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MANAGING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE OFFICE / Multimedia Studio

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  • 1. MANAGING OCCUPATIONALHEALTH AND SAFETYIN THE OFFICE / Multimedia Studio

2. OFFICEWISE A GUIDE TO HEALTH & SAFETY IN THE OFFICE Officewise is designed to help employers and employees take a look at their workplace. It aims to: Raise awareness of health and safety issues in the office; Help identify existing and potential health and safety problems; Encourage consultation on health and safety issues; Help employers meet their legal responsibilities in relation to healthand safety; Offer solutions and advice; and Give guidance on where to go for further information and help. 3. THE RISK MANAGEMENTAPPROACHEmployers are required to provide information, training and supervisionso that employees can perform their work in a safe manner.Training should provide employees and their supervisors with anunderstanding of: health and safety legal responsibilities; The nature of the hazards in the workplace; The process of hazard identification, risk assessment and riskcontrol; The arrangements for reporting; Circumstances likely to cause hazards; The reasons for and safe use of the risk control measures in place in The workplace; and Safe work practices. 4. WHY IS HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKMANAGEMENT IMPORTANT TO ABUSINESS?There is a legal obligation to provide ahealthy and safe workplace. Inaddition, effective management of healthand safety hazards makes good businesssense.It can lead to reduced costs, increasedproductivity, higher morale and betteremployee relations. 5. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTHAND SAFETY? Everyone! Employers have a duty of care to provide a healthyand safe working environment under occupationalhealth and safety legislation and common law. Employers should ensure that all managers,supervisors and employees are aware of theiroccupational health and safety responsibilities. Thisshould be done through consultation, documentingresponsibilities and ensuring there are processes inplace to hold people accountable for occupationalhealth and safety performance. 6. INTEGRATING HEALTH AND SAFETYINTO OFFICE MANAGEMENTSystems and processes for themanagement of health and safetyhazards in the office should be builtinto the day-to-day running of anybusiness. They should be viewed aspart of the normal operation of thebusiness. 7. HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED?Occupational health and safety must bemanaged systematically. The best systemwill depend on the nature and size of thebusiness, however, there are a number ofaspects to be considered as a basis forany sound occupational health and safetymanagement system. 8. THE HAZARD MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 9. CONSULTATIONConsultative arrangements should be in place to enable effective cooperationbetween the employer and employees in developing and promoting measuresto ensure employees health, safety and welfare at work.Consultation should involve: managers and supervisors representing the employer; and employees and elected Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) or otherparties representing the employees.An effective forum for consultation is a health and safety committee.Consultationabout specific issues and hazards should include direct discussion with relevantemployees.Further information about health and safety committees and Health and SafetyRepresentatives is found in the legislation. 10. DEFINITIONS AND PROCESSESHazard means the potential to cause harm (such as injury or illness).Risk means the likelihood of harm arising from exposure to any hazards and the consequences of that harm. For example, cleaning fluids may be a potential hazard but may not pose a risk of exposure unless they are incorrectly stored or handled. 11. HAZARD IDENTIFICATIONThis is the process of identifying all situations orevents that could give rise to injury or illness. Itgenerally involves consideration of the type ofinjury or illness possible, (for examplemusculoskeletal disorders (MSD)) and thesituations and events that could create potentialfor the injury or illness (for example, prolongedbending over a low desk during a collating task). 12. RISK ASSESSMENTThis process determines whether thereare any risks associated with the identifiedhazards. This generally involvesconsideration of the nature of exposure tothe hazards, including the frequency andlevel of exposure, pattern of exposure(continuous or intermittent) and adequacyof any existing risk control measures. 