installations required to support the

business

Software - computer programs

Raw materials - stock that has been purchased for further processing

Stock and supply - products available for sale to customers or goods

available for staff to use in their duties

As an individual you need to consider if you really need to use that item at all. If

you do consider what happens to it once is it used. Is it able to be reused? Or

recycled, or is it destined for landfill only.

How can you identify the resources you use to do your job?

You can watch and be observant about what is needed and how you can

help with the management of these resources

Discuss the resource use with your team, managers and other stakeholders,

people from other organisations, you may be able to use their waste

Conduct a stocktake, an audit of your systems or a checklist to keep track

of what you have on hand? Do you need more? If you don’t know what you

already have you will be certainly unable to make a decision about what

you need

Check your documentation, you may find that you have already received

the item you really need, and it has been put in a different place so you are

unaware of its existence, if it is a perishable item this is poor management

Maximising opportunities to improve business

environmental performance

Promoting more efficient production and consumption

of natural resources

Minimising environmental risks

Using resources efficiently such as material usage, energy usage or efficient

water usage


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Case Study

A baker needs some more yeast to bake his bread. Instead of checking the

current stocks he buys a new batch and opens it. The yeast already opened

may be wasted if he can’t use it quickly enough. Not only has this cost money

for the business but there is an increase in packaging, transport costs to ship

the yeast in the first place, waste of products and energy to produce it all.

It is important to measure resource use in order to measure improvement.

Techniques used to collect and measure resource consumption include:

Examining resources in work area - making visual assessment of

patterns of usage, not just electricity, consider food miles if you are a

restaurant or café or fuel efficiencies if you are a taxi driver

Examining invoices from suppliers - comparing invoices for different

time periods to calculate changes in usage

Measuring resource usage under different conditions

The paperless office is an ideal. Reducing paper should be the goal for today’s

offices. Check out this website which has an interview with an inner city

accounting business going paperless

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/environment/sustainable-

business/resources-for-business/

Paperless offices provide the following benefits:

Educate your clients, if you help them to understand the benefits from not

only a financial cost they will be very helpful

Perfect the electronic filing system which uses no space

The benefits are less cost of stationery, postage, more office space, less

need to move to a new premises if the business is growing

Good citizenship is another worthwhile consideration

If you are not able to be completely paperless, still consider your role of

education, set your printers to default to double sided printing, recycle toners, use

electronic as much as possible.

1.3. Document and measure current usage of

resources using appropriate techniques

Working sustainably is all about making the most efficient use of natural

resources, and producing the least amount of waste and pollution possible.

But before you can look for ways of improving efficiency, you need to have some

idea of your current resource usage.

It's not always easy to measure all the resources you use, especially when some

of them aren't directly visible.

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/environment/sustainable-business/resources-for-business/

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/environment/sustainable-business/resources-for-business/


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Case Study

Electricity consumption is hard to measure unless you can put a power meter

on every electrical item used in the job. It is possible to monitor efficiency of

your organisation by implementing resource saving initiatives and analysing

them over a range of invoices.

Electricity is a main contributor to your carbon footprint. Simple changes could be:

Switch energy consumption to green energy with your energy provider

Purchase carbon offsets to balance out emissions

Switch to natural gas or renewable methods of generating power

Reduce your hot water system temperature to 65ºC.

Depending on the size of your business and what you want to monitor there are a

number of different measuring techniques and reporting formats. These range

from measuring actual amounts or rates of usage, estimates based on sample

measurements through to complex calculations to meet regulatory reporting

requirements on emissions. These systems for measuring are usually referred to

as metrics.

Examples of metrics and where they can be found include:

Resource Metric Where they can be

found

Electricity KW/h Electricity metres

Electricity bills

Power usage counters

Water KL Water bills

Food wastage Units

Kg

Dollar value

Wastage reports

Stocktakes

Supply wastage Kg

Units

Dollar value

Paper bins being weighed

Wastage reports

Stocktakes

Supply use Units

Dollar Value

Usage reports

Stocktakes


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What you need to report will also vary. You may need to measure and report

against targets set by senior management. This could be a matter of monitoring

your direct energy usage rates based on your supplier invoices. Or you may

have to report to the National Pollutant Inventory, which sets a number of

requirements for measuring, estimating, converting and reporting

emissions.

In some cases what you measure will be an indicator of your performance in

work area rather than being a measure of actual performance. This is often the

case in social sustainability where it can be hard to identify concrete measures.

While environmental damage or reduction in waste can readily be seen and

measured your business impact on the people in the local community may be less

concrete.

Keeping statistics, reports and other documenting resources over a number of years

will build trends and show peaks and troughs that allow accurate forecasting

budgets and resource requirements for the coming year. This process will also help

to identify and implement improvements for the following year.

In order to save money for the business and help the environment at the same

time, here are also some suggestions:

Make a plan

Inspire your employees and colleagues

Be informed

Reduce, reuse and recycle

Stay energy efficient

Use natural light and reduce electricity by turning off the light and power

where you can

Reduce water use

Schedule reviews

In order to competently measure your resource usage you will require sound

literacy, numeracy and technology skills. These skills may include reading,

writing and comprehension skills, use of numbers and operations, computation,

measurement, and use of computers and related software.

1.4. Record and file documentation measuring

current usage, using technology

Documentation for business needs to be kept for a period of time to meet

statutory requirements. Filing using an electronic system is the best case from a

point of view of sustainable practices. In reality businesses may need to work

towards this in the future. If you do have paper based filing you need to be

organised and file your documents accurately. Most organisations will have filing

practices or procedures to be followed. So information is accessible whether


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electronically or physically, it is important that it is filed correctly. Good filing

practices include:

Setting aside time to file on regular basis

Returning files promptly after they are used

Design the system to be as simple to access as possible, as convenient as

you can

Most organisations will have a computer system in place to manage their

files. For this reason it is important that you have sound technology skills

appropriate to the tasks to be performed.

