Work Health and Safety
Ensures a safe working environment with which to provide support and services
Overview
Introduction
The work health and safety (WHS) policy aims to ensure all work activities are carried out safely and with all possible measures taken to remove or reduce risks to the health, safety and welfare of workers, contractors, clients, authorised visitors, and anyone else who may be affected by our operations. The health and well-being of everyone affected is our highest priority.
The work health and safety (WHS) policy aims to ensure all work activities are carried out safely and with all possible measures taken to remove or reduce risks to the health, safety and welfare of workers, contractors, clients, authorised visitors, and anyone else who may be affected by our operations. The health and well-being of everyone affected is our highest priority.
Creating and maintaining a safe work environment is a legal requirement and a critical one for the HWH's long-term success. It can help us:
- retain staff
- maximise employee productivity
- minimise injury and illness in the workplace
- reduce the costs of injury and workers’ compensation
- ensure we meet legal obligations and employee responsibilities.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing or equipment designed to be worn by someone to protect them from the risk of injury or illness.
Examples of PPE include:
- hearing protection, e.g. ear muffs and ear plugs
- respiratory protective equipment
- eye and face protection, e.g. facemasks*, safety glasses and face shields
- safety helmets, e.g. hardhats
- fall arrest harnesses for working at heights
- skin protection, e.g. gloves*, gauntlets and sunscreen*
- clothing, e.g. high visibility vests, aprons*, life jackets and coveralls
- footwear, e.g. safety boots and rubber boots.
* Indicates PPE most likely used when providing care support and services.
Applies to
- services provided to all clients
- all HWH representatives, including key managers, nurses, administrators and home support workers.
Related Items
Policy
WHS commitments
We are committed to working on health and safety by:
We are committed to working on health and safety by:
- creating and maintaining a safe work environment
- complying with all relevant commonwealth, state or territory work health and safety acts and legislation
- proactively manage risks in the workplace
- not compromising the health or safety of anyone at the workplace
- consulting and engaging with workers on WHS matters.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
As a guideline:
As a guideline:
- PPE must be suitable for the nature of the work or hazard
- PPE must be a suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the person required to use it
- PPE must be maintained, repaired or replaced, including keeping it:
- clean and hygienic
- in good working order
- when PPE is required, it must be used or worn by workers so far as reasonably practical.
Worker WHS responsibilities
The responsibilities of workers are to:
The responsibilities of workers are to:
- comply with instructions given for work health and safety
- use any provided PPE and be properly trained in how to use it
- not wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for work health and safety at the workplace
- not wilfully place others at risk
- not wilfully injure themselves.
Key manager WHS responsibilities
The responsibilities of key managers are to:
The responsibilities of key managers are to:
- take a leading role in promoting safe work practices across the business
- provide safe work premises, assess risks and implement appropriate measures for controlling them
- ensure safe use and handling of goods and substances
- provide and maintain safe machinery and materials
- provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers where relevant
- ensure information, training and instructions are provided on the correct use, wearing, storage and maintenance of PPE
- assess workplace layout and provide safe systems of work
- provide workers with information about and training in:
- infection control practices
- use, storage and maintenance of PPE
- waste management
- relevant WHS risk management measures
- provide a suitable working environment and facilities
- ensure that WHS-related matters are effectively communicated to workers
- have insurance and workers' compensation insurance for your employees
- ensure there are procedures for emergencies and drills in place.
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