Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Purpose This procedure describes how the Australian National University (ANU) manages Work Health Safety hazards for the health, safety, rehabilitation and claims (WHS) management systems. WHS hazard management is a requirement of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) (WHS Act), Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) (WHS Regulations) and the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth). This document is linked to the University s Work Health and Safety Policy and is one of the WHS Management System Procedures. Definitions Consequence is the outcome of an event affecting the objectives. Duty of care is the requirement of the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), so far as reasonably practicable, to ensure that the health and safety of any person at the PCBU is not put at risk. This includes the provision of: safe systems of work; safe amenities, facilities, structures and work environments; training; supervision and health monitoring [WHS Act, section 19]. Hazards are defined as a source or a situation with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, damage to environment, or a combination of these, according to the Australian Standards/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) 4801:2001. Likelihood is the chance of something happening. Local area is the relevant College/Research School/Service Division Risk in relation to any potential injury or harm, is the likelihood and consequence of injury or harm occurring [AS/NZS 4801:2001]. Worker is anyone who carries out work for the University. A worker includes staff, volunteers, contractors and students gaining work experience at the University. Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 1
Procedure Scope 1. This procedure applies to all activities conducted by or on behalf of the University with the potential to impact on work health and safety. 2. This procedure provides instruction for managing WHS hazards to meet the requirements of the WHS Act. The key steps in this procedure for complying with WHS hazard management are: how to identify WHS hazards; how to report WHS hazards; how to assess WHS hazards; how to control WHS hazards; how to monitor WHS hazard controls; and how to review the effectiveness of WHS controls. Process 3. All WHS hazards shall be recorded and reported at the University to comply with the Duty of Care requirements in the WHS Act. 4. The WHS hazard identification and assessment process (WHS hazard assessment) at the University can occur as a structured planned process or ad-hoc from observation, review of work processes or as a result of an incident/event. 5. Typical examples of when the WHS hazard assessment shall occur at the University are when: starting new activities; any time there is a change to the work practice, procedures or work environment; purchasing new or used equipment or using new substances; planning to improve productivity or reduce costs; new information about workplace hazards becomes available such as changes at the workplace occur that may impact on the effectiveness of control measures; responding to workplace incidents (injuries or near misses) or responding to concerns raised by workers, health and safety representatives or others at the workplace; and Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 2
designing and planning products, processes or places used for work. Planning for a WHS hazard assessment process 6. Structured WHS hazard assessments should be facilitated by a person with competency in conducting hazard assessments. However, this is not necessary if it involves or is reviewed by a member of the Work Environment Group (WEG) or local area Safety Officer. 7. When planning to conduct a WHS hazard assessment, the facilitator shall invite a cross section of skills and experience, including those who work in the area or on the activity and, where possible, subject matter experts. 8. To improve the productivity of the group contributing to the WHS hazard assessment process, the facilitator should prepare the following contextual information when possible: identify the scope of the assessment (e.g. boundaries of work practice or areas of work); identify the stakeholders; identify any legal or other requirements; visit the area/ activity; have an understanding of the issues from inspections, audits, historical injuries, incidents and relevant hazard assessment reports (such as hazards reported in the University reporting systems such as MAXIMO and the Workplace safety incident and hazard reporting tool); have access to technical information such as manuals or supplier information; and have access to the existing policies, processes, standards, registers and guidelines. Identifying WHS hazards 9. This is the most important step in the WHS hazard assessment process. The facilitator should encourage the contributors to list as many relative hazards as possible. A prompt page is included in the WHS hazard register to assist this. Common hazards are: electrical; confined spaces, excavation, penetrations into hidden surfaces, isolation and hot works; Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 3