An environmental reporting system should be established by your organisation

for the purpose of:

Legislation requirements

Preventing and minimising pollution

Procedures and instructions for hazard identification

Emergency plans

Improvement policies and processes

In order to achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly business:

Monitor the usage of the resources of the business

Use the resources of the business effectively and responsibly

Store resources of the business safely and in a manner that prevents

wastage

Your organisation will have specifications for how your name and save your files.

Follow these protocols so others can find and use the same files.

1.5. Identify and report workplace

environmental hazards to appropriate

personnel

A hazard is a situation, activity or substance that has the potential to cause harm,

injury or illness to a person or the environment.

Environmental hazards include chemicals, fertilisers and other pollutants that can

be caused by runoff, spills, leaks or inappropriate disposal, include epidemics,

natural disasters, toxic substances and carcinogens, discolouration of water,

offensive or chemical odour, excessive smoke from a vehicle, inadequate storing

or handling of chemicals of waste, illegal and/or negligent dumping, multiple fish

deaths for example.

Equally important in the workplace are noise levels, lighting issues, dust, smoking,

electromagnetic fields. Consider as well unsafe public spaces, food quality and

safety, air and water quality, asbestos! There are many.


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Research a complete list of environmental hazards. They can mostly be grouped

as follows:

It is an important environmentally sustainable workplace practice to identify

environmental hazards, and act on them as appropriate.

To identify hazards you can:

Undertake an inspection of your workplace

Talk to other employees/workers

Look at Safety Data Sheets (SDS formerly Material Safety Data Sheets

MSDS) and manufacturer’s instructions for tools and equipment

Examine accident and incident records

If you identify a hazard, you should:

Report it immediately to your supervisor, WHS Officer or Environment

Officer

Control the hazard if you can do so safely

Complete any required documentation or forms

Follow your workplace safety procedures

Controlling the hazard may involve eliminating or isolating the hazard, or

minimising the risk to those involved. Remember, only attempt to control the

hazard if it is safe to do so and always follow safety procedures for your

organisation.

We would be required to report the environmental hazards that have been

identified following the organisations procedures and using the appropriate

documentation (covered in the next section) which we will have to forward to the

designated people, who may include:

Managers

Supervisors

Environmental officers

WHS Officers

Health and Safety representatives

1.5.1. Hazardous materials management, storage

and disposal

Hazardous materials include any substance that may result in a hazard to human

health or the environment when not correctly treated, stored or disposed of.

Environmental hazards must be reported to the appropriate personnel.

Physical Chemical Mechanical BiolgicalSocial or Cultural


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Ways to reduce risk from these substances include:

Identifying and properly preparing materials

Making inventories/lists of all hazardous materials including waste products

Describing the potential environmental hazards associated with them

Documenting methods for transport, storage, handling and use

Identifying options for disposal and long-term storage, preparing

contingency plans for unexpected events, and emergency response plans

Providing training to all managers, workers and contractors who deal with

or handle hazardous substances

There are many sites on the internet to provide more information on

environmental hazards and how to treat them.


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2. Comply with environmental regulations

Compliance is about meeting the requirements of accepted practices, legislations,

prescribed rules, regulations, specified standards or the terms of a contract.

Organisations must comply with environmental standards to ensure sustainability.

2.1. Follow workplace procedures to ensure

compliance

There are several things organisations need to consider when dealing with

sustainability and ensuring that the workers follow procedures that are compliant

with the environmental laws.

All Australian businesses can play a part in environmental management, but

whether environmental laws affect your business directly will depend on your

business activities.

Federal, state and local governments jointly administer the environmental

protection laws in Australia through bilateral agreements. As a business owner,

you should understand which laws apply to you.

The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC)

Act, administered by the Department of the Environment, covers the assessment

and approval process of national environmental and cultural concerns.

The Department also administers specific Acts that cover activities relating to:

•Legislation passed by governments which is enforceable by courts

Law

•A rule designed to control or govern conduct

Regulation

•Written guidelines, issued by an official body setting out recommended or preferred processes, actions or organisational structures to be applied in a given setting

Code of Practice

•Methods and techniques that have consistently shown superior results which are used as benchmarks

Best Practice

The sea ImportingHeritage issues

Hazardous waste

Fuel quality


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State and territory environment laws apply to specific business activities and are

administered by both state and local governments in the form of licences and

permits.

Government agencies and industry groups also have a role in developing

voluntary codes of practice that address the industry's impact on the

environment. The objectives of the EPBC are to:

Provide for the protection of the environment

Conserve Australia's biodiversity

Provide a streamlined national environmental assessments and approval

process

Enhance the protection and management of important natural and cultural

places

Control the movement of livestock from overseas

Promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation of

and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources

Procedures and work instructions give you the information you need to carry out

your job properly. This includes acting according to your environmental

responsibilities. You might be able to suggest improvements to work practices

where this applies. Suggesting improvements is part of the overall work quality

management system.

To make sure a standard is met, all procedures and work instructions include:

The date

The task

Who does the job

Who supervises the job

Who authorises the instructions, key points and safety requirements

The tools/equipment needed

The steps to take

As you complete each task you are asked to report on the outcomes you have

achieved. As with all incidents in the organisation is it important to complete a

form and/or report to:

Who to report to

•Managers/Supervisors

•Local or State Government

•Supervisor or manager

•Workplace Health and Safety Officer

•Specialist the hazard relates to

•Conservation groups

•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

•The environmental officer

How to report

•Environmental Hazard/Incident Report Form

•Written documentation

•Verbal account

•Photographic evidence


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An example of an Environmental Hazard or Incident report is included here:

Environmental Hazard/ Incident Report Form

Reported by: Date:

Description of environmental

hazard/incident identified:

Location of hazard/incident

Date identified:

Time Identified:

Other Company / Public

/Government involved: Yes/No

Details:

Personnel Notified:

Name and Position Communication Method Date

Does the hazard/incident cause impact to the following:

Area affected Please

Tick

Please

Tick

Rating of

Impact /5

Air Yes No

Land Yes No

Water Yes No

Flora and Fauna Yes No

Community Yes No

Other Yes No

WHS Issues that may arise due to hazard:

Let’s look at an example of a completed Environmental Hazard or Incident report

now.