13. RISK CONTROLThis process determines and implements appropriate measures tocontrol risk.Factors that are assessed as posing an increased risk are required bylegislationto be controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. Reasonablypracticable inthis case means you need to consider: The likelihood of the hazard or risk eventuating; The degree of harm that would result if the hazard or risk eventuated; What the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know,about the hazard or risk and any ways of eliminating or reducing thehazard or risk; The availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or reduce thehazard or risk; and The cost of eliminating or reducing the hazard or risk. 14. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT Is the elimination at source of risks to the health, safety andwelfare of persons at work. If risks cannot be eliminated, occupational health and safetylegislation requires that they be reduced so far as is reasonablypracticable. You could use one or more of the following methods: Substitution of the hazard with something posing a lower risk; Isolation for example, enclosing the hazard; or Engineering control for example, a mechanical aid. If a risk to health and safety remains after the above methodshave been used, administrative controls, for example workprocedures and training, should be applied and, if relevant,personal protective equipment should be worn. 15. EVALUATION OF CONTROL MEASURESThis means checking to see whether the introducedchanges reduce the risk previously assessed. It mayinvolve repeating the process of hazardidentification, risk assessment and risk control to ensurethat all risks to health and safety from a particularhazard have been controlled as far as practicable. Thisdepends on the hazard, the nature of the assessedrisks and on the control measures used. Where theevaluation of risk control measures reveals someremaining risk, the process continues until risk isminimised as far as reasonably practicable. 16. IDENTIFYING HAZARDS IN THE OFFICEConsider the type of hazard present in your office Mechanical hazards, such as filing cabinets that tend to tip when heavily ladentop drawers are open; tripping hazards. Physical hazards, like glare or reflections from screens; hot components ofphotocopiers; poorly designed chairs that do not provide the user withadequate back support; poorly designed jobs and tasks that demandprolonged work in a fixed posture. Chemical hazards, such as vapours in the atmosphere for example, paint,solvents or airborne particles like photocopier toner. Psychological hazards, like the need to perform excessive workloads underpressure, lack of satisfaction from a job where there is inadequate recognitionof work performed or repetitive work and insufficient task variety. Electrical hazards such as damaged electrical cords or overloaded powerpoints that may lead to the risk of electric shock.Each of these hazards is discussed in more detail in other sections of this guide. 17. CHECK RECORDS OF INJURIES ANDINCIDENTSCheck injury records, first aid reports andworkers compensation claim forms forinformation about the work tasks, the areain which work is performed, the activitybeing undertaken at the time of injury,factors thought to be related to the incidentand the type of symptoms or injuryreported. 18. CONDUCT A WALK-THROUGH INSPECTIONOF THE OFFICE USING A HAZARDCHECKLISTA checklist is a useful method for identifying hazards.A good checklist provides a systematic method to ensure that you do not miss hazards. It enables you to gather important information and record it quickly so that it can be considered more thoroughly during the assessment. 19. WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN ASSESSING RISKThe likelihood of the exposure leading to injury or diseaseTypically the common injuries include: musculoskeletal disorders of the back, neck and upper limbs; minor injuries due to cuts, trips or falls or being hit by an object; and stress-related conditions.The employer should assess the likelihood of these or otherinjuries at their workplace. 20. THE FREQUENCY AND DURATION OFEXPOSUREHow often and for how long employees may be exposedto a particular hazard should be estimated or measuredby consulting with employees, looking at duty rostersand observing employees performing the work.Who may be affectedDetermining tasks and areas that may be affected by aparticular hazard can help direct limited resources tothose areas where the most effect can be obtained fromcontrol measures. 21. WHAT TO CONSIDER WHENCONTROLLING RISKA range of measures for controlling risk involveselimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administration and personal protective equipment.EliminationRedesigning the job to design out risks altogether is themost effective method of risk control. For example, theneed for excessive photocopying and collation can beeliminated if memoranda are circulated by email. Aquality photocopier can sort, collate and staple toeliminate manual handling. 