CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS EXTERNAL USE ONLY

Transcription

1 CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS EXTERNAL USE ONLY

2 Principles in the Optus Contractor WHS management process CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT STAGES PRINCIPLES THIS STANDARD REQUISITION Requisition WHS hazard areas are a key consideration in the selection of the appropriate procurement channel. PROCUREMENT CHANNEL SELECTION SPECIFICATION EVALUATION APPROVAL AND RELEASE Specification Hazard areas and Optus expectations in relation to these are communicated to potential providers in relevant project / task requirements (e.g. tenders, statement of works, purchase orders). Appropriate WHS specifications are included in the tender / statement of work conditions / purchase order (if required) and are reflective of Optus role (e.g. principal contractor). Evaluation The contractor submission suggests they are competent to manage the task and WHS risks of their workplace. ENGAGEMENT Engagement All parties have a consistent understanding of their mutual accountabilities as they relate to WHS risk management. Appropriate WHS specifications and obligations are included in the relevant contracts negotiated and signed by Optus. MONITORING Monitoring Relevant WHS controls are implemented and monitored at the workplace to manage the specific conditions and WHS risks of that workplace. SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE? HANDOVER CLOSE AND REVIEW Handover Customers (internal and external) are made aware of potential risk areas and legislative expectations at handover. Close and review Contractor WHS performance is assessed and considered when using the contractor in future. Project feedback is captured and used to enhance the contractor WHS management process.

3 IMPORTANT NOTE THIS CONTRACTOR WORKPLACE HEALTH SAFETY (WHS) STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ASSIST OPTUS CONTRACTORS IN THE EXECUTION OF OPTUS CONTRACTED WORKS. THE STANDARD MUST BE ENACTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER APPLICABLE OPTUS CONTRACT CONDITIONS REGARDING WHS AND THE GOVERNING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WHILE THIS STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IT IS NOTED THAT WHERE ANY LEGAL REQUIREMENT EXCEEDS THIS STANDARD THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE. Purpose and scope This Contractor WHS Standard (Standard) Hazardous Chemicals aims to ensure the minimum WHS requirements are met by Optus Contractors when using, handling, generating and / or storing hazardous chemicals at a workplace. In addition, this Standard supports the Commonwealth WHS Act 2011 (Act) where a duty is imposed (under the Act) on a person to ensure health and safety, it requires the person to eliminate so far as is reasonably practicable, and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable to workers. Hazardous chemicals, as prescribed by the Commonwealth WHS Regulations 2011 (Regulations), Chapter 7 means a substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria for a hazard class as described by the Regulations and as categorised by the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and as applied to the use, handling and storage of hazardous chemicals at a workplace and the generation of hazardous substances at a workplace. The Regulations also include specific duties for a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage the risks to health and safety associated with hazardous chemicals at a workplace which includes: correct labelling, using warning placards and outer warning placards (if a WHS Regulations 2011 Schedule 11 chemical exceeds placard quantity) and displaying of safety signs; maintaining a register and manifest and providing notification to the regulator of manifest quantities if required; identifying risk of physical or chemical reaction and ensuring the stability of hazardous chemicals; ensuring that exposure standards are not exceeded; provision of health monitoring to workers; provision of information, training, instruction and supervision to workers; provision of spill containment system for hazardous chemicals if necessary; obtaining the current Safety Data Sheet from the manufacturer, importer or supplier of the chemical; controlling ignition sources and accumulation of flammable and combustible substances; provision and availability of fire protection, firefighting equipment and emergency and safety equipment; preparing an emergency plan (if the quantity of a class of hazardous chemical at a workplace exceeds the manifest quantity for that hazardous chemical); stability and support of containers for bulk hazardous chemicals including pipework and attachments; decommissioning of underground storage and handling systems; and notifying the regulator as soon as practicable of abandoned tanks in certain circumstances.

4 The above provisions are supported by the Commonwealth Codes of Practice (CoP) for Managing Risk of Hazardous Chemicals 2012; CoP Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals 2012 and CoP Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals This Standard applies to entities contracted by Optus where working with hazardous chemicals is a part of their scope of works. Roles and responsibilities Optus Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for: Complying with all contractual obligations for ensuring workplace health and safety. Reviewing Optus risk management processes such as Risk Register(s) and this Standard and to factor this information into their safe systems of work. Establishing accountability and authorities for managers and workers for the safe management of hazardous chemicals. Conducting a risk assessment and documenting the outcome as a Safe Work Method Statement or similar, and in accordance with applicable legislative requirements. Providing communication and consultation to workers and their representatives, when using, handling, generating and / or storing of hazardous chemicals at a workplace. Ensuring relevant persons have the required certification, licencing, training and competencies. Conducting inspections of their works to ensure compliance with safe systems of work and making such reviews / records available to Optus where and as requested. Developing emergency preparedness and response provisions that may include plans and procedures, communications and response hardware. Keeping and maintaining a SWMS after the completion of work or where a notifiable incident occurs, a copy of the SWMS for a period of 2 years. Investigating and reporting events such as incidents, accidents, dangerous occurrences and serious illness, within the required contractual period to Optus and where required, to the applicable Regulator. In addition to the above, Optus Contractors, so far as is reasonably practicable, are specifically responsible for: Ensuring the required health monitoring is conducted where and as required. Ensuring personal protective equipment selected is suitable, used, maintained and safely disposed of. Work planning Work planning includes, but is not limited to: Identifying a risk management process in order to manage the hazards and risks associated with using, handling, generating and / or storing of hazardous chemicals at a workplace. Ensuring the risk management process is carried out by a competent person(s). Identifying all Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for hazardous chemicals. Identifying the required accreditations, licences, certification, training and/or competencies to supervise and perform work with using, handling, generating and / or storing of hazardous chemicals at a workplace. Planning for the design of ventilation systems such as mechanical, local and natural ventilation. Planning for emergency preparedness and response appropriate for the given circumstance.

