HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and …...paralysis, loss of sensation in fingers, repetitive stress injuries, or other bodily ailments. Psychological ill health refers

Certificate III in Sport and Recreation (Year 1) – Student Workbook (Book 1)

Copyright © IVET 2019 Edition 58

HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety

ELEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Follow safe work practices

1.1 Follow workplace policies and procedures for safe work practices 1.2 Identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace, report them to designated persons, and

record them according to workplace procedures 1.3 Follow workplace emergency procedures

Implement safe work practices

2.1 Identify and implement WHS procedures and work instructions 2.2 Identify and report incidents and injuries to designated persons according to workplace

procedures 2.3 Take actions to maintain safe housekeeping practices in own work area

Contribute to safe work practices in the workplace

3.1 Raise WHS issues with designated persons according to organisational procedures 3.2 Participate in workplace safety meetings, inspections and consultative activities 3.3 Contribute to the development and implementation of safe workplace policies and procedures in

own work area

Reflect on own safe work practices

4.1 Identify ways to maintain currency of safe work procedures in regards to workplace systems, equipment and processes in own work area.

4.2 Reflect on own level of stress and fatigue, and report to designated persons according to workplace procedures.

KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• state/territory legislation and how it impacts on workplace regulations, codes of practice and industry standards, including:

o state/territory WHS authorities o rights and responsibilities of employers and workers, including duty of care o hazardous manual tasks o infection control

• safety signs and their meanings, including signs for: o dangerous goods classifications o emergency equipment o personal protective equipment (PPE) o specific hazards such as sharps, radiation

• hazard identification, including: o definition of a hazard o common workplace hazards relevant to the industry setting o workplace procedures for hazard identification

• workplace emergency procedures • workplace policies and procedures for WHS



CHAPTER 2

Participate in workplace health and safety

Work Health and Safety (WHS) is vital in all workplaces to ensure the safety and health of employees and others in the workplace. WHS in the workplace is law through the Work Health and Safety Act, however it is important to note that each state/territory in Australia enforces different WHS/OHS Acts. For example, in Victoria workplace health and safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

All businesses and organisations must have safety procedures in place to ensure that WHS requirements are met and that the potential for hazards and risks in the work place is minimised. Organisations must also have processes in place to deal with emergency incidents that have the potential to cause injury, ill-health or damage such as accidents, fire, chemical spills, security breaches, and external emergencies such as natural disasters.

FOLLOW SAFE WORK PRACTICES To ensure workplace health and safety it is vital that all employees know the organisation’s policies and procedures well. An organisation should have all workplace policies and procedures documented and located where everyone can access them. New employees as well as existing employees should be verbally inducted and updated on these policies and procedures regularly. All employees should be required to follow workplace policies and procedures for safe work practices at all times with no exception. Organisations need to take a ‘no tolerance’ approach to individuals who choose to ignore or bypass the organisation’s policies and procedures when it comes to safety. Especially considering that the consequences have the potential to be extremely serious and life changing.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

Hazards have the potential to cause serious harm, in terms of human injury or ill health. Human injury or ill health could include any physical, psychological or emotional trauma caused by doing a workplace activity which is hazardous or dangerous. Physical injury may refer to the loss of a limb, loss of motor function, paralysis, loss of sensation in fingers, repetitive stress injuries, or other bodily ailments. Psychological ill health refers to any mental health disorders which arise or are caused by situations faced at work which are hazardous, such as being subjected to continuous bullying or harassment. Emotional trauma or emotional ill health can be the result of witnessing or experiencing a human catastrophe at work, which was caused by a workplace hazard, risk or emergency situation.

Work health and safety legislation ensures that workplaces are making it their priority to identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace, report them to designated persons, and record them according to workplace procedures. By doing this organisations are finding a way to ensure that they do not compromise the health and safety of employees and others in the workplace. Designated persons in the sport and recreation industry may include:

• Team leaders, supervisors and managers • Health and safety representatives (HSRs) • Health Services Commission members (HSCs) • Organisation WHS personnel • Any other person designated by the organisation



Although these designated personnel have a serious role in risk minimisation and upholding work health and safety legislation, all employees have a responsibility to identify any potential or real health and safety issues. All employees should contribute to the consultative process for work health and safety management in the workplace in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. This includes making suggestions for improving WHS safety practices.