21 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

Case Study


22 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

Utilising information in an incident report relating to the environment is also

important for maintaining improvements in your environmental sustainability as

an organisation. What caused the incident to happen? What was the outcome?

This information is critical for further planning and improvements.

Successful environmental management means recognising and avoiding or

minimising impacts. Regardless of who you are it is an offence to commit any of

the following:

Protection of the environment requires careful planning and commitment from all

levels, groups and individuals in an organisation. All workers must be responsible

for their own actions or inaction towards protecting the environment. All breaches

or potential breaches of legislation must be reported to appropriate personnel.

Everyone must be constantly making decisions, and action or inaction affects the

chance of negative impacts in the workplace or from external forces such as

weather. To make sure a worksite has a minimal impact on the environment, and

meets legislative requirements, an organisation usually develops several policy

and procedural documents. These include:

Planning for environmental protection before work starts

Conducting an environmental impact assessment

Conducting community consultation

Developing an environmental management system

Developing site environmental policies and procedures

Environmental Management System

An Environmental Management System is a tool for managing the impact of the

activities of an organisation on the environment. An effective Environmental

Management System (EMS) provides a structure to aid in the planning,

implementing and monitoring of the organisations environmental protection

practices. Use an EMS to help manage an organisation’s

Costs of materials

Waste and energy impact and usage

Incorrectly dispose of waste

Negligently harm the environment

Wilfully or negligently cause a substance to

leak, spill or otherwise escape in a manner that

harms or is likely to harm the environment

Breach air, water, noise and other pollution control legislation

Create a serious threat to public health or health of employee


23 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

Compliance with legislation

Help to maximise market and investment opportunities

Staff morale

Key questions in establishing an Environmental Management System include:

Which resources are being used (what are the inputs in terms of energy,

water and materials)?

Where do the resources come from?

Where do the resources end up after use?

How much is used and how much does it cost?

How much is wasted (how much does not end up in the final “product”)?

What is the environmental impact?

Why is so much used / wasted?

What can you do to reduce the quantities used, waste produced and

environmental impact?

How will you do it (Action Plan)?

Develop sustainability targets to measure and control consumption.

Has it made an impact? How effective is/was your action plan? Were targets

met?

Do you have the full commitment of the organisation? From top level

managers to staff at all levels

When developing an EMS consider the following

Environmental policy What you aim to achieve from your EMS. This needs

to be in keeping with the rest of the organisational

objectives.

Environmental impact

identification

Environmental audits are good ways to discover the

actual and potential environmental impacts of the

activities of an organisation.

Objectives and targets What actual measurements does your EMS want to

achieve. Remember to constantly review these

targets to maintain consistent improvement and

good management.

Consultation Consider the stakeholders affected by your business?

Staff and community need to be involved in order to

create commitment to a successful EMS. Make sure

you address all terms and conditions of employment

such as daily tasks.

Operational and

Emergency Procedures

Are your procedures in keeping with your

environmental objectives?

Environmental

Management Plan

How will you achieve your targets, objectives?


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Documentation Regulators, staff and community may need proof of

your environmental management. Accurate records

are critical when verifying environmental

performance measures you have taken.

Responsibilities and

reporting

Who will be responsible for what - in terms of

implementation?

Training Providing staff with training in this area builds skill,

understanding and motivation. As in all areas training

is the key to improvement and growth.

Review Audits and

Monitoring compliance

Reviews and resulting improvements forms a basis

for meeting regulatory and organisational

requirements.

Continual

Improvement

Can you do better? Are there other ways in which to

manage processes and procedures for improvement

or creation of more effective systems?

Most workplaces have management systems to assist the company achieve its

environmental objectives and targets. A management system is an important part

of demonstrating due diligence or consistent effort over a period of time. A

management system can include:

• The organisation’s commitment to environmental management

• The organisation’s environmental policies

• Environmental impact assessment

• Community consultation and involvement

• Objectives and targets

• Environmental management program

• Documentation and records

• Operational and emergency procedures

• Responsibility and reporting structure

• Training

• Awareness and competence

• Audit systems for environmental impact

• Regulatory compliance and environmental performance

• Emission and performance monitoring and measurement

2.2. Report breaches or potential breaches to

appropriate personnel

Each organisation will have its own policies and procedures. Any breaches need to

be reported under the relevant permit or licence as soon as possible to the

relevant staff member.

Each organisation is legally bound by legislations, permits and regulations.


25 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

Swift reporting allows swift action to correct the breach and to reduce potential

harm to the environment.

Stakeholders are reassured of the organisations commitment to the

environment

Each individual is personally responsible for reporting breaches in an

organisation

Usually a report about a breach or potential breach will include:

Date, time and location

Vehicle registration (if applicable)

Actions and equipment involved

Description of the people involved

Cause of the incident

Recommendations for future actions to prevent such incidents

Your workplace may have specific forms or documents you need to complete. If

you are unsure of your workplace procedures for identifying and reporting

hazards, it is important that you speak to your supervisor or manager.

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance-and-enforcement/report-a-

breach

Internal

• Manager/ supervisor

External

• Department of the Environment

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance-and-enforcement/report-a-breach

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance-and-enforcement/report-a-breach


26 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

3. Seek opportunities to improve resource

efficiency

By conducting an environmental audit, the organisation is looking for opportunities

to improve its methods of operation to they fall within the guidelines of an

environmentally sustainable workplace.

