1. Occupational Health & Safety (OH & S) Overview

2. Human and Money Costs Each year in Australia, about 3,000 people die from workplace accidents and diseases This is more than those killed in motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We also know that, each year, about 200,000 injuries occur in Australian workplaces. 50,000 of these have long-term effects on the person injured. The money cost of these injuries is about $20 billion.

3. Human and Money Costs (cont.) The human costs cannot be measured in money terms. Loss of a limb, loss of hearing, or a serious back injury can never be fully compensated by money.

4. Types of accidents For every major injury or fatality there are: 10 minor injuries 30 lost time accidents 100 minor accidents 600 near misses 1

5. Duty of Care Employers and workers share responsibility and have a duty of care for a safe environment and work practices. This duty of care is part of our legal obligation under the NT Work Health Act.

6. Work Health Act: Employees The Act requires employees to: take appropriate care of their own health and safety and the health and safety of all people who may be affected by their actions in the workplace follow the training provided by their employers use the personal protective equipment provided not interfere with anything set up in the interests of health and safety.

7. Work Health Act: Employers Employers also have strong obligations under the Work Health Act to provide safe working environments. Disability services organisations have special obligations for occupational health and safety. These are set out in the NT Disability Service Standards (Standard 8.6).

8. What are the OH&S issues? Think about some of the health and safety issues that might be important when working with people with disabilities. What do you think they might be?

9. Policies and Procedures It’s very important to know your organisation’s health and safety policies and procedures. They tell you how to: avoid risks and hazards safeguard your clients what to do in emergencies. Make yourself familiar with them. If you need to know something, ask.