Organisations use many different processes for identifying risks, including:

Drawing on expertise from within the organisation: For example:

• brainstorming • questionnaires • audits • physical inspections • records of accidents and "near misses"

Drawing on expertise from outside the organisation: For example:

• professional consultants • industry specialists • publications • case studies • media • systems analysis

Hazard identification is important as it can prevent incidents. Once a hazard has been identified by any of the above methods the organisation’s reporting procedure should be followed. This will include filling in an “incident hazard report form”. In this documentation details should be given of the hazard identified or a description of the event of incident that has occurred. If an injury has been caused by the hazard a description of the injury and the location should be documented. It is then up to a supervisor/manager to follow up the incident, investigate the hazard and find a way to control or eliminate it.

REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR HAZARD IDENTIFICATION - ICT ACTIVITY

Search the Internet for “incident hazard report forms”, view and examine at least three different incident hazard report forms.

Then complete the following questions:

QUESTIONS: 1. What details must be included about the incident/hazard? Include at least four. 2. Why is it important to document the exact location and type of injury? 3. Why is it important to document if First Aid was administered and by whom? 4. Why is it important that a senior member of staff, supervisor or manager is made aware of the

incident? 5. What are two other elements that must be recorded on the incident hazard report form? 6. Why is it important to document and record workplace accidents?

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COMMON WORKPLACE HAZARDS

Biological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergies

Infectious waste is a major safety issue; it includes all human and animal waste, and body fluids including blood. If infectious waste is not handled correctly it can lead to the spread of hepatitis B and HIV. Infectious waste includes human urine, faeces, blood, and items with body fluids on them including condoms, needles and syringes (sharps).

Employees in the sport, fitness and recreation industry may come into contact with infectious wastes such blood. This is especially likely for those who provide first aid as part of their job role, such as sports trainers. It is the responsibility of all organisations to ensure that all employees know how to dispose of infectious wastes, body fluids and sharps safely. All infectious wastes should be disposed of in a puncture resistant container like a bio-can and employees must be informed of the location of these so that they know exactly where and how to safely dispose of these products, as quickly as possible.

Gloves should always be worn when dealing with infectious waste and hands should always be thoroughly washed afterwards. We will explore more about the correct disposal of body fluids and sharps in Chapter 5. Manual tasks - Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain Manual tasks (ie: manual handling) is the largest cause of workplace injuries in Victoria. It often causes major musculoskeletal injuries including back and neck problems, hernias, disc and ligament damage and muscle sprains and strains. Manual handling is the lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling of an object or person that causes an individual’s body to exert a force that it is not capable of. It can also be caused by poor posture, continuous repetitive movements, vibration, rotation and jarring movements.

Manual handling is of particular concern in the sport, fitness and recreation industry as employees are often required to set up and move heavy and awkward pieces of equipment such as goal posts and resistance training equipment. In 2011 to 2012 WorkSafe Victoria recorded that 241 sports persons and coaches reported sustaining a manual handling injury at work. It was also reported that 412 people sustained a manual handling injury as a result of participating in sport and recreation activity.

It is vital that employers and sport, fitness and recreation training organisations teach the importance of correct lifting techniques to prevent manual handling injuries. When lifting objects in the workplace whether it is boxes, activity specific equipment or young children etc, correct lifting techniques should be used to avoid injuries. There are a few rules that should be followed:

1. Stand close to the object that you need to lift, with your feet shoulder width apart. Your weight should be evenly distributed.

2. Bend at the knees (squat) to pick up the object (never bend over).

3. Keep your back straight; you can do this easily by tucking in your chin.

4. Use your strong leg muscles to lift, not your weaker back muscles.

5. Lift the load, keeping it close to your body at all times – if it is too heavy don’t attempt it, get someone to help you.



