Project :WHS Management system

1. Review the existing Grow Management Consultants WHS Policy and Procedure.
   Grow Management Consultants recognises that the health and safety of all persons employed within the organisation and those visiting is of utmost importance. Resources in line with the importance attached to workplace health and safety will be made available to comply with all relevant Acts and Regulations and to ensure that the workplace is safe and without risk to health. Management Responsibility The promotion and maintenance of workplace health and safety is primarily the responsibility of management. Management at all levels is required to contribute to the health and safety of all persons in the workplace. To this end, it is the responsibility of management to develop, implement and keep under review, in consultation with its employees, the organization’s WHS Program in each Centre.
2. Research best practice WHS communication and consultation practices and hazard identification and risk control procedures for working from home.
   Area of consultation Informal Channel or Forum Consultation Responsibilities
   Local informal Staff and Nominated Supervisor/ managers Staff members:
   • Regularly collaborate with their Nominated Supervisors to identify and resolve hazards;
   • Participate in WHS Inspections, WHS risk assessments and the development of treatments (controls);
   • Communicate with stakeholders, including students, about safe work procedures; and
   • Log reports of incidents and hazards within riskware which are automatically assigned to Nominated Supervisors to manage in consultation with staff and others.

Workgroups Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) HSRs communicate and consult with their workgroup, WHS Committees and University about WHS risk and issues, including concerns which have been raised by their workgroup.
Consultants Consultants WHS Committees • Consultants WHS Committees (comprised of management, staff, including HSRS; student representatives) consult with the organization about the effectiveness of the WHS Management System in managing workplace WHS risks; and
• Committee Members also engage with staff by conducting WHS inspections and investigations, when required.

Expert and, research staff (dealing with radioactive materials Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) • The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) communicates and consults with the WHS Advisory Committee; research and expert applicants, and their
• Nominated Supervisors about the management of WHS risk that is associated with biohazards, medical procedures and radioactive materials.
Stakeholders The ACU Staff Consultative Committee (ACUSCC) • Regularly updated on new and updated WHS Management System policies and procedures; and
• Receives twice yearly reports on the effectiveness of the WHS Management System in managing risk.

Management Work Health and Safety Advisory Committee Provides oversight of the WHS Management System and considers feedback from WHS Committees about the effectiveness of the System in managing WHS risk.

3. Update the WHS Policy and Procedure based on your research. Highlight all changes you have made (using either tracked changes or a coloured highlight).
4. Purpose
   The purpose of this policy is to show the commitment of Grow Management Consultants to ensure the health & safety of its employees, contractors and visitors by removing, reducing or minimising the risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable as per the NSW WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2011.
   Responsibilities
   a) Management
   Management is responsible for providing and maintaining:
   • a safe working environment
   • safe systems of work
   • plant and substances in safe condition
   • ensure safe working from home
   • facilities for the welfare of all worker
   • any information, instruction, training and supervision needed to make sure that all workers are safe from injury and risks to their health
   • ensure that all employees observe safe working practices, adhere to policies and procedures
   • comply with WHS Legislation, Regulations and relevant Australian Standards.
   b) Workers
   • comply with safe work practices, with the intent of avoiding injury to themselves and others and damage to plant and equipment
   • report all accidents and incidents on the job immediately, no matter how trivial
   • report all known or observed hazards to their supervisor or manager.
5. WHS Consultation
   a) The Grow management is committed to an effective consultation approach to WHS management. The organisation with consult with its employees in implementing safety practice and systems that will ensure the health and safety of its employees.
   b) The organisation will consult with its employees to share relevant information about WHS and to give them opportunity to express their views and to contribute to the resolution of work health and safety issues in the workplace. The management will ensure that it will make WHS a standing agenda item at all meetings.

3.Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification
The organization will ensure that it will undertake ongoing comprehensive hazard identification and risk assessments of all the organization’s operations. Hazard identification, risk assessment and elimination and control implementation will be undertaken at the beginning of each activity to ensure that:
• Any foreseeable hazards that may arise in the workplace can be identified;
• The risk of harm arising from identified hazards can be assessed;
• pre-operation and regular inspections, as well as working from home inspections
• Hazards can be eliminated where possible, or if this is not reasonably practicable, safety controls can be implemented to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable; and
• Monitor and review the effectiveness and efficiency of controls.
4.Training and Induction
a) All new employees including staff and any consultant will be required to undertake the Grow management orientation training prior to commencing work. A record of the orientation documentation will be kept on file as evidence.
b) All visitors and contractors must be under the direct supervision and responsibility of an employee at all times.