5 Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: Document CWHSS_H_St24_OM38076_V1F 19 th June Authorised / Owner: Optus WHS Team. Implement work planning In order to establish a safe workplace, the implementation of the above Work Planning, may include, but not be limited to the following: No SAMPLE - WORK PLANNING CHECKLIST Yes No NA 1. Conduct a risk assessment to manage the risks associated with using, handling, generating, storing, transferring and / or transporting of hazardous chemicals at a workplace. Note: The risk assessment must have regard to (a) the hazardous properties of the hazardous chemical; (b) any potentially hazardous chemical or physical reaction between the hazardous chemical and another substance or mixture, including a substance that may be generated by the reaction; (c) the nature of the work to be carried out with the hazardous chemical; (d) any structure, plant or system of work: (i) that is used in the use, handling, generation or storage of the hazardous chemical; or (ii) that could interact with the hazardous chemical at the workplace. 2. Ensure that a register of hazardous chemicals used, handled or stored at the workplace is prepared and kept up-to-date. Note1: The register must contain a list of hazardous chemicals used, handled or stored; and the current safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical listed. Note2: A manifest is also required where the quantities of those hazardous chemicals exceed prescribed threshold amounts. A manifest is different from a register and is a written summary of specific types of hazardous chemicals with physicochemical hazards and acute toxicity that are used, handled or stored at a workplace. 3. Ensure that the register is readily accessible to workers involved in using, handling or storing hazardous chemicals and to anyone else who is likely to be affected by hazardous chemicals at the workplace. 4. Ensure that all hazardous chemicals used, handled or stored at the workplace are correctly labelled / signed. Note: Ensure that the hazardous chemical, the container of a hazardous chemical or a hazardous chemical in pipe work or decanted is correctly labelled. 5. Obtain a safety data sheet (and any amended version) for a hazardous chemical from the manufacturer, importer or supplier no later than when the chemical is first supplied at the workplace or as soon as practicable after it is first supplied but before it is used at the workplace. 6. Ensure that the current safety data sheet for the hazardous chemical is readily accessible to a worker at the workplace. Note: This relates to persons who are involved in use, handling or storing of a hazardous chemical at the workplace, an emergency service worker, or anyone else, who is likely to be exposed to the hazardous chemical at the workplace, and if a person at the workplace asks for the safety data sheet. 7. Display safety signs at the workplace to warn of a particular hazard associated with the hazardous chemicals or state the responsibilities of a particular person in relation to the hazardous chemicals. 8. Ensure where the transfer of hazardous chemicals such as fuels for mobile plant and equipment use is safe and all necessary precautions are implemented such as dedicated refuelling / exclusion zones, ventilated areas, approved fuel containers, bunds or drip trays, away from ignition sources and the equipment ignition and auxiliary are turned off, availability of fire extinguishers, safe access and egress, etc. 9. Ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to a substance or mixture in an airborne concentration that exceeds the exposure standard for the substance or mixture. Note: Air monitoring may be necessary to ensure that workers are not exposed to airborne concentrations above the chemical s exposure standard. 10. Ensure ignition sources (i.e. flames, heat and sparks) where flammable or combustible chemicals or other materials are present and a significant risk of fire or explosion exists, that the ignition sources are controlled to prevent fire or explosion. 11. Ensure health monitoring is provided to a worker carrying out work if: the worker is carrying out on-going work using, handling generating or storing hazardous chemicals and there is a significant risk to the worker s health because of exposure to a hazardous chemical; and the person identifies that because of on-going work carried out by a worker using, handling generating or storing hazardous chemicals there is a significant risk that the worker will be exposed to a hazardous chemical. 12. Where a container does not have a label or is incorrectly labelled, take appropriate action to correctly label the container. Note: Containers that have had chemicals transferred into them (decanted) in the workplace, and containers of chemical wastes also need to be labelled correctly.

6 13. Conduct regular inspections of the workplace to ensure hazardous chemicals are controlled. 14. Ensure that where there is a risk of a spill or leak of a hazardous chemical (in a solid or liquid form), a provision is made in each part of the workplace where a hazardous chemical is used, handled, stored or generated for a spill containment system that contains any spill or leak of a hazardous chemical and any resulting effluent. 15. Provide protective equipment (e.g. masks, air supplied respirators, gloves, chemical resistant glasses, face shields, non-slip chemical resistant safety boots, high visibility reflective clothing / full overalls,) to persons undertaking hazardous chemicals work while ensuring it is fit for purpose, and use, is maintained, repaired and / or replaced as per manufacturers requirements. 16. Ensure the risk assessment is verified / audited at specified intervals and / or where the safety data sheet is changed and records kept. 17. Ensure emergency preparedness and response provisions such as plans, procedures and hardware such as first aid kits and fire protection / extinguishers are in place prior to the commencement of works, are fit for purpose and these are scheduled for testing at regular intervals.