In addition to the audit, there are a number of ways in which an organisation can

initiate changes and improvements in their workplace to embrace environmental

sustainability. Some of these are:

Taking note of staff suggestions

Working with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure targets are met

Changing the organisation’s purchasing strategies to ensure sustainable

products and services are used

Working with suppliers to encourage better outcomes for your purchasing

Conducting regular reviews on resource usage and sustainability issues

Forming a workplace team or committee to look after these aspects of

business operation

An annual (or bi-annual) review might then result in an action checklist

where individual team members are given the responsibility of moving the

organisation forward and ensuring that sustainability targets are met

3.1. Follow organisational plans to improve

environmental practices and resource

efficiency

An organisation may put into place plans to improve environmental practices and

resource efficiency. Each organisation will have policies and procedures to manage

their operations. They should be documented work plans to reduce, reuse and

recycle where possible. There are a number of opportunities to improve efficiency,

they can include:

Green office program – There are many facets to creating a green office. Mostly it

is concerned with the ways your office environment can reduce operating and

environmental costs, including greenhouse gas emissions and using "green"

power. Consider that being “green” in your office is beneficial for the organisation:

For one thing, it’s our responsibility to society to make an effort

It makes you aware of how you can make better environmental decisions

It saves money for the organisation and makes good sense

Improves your corporate image – most large organisations are now

assessing the impact of their operations on global climate change


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Saving paper doesn’t just save the paper, but the water, fuel, forests,

electricity, landfill issues, reduces greenhouse gas issues

Have a look at all the websites that provide information to help you understand

how you can help.

http://www.green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/how/10-tips-successful-green-

team

Case Study

A computer left on overnight all year generates the same amount of

greenhouse gas as a car driving from Sydney to Perth – that’s 4352km!

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/carbon_management/green_office_guide.pdf

Supply chain program or Procurement policies

Sourcing raw materials or equipment to deliver a better quality environmentally

sustainable products for customers, for manufacturing and for operating. Put

pressure on your suppliers to be providing materials and supplies that support

your aims, if they won’t help you meet your sustainability goals, find someone

who will. If your business specifies a detail in the purchasing you may limit

innovation by your suppliers. If you are looking for a person to supply you with a

new product don’t specify too many details, you may find they offer you a better

alternative than you would have already thought of.

Case Study

You need a pipe through the road, if you specify a concrete pipe you will get a

concrete pipe, even though there may be alternatives which are just as

effective and perhaps more sustainable in their production. What you actually

need is a way to transport water from one side of the road to another, it is up

to your suppliers to come up with innovative and sustainable options for your

consideration.

Efficient use of energy and resources

Use of power-save options on equipment, turn off equipment when not being used

or at the end of the working day rather than leaving on stand-by, install energy

efficient light bulbs and turn off lights when not using a room, install sensor lights

in areas not used often.

Use of alternative forms of energy: e.g. Solar power, wind, natural light, walk

instead of ride, there are many options to reduce your energy requirements.

Use of renewable, recyclable, reusable and recoverable resources:

Renewable - resources that can be replaced at a comparable or faster rate

than which it is used (e.g. solar energy)

http://www.green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/how/10-tips-successful-green-team

http://www.green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/how/10-tips-successful-green-team



28 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

Recyclable - capable of being used again in another form, requires more

processes to make new (e.g. aluminium cans, bottles, paper, cardboard)

Reusable - using items that can be used more than once, either for the

same purpose or a different purpose (e.g. ceramic coffee cups instead of

paper cups)

Recoverable - energy from waste

Avoidance or minimisation strategies:

Not updating the furniture in the office with all new. Perhaps chairs can be

reupholstered or painted with a nontoxic paint alternative from an

organisation which operates their business in a sustainable way

Purchasing sustainable products - products made from reused or recycled

material or which are made from renewable resources e.g. Bamboo is an

excellent material

Regular maintenance of tools and equipment - to keep in good working

order

Use of biodegradable/non-toxic materials - materials that can decompose

naturally or will not cause any damage to the environment, certain glues

are dangerous in both production and off gassing – carpets, furniture,

paints – fortunately there have been great improvements in this area

Waste minimisation:

Accurate measurements and calculations - purchase only what the business

needs and will use

Reduce your needs

Recycling - collecting and sorting waste in order that useful materials can

be manufactured into new products and not added to landfill

Using recyclable products - purchasing products that can be recycled after

use rather than added to landfill, complete the recycling loop

Removal and disposal of non-reusable materials in a responsible manner:

Consumables - dispose of in a responsible manner according to

manufacturer's guidelines

Chemicals and hazardous substances - check the Safety Data Sheets SDS

(MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet) for correct handling and disposal of

these products

Environmental Management Plan

An Environmental Management Plan is necessary to ensure all necessary

measures are identified and implemented. It provides details regarding the

organisations environmental policies relating to all staff, suppliers and

subcontractors. It should include details on how the organisation will monitor and

report on resource usage. When developing this plan, consult with employees and

other stakeholders.


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The types of plans, policies and procedures likely to be affected by changes

include:

Standard Operating Procedures

Waste, Water and Energy management plans

Accreditation policies like Green Table

Preferred supplier agreements

3.2. Work as part of a team, where relevant, to

identify possible areas for improvements to

work practices in own work area

It is important for an organisation to have a good communication between its

employees as well as receiving feedback from them. It takes a team effort and

commitment to design and develop an environmentally sustainable workplace – one

that is tailor made for the organisation.

Be the person who demands change in behaviour, understand that environmental

sustainability is not always convenient.

Case Study

Buying takeaway food is easier but not necessarily sustainable or better for you in any

way than a home cooked meal using vegetables grown in your own garden fertilised

with your own compost. Sustainable from an environmental perspective does not have

to be hard however, and it can be good for you!