MANUAL HANDLING

Think about each of the following occupations in the sport and recreation industry. Identify at least three issues that may cause manual handling injuries. Then identify what type of manual handling injury each issue may result in.

SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION OCCUPATIONS

CAUSE OF MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES TYPES OF INJURIES

Lifeguard

Gym instructor/personal trainer

Retail assistant in a sports store

Sports trainer/sports first aider

Rock climbing instructor

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Gravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips can cause people fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death People working in sport, fitness and recreation settings may be required to deal with emergency medical situations. These include treating people after a trip or fall. Falls are often caused by underfoot hazards that are most often preventable. These underfoot hazards may include uneven carpet, wet flooring, poorly maintained stairs or outdoor potholes and uneven pavement. When working in the sport, fitness and recreation industry it is important to foresee any potential trip and fall hazards and eliminate or reduce them. For example, if conducting an outdoor session on an oval and you identify an area of the ground that is unsafe you can minimise accidents by making your participants aware of the area, roping the area off or marking the area using cones and redirecting or modifying your activity away from the unsafe area. Falls often occur when playing sport; a person could be driving for a touchdown or taking a mark in mid air. Treating a person who has suffered a fall often requires quick medical response and careful treatment. In some instances, it is best not to move the fall victim, until trained medical staff, such as ambulance officers, have arrived. Moving a fall victim without proper training and understanding of the human body could actually cause further injury to the victim. Falls are a medical emergency because they often result in very serious head, spinal or skeletal injuries which could leave a person paralysed or even kill them.

Environmental conditions The environment, including weather, can also contribute to safety issues in the sport and recreation industry. Rain, dew and cold weather can impact outdoor recreation activities, possibly making them unsafe. An alternative venue should always be planned in case weather conditions cause the planned activity to become unsafe. Other environmental conditions may relate to the quality of the terrain and ground surfaces. Uneven ground and potholes can expose people to possible injuries and can cause broken bones, ligament damage or muscle sprains or strains. Slippery surfaces Slippery surfaces are a major concern, especially in the sport and recreation environment. Leisure centres and gyms have many slip hazards including water (from the pool, drink bottles etc) and sweat. There are many ways to be proactive in the prevention of falls and injuries as a result of slippery surfaces. Regular cleaning and mopping can help to prevent many of these accidents and should be the responsibility of instructors, lifeguards and other staff members. Anti-slip flooring can also help to prevent slip injuries.



Radiation - Ultra violet rays Radiation is energy; light, heat and sound are all types of radiation. We are exposed to radiation everyday through the sun, microwave and television use and mobile phones. How harmful radiation is for a person depends on the amount and length of exposure and how much of the body is exposed. The unit of measure used to calculate radiation exposure is rem and millirems (mrem) which is one thousandth of a rem. Radiation exposure causes cells in the body to become damaged or die. If the dose of radiation is minimal, cells are able to repair themselves. Doses of radiation over 100 rem can cause cell damage that causes them to change or die. Cells are replaceable, however it is the changing of cells that can be the most harmful. Cells can develop abnormally and multiply. These cells can become cancerous. Doses of between 300 and 400 rem can be fatal without immediate medical intervention due to the severe effect that the radiation has on a person’s immune system and therefore their ability to fight off infection and disease. Below are a list of various sources and how much radiation they emit:

Working in the sport, fitness and recreation industry you may be working outdoors on a regular basis. It is important that you take care to protect yourself and your participants from UV exposure. You can do this by:

• Seeking shade. Where possible you should avoid UV exposure from standing in the shade. However in a sporting context this is not always possible. When participants are stationary, for example when explaining rules of a game or delivering a half time speech move the participants into the shade, such as a nearby tree. Where possible you could also consider erecting an umbrella or marquee to provide shade. Shade is most important during 10am and 4pm when the sun is the strongest.