10. working at heights / falls; traffic, cyclist and pedestrian interactions; hazardous materials including mists, dusts, fumes and molten material; environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, noise, light, vibration; psychological; hazardous materials (such as asbestos); ergonomic issues such as slips, trips, falls and manual handling; plant, equipment and hazardous materials; radiation; potential emergency situations; biological hazards; and being in a remote area or working alone. A variety of techniques and business improvement tools can be used to aid this such as brainstorming the steps involved or key activities. Recording WHS hazards 11. WHS hazards identified from observations can be entered online into the Workplace safety incident and hazard reporting tool via the University website as per the WHS incident management procedure. 12. Every local area shall ensure all WHS hazards are captured on a WHS hazard register. The local area can choose to populate either one master WHS register or separate registers for different types of WHS hazards such as plant and equipment, remote area works etc. 13. The local areas shall provide WEG with all WHS hazard registers to consolidate into a master register for the entire University WHS hazard register. Assessing inherent WHS hazard level 14. The facilitator shall lead the contributors to score the inherent WHS hazards using the WHS hazard Likelihood, Consequences and WHS hazard rating matrix Tables 1, 2 and 3 below: Table 1 Likelihood Ranking Description Probability / frequency of event Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 4
occurring Almost certain The hazard is expected to occur in most circumstances at the University A daily to weekly occurrence or happening >75% Likely The hazard could occur in most circumstances at the University Between weekly to monthly occurrence or 50% - 75% Possible The hazard has occurred at some time at the University Between monthly to yearly occurrences or 25% - 50% Unlikely The hazard could occur at some time Occurs in up to a 10 yearly cycle, up to 25% Rare The hazard may only occur in exceptional circumstances One in hundred year event, less than 1% Table 2 Consequences Ranking Injury, illness or Plant equipment and Environment disease materials Catastrophi Fatality / fatalities or Destroyed or cannot Long term permanent c permanent disability. Unable to be reused effect to ecosystems. Significa work nt intervention required to remediate Major Lost time injury injuries where one Damage requiring repairs/rebuild and Notification to environmental or more days is lost possible agency, ecosystem from work recertification prior to reuse, lost use for will need time to recover, intervention one or more days required to remediate Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 5
Moderate Medical treatment injury can return to Damage requiring a repair/service by a Contamination event that does not impact work at normal trade/technician on ecosystem. Short duties i.e. treated by a health professional (physiotherapist, within the day impact does not need intervention doctor, etc.) Minor Injury needing first aid treatment can Equipment able to be reset or gotten Minor contained contamination return to work back into operation ceasing when the within shift by the operator short event is over, can remediate (e.g. spill kit) Insignifican Report only, no Report only, no Report only, no t injury damage contamination Table 3 WHS hazard rating matrix Please find here. Identifying current controls and legal requirements 15. The facilitator shall lead the contributors to list the current controls and the legal requirements (if known) for each of the WHS hazards with an inherent hazard rating of medium (6) or above as per Table 3 on the WHS hazard register. Assessing residual hazard level 16. The facilitator will lead the contributors to score the residual hazard rating taking into consideration the controls listed from the above using Tables 2 and 3.The facilitator will make a decision based on the average score decided by the group or make a decision should a tie arise. 17. The facilitator shall determine if the residual WHS hazard score is acceptable and if additional controls are required. 18. The facilitator shall lead the contributors to determine if the residual WHS rating is acceptable (score 12 or below) as per the WHS Hazard rating in Table 3. 19. If the score is 13 or above, the facilitator shall lead them to identify additional controls that will need to be put in place prior to seeking approval (see Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 6
Table 5) and doing any work. The facilitator shall use the hierarchy of controls (Table 4) to find at least three controls from the highest level starting with elimination. Table 4 Hierarchy of controls Control Definition Example Elimination Complete removal of the hazard from the workplace Removing a trip hazard. Disposing of unwanted chemicals. Removing hazardous plant or substances. Repairing damaged equipment. Increasing the use of email to reduce photocopying. Ceasing a dangerous practice. Ensuring new equipment meets ergonomic needs. Substitution Change a work practice, substance or piece of equipment A hazardous substance with a less hazardous substance. Telephone handsets with headsets where there is frequent use of the telephone. Smaller packages or containers to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries. Isolation Changing work practice to physical separation of the sources of harm from the person by distance or barriers Use of a fume cupboard to isolate and store chemicals. Use of remote handling equipment for hazardous substances or procedures. Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 7