22. SubstitutionMaterials, equipment or processes can be replaced withless hazardous ones. For example, a telephone handsetcan be replaced with a headset where there is prolongeduse of the telephone or where typing is required whileusing the telephone.IsolationEnclosing or isolating the hazard from employees caneliminate or reduce the risk of injury or illness. Forexample, a photocopier can be located in a separate wellventilated room to isolate noise and fumes. 23. EngineeringEngineering controls may involve the provision ofmechanical aids, barriers, guarding, ventilation or insulationto prevent employees being exposed to a hazard. Forexample, a heavy compactus system may have amechanical winder or electric controls to prevent the needfor pushing and pulling the sections.AdministrationThis may involve establishing policies, procedures and workpractices designed to reduce an employees exposure to arisk. It may also relate to the provision of specific training andsupervisory practices. For example, by advising employeesagainst performing continuous keyboard work for longperiods, and increasing task variety. 24. PREVENTION & HAZARDSReducing risk byusing a telephoneheadset (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 25. RELAXED, COMFORTABLE WORKPOSITIONS(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 26. ASSESSING REFLECTIONS (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 27. PREFERRED PLACEMENT OF THESCREEN TO REDUCE REFLECTIONS (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 28. POOR POSTURE MAY BE DUE TOINADEQUATE LIGHTING ORUNCORRECTED VISUAL PROBLEMS(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 29. DIRECT AIR FLOW AWAY FROMPEOPLE(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 30. RECEPTION DESK (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 31. RECEPTION/WAITING AREA (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 32. TYPICAL MANAGERSWORKSTATION(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 33. THE COMPUTER AND ADMINISTRATIVEWORKSTATION(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 34. ADJUSTABLE OFFICE CHAIR (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 35. KNEELING CHAIR(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 36. SEAT HEIGHT AND FOOTRESTADJUSTMENT(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 37. INCORRECT STANDING-HEIGHTBENCH(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 38. CORRECT STANDING-HEIGHT BENCH(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 39. ANGLE BOARD(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 40. KNEE CLEARANCE DIMENSIONS FOROFFICE DESKS (from WorkSafe Checklist for Ergonomic Design of Office Desks) (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 41. KEYBOARD PLACEMENT IN FRONTOF THE OPERATOR(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 42. NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE USING AMOUSE(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 43. THUMBS STRETCHED TO REACH ATRACKBALL OR GLIDE POINT(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 44. DOCUMENT HOLDER DESIGNS A4AND A3 SIZES ARE USUALLY AVAILABLE (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 45. LOCATION OF A DOCUMENT HOLDERAND MONITOR AT A WORKSTATION (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 46. SHELVING TOO HIGH AND DEEP (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 47. CONTROLLING RISK OF STORAGE ATHEIGHT(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 48. REACH SECTORS ON A DESK (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 49. FILING CABINET MAY BE UNSTABLEWHENFULLY LOADED AND THE TOP TWODRAWERS ARE OPEN (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 50. OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUTHAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 51. ELECTRICAL AND TRIP HAZARDS(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 52. SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 53. SETTING UP YOUR WORKSTATIONThe following checklist is a step-by-step approachdesigned to be used when employees are located at anew workstation or whenever their tasks change. Whensetting up the position of this furniture and equipment itis important to try new positions to find the mostcomfortable arrangement for yourself. Give yourself achance to get used to any changes, as it may takeseveral hours or even days to determine the bestposition. Remember, it may take a few tries to get thebest arrangement, but it is worth the effort and if achange doesnt work, you can always reset it. 54. CHAIR When adjusting your chair please referto any instructions that are provided (Worksafe Vic, 2006) with the chair or have someone showyou how to adjust it and use thecontrols. If there is no one available toassist you, work through this checklistwith another person and observe eachothers postures and body positions.Also, remember to try and avoid sittingfor long periods of time. Some form ofbreak from sitting every 20 30minutes is helpful. Even getting up for20 to 30seconds to go to a printer or standingwhile talking on the telephone willprovidesome relief. 