• Wear protective clothing. Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your head, face and neck from UV exposure. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes as well as loose fitting clothing that protects as much of your skin as possible from exposure to the sun.

• Use broad spectrum sunscreen. Wearing a sunscreen with at least an SPF rating of 15+. This will filter

out both UVA (Ultra Violet A) and UVB (Ultra Violet B) radiation. Ideally sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes prior to exposure and re-applied every 2 hours.

Chest x-ray - 8mrem

Leg x-ray - 1mrem

Television - 0.500 mrem/hour

Airplane travel - 0.500 mrem/hour

Drinking water - 5 mrem/year

CT Scan - 1,100 mrem

Sunlight 620 mrem /year



Psychosocial hazards - Effects of stress, violence and work-related fatigue Stress management is also important to work health and safety. Employee wellbeing is vital to ensuring productivity and work performance. Many organisations value employee wellbeing and offer opportunities for people to interact and improve staff morale. Friday night drinks, staff functions, yoga classes, gym memberships and morning teas are examples of ways to boost staff morale and can also decrease stress. Being proactive and attempting to help employees to manage their stress can mean fewer absences and better output and performance of work tasks. You can manage stress through:

• Sleep – getting enough sleep at night is important. It will

help you see things more clearly and can help you cope with potentially stressful situations at work. It will also help you to stay physically, emotionally and socially healthy.

• Exercise – physical activity releases endorphins; these

help you to feel happier and more positive. Exercising can allow you to feel more relaxed, calm and helps you to sleep more soundly.

• Limit alcohol intake – alcohol is a depressant drug. It slows down your central nervous system and will make any situation feel worse. It is a temporary fix for work stress and anxiety; regular use can lead to dependence or abuse.

• Eat healthy foods regularly – not eating causes low blood glucose levels and this can cause you to feel lethargic and irritable. Eating healthy foods, high in fibre will cause blood glucose levels to rise slowly over a long period of time; this allows you to feel more energetic for longer.

Violence Violence is not something that is common to the sport, fitness and recreation industry however instances do occur. They are most common in a competition setting, where a combination of adrenaline, frustration and wanting to win can turn violent. Working in the industry you may also encounter vulnerable groups, people with mental or psychological issues and people who are unhappy with their current situation and may deal with this frustration in a violent way. You need to be able and prepared to contain, manage and defuse violent outbursts in the event that they occur. In a sporting context it is also important to let participants and spectators know that violence on the field, court, ground, in the stands or on the sidelines will not be tolerated and that players face serious consequences such as suspensions and bans. It also helps to be proactive and educate participants. Talk to them about the importance of remaining calm, controlling feelings of frustration and being a good sportsperson. Remember that when faced with violence your personal safety always comes first. You should never put yourself into a situation where you may be physically harmed while trying to defuse the situation.



Work-related fatigue Fatigue is when a person feels tired. Being fatigued causes mental and physical exhaustion. Employees who are fatigued are less productive and a safety concern. A person who is fatigued in the workplace not only puts themselves at risk but also those around them and those within their care such as children. There can be many reasons why a person may be fatigued at work, such as difficulties sleeping, long working hours, workload as well as their personal life such as the birth of a newborn. It is important that fatigue in the workplace is identified, discussed and where possible a solution is found to support the employee. Signs that a person may be suffering from fatigue include:

• excessive yawning • falling asleep at work • an ability to concentrate • short term memory issues • poor decision making • poor judgement • slow reflexes and coordination • complaining of headaches and/or dizziness • being particularly over sensitive and

becoming upset and more teary than usual • being moody, irritable and short-tempered • cold symptoms such as a runny nose or sore

throat • skin breakouts • being negative

If an employee is experiencing any of the above signs and symptoms it is important for them to take a timeout from work and find a way to relax, unwind and restore their work life balance. This can be done through implementing any of the stress management techniques mentioned earlier in this chapter such as yoga, exercise, sleep and healthy eating. How a person manages their stress and fatigue will depend on their interests and what they find relaxing. For example, some people simply like to sleep or go see a movie whereas others may like to go and have a massage or catch up with friends for a meal. It is important that employees communicate with their employer if they are feeling fatigued. Especially if the cause is work-related such as unrealistic deadlines and workload. Speaking to an employer about such issues should not be seen as a sign of weakness but as an opportunity to be assertive and realistic about what can be achieved in the time given. Many employers will respect an employee voicing their concerns and been pro-active instead of reaching the deadline and admitting they were unable to complete the required task.

