CONTRACTOR WHS HAZARD STANDARD HEAT, COLD, SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET & INCLEMENT WEATHER EXTERNAL USE ONLY
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.
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) Heat, Cold, Solar Ultraviolet and Inclement Weather aims to ensure minimum WHS requirements are met by Optus Contractors when undertaking works that expose them to such issues. 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. The Commonwealth WHS Regulations (Regulations) 2011, generally documents provisions for heat, cold, solar ultraviolet (UV), and inclement weather in Chapter 3 General Risk and Workplace Management: Managing Risk to Health and Safety and Regulation 40 Duty in relation to the general workplace facilities which in part states: a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers exposed to extremes of heat or cold are able to carry out work without risk to their health and safety. The Commonwealth Code of Practice (CoP) Managing the Work Environment and Facilities 2011, Section 2 Sub-section titled 2.8 Heat and Cold supports the Regulations by establishing provisions for work in extreme heat and / or cold. The provision also provides information on heat strain, exposure to high thermal radiation, high levels of humidity and hypothermia from cold environments. This Standard applies to entities contracted by Optus where workers may be exposed to heat, cold, UV and inclement weather and these issues are 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 WHS including Optus and legislative requirements. 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 managing the safety of workers who may be exposed to heat, cold, UV, and inclement weather when conducting their work. Securing and verification of accreditation, certification, licencing, training and competencies for supervisors and workers. 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. 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. Keeping and maintaining a risk assessment/swms after the completion of work or where a notifiable incident occurs, a copy for a period of 2 years.
Establish emergency preparedness and response, including plans and procedures, communications and hardware. 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 personal protective equipment selected is, suitable, used and maintained. Ensuring workers are fit for work, and have no medical condition that increases the risk to them at the workplace. 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 work in heat, cold, UV, and inclement weather environments. Ensuring the risk management process is carried out by a competent person(s). Identifying the required accreditations, licences, certification, training and / or competencies to supervise and perform work in hot, cold, UV, and inclement weather environments (e.g. emergency preparedness, first aid and assistance, bush survival, recognition of the early symptoms of heat strain or hypothermia etc.). Determining the need for a Fitness for Work program including requirements for drug and alcohol testing as appropriate. Identifying all Commonwealth, State, Territory and local statutory requirements for heat, cold, UV and inclement weather. Securing the required information and compliance conditions (e.g. Geographical Information System, Plans, bushfire mapping data, storm, wind, etc.) from, and notifications are provided to, the asset / network owner / operator / local supply authorities and any other affected party such as private owners / occupiers. Planning for emergency preparedness and response for work in heat, cold, UV and inclement weather. Document control Uncontrolled when Printed. Control Source: Optus Document System: Document CWHSS_H_St23_OM38075_V1F 23 rd June 2014. 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. Approve, communicate and implement the risk assessment prior to, during operation and decommissioning of works conducted in hot, cold, UV and inclement weather environments. Note 1: The risk assessment should consider both personal and environmental factors. Personal factors may include the level of physical activity, the amount and type of clothing worn, and duration of exposure while environmental factors may include working at heights on towers, poles or roofs, air temperature, the level of humidity, air movement and radiant heat (sun penetration). Note 2: The risk assessment may also include use of an appropriate heat stress index. A commonly used and recognised index is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). This takes into account air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and air movement. Adjustments can take into account such things as physical workload, clothing and work organisation. The Thermal Work Limit (TWL) accounts for all of the major factors as mentioned above and provide guidance on managing workloads and fluid intake. 2. Authorise and issue any required work permit and / or licence for undertaking work in heat, cold, UV and / or inclement weather. 3. Verify that workers are fit for work and do not have medical conditions, including not being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs that would make them unsuitable for working in heat, cold, UV and / or inclement weather. 4. Ensure workers do not work on poles (monopole or lattice towers), roof tops, or on cable and equipment connected to the Network side of the isolator during or whilst an electrical storm is in the close vicinity and where local weather reports clearly indicate the approach of an electrical storm. 5. Verify the workers undertaking work in hot or cold environments have access to cool palatable drinking water, toilets, sheltering facilities (as to protect them in adverse weather conditions), hygienic storage for food and water, emergency and first aid kits as required by the nature of the works. Note 1: Access to clean shelters should be provided, for example, air conditioned buildings / structures, sheds, caravans, tents, windbreaks or portable shade canopies. 6. Verify the workers undertaking extended work in hot environments have access to cool palatable drinking water (at least 200 ml every 15-20 minutes), as required by the nature of the works. Note 1: An adequate supply of clean drinking water must be provided free of charge for workers at all times. The supply of the drinking water should be positioned where it can be easily accessed by workers; close to where hot or strenuous work is being undertaken to reduce the likelihood of dehydration or heat stress and separate from toilet or washing facilities to avoid contamination of the drinking water. Note 2: For work in hot-environments of between 90-240 minutes duration, consideration may be given to the inclusion of fluids that contain some form of carbohydrate additive of less than 7% concentration. For work periods exceeding 240 minutes, fluids should also be supplemented with electrolytes. The suitability of the type of electrolytes should be assessed against the work task and the environment. Note 3: Alcohol and caffeine drinks (such as tea, coffee, energy drinks etc.) should be avoided as these can have a diuretic effect and hence increase fluid loss, leading to dehydration and hindering rehydration before and after work 7. Inspect the work environment prior to the commencement of work in inclement weather conditions to ensure it is safe to undertake the works. 8. Ensure protection for workers against UV exposure such as reorganising outdoor work so that workers carry out alternative tasks, job rotation, acclimatisation (especially for new workers or where workers have breaks from work of 5-7 days), work in shade or when the sun is most intense, time exposure reduction and / or additional rest breaks. 9. Ensure the environmental conditions and physiological wellbeing of workers is monitored when work involves prolonged or repeated exposure to heat or cold. Note 1: Physiological monitoring is based on workers reactions to the thermal stress to which the worker is being exposed. Monitoring may take into account a number of variables such as age and fitness. Physiological monitoring also provides for a more accurate result and a greater level of confidence as to the impact on the worker regardless of the conditions and, importantly, includes the impact of personal protection such as clothing. 10. Workers are provided with safety protection / devices (e.g. fresh drinking water, high visibility vests, safety helmets / broad brims, cooling vests, air supplied respirators, wet weather clothing, safety rated sunglasses, insulated gloves, SPF30+ sunscreen / zinc, loose comfortable fitting cotton clothing etc.) 11. Ensure the risk assessment is verified / audited at specified intervals and records kept. 12. Ensure emergency preparedness and response provisions and hardware such as first aid kits are in place prior to the commencement of the works and they are scheduled for testing at regular intervals.