When possible and relevant, working as a team to improve the organisation’s

sustainability can be very positive.

How can you work as a team to identify possible improvements in the workplace?

There are multiple ways we could do this including:

Meeting with teams to discuss issues and improvements

Communicating via electronic means

o Text messages

o Social media messenger

o Email

Suggestions box

Verbal conversations

Staff notices

In order to improve work practices, you need to monitor activities, trends, and

developments and invite other team members to come forward with their

suggestions for improvements. You need to plan the change and monitor the

implementation of your plans to ensure the intended improvements are achieved.


30 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

You also need to ensure that work quality in maintained to an acceptable standard

during the period of change.

In improving the organisation’s environmental performance it will increase the

productivity and reduce the costs of production. Resource efficiency is often a cheap

and fast way to solve problems as reducing waste will reduce the size and cost of

any subsequent treatment process and/or disposal costs.

Some of the areas that could be improved:

3.3. Make suggestions for improvements to

workplace practices in own work area

A smart organisation encourages suggestions from its staff.

They are the ones who know their own work areas best and may have the most

innovative ideas on how to improve energy efficiency and increase use of

renewable, recyclable and reusable resources in their areas They may also

suggest how to prevent and minimise risks, reduce emissions of

greenhouse gases and they should also be encouraged to report breaches

(or potential breaches) of policies or procedures.

This last point is important. If a staff member sees or is aware of any issues that

could put other staff, premises or equipment in danger or could compromise the

sustainability goals, they have a duty to advise their supervisor or manager.

Equally, if staff are aware of waste or can see areas where improvements to

energy efficiency can be made they should be encouraged to say so.

If there are ways of reducing the amount of energy needed by an organisation

this will decrease the carbon emission as well as save on costs. Staff need to be

involved in the improvement processes.

Further resources, many of the council websites and government websites have

areas of information on sustainability in your home and business. Throughout this

eBook there are many websites you can use to understand this area better.

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au is a local inner city council in Sydney NSW. It

offers several great initiatives to its residents and the resources on the website

under the environment tab are excellent and easy to understand.

Environmental sustainability does not have to be hard. It may not always be easy,

it is an inconvenient truth, but it is definitely worth it.

Water assessment

Improve purchasing

Improve storage

Conserving energy

Conserving water

Preserving waterways

Reducing waste

Reducing riskImproving information

Improving systems

Reducing odour and air

emissions

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/


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Appendix

Legislation in Australian Business

This section is intended to provide an introduction to commonly used legislative and regulatory

instruments that impact on businesses in Australia. The legislation referred to below is by no

means exhaustive, but its relevance to compliance requirements is imperative. The

information provided here is not to be used as a means of providing legal advice to others.

The document is intended to provide general legislative and regulatory compliance guidelines

relating to business activities. The document is to be used as a starting point for your own

research into a particular issue. In today’s business environment private organisations,

irrespective of their business structure, as well as public sector agencies are bound by the

compliance requirements impacting on their operations. You must remember Australian

businesses are obligated to comply with a range of laws.

Legal compliance is mandatory in all business organisations. Non-

compliance is not tolerated. Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

Legislation is a set of rules, regulations or guidelines passed by an Act of parliament

(state, or Commonwealth).

Regulations support legislation and set out standards, procedures and guidelines in the

compliance of the legislation. These rules and guidelines assist organisations in properly

carrying out compliance requirements as per the relevant legislation.

Standards are usually in the form of codes of practice and relevant industry standards.

Standards apply to both private organisations and public sector agencies and departments. It

must be noted - standards are not law as such but non-compliance of the prescribed

standards and codes of practice will be evidence in itself of a breach of the legislation and

regulations and expose the person or organisation to potential liability.

General Consumer Protection Laws

The Australian Consumer Law gives effect to the most significant and extensive consumer law

reforms in Australia since 1974. It commenced on 1 January 2011 and provides a single,

national consumer law implemented through the laws of the Commonwealth (including the

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), to be renamed the Competition and Consumer Act 2010

(Cth)) and of each state and territory. Federal Consumer laws govern how businesses interact

with their suppliers, customers and other businesses. They also outline the legal rights of

businesses and business owners when potential legal issues arise.

Legislation that impacts on business operations.

Managers need to be aware of legislation relevant to their particular managerial functions

and industry. Employers and managers are required to understand legal compliance issues

within their respective organisations and be able to carry out compliance at all times as

part of the management process.

Managers are both professionally and legally accountable for their conduct and work

practices within their areas of responsibility. Both the common law and statutory

provisions are legally binding on managers when conducting business operations.

Managers are therefore required to comply with the legislative and regulatory provisions

that impinge on their particular business operation(s). A failure on the part of the manager

or business owner to comply with legislative requirements will subject him or her to


32 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0

potential liability. This liability will also extend to the organisation itself. Depending on the

nature of the liability, the manager or business owner may well be liable to civil action and

or criminal prosecution. An example of this would be were the manager or business owner

is found to have been negligent in the workplace under the respective workplace

legislation. The business owner may well face a negligence claim as well as a potential

criminal prosecution. Liability would also extend to the organisation, if the organisation is

a corporation registered under the Corporation Act (Cth). In the case of a partnership

structure, each of the partners would be liable.

Remember government regulations and legislation are dynamic and change

often. It is your responsibility to remain up to date.

Access to state and Commonwealth Acts and Regulations can be found online at a number

of sources. Some useful internet sites are:

Business.gov.au , ComLaw, Freedom-of-information, Fair work , Comcare

Often federal legislation is different to that of each state, make sure you are compliant

with the correct legislation. If you are not sure, check!

Issue Legislation Details

Affirmative

action

Equal Employment Opportunity

(Commonwealth Authorities) Act

1987

Anti-bullying Fair Work Act 2009

Work Health and Safety

Act 2011

People who believe they're being bullied in the

workplace can apply to the Fair Work

Commission for help in resolving the issue.