Equipment related hazards – Faults, breakages, maintenance issues and inappropriate participant usage. Hazardous equipment This is probably one of the most relevant safety issues when working in the sport and recreation industry. Hazardous equipment can be the result of faults, wear and tear and design error with the potential to cause serious harm. Direct costs can be caused through injuries. These may include costs of doctors, surgery if required, medication, ambulance etc. Indirect costs as a result of faulty equipment causing injury may include time off work and loss of income, either by the individual directly affected or a family member having to take care of the individual (e.g. a mother takes time off work and loses income to look after her son after an injury is sustained at work). Intangible costs may relate to the social and emotional costs sustained as a result of the injury, these may include pain and suffering, depression, feeling like a burden and low self-confidence.



All equipment should be checked prior to use and again after the session, before it is packed away. Any faulty or hazardous equipment should be identified and placed in a safe location where it will not be used by any participants. If it can be repaired this should be done by a professional or the manufacturer. An instructor should never attempt to fix the equipment with masking tape or other DIY (do-it-yourself) methods as they may become liable if an accident with the “repaired” equipment occurs.

Workplace policies and procedures - Unsafe work practices Unsafe work practices will vary depending on the industry and specific workplace. Within the sport and recreation industry unsafe workplaces may include:

• leaving weights and equipment in front of fire exits and as potential trip hazards

• not wearing gloves when administering first aid

• not conducting appropriate health screening and fitness appraisal before allowing a participant to join the gym and begin a program

• not providing access to drinking water when conducting a session

• not providing adequate first aid equipment • not conducting regular maintenance checks

of facilities and equipment • not completing ground checks before using

outdoor grounds/fields (eg football oval) • not providing adequate supervision ratios for

activities • not providing adequate PPE (personal

protective equipment) for outdoor recreation activities (for example, helmets for bike riding or rock climbing).

Hazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis Toxic or hazardous materials are poisonous substances, such as industrial gases and chemicals, infectious waste, dust and vapours and explosives. Employees working in environments with toxic or hazardous materials need to be aware of how to handle them and how to avoid coming into direct physical contact. Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as protective glasses, gloves and goggles, should be worn to protect workers from exposure to these substances at all times. As part of a WHS policy, it should be mandated that all persons who work in an industry or for an organisation which exposes employees to toxic or hazardous materials, be adequately protected, to avoid any physical injuries or ill health. Within the sport, fitness and recreation industry employees may come into contact with chemicals such as chlorine for pool maintenance and cleaning products, including disinfectants and detergents.



KNOW YOUR SAFETY SIGNS How well do you know your safety signs? What do each of these signs mean?

QUESTIONS 1. List four household items that have any of the above symbols. Which symbols do they have? 2. Which items are biohazards? 3. Why is it important that people are able to recognise the above safety signs? 4. What should you do if you are unsure of what a safety sign means? 5. How important is PPE when handling substances with the above safety signs? 6. Choose one of the above signs and highlight the PPE that should be worn when handling the

substance. 7. How could a workplace induct employees and make them aware of the above safety signs?

Why would this be important?

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CONTROLLING THE HAZARDS The hierarchy of control from Safe Work Australia provides a number of options for managing and controlling hazards and risks within the workplace. The options are ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest.

RISK CONTROL – YOU DECIDE!

For each of the following potential hazards in the workplace decide what risk control would be most useful and briefly explain why.

Choose from the following risk control options: eliminate, substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE.