Engineering Modify the design of the workplace or plant and/or environmental conditions Modification to plant. Installation of appropriate guarding on machinery. Use of a ventilation system to remove chemical fumes or dust. Administration Developing procedures and systems to control the interaction between people and hazards Regular maintenance programs for plant and equipment; Written work procedures for all hazardous tasks and equipment; and A training, education and supervision program for staff/students/contractors/ visitors, which includes preventative maintenance and housekeeping procedures. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Implementing PPE to prevent physical contact between a person and a hazard Handling of chemicals gloves, safety glasses, and aprons. Protecting eyes from flying particles. Protecting feet safety boots. Approval of WHS hazards 20. The completed WHS hazard register shall be approved based on the highest level of hazard as per Table 5. No work shall occur until this approval is gained. Table 5 WHS hazard approver Please find here. Prioritization of Controls 21. One purpose of the hazard assessment process is to determine priorities in hazard management control. To effectively control hazards the facilitator shall allocate and prioritise resources in accordance with the level of hazard rating. Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 8
22. If a WHS hazard is assessed to have a residual hazard rating of 13 or above, using Table 3 WHS hazard rating table, then these hazards shall take precedence for remedial action and are undertaken as reasonably practicable. Consultation and communication of WHS hazards 21. Communication and consultation of WHS hazards shall be demonstrated by: involvement with the WHS hazard identification and assessment process; documenting the names of the participants and the date of assessment; placing version control on the WHS hazard register; ensuring all persons working with the WHS hazards are informed of the controls (Safe operating procedures and training/inductions). Change management 22. When changes are proposed or identified for work practices that have an impact on the safety and wellbeing of workers, the existing WHS Hazard register shall be reviewed and updated, or a new WHS hazard shall be created in the existing Hazard Register. Potential changes include: introducing new or different equipment; using new/alternate substances; planning to improve productivity or reduce costs; designing and planning products, processes or places used for work; or updating drawings. Monitoring and review 23. Monitoring and review of WHS hazard assessments shall occur at the local area level and the University wide level as described below. University wide monitoring and reviewing of WHS hazards 24. WEG shall monitor and present a report to the Senior Management Group on the effectiveness of the WHS hazard process at the site wide level of the University. This will involve: maintaining an overall register of all the WHS hazards at the University; reviewing for opportunities to reduce the overall risk/hazard profile at the University; annual reporting to the WHS University Committee on the implementation of Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 9
the WHS process using the WHS hazard management traffic light report; reviewing hazards and effectiveness of associated controls as a result of incident investigations, workplace inspections or audits; reporting to management on the unacceptable levels of risks/hazard at the University; and monitoring the effectiveness of controls identified in the WHS assessments. Local area monitoring and review of WHS hazards 25. The local areas shall monitor and report to the relevant WHS Committee (as per the WHS communication and consultation and WHS management review procedures) the implementation of the WHS management process at the local level using the WHS hazard management traffic light report. Safe work procedures 26. For all WHS hazards with a hazard score of 13 and above (high and above), safe work procedures (formerly SWMS) shall be created and maintained as per the WHS documentation procedure. 27. The safe operating procedures shall contain references to: training and competency requirements; any relevant WHS responsibilities as per the WHS responsibilities procedure; and any monitoring and inspecting requirement. Training and competency 28. Facilitators of WHS hazard assessment shall complete a risk management course provided by an approved provider to WEG with RAOBS recognition. Sources Legal and other requirements Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 10
AS/NZ 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems ISO 19011:2002 Guidelines for auditing management systems Procedure: Work health and safety hazard management Page 11
Document information Title Document Type Document Number Work health and safety hazard management Procedure ANUP_015812 Version 3 Purpose Audience Category Topic Subtopic This procedure describes how the Australian National University (ANU) manages Work Health Safety hazards for the health, safety, rehabilitation and claims (WHS) management systems. Staff Administrative Health, Safety & Environment Occupational Health & Safety Effective Date 1 Jul 2017 Review Date 1 Jul 2020 Responsible Officer Director, Human Resources (director.hr@anu.edu.au) Approved By Contact Area Chief Operating Officer (chris.grange@anu.edu.au) Human Resources Division (director.hr@anu.edu.au) Authority Work Health & Safety Act 2011 Printed On 20 Aug 2018 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 Please ensure you have the latest version of this document from the Policy Library website before referencing this.