Health and Safety

Unit 497Unit 497

Health and safety in the Health and safety in the workplaceworkplace

Level 1Level 1

Credit 1Credit 1

Some StatisticsSome Statistics

Around 100 people die in work related Around 100 people die in work related accidents in New Zealand every year.accidents in New Zealand every year.

In Otago 4 people died in work related In Otago 4 people died in work related areas.areas.

Manufacturing, Farming, Forestry and Manufacturing, Farming, Forestry and Construction account for 70% of the Construction account for 70% of the deaths! deaths!

In the last year there were 33988 In the last year there were 33988 moderate to serious injuries at work!moderate to serious injuries at work!

Claims to ACC for ‘On farm’ incidents cost Claims to ACC for ‘On farm’ incidents cost about $50 million per year to ACC.about $50 million per year to ACC.

The main risk areas ‘on farm’ are tractors, The main risk areas ‘on farm’ are tractors, ATV’s, other machines, animals and trees.ATV’s, other machines, animals and trees.

There are substantial ongoing costs There are substantial ongoing costs associated with accidents – such as associated with accidents – such as repairs, extra wages etc.repairs, extra wages etc.

Many children are represented in Many children are represented in these statistics.these statistics.

The Key to change is a human The Key to change is a human change!change!

Health & Safety in Employment Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992Act 1992

The Health and Safety in Employment Act The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 was passed by parliament in 1992 1992 was passed by parliament in 1992 and came into effect on 1 April 1993.and came into effect on 1 April 1993.

The principle object of the act is to prevent The principle object of the act is to prevent harm to employees at work and prevent harm to employees at work and prevent an activity exposing or harming other an activity exposing or harming other people such as contractors, visitors and people such as contractors, visitors and general public in the work environment.general public in the work environment.

The Act sets out to promote excellence in The Act sets out to promote excellence in health and safety management, and health and safety management, and replaces approximately 56 other Acts or replaces approximately 56 other Acts or regulations. There is provision in the act regulations. There is provision in the act for guidelines regarding specific health for guidelines regarding specific health and safety issues to be addressed through and safety issues to be addressed through new Regulations and approved Codes of new Regulations and approved Codes of Practice.Practice.

The Act states specific responsibilities for The Act states specific responsibilities for employers, employees, principals and employers, employees, principals and contractors in respect of health and safety.contractors in respect of health and safety.

The Act covers:The Act covers:

Management ResponsibilityManagement Responsibility Employee ResponsibilityEmployee Responsibility Hazard ManagementHazard Management Accident Reporting and InvestigationAccident Reporting and Investigation Subcontractors & ContractorsSubcontractors & Contractors Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedures Health & Workplace MonitoringHealth & Workplace Monitoring Training & SupervisionTraining & Supervision

Provide and maintain a safe Provide and maintain a safe workplaceworkplace

Develop ongoing safety standardsDevelop ongoing safety standards

Report and investigate accidentsReport and investigate accidents

EMPLOYERS DUTIESEMPLOYERS DUTIES

Inform employees about:Inform employees about:

What to do if an emergency arises while What to do if an emergency arises while they are working.they are working.

The hazards they are exposed to or create The hazards they are exposed to or create while they are at work.while they are at work.

How to minimise hazards to themselves How to minimise hazards to themselves and other people.and other people.

Where the necessary safety clothing and Where the necessary safety clothing and equipment is kept and how to use and equipment is kept and how to use and maintain it.maintain it.

The employer has a The employer has a responsibility to train responsibility to train and supervise anyone and supervise anyone employed in their employed in their businessbusiness

Employers must ensure that the Employers must ensure that the employee has, or is supervised by a employee has, or is supervised by a person with, the knowledge and person with, the knowledge and experience to ensure that they and experience to ensure that they and others are not harmed.others are not harmed.

Employers must ensure that the Employers must ensure that the employees are adequately trained in employees are adequately trained in the safe use of all plant, machinery, the safe use of all plant, machinery, substances and protective clothing substances and protective clothing provided.provided.

Employers have a duty to involve Employers have a duty to involve employees in the development of employees in the development of Health & Safety procedures.Health & Safety procedures.

While they are at work, all employees While they are at work, all employees have the duties under the act as well.have the duties under the act as well.

Many employees aren’t aware of this!Many employees aren’t aware of this!

EMPLOYEES DUTIESEMPLOYEES DUTIES

They must take all practicable steps to They must take all practicable steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of ensure their own safety and the safety of others, no action or inaction will cause others, no action or inaction will cause harm to another person.harm to another person.

Use safety equipment and personal Use safety equipment and personal protective equipment as instructed.protective equipment as instructed.