1. Kelly is a secretary for an elite sports club in Melbourne. Part of her job is to photocopy and organise membership promotion information. She has recently spoken to her manager as she is concerned about the amount of time she is spending per day in front of the photocopier. She is pregnant and worried about the amount of radiation she is being exposed to.

• Elimination • Remove the hazard or cause of potential harm completely.

LEVEL 1 CONTROLS

• Substitution • Replacement of the item/object with something that has the same function but reduces the level of harm.

• Isolation • Create a barrier between harm and employees or others in the workplace.

• Engineering Controls • Changes to equipment, materials or resources to reduce the harm.

LEVEL 2 CONTROLS

• Administrative Controls • Implementation of training, changes to rosters, timing, policies or procedures.

• PPE • Implement the use of personal protective equipment - ie: protective glasses, ear plugs etc.

LEVEL 3 CONTROLS

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2. Con is a Physical Education teacher who has

been allocated three Year 12 classes and one Year 11 class this semester. He is concerned about the workload being hazardous for his health and wellbeing. He has voiced his concern with the school’s principal.

3. Mohamed is a lifeguard at the local council run swimming pool in Sunshine. Yesterday he spoke

to the pool owner about the handling of pool chemicals as his eyes burn for 5 – 10 minutes after he handles the chemicals.

4. Tim works for an organisation called

“Health, live, play”; they run recreational programs for disabled children. He has been running a modified cricket program for the last two weeks. The equipment supplied by the organisation requires Tim to put the cricket bats together at the start of each lesson as they come in two parts (the handle needs to be attached to the bat). Last week one of the bats detached from the handle and a child was hit in the shin leaving a nasty bruise. Tim spoke to his manager as soon as the day’s program was over to inform him of the incident.



EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

An emergency situation is something that happens which poses a threat of harm or injury to any one in the workplace. It is not a typical or usual workplace scenario or event. Employees need to recognise emergency and potential emergency situations. This will allow them to respond in the most productive way. Being proactive is always preferable as it results in no or minimal injuries. It is about foreseeing the possible dangers and hazards that have the potential to cause serious harm and then finding a way to avoid, reduce, transfer or eliminate them. Possible emergency situations in the sport, fitness and recreation industry include:

• serious injuries • events requiring evacuation • fires and explosions • hazardous substance and chemical spills

• explosion and bomb alerts • security emergencies • internal emergencies • external emergencies • medical emergencies

Business owners, managers, supervisors and other management personnel must make sure that their workplace has clear instructions and processes for dealing with emergency situations. Staff should be instructed to follow workplace emergency procedures in an emergency.

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS (SET 1)

1. What is a hazard?

2. What legislation protects employees from unsafe working conditions?

3. What are three examples of designated personnel who may be used to identify

potential hazards in the workplace?

4. How could you identify hazards in the workplace?

5. What is the largest cause of workplace accidents in Victoria?

6. What is manual handling? What injuries can be caused by manual handling?

7. What are the three types of hazards that you might encounter in the sport, fitness and

recreation industry?

8. What should you do if you arrive to run an activity and notice that an area is unsafe?

9. Identify three ways you could minimise the use of unsafe equipment.

10. How could you deal with a violent situation between competitors?

11. How can stress be managed?

12. What does the management of spills depend on?

13. Give a brief overview of the hierarchy of control and its three levels.14. List two types of PPE that might be used in the sport, fitness and recreation industry.

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Serious injury events It is vital that medical care is provided immediately to prevent death or permanent damage when a serious injury occurs. Medical assistance might include calling for an ambulance, taking someone to the hospital or administrating first aid as the sole treatment or prior to medical help arriving.