Bullying occurs when a person or group of

people, repeatedly behave unreasonably

towards a worker. The behaviour also has to

be deemed a risk to the worker's health or

safety.

Anti-

discrimination

Anti-discrimination is

covered under the

following federal

legislation:

Age Discrimination Act

2004 (Cth)

Disability Discrimination

Act 1992 (Cth)

Racial Discrimination Act

1975 (Cth)

Sex Discrimination Act

19Fair Work Act 2009

(Cth)

Disability Discrimination

and Other Human Rights

Together, they prohibit discrimination on the

basis of: gender, sexual preference, political

opinion, trade union activities, colour, race

and ethnicity, social origin, religion,

nationality, family responsibility, irrelevant

medical record, irrelevant criminal history,

age, marital status, carer status, parental

status, breastfeeding, disability or

pregnancy.

Managers need to ensure that performance-

management processes do not contravene

anti-discrimination legislation. A manager

can be seen to discriminate against

employees when they treat those with a

particular attribute (i.e. age, gender,

parental status, disability) less favourably

than employees without that attribute or

http://www.business.gov.au/

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/

http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us

chttp://www.comcare.gov.au/the_scheme/the_src_act


33 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0


Legislation Amendment

Act 2009 (Cth)

Australian Human Rights

Commission Act 1986

(Cth)

Racial Discrimination

Amendment Act 1980

(Cth)

Equal Employment

Opportunity

(Commonwealth

Authorities) Act 1987

State and territory

legislation follows federal

Acts. For example:

Anti-Discrimination Act

1990 (QLD)

with a different attribute. Employers and

managers are also considered to be acting in

a discriminatory manner if they impose an

employment condition that:

an employee with a particular attribute

cannot comply with a higher percentage of people without an

attribute can comply with

a higher percentage of people with a different attribute can comply with

is universally applied and that people with an impairment or a disability cannot meet

is unreasonable.

Competition

laws/

Consumer

laws

Product

liability

regulation

Australian Consumer Law

(ACL). The standards are

enforced by the ACCC

Australian Competition

and Consumer

Commission. The

regulator for Australian

consumer protection

legislation in Australia -

Competition and

Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

Provides regulations on unfair contract

terms, consumer rights guarantees, product

safety laws, unsolicited consumer

agreements, lay-by agreements and

penalties, and other areas. Further

information see Australian Consumer Law:

Legislative and Governance Forum on

Consumer Affairs.

Copyright Copyright Act 1968

Federal legislation

applicable throughout

Australia.

The copyright law of Australia defines legally

enforceable rights of intellectual property

which includes creators of creative and

artistic works.

Employee

rehabilitation

and

compensation

Safety, Rehabilitation and

Compensation Act 1988

(SRC Act) (Cth).

Workers Compensation

and Rehabilitation Act

2003 (Qld) Worker

Compensation Act 1987

(NSW)

The SRC Act 1988 covers:

Commonwealth and ACT public servants

employees of Commonwealth and ACT statutory authorities and corporations

Australian Defence Force members for

injuries before 1 July 2004 employees of corporations with a licence

to self-insure under the SRC Act. The SRC Act provides rehabilitation and

workers’ compensation to employees


34 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0


Workplace Injury,

Rehabilitation and

Compensation Act

2013(VIC)

covered by the scheme for a work related

injury.

QLD legislation established a workers

compensation scheme for Queensland which

provides benefits for workers who sustain

injury in their employment, and also for

dependants if an injury results in the

workers death.

Employment

contracts

See also

independent

contractors

This comes under the

general law of contract

and determines the legal

relationship between

employers and

employees, and sets out

the terms and conditions

of employment.

Employment law is also

governed by the Fair Work

Act (Cth).

Note: many of the legal

requirements mentioned

here also refer to

employment relations

under the Fair Work Act

2009

Particular issues covered include:

codes of conduct that employees are required to comply with

contractual requirements for both employers and employees under a contract

of employment organisational policies that employees need

to observe, these requirements are

generally set out by Human Resource Management Department

the grounds upon which an employer can terminate without notice

period of notice an employee needs to be

given when employment is terminated with notice

how and when an employee’s performance will be appraised or reviewed

how the employee will be renumerated for

their work. The Act set out the rights and obligations of employers

and employees, and the legal nature of the contract, i.e. is

it based around an award or industrial agreement? Or a

separate individual contract governed by common law.

The Act imposes duties on employees and employers.

These duties are analogous to the conditions stipulated in

a common law contract of employment. A contract of

employment is to be distinguished from a contract for

employment (Independent contractor).

Environmental

Australian, state and territory

governments, and local governments

jointly administer environmental

protection. There are many pieces of

legislation which apply, check which one

applies in your situation. The following

are some examples:

Federal legislation governs the process of

assessment and approval of national

environmental and cultural concerns.

State and territory environmental protection

legislation applies to specific business

activities.

For further information, see business.gov.au:

Environmental legislation.


35 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0


Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

(Cth) Waste Reduction and Recycling Act

2011 (Qld)

Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld)

Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) Queensland Heritage Act 1992 Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (Qld)

Ethical

principles

There is no specific

legislation that deals with

ethical standards and

conduct. However in

terms of legislation

governing the public

service sector there are

laws that apply. Eg: the

Public Sector Ethics Act

1994 applies to

Queensland Public

Service.

No specific legislation

exist that applies to

relevant industry delete

this. The following

legislation impacts on

ethical behaviour and

conduct in general.

Crime and Corruption Act

2001 (Qld)

Public Interest Disclosure

Act 2010 (Qld)

Standards detail the kind of behaviour a

company or person with sound ethics should

and should not engage in. These standards are

normally contained in the Human Resource

manual of each organisation. (Look at the HR

manual at your workplace).