55. SEA Back supportTHeight start by raising the backrest to its(Worksafe Vic, 2006) maximum height. Then sit in the chair and check the fit of the backrest to the curve of the lower back. If its not comfortable, lower the height by several centimetres and try this position.Repeat this adjustment and try eachnew position until the mostcomfortable fit is found. Ensure thatthe backrest supports the curve ofyour lower back and is not placed tooHeight adjust chair height so feetlow.are comfortably flat on the floor,Forward/backward position adjustthighs arethe position of the backrest until aapproximately horizontal and thecomfortable pressure is exerted on thelower legs approximately vertical.lower back area while seated inLow heeled shoes will improve theusual working posture at the desk.comfort of the legs with the chair atthis height. 56. The backrest position should not feel as though it pushes you out of the seat orthat you have to lean back too far to reach it. There should be a two-fingerclearance between the front of the chair and the back of the knee. Trial anumber of different positions until the best fit is achieved. A slight backward tiltis a preferred position as the force on the lower back is reduced. However,some people prefer to sit upright. You can vary this angle to provide changes inposture from time to time.(Worksafe Vic, 2006)Armrests Armrests are usually not recommended unless they are short, fit under the desk or are adjustable. However, if your chair has armrests make sure that they do not prevent you from getting as close to the desk as you require or that they impinge on your elbows while you are working. If this is the case, either remove them by unscrewing them, or replace them with a smaller or adjustable option. 57. DESKIF YOU HAVE A HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLEDESK (Worksafe Vic, 2006)Having first adjusted your chair tosuit your body size, adjust thedesk so the top surface is justbelow elbow height. To determineyour elbow height, relax yourshoulders and bend your elbowsto about 90 degrees and checkthe elbow height against the deskheight. 58. IF YOU DONT HAVE A HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DESK If the chair has been adjusted and the desk is higher or lowerthan the elbow, other forms of adjustment will be required. Start by measuring the height difference between the desk andyour elbow. If the desk is too high Raise the chair by the measured difference and use a footrest. Set the footrest platform so that it is the same as the measureddifference. OR Lower the desk by cutting the legs down by the measureddifference. 59. IF THE DESK IS TOO LOW(Worksafe Vic, 2006) Raise the height of the desk by extending the leg length or sitting it on wooden blocks or something similar. Remember to ensure that any such changes are secure and stable. 60. CLEARANCE UNDER THE DESK(Worksafe Vic, 2006) General items, like computer hard disk drives, boxes of documents or files, rubbish bins and mobile drawers should not be stored under desks where they will decrease or interfere with the space required for the legs. This may force you to adopt a twisted or awkward posture of the spine. 61. DRAWERSMost commonly used items should be placed inthe top desk drawer to improve access andreduce reaching and bending movements.Where drawers are fitted to the desk, equipmentsuch as the keyboard and computer screenshould be arranged on the desk so that you cansit comfortably in the leg-well space. 62. GENERAL STORAGE ON THE DESK In/out-trays Place trays at the outer reach sector . In- trays should not be located above shoulder level. Stationery A variety of containers are available for mixed stationery items. These should also be stored at the outer reach sector or in the top desk(Worksafe Vic, 2006) drawer. Reference books and folders Large or heavy references such as telephone directories and manuals should either be stored within close reach or in a nearby position where you need to stand to access them. Handling of these items should not be conducted at the limit of your reach capacity while sitting, as this can result in undue strain on the back, shoulder and arm muscles. 