The most important thing to remember when faced with an emergency situation in the workplace is to check for danger before trying to help. If the hazard that caused the accident is still at large no first aid officer or other employee should attempt to help the injured worker if there is risk of injuring themselves. The medical situation is not helped if, instead of one person being injured, there are two. Personal safety should always be the fist priority of any emergency response. Hazardous substance and chemical spills As previously seen in this chapter, chemical and other hazardous releases in the workplace can cause serious harm. It is important that if responding to an emergency situation, you always wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) e.g. gloves, protective barrier mask (for breathing resuscitation) to limit your exposure to any body fluids that can cause serious harm. It is also important that when tending to a victim who is bleeding that all material/s used to stop the bleeding are disposed of correctly to prevent the contamination of others with any virus or other blood-borne condition the victim may have. Any workplace equipped to provide first aid should have a biohazard disposal can or waste bag. Events requiring evacuation, including fires and explosions Evacuation can occur in a workplace when there is a fire, chemical or infectious risk, bomb threat or explosion. All workplaces need to be prepared if there is a fire. All employees should be aware of evacuation procedures and know where the fire safety equipment is kept. Workplaces need to practice emergency evacuation procedures regularly so that all employees know what to do. Fires can be caused by faulty equipment, a lack of ventilation, overheating or employee error. They can have serious consequences for the organisation including loss of life, property damage, injuries, loss of productivity and therefore money. Work health and safety legislation requires all workplaces to have an emergency management action plan. This should include the following information:

• the immediate action to stop or minimise the hazard (e.g. use of fire extinguishers if trained)

• who to call to raise the alarm • how to notify emergency personnel (ambulance, fire

brigade, SES, electricity, gas, police) • how, when and where to evacuate • names of the people responsible for making decisions

during the emergency and their duties (e.g. a warden) • how to establish and use a fail-safe communications

system.

WorkSafe Guidance Note – Emergency management

• Organisations with no specific hazards or high-level risks require a minimum of one first aid trained employee per 25–50 employees and two for 51–100 employees. If the workplace is deemed to have specific hazards or high-level risks they will require one first aid officer for 25 employees and two for anywhere between 25–50 employees (OH&S Act 2004). Any workplace that fails to comply with this law may face legal action.

Under the Occupational (Work) Health and Safety Act



Fire drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that all employees understand the procedure and to improve the efficiency of the evacuation (i.e. getting out to the meeting spot faster). Everyone in the workplace should know where the exit and assembly points are. They should be clearly marked. Emergency exits should always be unlocked from the inside and the path to access them should always be kept clear. There is no exact guideline about the distance that an assembly point should be from the building, but in a fire falling debris and smoke inhalation can cause serious injury. Therefore, the assembly point should be as far away as possible. Bomb threats Workplaces and organisations need to know how to appropriately respond to and manage bomb threats. This will depend on how the threat has been made, i.e. letter, telephone call, a suspicious package has been located etc. No matter how the threat is made, employees should be told to remain calm. If the threat is made through a phone call the person who takes the call should try their best to keep the person making the threat on the phone and ask questions to try and identify the location of the bomb and the time it has been set to go off. All threats should be treated as genuine and handled with care; any information given by the person making the threat should be documented for the police. If the threat is made through a letter it should be handled as little as possible and placed into a plastic pocket to preserve it, as there may still be finger print traces. The police should always be contacted and employees should be ready to evacuate; in this case the fire evacuation plan should be used. External emergencies External emergencies are emergency situations caused by an outside body (not located within the worksite/working body itself). External emergencies which could result in serious harm or injury to persons at work include; bomb threats, shootings, air raids or attacks, threat of exposure to an infectious substance or disease (such as anthrax) and arson threats. External emergencies also include natural disasters such as flood, storm and traffic accidents that impact on the organisation. Flooding is when excessive levels of rain cannot be managed quickly enough by rivers, dams and water systems. Flooding can cause destruction of the natural environment, infrastructure, and injury or loss of life. In recent times, states on the east coast of Australia have been hit by severe flooding. Many people were hurt; some even killed by these natural disasters. A result of these floods has been the push by WorkSafe Victoria to ensure that all workplaces have adequate means of dealing with and managing the safe clean up of floods. In the event that a natural disaster occurs and causes damage to a facility it should be closed until it has been cleaned up, all equipment has been checked to be in working order and the facility itself has undergone a complete safety inspection.

