AHCOHS201A – Participate in OHS processes
Monitoring & Reporting Monitoring and reporting WHS issues There are various ways individuals input to ongoing monitoring and reporting of OHS aspects within the workplace. This may be determined by the employee’s responsibilities and enterprise procedures and guidelines. By using risk assessments, enterprise checklists, hazard identification documentation, machinery maintenance and (non) conformance appraisal logs, incident/accident assessment documentation, it can allow issues to be raised with designated personnel according to the procedures of the enterprise and relevant OHS legislation. Designated personnel may include supervisors, managers, enterprise or industry OHS officers, or operations directors.
Contributing to WHS planning Raising OHS issues in the workplace is important.
Many organisations allow for such input through OHS
committees, team or work group meetings, or supervisor/management meetings. Discussions with all workers allows for the development of effective solutions to control the level of risk associated with the workplace activities. Employers are encouraged to perform their own investigations into incidents. Internal mechanisms for doing this include WHS officers, WHS representatives and WHS committees.
Workplace health and safety officers (WHSO) Any workplace with 30 or more employees is required by Queensland law to have a workplace health and safety officer (WHSO). Workplace health and safety officers are appointed by employers and principal contractors to:
Advise the employer on health and safety issues
Implement workplace health and safety related initiatives
Perform workplace inspections
Help with the functioning of the health and safety committee
Workplace health and safety representatives (WHSR) Workers may elect a workplace health and safety representative themselves, or at the employer's suggestion. Workplace health and safety representatives (WHSR's) are entitled to:
Undertake workplace inspections
Report hazards
Review incidents
Issue provisional improvement notices (where the WHSR has completed the approved training)
After conducting an internal investigation a WHSR may:
Make recommendations by completing a hazard report form
Provide the form to the employer - WHSRs must keep a copy
Issue a provisional improvement notice depending on the circumstances surrounding the issue being investigated.
National Horticulture Competency Horticultural Training Pty Ltd
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Version 1 June 2012