63. AngleKEYBOARDTilt the keyboard using the feet at the backto suit your level of comfort. The commonand preferred setting is where the feet arelowered so the keyboard sits flat on thedesk. This assists in preventing awkwardpostures of the wrists.Position on the deskPlace the keyboard as close to the frontedge of the desk as is comfortable. Do not (Worksafe Vic, 2006)place documents between the keyboardand the front edge of the desk while usingthe keyboard as this increases the reachdistance to the keyboard and may result inexcessive bending of the neck to look at thedocuments. Ensure that there is room toput the keyboard to one side when it is notin use. 64. Place the mouse mat directly beside the end of the keyboard on yourMOUSEpreferred side. Use the mouse in this position and always aim to keep the mouse on the mat during use. If you frequently use the mouse in your work you may wish to: learn to use it with both hands so that you can swap between the right and left sides for improved comfort; set the tracking speed of the mouse to a setting that suits you; maintain your mouse to keep it in(Worksafe Vic, 2006) good working order (for example, keeping it clean inside); and where possible, try and avoid holding on to the mouse when not in use. 65. COMPUTERSCREEN The screen should be positioned once the chair and desk heights have been established. Height The screen should be positioned so that the top of the screen is level with, or slightly lower than, your eyes when you are sitting upright . If the screen does not have a raising device such as a monitor stand, you may be able to use telephones books to raise the screen height(Worksafe Vic, 2006) on a temporary basis. Distance from the eye First place the screen so that it is approximately an arms length away from your usual seated position .Trial this position and if necessary move it further away or closer as required. 66. POSITIONING THE SCREENThe screen should beplaced so that it does notface windows, catchingreflections from thewindows, or have awindow directly behind itcausing glare from the (Worksafe Vic, 2006)window. 67. DOCUMENTHOLDERThe position of the document holder depends onyour need to view and reach the documents andthe type of document holder that is used.For continuous or frequent data entry where thesource document is observed more than, or thesame amount as, the screen: place the screen slightly to one side so that thedocument holder is directly in(Worksafe Vic, 2006)front of the user OR place the document holder in a similar positionto the screen where it is slightly to one side andyou look evenly between the two . An A-frameA lever or swivel arm documentstyle book rest that sits on top of the desk is the holder suspends the documentmost practical and can be set at different angles.above the desk at eye level. AnchorIt is usually best placed so that it supports it to the desk on either the left or rightdocuments on an inclined angle between theor the screen, according to yourkeyboard and the screen.preference, and place it directlybeside the screen. 68. TELEPHONEThe telephone should be placed either within or at the limit of theoptimum reach sector, depending on the amount of use. The placementshould enable the user to operate the telephone without the need tomove their trunk to grasp the handset or to operate the numeric andfunction buttons.When making a lot of calls, it may be best to place the telephone on thesameside as the dominant hand so that this hand can comfortably operate thenumeric and function buttons. When mostly receiving calls, it may bemore comfortable to place it on the non-dominant side.Learn and utilise the functions of your phone, such as redial and thestorage of commonly used phone numbers, to improve the efficiency ofits use. Also, wherethe phone is used very often or for prolonged periods, a headset shouldbe used. 69. ANGLED READING AND WRITINGSURFACE An angled board can(Worksafe Vic, 2006) improve neck comfort where a job involves a lot of reading and handwriting. It should be placed immediately in front of the user on top of the desk . 70. PLACEMENT OF SCREEN TO REDUCEREFLECTIONS (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 71. SCREEN POSITION WITHUNDESIRABLE REFLECTIONS (Worksafe Vic, 2006) 72. EXERCISES FOR OFFICEWORKERSNeck stretchKeeping your chin tucked in, gentlylower ear to shoulder and hold for 10seconds Stop, get up and moveon either side. Repeat several times. Getting up and walking around is the(Worksafe Vic, 2006)best exercise you can get to provide abreakfrom sitting, concentrating and usingthe muscles of the arms and hands.Aboutevery 20 to 30 minutes is a guide tohow often it is helpful to move around.Even getting up for 20 to 30 secondsto pick up papers from the photocopieror get some water is a way to changeyour posture and give muscles achanceto recover. 73. S-T-R-E-T-C-H AND CHECK!Head turnsStretching exercises help to relax musclesTurn head slowly to look overwhich have been working and move thoseleft shoulder. Turn head theother way. Repeat several which have been in a fixed position. If possible,times.stand up to do your stretches.