2012 OHS EMPLOYEE INDUCTION

Written and Presented by Miranda Korobacz

This induction includes:

• Safety in the Studio• Current safety procedures• Equipment safety checks

• Your OHS officers• Existing Hazards !• Potential Hazards

• Reporting• The process• Emergencies

• Roles and responsibilities• Signs

• For more information

Safety in the Studio

This presentation has been prepared for you, as a means of personal responsibility, and control over your safety in the work place.

Here at MJK Designs, is it important that everyone is aware of OH&S. I value you and your quality of life. At the end of each day, I want you to go home to enjoy the other parts of your existence, without worry or injury.

OHS is everyone’s responsibility and therefore it is up to all of us to ensure that our actions do not impact the health and safety of ourselves and others.

Current safety procedures

• Incident Reporting – reporting decreees the risk of an accident and will improve office function and staff moral.

• Good Housekeeping- this includes addressing slip-and-fall hazards by mopping up spills and leaks immediately after they happen.

• Security Procedures – such as employees should not let strangers wander through the office unattended, the building doors should remain locked during non-work hours and suspicious behaviours should be reported promptly.

• Fire Safety Procedures - ensuring that aisles, passageways and escape routes are not blocked or obstructed and seeing to it that emergency exits are clearly identified in the building. 

Equipment safety checks

• First Aid stock check

• Photocopiers and printer check

• Workstation Setup check

• Compactus check

• Laminators check

Your OHS officers

Spencer Spartan

Hazards

• Eyestrain/Glare/poor lighting

• Posture-related injuries - back pain

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/RSI

• Stress

• Overloading shelves/Storing heavy items at

high levels

Hazard ManagementEyestrain/Glare/poor lighting

• Use proper lighting - Eliminate exterior light by closing drapes, shades or blinds. This will also aid in minimizing glare.

• Adjust your computer display settings.• Blink more often- blinking moistens your eyes to prevent

dryness and irritation.• Exercise the eyes -Look away from your computer at least

every 20 minutes and gaze at a distant object (at least 10 meters away) for at least 20 seconds. 

• Take frequent breaks.

Posture-related injuries - back pain• Adjust your ergonomic chair, which helps your spine to

naturally hold its curve while sitting• Adjust your desk• Take frequent breaks

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/RSI• Mix your tasks to avoid long, uninterrupted stretches of typing.• Remove the hands from the keyboard when not actively typing, to

allow the arms to relax.• Use your whole arm, not just your wrist, when using the mouse.• Take frequent breaks.

Stress• Assess the source of your stress; finding out what the root cause of

stress is the paramount for dealing with it.• Speak to you your OH&S officers- a procedure of consultation will

begin with and out come

Overloading shelves/Storing heavy items at high levels• Large or heavy items should be stored at waist level• Frequently handled items should be placed within easy reach. .• Smaller, lightweight and infrequently handled items may be stored in

the lower or higher areas of a storage system.• It should be easy to place items into the storage unit and take them

out

Potential Hazards

• Poor Workstation Setup

• Poor Housekeeping/Clutter

• Equipment Hazards/Sharp edges/Hot surfaces

• Electrical

• Staff unaware of emergency procedures

Reporting risks, near miss and incidences

Incident: means any unplanned event within the scope of this procedure that causes, or has the potential to cause, an injury or illness and/or damage to equipment, buildings, plant or the natural environment. Incidents range from near-miss incidents to serious incidents and emergencies.

Employees and visitors must report all incidents as soon as possible.

Report incidents to your Health and Safety Representative; Spencer or

Spartan.

There are three types of forms you may need to fill out, depending on the

incident:

• Bomb Threat Checklist 

• Hazard/Near-Miss Report

• Injury Report

All staff will be kept informed of the ongoing procedure and out come.

What is a work place Emergency?

It is an unexpected, potentially harmful occurrence.  It could be an injury

incident, a severe illness, bomb threat a chemical spill, a fire, flood or storm, an

assault or other incident.

In the event of a FIRECALL 000Evacuate the building by way of the nearest emergency exit. Walk; do not run.   Do not use elevators. Close but do not lock all doors as you leave.In the event you are unable to exit the building:

Remain calm; do not panicRemain low; crawl if necessary.Place a cloth, wet if possible, over you mouth to serve as a filterSignal for help from a window.  Use a towel, clothing, sign etc. Upon exiting the building and proceeding to the assembly area, remain at least 20 feet away from the building walls and overhangs.  DO NOT re-enter the building until there is an all clear from the fire Warden. Assist visitors during alarm/emergency situations.Submit an incident Report

In the event of a MEDICAL EMERGENCY

If you are near or with someone who has an emergency medical situation developing, take the following steps:

Remain calm.Assess the situation.Get help. Call 000 for emergency medical assistance. If you are unable to access aphone, set the fire alarm

Do not move an injured person unless there is imminent danger.Try to keep the victim calm if they are conscious.

Notify the OHS Officers or Manager as soon as practically possible.

After things have calmed down and emergency personnel have assisted theperson, an Incident/Accident Report.

In the event of a BOMB THREAT

When a bomb threat is received by telephone, the person taking the call should attempt to keep the caller talking as long aspossible and should make written notes of the following:

• Time and date of the call,• Assumed age and sex of the caller,• Any distinguishing speech characteristics,• What was said by the caller, as precisely and completely as

possible, and,• Any background noises that may help identify the source of

the call.

Immediately advice the OHS officers and ManagerEvacuate the building as per FIRE evacuationSubmit an Incident Report

In the event of a POWER OUTAGE

• Remain calm.• If necessary, provide assistance to others.• If you are in a darkened area, move cautiously to

a lighted area.

• Immediately advice the OHS officers and Manager• Evacuate the building as per FIRE evacuation• Submit an Incident Report

Responsibilities of employers and

employees under workplace health

and safety legislation

Acquired from the Tasmanian Work place guide

Our responsibility'sA safe work environment, means your employer must identify any hazards that may be present, such as unguarded machinery, chemicals, inadequate lighting and poor ventilation. This also includes means making sure there’s no initiation horseplay or work place bullying.

To provide safe systems of workSuch as procedures that outline the safe way of doing your work. We must also make sure that any plant, equipment or substances used in the workplace are used, stored, packaged, transported, maintained, repaired and disposed of safely.

To provide you with InformationInformation that relates to your work tasks, so you understand the hazards you may be exposed to when doing them. Your employer should also tell you about any other hazards that may exist in the workplace, and include you in any discussions about health and safety.

Adequate TrainingTraining should focus on giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely.

SupervisionYou should be supervised to make sure you’re doing your work safely and according to your workplace’s safe work procedures.

Protective equipmentYou should be provided with personal protective clothing or safety gear if there are hazards in your workplace that can’t be completely removed.

Your responsibilities• Obey all reasonable instructions

• Follow the safe procedures for doing your job.

• Use any equipment (including personal protective equipment) safely and correctly.

• To not put yourself or your co-workers at risk

• Report hazards, accidents or near misses

• Not be adversely affected by alcohol or drugs, and tell your employer if you’re taking a prescribed medication that could affect your ability to work safely

• Work with your employer and co-workers to improve health and safety at your workplace.

Signs in your work place

For more information:

Work cover Tasmania -http://www.workcover.tas.gov.au/home

Workplace Standards Tasmania - http://wst.tas.gov.au/home

Safe Work Australia - http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au