They must not knowingly expose They must not knowingly expose themselves or others to harm.themselves or others to harm.

Correct any hazard immediately or report it.Correct any hazard immediately or report it.

Participate in quality improvement Participate in quality improvement programmes.programmes.

Self-employed people should take all Self-employed people should take all practical steps to ensure that while practical steps to ensure that while at work no action or inaction on their at work no action or inaction on their part harms themselves or any other part harms themselves or any other person.person.

DUTIES OF THEDUTIES OF THESELF-EMPLOYEDSELF-EMPLOYED

When you employ a contractor or When you employ a contractor or subcontractor you become known under the subcontractor you become known under the law as the Principal. The Principal also has law as the Principal. The Principal also has duties under the Act.duties under the Act.

If the principal hires a contractor or If the principal hires a contractor or subcontractor, they must take all subcontractor, they must take all reasonable steps to ensure that they and reasonable steps to ensure that they and their employees are not harmed while their employees are not harmed while carrying out the work they are engaged to carrying out the work they are engaged to do. This does not apply to work a do. This does not apply to work a contractor does on your home.contractor does on your home.

DUTIES OF A PRINCIPALDUTIES OF A PRINCIPAL

Naturally, you would not be Naturally, you would not be responsible if a carpenter, for responsible if a carpenter, for example, injured him/herself while example, injured him/herself while using the tools of their trade. However using the tools of their trade. However you could be responsible if they were you could be responsible if they were injured by incorrect use of your tools injured by incorrect use of your tools while on site.while on site.

You are only responsible for hazards or You are only responsible for hazards or activities you can directly control. This activities you can directly control. This would include informing contractors would include informing contractors about any hazards specific to your about any hazards specific to your business.business.

For their part, contractors have a duty For their part, contractors have a duty to look after themselves and their to look after themselves and their employees. They are responsible for employees. They are responsible for carrying out work in a manner that will carrying out work in a manner that will not endanger themselves, their not endanger themselves, their employees or anyone else in their employees or anyone else in their place of work. However it is the place of work. However it is the responsibility of the Principal to responsibility of the Principal to intervene should it become apparent a intervene should it become apparent a risk to health and safety exists. The risk to health and safety exists. The principal should ensure the situation is principal should ensure the situation is corrected.corrected.

Any person who is in control of a place of Any person who is in control of a place of work (whether it is the owner, lessee, work (whether it is the owner, lessee, sublessee, occupier) must ensure that sublessee, occupier) must ensure that people in the place of work, or in its close people in the place of work, or in its close vicinity, are not harmed by any hazard vicinity, are not harmed by any hazard that arises from work activities.that arises from work activities.

When employing contractors and When employing contractors and subcontractors’ specified health and safety subcontractors’ specified health and safety standards should be part of the agreement standards should be part of the agreement or contract. Ask contractors how they or contract. Ask contractors how they intend to manage hazards on site and/or intend to manage hazards on site and/or ask to see their health and safety plans.ask to see their health and safety plans.

To reduce or eliminate health and To reduce or eliminate health and safety hazards in the workplace we safety hazards in the workplace we need to initiate strategies in the need to initiate strategies in the following areas:following areas:

Our own behaviour.Our own behaviour. Consultation between employees and Consultation between employees and

employers.employers. Referral to, or intervention by an Referral to, or intervention by an

appropriate authority.appropriate authority.

STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OR STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HEALTH AND ELIMINATE HEALTH AND

SAFETY HAZARDSSAFETY HAZARDS

Strategies within our own Strategies within our own behaviourbehaviour

Ensure safety equipment and clothing Ensure safety equipment and clothing are worn and being used correctly.are worn and being used correctly.

Follow the rules as set out in the health Follow the rules as set out in the health and safety plan.and safety plan.

Take notice of all health and safety Take notice of all health and safety signs and labels.signs and labels.

Develop safe work practices.Develop safe work practices.

Strategies for consultation with Strategies for consultation with employersemployers

Use the chain of commandUse the chain of command Set up a health and safety Set up a health and safety

committeecommittee Ensure the employer has an ‘open-Ensure the employer has an ‘open-

door’ policydoor’ policy

Strategies for referring to an Strategies for referring to an appropriate authorityappropriate authority

Ask the employer to contact the Ask the employer to contact the appropriate authorityappropriate authority

Contact the authority yourselfContact the authority yourself

Correct any hazard immediately if possible Correct any hazard immediately if possible and report. If unable to correct, report as and report. If unable to correct, report as soon as possible.soon as possible.

