Safety is an extension of a persons basic instinct for survival What does safety mean? Safety is an extension of a persons basic instinct for survival

Heinrich’s Accident Pyramid Major Injury 1 Minor Injury 29 300 No Injury Accidents

Bird’s update of Heinrichs Pyramid Serious/Fatal Injury 1 Other Injuries 10 30 Property Damage 600 No Apparent Injury or Damage 600

How accidents happen Lack of care Did not use common sense/stupidity Unsafe acts Unsafe conditions Acts of God Lack of supervision/ poor training Faulty equipment

Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility No one persons obligations in the workplace outweigh, or supersede another person’s obligations.

Australian health and safety law is governed by A framework of Acts Regulations Supporting Codes of Practice & Standards Australian health and safety law is governed by

Monitoring safety and maintaining a safe environment requires The correct Implementation of Risk Identification Risk Assessment Risk Control

Risk and hazards Hazards can cause injury, disease, economic loss or environmental damage Risk - possibility that something will occur; expressed in terms of probability Risk assessment uses data, hypothesis and models to estimate probability of harm due to exposure to hazards

Major types of hazards Major workplace hazards may include: Manual handling Chemical or hazardous substances Occupational Overuse Syndrome Noise Physical worksite or environmental problems Equipment and machinery

Hazard Identification Steps Job Safety Checks Employee Consultation Safety Audits

Manual handling hazards Annual handling hazards may be caused by actions related to: Push Pull Lowering Lifting Carrying

Chemical and hazardous substances Toxic chemicals - each has specific median lethal dose Chemicals, radiation or viruses Hazardous chemical harm by: Flammable or explosive Irritation of damaging tissue Interfering with respiration Causing allergic reactions

Chemical and hazardous substances Impact cause by Inhalation Ingestion Skin or eye contact Harm can be on: Person (Tumors, burns, etc.) Future generations (genes & embryos) Environmental and lifestyle factors

Physical hazards Commonly involves worksite layout, structure and equipment Can extend beyond worksite to Earthquakes - fracture or shift in earth’s crust deformation Volcanoes Floods Storms

S.A.F.E. process to remove workplace hazards Spot the hazard. Assess the risk. Fix the problem. Evaluate results. 

Addressing external physical hazards Reducing external physical hazards requires engineering and planning: Examine historical records and make geological measurements and weather forecasts Map high-risk areas Building codes regulate design and placement of buildings Predict possible earthquakes and natural events

Biological hazards Non-transmissible diseases are not caused by living organisms; cannot spread Transmissible diseases are caused by infectious agents (pathogens) and spread by vectors; agents include: bacteria virus protozoa parasites

Biological hazards Seven deadliest infectious diseases Acute respiratory infections HIV/AIDS Diarrheal diseases Malaria Tuberculosis Measles Hepatitis B

Assessing the risk Assessing risk involves considering these factors … How likely it is that an accident will occur If an accident occurs, how severe would the consequences be

Risk analysis Identify hazards and evaluate associated risks Rank risks Determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks Inform decision makers and public about risks

Risk assessment Determine types of hazards involved Estimate probability that each hazard will occur Estimate how many people are likely to be exposed to and suffer serious harm from each hazard Statistical probabilities and forecasts

Comparative risk analysis Staff and management perceptions of greatest risks may differ Communication needs to be clear and use common language Risk-benefit analysis – estimates must cover both risks and benefits Immediate needs should not outweigh long-term planning

Risk control involves Modifying the design of the workplace by Design or Substitution Engineering Controls Administration Training Personnel Personal Protective Equipment

Hierarchy of risk control Eliminate (Remove, phase out, redesign)) Substitute/ Change (Change and replace) Engineer Controls (Renew workplace/ context) Administrative Controls (Change work, set maintenance new schedule, new procedures, signage, etc.) Protective Controls (Protective equipment, clothes)

Workplace safety inspections Continuous - Ongoing inspection conducted by employees as part of their job. Periodic - Inspections scheduled to be made a regular intervals Intermittent - Inspections made at irregular intervals. General – inspection of places which do not receive periodic inspections

Points to consider when conducting inspections Planning and preparation is critical Who will carryout the inspection What needs to be inspected How often must items be inspected

Non-conformance investigation and reporting Identified hazards & Incidents Responsibilities & Actions Consultative mechanisms (OH&S Committee) Non-conformance Control Measures Record & Report s Investigation & report Health & Safety Assessment New hazard Risk re-evaluated Problem not resolved

Writing safety reports Possible recommendations Correct the cause – options Report hazardous conditions Take intermediate actions