5. Review
   In fulfilling the objectives of this policy, management is committed to regular consultation with staff to ensure that the policy operates effectively and that health & safety issues are regularly reviewed. The policy will be regularly reviewed through consultation at management and staff meetings or as required by legislative changes.

Version Number Approved by: Approval date: Implementation date:
1 PEO/CEO 01/18/2020 01/18/2020
2 PEO/CEO 04/23/2020 04/23/2020

4. Develop a working from home health and safety checklist.
   The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Checklist is designed to help MOP(S) Act employees and managers to assess WHS risks in the home, privately-funded or satellite office. This checklist should be read together with the ‘Working from Home’ guideline. This checklist was prepared referencing the NSW WorkCover Authority publication Health and Safety in the Office Guide 2004, and Comcare’s publication Officewise.
   It is recommended that, where practicable, a home inspection be required by the employing Senator or Member prior to approving the employee’s working from home arrangements. Where an independent inspection is not practicable, the inspection should be carried out by the employee and discussed with the employing Senator or Member
   Working from Home – Work Health and Safety Checklist

Staff member’s name:
Faculty/School/Division:
Immediate supervisor’s name:

General Information

Description of work to be done from home
Average number of hours/day sitting at desk

Any existing injuries/concerns

Yes/No  Comment/Action Required

Chair (see diagram overleaf for guidance)
Chair – adjustable to get correct height,
back rest adjustable to get lumbar support, seat size supports legs.
Y/N

Feet flat on floor or foot rest used.
Y/N
Posture advice – can you obtain comfortable sitting
position with back supported & arms at correct height.
Y/N

Chair has 5 star base for stability.
Y/N
Desk
Suitable height, size – see position of arms in picture overleaf.
Y/N
Sufficient space on desk for equipment required for the task eg document holder, printer, phone.
Y/N

Sufficient leg space under desk.
Y/N
Computer screen (PC)

Height – top of screen is approximately at eye level.
Y/N

Minimise glare – screen angled away from window.
Y/N
Screen directly in front of you and about an arm’s length away.
Y/N

Document holder used for hard copy documents.
Y/N

Laptop computer
Do you have a Docking Station or other suitable set-up so that top of screen is approximately at eye level?
Y/N
External keyboard and mouse available if laptop used > 1 hour at a time.
Y/N
Keyboard and mouse

Keyboard positioned directly in front of you.
Y/N
Mouse next to keyboard – easy access, arm in close (no stretching required).
Y/N

Hand/arm position correct height and comfortable.
Y/N
Work environment
Walk-ways clear of clutter and trip hazards (eg trailing electrical cords, boxes, pets, rugs, etc).
Y/N
Work area is segregated from other hazards in the home eg hot cooking surfaces in the kitchen.
Y/N
Path to exit is reasonably direct, free from trip hazards and not obstructed, to allow easy exit in case of fire.
Y/N
Light – work easy to see and the light is comfortable for your eyes; eliminate glare.
Y/N

Noise – minimal distracting/disruptive noises.
Y/N

Temperature – comfortable range for working.
Y/N
Smoke detectors are installed, working and properly maintained.
Y/N
Electrical safety

Safe and neat storage of cords/cables/phone lines.
Y/N
RCD, power boards with safety switch present / in use.
Y/N
Wellbeing
Take regular postural/stretching breaks to reduce intense periods of repetitive movement. Work no longer than 5 hours without an unpaid meal break of no less than 30 minutes.
Y/N
Stretch regularly (every 30 – 40 min). Y/N
Comments

Staff member Signature Date

5. When you have completed the above activities, send the revised health and safety policy and procedure and working from home health and safety checklist to the CEO (your assessor).

Project 2 – WHS risk control

1. Research and report
   Problems associated with fatigue
   Fatigue increases the risk of injuries or other accidents. As an employer, ensure your workers are not experiencing signs or effects of fatigue on the job. You can help make your workers and your business safer by including information on fatigue and sleep in your safety guidelines and orientations. You can also develop a fatigue management plan. Fatigue is a state of feeling very tired, exhausted, weary, or sleepy. Fatigue results from a lack of sleep and can be heightened from prolonged mental activity or long periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks can also intensify feelings of fatigue. Fatigue can cause: (Staff, 2018)

