Code of practice explained

Code of Practice 2004

Code of practice explained What is a code of practice? An approved code of practice gives practical guidance in how to comply with a general duty of care under the OH&S Act or a specific duty under the regulations. Compliance with the provisions of a code of practice, where relevant, may constitute compliance with the provisions of the Act or Regulations on which the code is giving practical guidance. Generally, a code of practice contains various courses of action which are designed to achieve health and safety standards required by the Act or Regulations. Who do they apply to? Codes of practice may be written to provide practical guidance for any person placed under obligation by the Act or Regulations; for example, manufacturers, employers and employees. What is their legal status? The provisions in a code are not mandatory. That is, a person may choose to comply with the relevant provision of the Act or Regulations in some other way, provided that the method used also fulfils the requirements of the Act or Regulations. A person or company cannot be prosecuted simply for failing to comply with a code of practice. However, in legal proceedings, failure to observe a relevant code of practice can be used as evidence that a person or company has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of the Act or Regulations. If a person has not adopted the method described in the code, it is up to that person or company to show that the legal requirement has been met by an alternative method. Therefore, a code of practice should be followed, unless there is an alternative course of action that would also fulfil the requirements of the Act or Regulations. 2

A WorkSafe inspector may cite an approved code of practice as a means of remedying alleged non-compliance when issuing an improvement notice or a prohibition notice. Similarly, a health and safety representative may cite a code of practice in a provisional improvement notice when providing directions as to how to remedy an alleged non-compliance. In summary, a code of practice: provides practical guidance; should be followed, unless there is another solution which achieves the same result, or a better solution; is able to be used in support of the OH&S Act s preventive provisions; and can be used to support prosecution. This is a voluntary Code of Practice. 3

Outline Occupational Health and Safety To comply with OH&S procedures as outlined in the OH&S Act Hazard identification Risk assessment and control OH&S training Safe Manual Handling To reduce Musclo-Skeletal Disorders (MSDs) caused by manual handling Team lifting Body management Product information and training Quality Control Management To comply with the Australian Standards Power stretching Smoothedge positioning Seam sealing Pattern matching Double Bonding 4

Introduction This code of practice relates to manual handling of carpet/vinyl/timber and underlays and installation procedures and techniques. It has been developed to give practical guidance to manufacturers, retailers and installers on how to comply with a general duty of care under the OH&S Act, to prevent injuries or illness at work relating to carpet/vinyl/timber and underlay handling and installation. Scope of this code This code of practice applies to all manufacturers, retailers and installers where the lifting of materials and the installation technique, may cause MSDs. MSD is an injury, illness or disease that arises in whole or in part from manual handling in the workplace, whether occurring suddenly or over a prolonged period of time. Background and objectives The risk of back injuries due to lifting and carrying excessive weights of but not limited to carpet/vinyl/timber, underlay and furniture is widespread throughout the industry. The risk of knee and back injuries due to continual stretching carpet with a knee kicker and or kneeling on hard surfaces for long periods is very common, in the industry. Although kneeling cannot be eliminated, carpet installers should always wear protective knee pads whenever kneeling on hard surfaces. In addition they should use the power stretcher safe alternative to the knee kicker that does not use the knee. During a typical installation, carpet installers spend about 75% of the time on their hands and knees. Using a knee kicker, strong knee kicks are repeated 120 to 140 times per hour. The power of these knee kicks is equivalent to three to five times the body weight. Carpet installers often leave the trade when knee and back damage develops in 5 to 10 years. Even though carpet installers spend 75% of their time kneeling, only about half of those surveyed reported regular use of knee pads, and these installers reported using them less than half the time. NIOSH conducted a survey of carpet installers who had used the Power Stretcher. 95% of these respondents reported that the power stretcher was easy to use, produced a better quality of carpet installation and saved their knees and back from injury. Excerpts from the American National Institute for OH&S: Preventing Knee Injuries and Musculo-Skeletal Disorders in Carpet Installers The major objective of this Code of Practice is to reduce the incidence and severity of knee and back injuries caused by heavy lifting and over use of a knee kicker. The second objective is to improve quality installations and require carpet manufacturers, retailers and installers to assess and control the risk of knee and back injuries while at work. 5