Immediately report and document any Immediately report and document any injury, hazard or potential injury or hazard injury, hazard or potential injury or hazard you have or see.you have or see.

Wear the correct personal protective Wear the correct personal protective equipment for the task.equipment for the task.

GENERAL HEALTH AND GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES:SAFETY RULES:

Report any fault or damage to Report any fault or damage to protective equipment.protective equipment.

Operate vehicles/machinery only Operate vehicles/machinery only after instruction of safety issues and after instruction of safety issues and legal requirements.legal requirements.

Ensure equipment and vehicles are Ensure equipment and vehicles are maintained and any faults reported maintained and any faults reported immediately.immediately.

Be aware of all emergency and Be aware of all emergency and evacuation requirements and evacuation requirements and procedures.procedures.

Avoid shortcuts and unsafe practices.Avoid shortcuts and unsafe practices.

Keep workplace as clean as possible.Keep workplace as clean as possible.

Employees to attend Health and Employees to attend Health and Safety meetings.Safety meetings.

To enable learners to deal with the To enable learners to deal with the following hazards we need to consider following hazards we need to consider the procedures for each hazard. the procedures for each hazard.

When these procedures are not covered When these procedures are not covered by an employee emergency plan the by an employee emergency plan the onus is on the employee to create a onus is on the employee to create a safe working environment, prevent safe working environment, prevent accidents and eliminate the hazard. accidents and eliminate the hazard.

PROCEDURES TO DEAL PROCEDURES TO DEAL WITH HAZARDOUS EVENTS WITH HAZARDOUS EVENTS

OR SITUATIONSOR SITUATIONS

All employees should know the All employees should know the individual workplaces procedures for individual workplaces procedures for reporting and dealing with fire.reporting and dealing with fire.

The location of fire alarms, fire The location of fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire exits is very extinguishers and fire exits is very important if people are to be important if people are to be evacuated and fires are to be evacuated and fires are to be controlled. controlled.

DEALING WITH FIRE DEALING WITH FIRE

Employees need to be trained in the Employees need to be trained in the correct way to handle a fire, and as correct way to handle a fire, and as many of the fires on horticultural many of the fires on horticultural properties could start with different properties could start with different mediums an awareness of different mediums an awareness of different techniques and extinguishers for techniques and extinguishers for different fires is very important. different fires is very important.

Knowledge of combustible products Knowledge of combustible products and chemicals could also be very and chemicals could also be very valuable for staff. Many departments valuable for staff. Many departments in an establishment use these or in an establishment use these or come into contact with them, and come into contact with them, and knowing what to do with each could knowing what to do with each could save lives. save lives.

Staff who are responsible for ringing Staff who are responsible for ringing the fire department need to be aware the fire department need to be aware of their responsibility and how to get of their responsibility and how to get through quickly. through quickly.

Employees responsible for visitors Employees responsible for visitors and others need to know exactly and others need to know exactly what to do when a fire alarm does what to do when a fire alarm does occur. occur.

All employees also need to be aware All employees also need to be aware of what to do in their own areas to of what to do in their own areas to limit the fire and keep the area safe. limit the fire and keep the area safe.

Procedures for exiting the building Procedures for exiting the building need to be practised and exits kept need to be practised and exits kept open and accessible.open and accessible.

When lighting rubbish fires, contact When lighting rubbish fires, contact the local council first to seek advice the local council first to seek advice on permit requirements. Check the on permit requirements. Check the long-range weather forecast. Mow a long-range weather forecast. Mow a firebreak and have the means to firebreak and have the means to control the fire nearby prior to control the fire nearby prior to lighting. lighting. Never leave unattended.Never leave unattended.

To deal with a chemical spillage To deal with a chemical spillage effectively employees should have effectively employees should have an understanding of the variety of an understanding of the variety of chemicals in their establishment and chemicals in their establishment and their properties. their properties. READ THE LABELREAD THE LABEL

DEALING WITH A CHEMICAL DEALING WITH A CHEMICAL SPILLAGESPILLAGE

For some chemical spillages there For some chemical spillages there may be a neutralising agent that willmay be a neutralising agent that will make the chemical inert.make the chemical inert.

By applying the correct agent in the By applying the correct agent in the right amounts the spillage may be right amounts the spillage may be able to be controlled.able to be controlled.

Caution, however, should be applied if the Caution, however, should be applied if the spillage is a large one or the employee is spillage is a large one or the employee is unsure about what they are doing. Trying to unsure about what they are doing. Trying to fix the situation make may it worse. fix the situation make may it worse. If you If you are unsure seek help.are unsure seek help.