• Depression (major depressive disorder)
• Diabetes
• Emphysema
  signs of fatigue
  In the context of occupational health and safety, fatigue refers to mental or physical exhaustion that reduces one’s capacity to perform work safely and effectively. The causes, however, aren’t always just work-related. Some of the most common signs for fatigue include: (AskMayoExpert., 2014)
  • Prolonged or intense mental or physical activity
  • Sleep loss or disrupted sleep
  • Travel
  • Organizational change
  • Irregular work scheduling or excessively long shifts
  • Strenuous activity
  • Long commutes to and from work
  • Extremely hot or cold work environments

risks associated with fatigue and procedures for managing the risk of fatigue
 shift workers – workers are supposed to be shifted from either from working during day time to night shift depending on various factors including age and health of the worker

 night workers – night shift workers should be given a bonus payment because they are risking their lives due to insecurity and other factors to ensure that the activities in the organisation are running smoothly.

 fly-in, fly-out workers – workers how fly to various places should also be given a certain amount of time to get some rest before resuming to work, due to jet lag and other factors during flying.

 emergency service workers – emergency workers should always be given a reasonable notice before reporting to duty, so that they are well prepare thus
ensuring they will be able to deliver projects without straining which contributes to fatigues (Piazza GM, 2014)
proposed strategies for managing fatigue and relationship to hierarchy of control
Minimize sleep loss
Promoting quantity and quality sleep is an essential factor for ensuring optimal performance during work time. Generally speaking, majority of people need about 8 h of sleep per day to preserve full alertness. A few people can function well on sleep less than 8 h. Obtaining only 6 h for an individual who requires 8 h of sleep result to sleep-deprivation by 2h. It is recommended to have adequate resting time before a shift.
Good sleeping habits
There are specific strategies that can help improve each sleep opportunity, and some of them include: When possible keep a regular sleep/wake schedule to avoid circadian disruption; reserve the bedroom for sleep and not for work, if possible; develop a comforting presleep routine such as listening radio; avoid frequent naps during the day; get out of bed if there is a trouble with falling asleep
Circadian adaptation
The circadian rhythms in shift workers do not usually phase shift to adapt totally to sleeping during the day and working at night. This situation results in poor performance, fatigue, and reduced alertness during working time. Appropriate timed exposure to bright light and administration of exogenous melatonin help to produce circadian adaptation to night work. Bright light exposure in the evening delay the circadian phase to a later position, whereas exposure to bright light in the morning advances the circadian phase to an earlier position.
I could give an advice to the management to add a free regular check up for all staff in the workplace. But before the invention of this, let each and every one at least try to follow the policies and procedures if WHS set by the organisation.
Add this report and memo to your WHS filing system. Email a screen shot of the updated folders/files.

References
AskMayoExpert. (2014). Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research;.
Piazza GM, e. a. (2014). Bone, joint and muscle injuries. . ACEP First Aid Manual.
Staff, M. C. (2018). Fatigue. Lifestyle factors.

2. Develop a short memo based on the report for all staff that advises them of strategies that will be put in place to address fatigue issues. Your memo should be clear and concise and easy for all staff to understand. It should be no more than one page. Your assessor will advise of the date for submission. April 30, 2015 INFORMATION

MEMORANDUM FOR: Grow Management Consultants
FROM: Operations Manager
SUBJECT: Occupational Safety and Health Policy Statement
We are taking proactive steps to address a number of strategies in the organisation. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of employees, customers, visitors or others. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations having in mind that every expert is aware of his/her health in fatigue issues.
We ask all employees to cooperate in taking steps to reduce the fatigue risks in the workplace. Employees are reminded of the following:
Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is a must at the office. And water is the best liquid to do the trick. Keep a bottle at your desk and drink it regularly throughout the day.
Limit your sugar intake. In general, stay away from foods and drinks that may give you energy for a short period of time but also will drag you down later. Think sodas and candy bars.
Stay satiated. Don’t allow yourself to get hungry. When you get hungry you can lose focus and become tired. Make a point to keep nutritious snacks nearby and eat a small portion every 90 minutes or 2 hours.
Stay active. Whether a real quick walk every hour, a desk with a treadmill or bicycle, or even a stand-up desk, getting on your feet and getting the blood flowing in your body can provide a real boost of natural energy.
Get rest when you need to. If you are sick, try and stay away from work, or work in short spurts. To get healthy quicker, you will need a good amount of quality rest.

All managers, supervisors, and employees at Grow Management Consultants organizations and facilities are expected to give their full commitment and support to the success of the WHS through maximum engagement and participation in safety and health processes as established, communicated, and maintained by senior leadership and their health, safety, and environmental managers.
Please contact the operation management department with any questions or concerns.

3. Add this report and memo to your WHS filing system. Email a screen shot of the updated folders/files.

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