Internal emergencies

Internal emergencies come from within the organisation or workplace. They may include a loss of power, loss of water and structural collapse. Similar to external emergencies, internal emergencies may affect an organisation from operating for either a short or long period of time. For example, if a gym was without water it would affect the ability to have drinking water from the tap, flush toilets and wash hands. This is a work health and safety issue because water is needed for hygiene and hydration in an exercise environment. This may cause the organisation to close for a short period of time.



Security emergencies

Security emergencies include armed robberies, intruders and disturbed persons. These can be a major concern, especially in facilities with children such as gym crèches , coaching sessions and school holiday programs. Security is of the utmost importance when looking after children who may not be able to protect themselves against an intruder. Many facilities which provide services for children have high tech security systems and organisational policies and procedures that limit who has access to the children within their care.

Any security breaches or emergencies should be dealt with quickly and tactfully to prevent escalation, emergency services such as the police should be called in most situations where there is a security breach to ensure the safety of all employees, client, participants and children.

Medical emergencies A sudden illness or emergency situation, for example falls, bleeding, seizures, fainting, collapses, panic attacks and psychosis, will require first aid. The nature of the emergency will influence your course of action. A serious illness (e.g. inability to breathe, large blood loss, seizure) will require urgent medical attention and in this case an ambulance should be called. It is your responsibility to do what you can in the meanwhile to minimise the impact of the injury through providing first aid. This may include placing pressure over a bleeding wound, putting the participant in the recovery position, conducting CPR or providing reassurance until help arrives. It is mandatory that a first aid qualification is held by at least one person present during a sport and recreation session whether it be a soccer game, basketball tournament, personal training session or group fitness class. The number of instructors required to hold a first aid qualification will depend on the number of participants.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Research your school, TAFE or workplace emergency procedures. You might be able to find an official procedure or you may need to ask people within the workplace about the procedure. Alternatively, you may be able to get a senior member of staff to come and talk to you and outline the emergency procedure.

QUESTIONS 1. Who is responsible for the emergency procedure? 2. How is this information explained to students, staff, employees etc.? 3. What is the procedure? Outline it. (E.g. Who instructs you when to evacuate? Are you allowed to

take your belongings? How do you get out of the buildings?) 4. How often does a fire drill take place? 5. Where is the official meeting spot? Explain why this was chosen. 6. How are students, staff, employees etc. accounted for, once at the meeting area? 7. Outline two changes that you would make to the current procedure to make it more efficient.



IMPLEMENT SAFE WORK PRACTICES

WHS PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS Within the sport, fitness and recreation industry it is important that you identify and implement WHS procedures and work instructions. These will include:

• completing required documentation • following WHS guidelines • following procedures for work area housekeeping • handling, using and storing toxic and hazardous chemicals according to workplace procedures

Completing required documentation To meet WHS standards and requirements, all business and staff are required to complete documentation to guarantee or qualify the business as being a safe work zone. Part of ensuring that safety procedures are met, is providing the relevant documentation for staff to complete as part of their job roles. For example, any persons entering a gym must scan their membership card before entering the gym. This ensures that there is a record of all persons who are present in the facility at any one time. Then, if there is an emergency or an evacuation of the site is required, the WHS personnel and facility manager(s) will know who and how many people must be accounted for when they have cleared the building. This documentation is also important to monitor who is coming and going from the facility to ensure client safety.

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS (SET 2)

1. Identify three potential emergency situations that could occur in the sport, fitness and

recreation industry.

2. What is the difference between an external and internal emergency?

3. What are exit and assembly points? How could these be highlighted to participants in

the event of an emergency?

4. Briefly explain how the productivity of an organisation is affected by an emergency.

5. What information should be included as part of a workplace emergency

management action plan?

6. Why are security emergencies a serious concern?

7. Why is it important that facilities are shut down after a natural disaster?

8. Why is it important to following organisational procedures when responding to an

emergency?

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Documents

HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and …...paralysis, loss of sensation in fingers, repetitive stress injuries, or other bodily ailments. Psychological ill health refers