The most effective way to prevent and control the risk of knee injuries is to: eliminate the use of the knee kicker as a form of stretching wall-to-wall carpet and use it as a means of positioning the carpet as it was intended. use appropriate knee protection pads when kneeling on hard surfaces for long periods. The most effective way to prevent and control the risk of back injuries is to: provide education and training on safe manual handling. use trolleys, back supports and team lifting techniques. Responsibilities: Manufacturers, retailers and installers This notes the responsibilities of manufacturers, retailers and installers to meet the requirements of the Code of Practice and in accordance with OH&S Act 1985. As a duty of care, manufacturers must provide all information regarding their products to ensure they are used, handled or installed safely and without risk to health or injury. As a duty of care, retailers must provide and maintain, so far as is practicable for employees and contractors, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health or injury. As a duty of care, installers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and for the health and safety of anyone else who may be affected by their actions. Also, the installers must co-operate with their employer with respect to any action taken by the employer, to comply with any requirements of this Code of Practice or the OH&S Act 1985. Failure to comply with the guidelines of the OH&S Act The fines are massive. You may be liable for fines upto $50,000 and your company $250,000 if found negligent. This is serious but a small investment in training and safety equipment can help. 6

Occupational Health and Safety The purpose of this section is for manufacturers, retailers and installers to identify hazards relating to the handling and installation carpet/vinyl/timber products. Assess the risks to injury and implement controls to eliminate the hazard or substitute with other materials. Hazard identification A hazard is a dangerous situation or action that can cause injury, illness or damage to property. Hazards are identified through injury and incident reports, consultation with employees and contractors and hazard identification checklists. This Code of Practice is focused on but not limited to, lifting and carrying excessive weights of carpet/vinyl/timber products etc, the over use of the knee kicker as a means of stretching carpet, kneeling on hard surfaces and occupational overuse syndrome (continual smoothedge installation). Risk assessment and control Risk assessment involves deciding whether it is likely that someone could be hurt by being exposed to hazards and the likelihood that these hazards could cause harm in the workplace. ACTION ASSESSMENT CONTROL Lifting and carrying Injury to backs Team lifting, forklifts, excessive weights of trolleys, back supports carpet, vinyl, timber, and manual handling underlay and furniture training Continual stretching of Injury to knees and back Use a power stretcher carpet with a knee kicker for stretching the carpet. Use a knee kicker for positioning carpet. Kneeling on hard surfaces Injury to knees Wear knee protection pads Installation of smoothedge Pain and injury to wrists that is rapid and has forceful movements such as continual hammering Vary the task OH&S training OH&S and safe manual handling information and training is required to be given by manufacturers to retailers and retailers to employees and contractors. This Code of Practice encourages co-operation between all parties in delivering information relevant to their part in the safe handling and correct installation process. 7

Safe Manual Handling Manual handling covers a wide range of activities including lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. This Code of Practice looks at safe manual handling procedures that will reduce MSDs. Team lifting Where possible team lifting should be used to reduce back injuries relating to carrying excessive but not limited to weights of, carpet and underlay. Whenever team lifting is used it is essential to ensure that there are an adequate number of persons to perform the lift, that one person is appointed to co-ordinate the lift and that the team members are of similar size and strength. Body management When manual handling tasks are required where trolleys or forklifts are unavailable then appropriate body management skills should be engaged. This relates to the correct body mechanics to reduce back injuries. These include but are not limited to: spread the feet bend the knees use the thighs, not the back keep the back straight take a secure grip pull the load close to the body alternate lifting tasks with lighter work. Product information and training Manufacturers and retailers will ensure that all products are clearly marked with the Code of Practice labels. This health and safety information will help to conform with all relevant sections of the OH&S Act. Table 1.1 on page 9 should appear in all places where handling and installation carpet/vinyl/timber and underlay occurs. Manufacturers and retailers must inform installers of any new technologies or new installation practices relating to new products and provide appropriate training. Technical training Ongoing technical installation training and apprenticeship training will be encouraged by manufacturers, retailers and installers to further develop the industry as a progressive and professional trade. This Code of Practice will ensure the industry attracts quality people who wish to apply themselves in a trade where quality and safety are at the forefront of installation procedures and practices. 8