Unethical actions will destroy trust and

credibility.

Ethical principles include: honesty, integrity,

promise keeping, loyalty, fairness, caring,

respect for others, legality, commitment to

excellence, leadership, reputation,

accountability and avoiding conflicts of

interest. Ethical principles and considerations

are generally dealt with by separate pieces of

legislation depending on the legal matter

involved.

Common Law has implications as well with

regard to Ethical considerations. As always

seek legal advice for your specific issue.

Each business should have relevant HR

policy and procedures covering this for their

practices.

Freedom of

information

Freedom of Information

Act 1982 (Cth)

The FOI Act provides a legally enforceable

right of access to government documents. It

applies to Australian Government ministers

and most agencies, although the obligations

of agencies and ministers are different.

FOI allows individuals to see what

information government holds about them,

and to seek correction of that information if

they consider it wrong or misleading.


36 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0


Human rights The Australian Human

Rights Commission Act

1986 (Cth)

Australia is a signatory to Treaties and

Conventions dealing with Human rights which

legally binds Australia to Human Rights Laws.

Independent

contractors

See also

employment

contracts

Before entering into a

contract, determine

whether someone is

classified as an

independent contractor

or an employee. This will

determine the rights and

responsibilities of each

party.

Independent contractors are self-employed

and provide a service to a business.

They negotiate their own payments and work

arrangements, and can work for a range of

clients at any given time. Indpendant

contractors are required to take out their

own private superannaution, workers

compensation, and in many cases

professional indemnity insurance.

Industrial

relations

legislation

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) The current Commonwealth legislation is a

principal Law that governs Industrial

relations in Australia.

The Act deals with workplace disputes, unfair

dismissal, and anti-discrimination. Allows

workplace disputes to be settled by

enterprise bargaining between employers

and unions in the workplace. If the dispute is

not able to be settled, it then goes to Fair

Work Ombudsman and Fair Work

Commission. The QLD legislation -Industrial

Relations Act 1999 (QLD) governs public

service employees as well statutory

authorities such as City Council employees.

This group of employees do not fall within

the ambit of the Commonwealth legislation.

Privacy Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

You must be aware of

your obligations under

the Australian Privacy

Principles (APPs).

Australia has national

privacy legislation,

overseen by the Office of

the Australian

Information

Commissioner (OAIC).

This regulates how

businesses collect,

access, and store

There are specific requirements for the

management of sensitive information e.g.

medical records.

Legislation applies to a number of different

activities and sectors. Australian states and

territories also have individual privacy laws

that may apply in the workplace and affect

business in each jurisdiction. A new set of

privacy principles was introduced in March

2014. The principles cover how a business

handles personal information, including the:

handling and processing of personal information

use of personal information for direct marketing


37 | P a g e A u g u s t 2 0 1 5 V 1 . 0


personal information and

communication.

disclosure of personal information to people overseas.

Racial

discrimination

Racial Discrimination Act

1975

Sex

discrimination

Sex Discrimination Act

1984

Trade

practices

Australian Consumer Law

(Trade Practices

Amendment (Australian

Consumer Law) Act (No.

1) 2010; Trade Practices

Amendment (Australian

Consumer Law) Act (No.

2) 2010)

From 1 January 2011, Australian Consumer Law reforms

introduced a new regulatory environment for

competition and consumer protection laws in Australia.

The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 replaces the

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (TPA). All references to

’TPA‘ refer to provisions of the Competition and

Consumer Act (from 1 January 2011) and the former

Trade Practices Act (up to 31 December 2010). See

Competition laws and Competition Laws in this table for

more information. Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Unfair

dismissal Or

unlawful

dismissal

The primary piece of

legislation relating to

unfair and unlawful

dismissal is Fair Work Act

2009 (Cwlth).

Under this legislation, employees can claim

their dismissal was harsh, unjust or

unreasonable, not a case of genuine

redundancy or the dismissal was not

consistent with the Small Business Fair

Dismissal Code.

Work health

and safety

Work Health and Safety

Act 2011(QLD)

Some states still use

their own occupational

health and safety (OH&S)

laws, so be sure to check

with your state as to the

particular areas you need

to comply with.

Under health and safety

legislation, employers

have a duty to ensure

that employees' working

environments are safe

and pose no threats to

their health and

wellbeing.

Under this legislation, risks to health and

safety also includes bullying and violence in

the workplace. Bullying can be defined as

repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed

at employees that poses risk to health and

safety. Management needs to ensure that in

carrying out their duties, their behaviour

cannot be construed as bullying. Particularly

relevant when addressing poor employee

performance. They should be careful not to:

verbally abuse employees, exclude or isolate employees

set employees impossible tasks or assignments

harass employees, psychologically or otherwise, or intimidate employees

intentionally withhold information vital for

effective work performance assign meaningless tasks to employees are

not job related.

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/current/bytitle/83C2B3F207F6B920CA25780D007BE2A8?OpenDocument&mostrecent=1


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Workplace

diversity

This federal and state legislation covers workplace diversity and equal

opportunity in Australia:

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Age Discrimination Act 2004(Cth)

Sex Discrimination Act 1984(Cth) Racial Discrimination Act 1975(Cth)

Racial Hatred Act 1995(Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992(Cth) Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Act)

Fair Work Act 2009(Cth) Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act

1987 State-based anti-discrimination and WHS laws

Remember:

You need to be aware of your own responsibilities. Legislation changes, keep up to date.

Non-compliance is not tolerated and ignorance of the law is no excuse!


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Conservation and environmental considerations

Conservation of the planets resources has led to many nations in the United

Nations to signing a conservation pact. Part of Australia’s contribution to the

conservation of the planet’s natural resources is to create awareness about the

environment. To minimise costs to the environment and to conserve energy many

organisations are changing the way in which they use their resources.