For large spillages or spillages where staff For large spillages or spillages where staff are unsure about what to do the fire are unsure about what to do the fire department should be contacted and the department should be contacted and the building evacuated. building evacuated.

Evacuation procedures and fire exits need Evacuation procedures and fire exits need to known by all staff. to known by all staff.

Live electricity is a major hazard for Live electricity is a major hazard for any establishment. any establishment.

It may cause or have the potential to It may cause or have the potential to cause an electrical shock. Always cause an electrical shock. Always use a Residual Current Device (RCD) use a Residual Current Device (RCD) when required.when required.

When dealing with live electricity the When dealing with live electricity the first step is to turn the current off. first step is to turn the current off.

DEALING WITH LIVE DEALING WITH LIVE ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY

This may mean switching off a small This may mean switching off a small appliance which has exposedappliance which has exposed wires, wires, to turning power off to the whole to turning power off to the whole establishment or block. establishment or block.

When an employee has suffered or is When an employee has suffered or is suffering an electric shock, and the suffering an electric shock, and the current cannot be turned off, the current cannot be turned off, the person can be pulled free of the live person can be pulled free of the live electricity using a dry insulating electricity using a dry insulating material such as cloth, wood or material such as cloth, wood or rubber.rubber.

Take care not to touch the person Take care not to touch the person with bare hands or the shock will be with bare hands or the shock will be transmitted. transmitted.

An ambulance should be rung and An ambulance should be rung and when breathing has stopped mouth-when breathing has stopped mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be to-mouth resuscitation should be started.started.

Gas leaks are another hazard, which Gas leaks are another hazard, which could be potentially lethal. could be potentially lethal.

Unable to be seen, or often smelt, gas Unable to be seen, or often smelt, gas can accumulate and become can accumulate and become combustible. combustible.

A room full of gas can be A room full of gas can be overpowering and overpowering and knock out anknock out an employee. employee.

DEALING WITH A GAS DEALING WITH A GAS LEAKLEAK

When the employee is unconscious, they When the employee is unconscious, they should be moved into fresh air and an should be moved into fresh air and an ambulance and/or doctor rung immediately. ambulance and/or doctor rung immediately.

The room that is gassed should be well The room that is gassed should be well ventilated and the source of the leak repaired. ventilated and the source of the leak repaired.

Gas leaks can occur with small appliances and Gas leaks can occur with small appliances and gas bottles or with internal gas supply gas bottles or with internal gas supply systems. Both have the potential to create a systems. Both have the potential to create a hazard. hazard.

Gas bottles should be stored in a well-Gas bottles should be stored in a well-ventilated shedventilated shed..

Accidents are a common occurrence Accidents are a common occurrence in the horticulture industry. in the horticulture industry.

While most of these are minor cuts While most of these are minor cuts and abrasions the potential is there and abrasions the potential is there forfor a large accident. a large accident.

To cope with these accidents, all To cope with these accidents, all establishments should have health establishments should have health and safety policies in place and all and safety policies in place and all employees should be aware of them. employees should be aware of them.

DEALING WITH AN DEALING WITH AN ACCIDENT ACCIDENT

Accidents and incidents Accidents and incidents mustmust be be recorded. This gives employers recorded. This gives employers written documentation about what written documentation about what has happened and highlights areas of has happened and highlights areas of concern. concern.

When accidents occur regularly steps When accidents occur regularly steps can be taken to rectify the situation. can be taken to rectify the situation.

Policies and procedures should be set Policies and procedures should be set up regarding first aid. This will mean up regarding first aid. This will mean placing first aid boxes around the placing first aid boxes around the establishment at strategic positions establishment at strategic positions and training employees in first aid. and training employees in first aid.

When further medical treatment is When further medical treatment is required establishments should have required establishments should have a list of emergency telephone a list of emergency telephone numbers and contacts, which can be numbers and contacts, which can be rung on short notice. All employees rung on short notice. All employees should know what to do if these should know what to do if these people are required. people are required.

Hazard ManagementHazard Management

The first step in improving health and The first step in improving health and safety in the workplace is to manage safety in the workplace is to manage your hazards.your hazards.

The steps in managing hazards are The steps in managing hazards are easy:easy:

1.1. Identify hazardsIdentify hazards

2.2. Rate the significance of these Rate the significance of these hazardshazards

3.3. Deal with the HazardDeal with the Hazard

• EliminateEliminate

• IsolateIsolate

• MinimiseMinimise

Complete the exercise Complete the exercise provided by staff relating provided by staff relating to hazards in the to hazards in the workplace.workplace.

We’ll discuss what you’ve We’ll discuss what you’ve found as a group.found as a group.