Carpet installation and handling guide Table: 1.1 ACTIVITY POOR PRACTICE BELOW AVERAGE GOOD PRACTICE Installation knee kicker only knee kicker only use a power stretcher, on small rooms knee kicker for or tubeless and positioning only knee kicker Kneeling no protective sometimes wear always wear protective pads pads knee pads Lifting carpet, no trolleys and dragging or trolleys, team lifting vinyl,timber, one person lift pushing and correct body underlay & furniture mechanics Seam sealing no seam sealer only on all carpets used commercial carpets recommended by manufacturers Smoothedge V shape on box shape on contoured doorways doorways doorways and appropriate 60% gully Double Bond No use of Incorrect V Use of strong lines Installation Primers notched trowel Use of correct No use of Incorrect seam seam sealers string lines sealer used Correct adhesive coverage and V notched trowel TM 1346-1348 North Road Oakleigh South, Victoria 3167 Tel 03 9543 6776 Fax 03 9544 7266 Leading industry training into the future 9

Quality Control Management This section endorses that the Code of Practice complies with all the Australian Standards, which relates to carpet,vinyl,timber and underlay. An expansion of the carpet standards are listed below. These are in addition to the Australian standards. Power stretching All carpets laid using the carpet gripper system must be power stretched as per the Australian Standards. A knee kicker should only be used to position the carpet and not for stretching. A tubeless stretcher or restretcher should only be used when aiding a power stretcher installation. This will reduce the impact of knees in a normal installation and improve the quality of the installation. Smoothedge positioning Smoothedge should be installed in accordance with the Australian Standards. The positioning of smoothedge is the corner stone in the quality of the installation. Smoothedge should be positioned, leaving a gully between the smoothedge and the wall of not more than 60% of the thickness of the carpet being installed. Doorways should be installed contoured and not V shape or box shape. Seam sealing Seam sealing reduces the problems of fraying and zippering. All carpets recommended by manufacturers must be seam sealed using an approved seam sealer or equal equivalent. 10 Pattern matching When manufacturing patterned carpets, it is necessary to use a series of processes, which unavoidably subjects the carpet or its components to a variety of stresses. These processes include tufting or weaving, printing and finishing. The stresses are applied in both length and width directions. Technological limitations mean that in many cases they will be unevenly applied from place to place through the carpet and so ultimately the pattern may not exactly match at edges or may inhibit some degree of bow, skew or run out in the finished carpet. Manufacturers will always endeavor to produce carpet with the best match possible. Pattern carpet will require special care during installation however, even with special care some irregularities may be visible in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal pattern or texture, especially when viewing across multiple width installations. The method of installation must also be taken into consideration, (ie. Direct Stick, Dual Bonded or Conventional) as the installation of patterned carpet will require more time, effort and skill by the installer and estimator. The use of string lines can greatly benefit the installer to ensure straight lines. Although there is no Australian Standard covering the measurement of pattern match, all carpet retailers will draw the consumers attention to the potential for a degree of pattern mismatch that may occur. A guide only to pattern tolerances are as follows: Trueness of edge: 25mm in 3.66m width Skewing or bowing: 40mm in 3.66m widths Pattern repeat: 2% or 72mm in 3.66m length.

Double bonding All sub-floors shall be prepared in accordance with Australian Standards. When installing carpet and underlay as a double bond installation it is important to use the correct primers, adhesives and v notch towels to get a successful result. Adhere double bond underlay to the sub-floor with pressure sensitive adhesive then use a direct stick adhesive to adhere the carpet to the double bond underlay. All seams in double bond installations require seam sealing with an approved seam adhesive. The use of a carpet roller is also recommended to give the right amount of adhesive transfer. PRODUCT APPLICATOR ROLLER Primer Pressure Sensitive Spray Gun or Roller 1.6mm v notched trowel Double Bonding 2.4mm or 3.2mm v 25-30 kg Roller carpet adhesive notched trowel Carpet seam sealer Ready to use applicator bottle Refer to manufacturers specifications for spread rates, recommended adhesives and roller weights. 11

CARPETsafe Charter To provide an OH&S and safe manual handling standard in the industry that ensures quality installations, safety and customer satisfaction. To deliver quality nationally recognised training in all aspects of carpet in purpose built training centres. Work with manufacturers, retailers and installers to reduce work place injuries. To implement carpet installation training in secondary schools VCE program. Foster at all times the culture of Quality & Safety Promote the industry to young people as a viable and rewarding trade Ensure all products are clearly marked with CARPETsafe labels. For further information call CARPETsafe on 03 9543 6776 or log onto www.carpetsafe.com.au TM 12