Environmentally sustainable work practices are those which reduce harm to the

environment and reduce wastage of resources. Business services employees can

help protect the environment by following the three ‘Rs’:

Reduce the amount of use or waste of resources you use. Reduce is a concept

that involves only using what you NEED.

Example If you need a smaller office, use one or close off areas you don’t

need to heat, cool or light. Similarly only buy a house that is the

right size for your needs.

Look at your organisation and its practices to see what is really happening in

terms of waste. Don’t use it in the first place unless it is really needed.

Power for technology and air-conditioning is a resource in an office environment

which is used in large quantities. Consider reducing this use by removing light

bulbs, using the stairs instead of a lift. Turn off equipment at the wall to reduce

costs and resource usage. Run air-conditioning with thermostats set to the right

temperatures.

Maintain air-conditioning at a constant temperature of 23-24°c

Use correctly fitted blinds or curtains to minimise heat build-up or loss

Maintain only security lighting after business hours

Use power saving options for computers and monitors

Switch off equipment overnight wherever possible, unplug from the wall

Ensure that air-conditioner filters are cleaned regularly

Install solar electricity

Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent

bulbs or LED lighting, remove light bulbs if possible to maintain safe

working conditions

Consider the impact of dumping materials into landfill, hazardous and

nonhazardous. Also consider the issue of water management. Reducing your

waste by forming an arrangement with another organisation who can potentially

use your waste is another great way to reduce your resource use.

Some ways to reduce wastage of resources:

Don’t use resources if you don’t need them, printing, lighting, furniture

repair e.g. don’t use disposable cutlery when reusable is available, or wash

and reuse it


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Use electronic files rather than paper files

Reduce the amount of junk mail by refusing

Reduce waste by choosing products that have minimal packaging and can

be used productively and then recycled or repurposed

Reuse or repurposing is another way we can all affect change in this area. When

reusing and repurposing we deal with by-products or waste which have a value as

is. Many products use waste from one industry in products created for sale.

Some other products which can be reused offer real opportunity over and above

simple paper reuse. Think outside the square! You can:

Reuse containers, packaging or waste products, wherever possible

Reuse paper for printing draft copies or make scribble pads from paper

used on one side (be careful about privacy)

Refill toner cartridges

Use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use batteries

Repair broken items, don’t just discard and start again, demand products

that can be fixed, or are strong in the first place so they last

Rescue products for reuse, someone’s trash is someone’s treasure

Recycle - when certain products can no longer be reused they may be able to be

recycled. Many offices have recycling bins for cans, glass and paper products.

Recycling is an industrial process, it uses energy and resources to convert waste

to new products. It is always better to reduce your use or reuse before you

recycle. Composting is a recycling process which requires little input from us,

sometimes the process of being environmentally aware is simple.

Example An organisation which receives freight with large amounts of

packaging can ask their supplier to change their packing methods,

thereby reducing the amount of packaging waste which may or may

not be recyclable in your area. By putting this sort of pressure on

suppliers there is a chance we can affect change. If they don’t

respond to you perhaps there is another supplier who will.

Recycling is more than just throwing stuff in a bin and forgetting about it. It is a

process which turns something into something else and requires further energy to

be used in the process. Research potential in your area. Resource use efficiency

examples include:

Reduce first, reuse second then recycle waste material wherever possible

Check all the purchasing stipulations, buy in bulk only if you need the goods

Store email messages in folders on their computers rather than printing

Reuse paper, print both sides of the paper or not at all, print only the copies

you need


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Glossary

Audit Refers to a systematic independent or internal

examination of the business in regards to a particular

aspect.

Documentation Material that provides official information or evidence or

that serves as a record.

Duty of care A moral or legal obligation to ensure that care is taken for

the people and environment you hold a duty over.

Efficiency Ability to avoid wasting materials, energy, efforts, money,

and time in doing something or in producing a desired

result.

Environmental Relating to the natural world and the impact of human

activity on its condition.

Hazard Anything that has the potential to cause harm or damage.

Hazardous

materials

Any substance or material that could adversely affect the

safety of the public, handlers or carriers during

transportation.

Legally bound Common legal phrase indicating that an agreement has

been consciously made, and certain actions are now either

required or prohibited.

Metrics A system or standard of measurement.

Minimal impact Practices that reduce the effects that people have on the

environment.

Monitor Observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of

something.

Organisations An entity comprising multiple people, such as an

institution or an association.

Policy A deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and

achieve rational outcomes.

Procedure An established or official way of doing something.

Protection The action of protecting, or the state of being protected.


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Resources A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other

assets that can be drawn on by a person or organisation in

order to function effectively.

Safety data sheets A document that provides information on the properties of

hazardous chemicals and how they affect health and

safety in the workplace.

Sustainability Balancing social, economic and environmental outcomes

for current and future generations.


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References

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enforcement of the EPBC Act. [online] Available at:

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance-and-enforcement/report-a-

breach [Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].

Green Office Guide. (2009). 1st ed. [ebook] Brisbane: Queensland Government

Deparment of Health. Available at:


[Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].

Green.harvard.edu, (2015). 10 tips for a successful Green Team. [online]

Available at: http://www.green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/how/10-tips-

successful-green-team [Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].

Marrickville.nsw.gov.au, (2015). Home | Marrickville Council. [online] Available at:

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au [Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].

Marrickville.nsw.gov.au, (2015). Resources for business | Marrickville Council.

[online] Available at:

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/environment/sustainable-

business/resources-for-business/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].

Olliesworld.com, (2015). Natural Resources, Resources, Sustainability - Info -

Ollie Saves the Planet. [online] Available at:

http://www.olliesworld.com/planet/aus/info/info/sr_nr04.htm [Accessed 13 Aug.

2015].

Reversegarbageqld.com.au, (2015). Welcome | reversegarbage.com.au. [online]

Available at: http://www.reversegarbageqld.com.au/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2015].