1. Contribute to OHS Processes HLTWHS300A
#2 Identifying Hazards in the Workplace

2. Lesson outline What is a hazard? Specific workplace hazards
Classification of hazards
Hazard identification
Risk & residual risk
Incidents and accidents
Reporting incidents & injuries

3. Hazard
What is a hazard?
A hazard is a source or a situation that has the potential to cause
injury or illness
damage to property
disruption to productivity or the environment
View Funny Video: Safety in Offices (1944 style)
Reflect on past WHS risk awareness and regulations compared to the current situation .
eg, high buildings do not have open windows...we have learnt from the past.

4. Hazard Classification
Hazards can be classified as:
Physical hazards, eg: Slips, Trips & Falls, Noise, Vibration, Machine, Manual Handling of disabled/elderly clients
Chemical hazards, eg: Hazardous Substances, Dangerous Goods
Ergonomic hazards, eg: Electric Shock, Electrical Burns, Electrocution
Radiation hazards
Psychological hazards, eg: Occupational Stress
Biological hazards, eg: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi
Environmental hazards
Workplace hazards

5. Hazard classification
Specific workplace hazards may include:
Alarms,
Bodily fluids ,
Burnout (compassion fatigue) ,
Chemicals ,
Computer use ,
Cytotoxic medicines & waste ,
Defusing violent behaviour ,
Managing violent behaviour on outreach & home visits,
Manual handling ,
Moving parts of machinery ,
Noise ,
Rostering ,
Sharps ,
Trips/falls etc ,
Underfoot hazards ,
Violence in the workplace ,
Work posture

6. Hazard classification
Psychological hazards are particularly prevalent in the community service sector, eg:
Occupational violence
Fatigue, burnout, shift work, job insecurity
Harassment, Discrimination
Bullying
Poor management practices
Inadequate organisational systems or job training
Problem with resource accessibility
Unrealistic workloads &/or deadlines
Stress
Brainstorm: How can community services organisations identify & reduce these sources of harm?

7. Identifying hazards
The process of identifying sources of harm & risk involves assessment, often before starting work:
before new forms of work and organisation of work are implemented
before changes are made to workplace, equipment, work processes or work arrangements
as part of planning major tasks or activities, such as equipment shutdowns
following an incident report
when new knowledge becomes available
at regular intervals during normal operations
prior to disposal of equipment, or materials
1.2, 1.3

8. Pairwork: Discuss the hazards
After discussing, choose one of the pictures & complete the hazard report form provided by your educator:

9. Fill out Hazard Form...

10. Risk
Risk is the likelihood of injury or illness if exposed to a hazard.

11. Risk

12. Residual risk Definition:
The residual risk is the risk or danger still remaining from an action/event/method/technical process even if all theoretically possible safety measures are applied
Exposure to loss/injury remaining after other known risks have been factored in or eliminated
Discuss: Why is the concept of residual risk important?

13. Hazard/risk assessment
Workplace hazards & risk must be subject to:
Identification
Assessment
Evaluation
Control
Monitoring and review
Handout: Workplace Hazards in Health & Aged Care. This factsheet is designed for students going on placement in aged care facilities. Discuss the types of hazards you may encounter in your preferred workplace type for your upcoming placements in this course

14. Activity: Hazard & risk identification
COMPLETE THIS TABLE IN PAIRS
Hazard
Type of hazard
Risk
If there is poor lighting in a client’s home
If a client is speaking and/or acting aggressively
If there is a strong, unpleasant odour in the office area where you work
If there is a need to lift physically disabled clients
If there is exposure to radiation
If there is poor lighting in a classroom (a physical hazard), there is the risk of eye strain.
If a client is speaking &/or acting aggressively(physical & psychological hazard), the risk is physical injury, stress or burnout over long periods.
If there is a strong, unpleasant odour in the classroom (chemical hazard), the risk is
compromised breathing/if long term, effects from toxins.
If there is a need to lift physically disabled clients(a physical hazard), there is a risk of
musculoskeletal injury.
If there is a need to drive clients to appointments (physical hazard) there is a risk of traffic accident, acquired brain injury musculo-skeletal injury, traffic offences, insurance claims

15. Incident
An incident is a distinct event or occurrence that, in this context, carries the possibility of causing harm.
Video: Child Care Safety: Manual handling and slips, trips and falls - Family Day Care. As you watch, think of how these tips could apply in other community service work settings

16. Accident
An accident is an event or occurrence where harm has actually occurred.
WHS is concerned with prevention of both incidents and accidents.
Youtube video: It only takes a second safety video,

17. Incident and injury reporting
Why report incidents?
Incident reports allow monitoring of the trends & types of incidents occurring or recurring in the workplace.
Workplace injuries or illnesses should be recorded on
official forms, printed by the government’s workplace health and
safety section.

18. Incident and injury reporting
Incident reports usually include:
a concise description of what happened
the precise location of where the incident occurred
when the incident took place
who was involved
witnesses
details of first aid provided and/or medical treatment sought
See sample Incident Report on the next slide

19. Check this with Kerri

20. Incident report activity
You are a Coordinator for personal support workers in a community service organisation for clients who are in wheelchairs. One of your workers calls you to say while they were showering a quadraplegic client the wheelchair slipped, he fell out of the chair & they tried to manually lift him back into it.
Discuss what hazards and risks exist here. What actions would you as the personal support worker’s coordinator be obliged to take?
Decide how you would fill in the incident report form on the previous slide.

21. References
Archer R, Borthwick K, Travers M & Ruschena L 2012 WHS: A management guide, 3rd edn., Cengage Learning: Australia
Business Dictionary.com, web finance incorporated, 2012, accessed 26 July, 2012
Child Care Safety: Manual handling and slips, trips and falls - Family Day Care, online video, accessed 26 July, 2012
Creighton B and Rozen P 2007 Occupational Health and Safety Law in Victoria, 3rd edn., Australia: Federation Press
Corey G, Corey MS & Callanan P 2011 Issues and ethics in the helping professions, 8th edn., Cengage Learning: Brookes/Cole , United States
Dept of Justice & Attorney General, Working Safely in People’s homes, 2011, Queensland
Geldard D & Geldard K 2011 Basic Personal Counselling: A Training Manual for Counsellors, 7th edn., Australia: Pearson education

22. References
It only takes a second safety video, online video, accessed 26 July,
McDonald C, Craik C, Hawkins L & Williams J 2011 Professional practice in human services organisations, Allen & Unwin, Australia
O’Hara A & Pockett R (eds) 2011 Skills For Human Service Practice: Working with Individuals, Groups and Communities, 2nd edn., Oxford University Press, Australia/ New Zealand
Quinlan M, Bohle P & Lamm F 2010 Managing occupational health and safety in Australia. A multidisciplinary approach, 2nd edn., South Melbourne Victoria: Palgrave Macmillan
Working on a Safer Queensland, online video, Workplace Health & safety Qld, accessed 26 July,
Workplace Health & Safety Queensland, The five Steps, 2012 accessed 26 July, 2012,
Workplace Safety Australia, National Safety Handbook, 9th edn., Australia & New Zealand

23. Student Resources Websites: General Articles/Journals:
– theory of counselling supervision
– Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors
– Australian Association of Social Work
– source of law materials and legislation
– promotes OHS in Australia
- Vic Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
- Vic Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007f
General Articles/Journals:
Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand. CCH Australia Limited
Sample Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Psychologists and Counsellors – a guide to practice.