(Worksafe Vic, 2006)While you are exercising, read the notesalongside each instruction and considerwhether your workstation is adjusted to suityou. Do a few of these exercises a few timeseveryday. Dots show the muscles that you areexercising. Make sure you relax and perform them gently. Hold the stretch or repeat as indicated on thediagram. Do not over-stretch. Stop if you feel discomfort when performingan action. Remember to do each side. 74. CHIN TUCKS Check neck posture(Worksafe Vic, 2006) Position the top of your screen at eye level. Use a document holder directly beside or below the screen it saves you looking down.Raise the head to straighten the neck.Tuck the chin in and upwards creatinga double chin. This also results in aforward tilt of the head. Repeat severaltimes. 75. SHOULDERSShoulder rollsCircle shoulders forward several Check shoulder posturetimes, then backwards. Repeat 3 to 5times.Relax your shoulders and rest yourhands on your lap. Bend your elbowsto no more than 90 degrees and checkthe height of your finger tips againstyour current work height. If the work(keyboard or desk) is higher than your (Worksafe Vic, 2006) hands you may be hunching yourshoulders unnecessarily. If so, try andraise your chair height or lower yourdesk height and try and relax yourshoulders while working. 76. WRISTS, HANDS AND ARMSWrist and elbow stretchInterlace fingers, palmsoutward, and straighten arms infront. Hold for 10 seconds andrepeat several times.Wrist stretchStraighten your arm in front andbend your wrist forward, gentlyassist the stretch with your other (Worksafe Vic, 2006)hand. Hold for 10 seconds thenstretch your wrist back and holdfor 10 seconds. Repeat with otherarm. 77. CHECK HAND AND WRISTPOSTURE While keying, keep your wriststraight while your fingers aresuspended over the keyboard. Keep elbows at keyboard level.This may mean adjusting the deskor chairheight. Dont rest your wrists on thedesk or keyboard while keying. (Worksafe Vic, 2006)Keep handssuspended. Rest on the desk betweenperiods of keying. 78. UPPER AND LOWER BACK Upper and lower back stretch Interlace fingers and turn palms upwards above head; straighten arms then slowly lean slightly from side to side. Repeat movement several times.(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 79. BACK ARCHING Stand up. Support your lower back with hands and gently arch back and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat as(Worksafe Vic, 2006) often as is needed. 80. PECTORAL STRETCH Raise both arms to shoulder height and bend elbows. Pull both elbows back slowly to bring shoulder blades towards each other. Repeat several times. Check back support Sit well back in your chair if your feet need support, use a(Worksafe Vic, 2006) footrest. Adjust the backrest on your chair to support your lower back. 81. LEGS (Worksafe Vic, 2006)Check leg comfort If the seat of your chair is digginginto the backs of your thighs checkthat it isnot too high or whether it is tiltedbackwards. If the seat is too high, lower thechair and desk or use a foot rest toFoot pumpsupportStand up, holding the chair for your feet.balance if necessary, and Also check the tilt of the seatalternately raise heels and and, if necessary, adjust it to atoes. Repeat 10 times.horizontal position. 82. EYES Eye exercise Sit up straight, face forward and repeat this sequence several times without moving your head. Look up, then down. Look left, then right.(Worksafe Vic, 2006) 83. VISUAL REST (Worksafe Vic, 2006)Check eye comfort Is there enough light fallingon your documents? Do windows or light fittingscause glare or reflection onthe screen? If so, try turningthe screen or blocking thepath of the light. Use a screen with a light Look up and away from thebackground when working screen. Focus on a distantwith text. Software with a light object (more than 3 metresbackground for text is more away). For example, look out ofcomfortable for the eyes. the window or at a picture on a far wall. Shift vision back to screen and refocus. 84. FIRE & EXPLOSIONSFires can occur in both indoor and outdoorworkplaces. Fires and explosions can becaused by batteries, chemicals, andunsafe habits and storage practices. Planand practice a fire safety plan at yourworkplace and at home. Post theevacuation maps. 85. STORING FLAMMABLE & EXPLOSIVEMATERIALS Store flammable or explosive materials such as gasoline, oil andcleaning agents apart from other materials Keep flammable and explosive materials in proper containerswith contents clearly marked Dispose of greasy, oily rags and other flammable materials inapproved containers Store full barrels in an upright position Keep gasoline and oil barrels on barrel racks Store empty barrels separately Post signs prohibiting smoking, open flames and other ignitionsources in areas 86. STORING FLAMMABLE & EXPLOSIVEMATERIALS CONTINUED. Where flammable and explosive materials are stored or used Store and chain all compressed gas cylinders in an uprightposition Mark all empty cylinders with the letters mt, and store themseparately from full or partially full cylinders Ventilate all storage areas properly Ensure that all electric fixtures and switches are explosion-proofwhere flammable materials are storedUse grounding straps equipped with clamps on containers toprevent static electricity buildupProvide the appropriate fire extinguishers for the materials foundon-site Keep fire extinguisher stations clear and accessible 87. WORKPLACE VIOLENCEWorkplace violence includes any physical or sexual assault from apatient, client, supervisor, or co-worker. Behaviour such aspushing, hitting, pinching, or biting is violence. Verbalabuse, threatening language and harassment are also violence.Another form of workplace bullying and violence is destruction ofproperty.In addition to the physical injuries it causes, workplace violence cancause unseen stress and a dysfunctional work environment. Manyemployers are unaware violence is even occurring. Employers andworkers must cooperate to create a violence-free workplace. Manyemployers adopt a zero tolerance policy to prevent workplaceviolence. 88. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICYI am an employer or manager - what can I do to prevent workplaceviolence?Many employers are unaware that violence is occurring theworkplace.You can help prevent workplace violence by creating a writtenpolicy. This policy must: Apply to anyone who has a relationship with your company (including management, employees, clients, and independent contractors) Use precise language to define workplace violence State in clear terms your organizations view toward workplace violence and your commitment to the prevention of workplace violence Provide concrete examples of unacceptable behaviour Precisely state the consequences of making threats or committing violent acts 89. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICYCONTINUED. Encourage reporting of violence by explaining:o All reports are confidentialo How to report acts of violenceo How to submit the reports (to whom)o Reassure them there are no reprisals for submitting a report Explain how complaints are investigated and resolved. Describehow potential risks of violence will be communicated toemployees Make a commitment to provide support services to victims ofviolence Offer a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to allowemployees with personal problems to seek help Offer violence prevention training for all workers within theorganization 90. OH&S SafetyRepresentative isSteven Segal.Steve has worked in theoccupational health andsafety area for more than 15years and has an extensiverange of experience thatshows through his work.Hi!If there are any concerns orsuggestions that you mayhave, you can contact Steveon 0400123456 or email on:[email protected] 91. Induction process for new employeesUnder the workplace health and safety act,Disney Designs have an obligation to let theiremployees know about the OH&S policies andprocedures in the company. Employees also havean obligation to abide by these rules andprocedures in the correct way. As a newemployee for Disney Designs, here is a list ofOH&S requirements that need to be addressedand marked off:*Continued on next slide: 92. Knowledge of the nearest fire and emergency exits Posture when sitting needs to be in the correct position so that the back is fully straight not slouching. Daily exercise and stretches need to be done to improve circulation and improving the posture of the body Eyes need to be relaxed every 10 minutes by glaring at another object then back to the computer screen. When lifting heavy items, need to bend the knees not the back and if unable to then have to call someone else for assistance. If dealing with dangerous goods, need to make sure that the correct procedure is followed as stated on the information on the goods. Employees duties to report any hazards or potential hazards in the workplace to the duty manager and/or the safety representative Steve Segal and document these in the companys intranet service. Aware of where the first aid kit is.I ...........................................have read the OH&S policies and procedures and haveunderstood it. I have been explained what my obligations are and who to contact ifhave any questions. Staff number: Staff name:Title:Date...................... 93. EQUIPMENT SAFETY CHECKSTo maintain occupational, health and safety within a business likeDisney Designs, equipment needs to be maintained on a regularbasis. Things such as: Tagging items of where certain items are like first aid kit, up todate fire extinguishes. Furniture and fixtures are in good condition and in working order. Maintaining the condition of the computer peripherals such ascables wires and making sure that it is not broken or damaged. First aid kits are in date. 94. RESOURCES: worksafe.vic.gov.au Design studio image Continual improvement image WorkSafe Saskachewan http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/health_and_safety/OHSRetroSafetyInduction06.pdf