SITXWHS003 – Implement and monitor work health and safety practices
In this unit you will learn how to;
- Provide information on health, safety and security
- Monitor safe work practices
- Coordinate consultative arrangements for the management of health, safety and security issues
- Implement and monitor procedures for identifying hazards and assessing and controlling risks
- Implement and monitor health, safety and security training
- Maintain WHS records and reports
Introduction
Ensuring the health, safety and security of all people who come in to, or work in, your premises is one of the most important aspects of any business. It is not only a question of duty of care; ensuring that no harm is done to anyone, but also a matter of legal obligation. The state and federal governments have very strict regulations regarding workplace health and safety (WHS) and impose stiff penalties for any breaches.
As a team leader it will fall to you to make those under your supervision aware of their obligations, under WHS regulations, to implement policies and procedures and to monitor that these procedures are, indeed, being following.
In doing this, there are a number of situations that you will need to monitor and control. These might include;
- the evacuation of staff and customers in case of emergencies
- ensuring the secure management of cash, documents, equipment, keys or people
- the correct handling of chemicals and hazardous substances
- the identification and reporting of any workplace hazards
- reporting on any incidents or accidents in the workplace
- undertaking and reporting on risk assessment
In order to undertake these tasks confidently and in line with organisational and legal obligations, then, you will need to be aware of the primary components of relevant state or territory WHS legislation.
For example: actions that must be taken for legal compliance as well as employer responsibilities to provide a safe workplace. This involves the requirement of employers (or managers) to consult, and have acceptable consultation mechanisms such as the installation of WHS representatives and committees who must fulfill specific roles and responsibilities.
The primary components of legislation will also include requirements for hazard identification, risk assessment, risk control and record keeping. Then, too, employers are obliged to provide adequate information and training so that staff members understand their roles and responsibility, in WHS terms, and can do their work to the required standards. All staff must also have an understanding of the ramifications of failure to observe WHS or WHS legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
Provide information on health, safety and security
The first duty of an employer, with regard to WHS, is to ensure the people working with them are informed about their obligations; the organisations policies and procedures, and the employees roles and responsibilities in carrying out their tasks to the required standards.
Explain relevant WHS information to personnel
Depending on the sector of the tourism industry you work in staff will need access to both general WHS information as well as information relevant to specific organisations or sectors of the tourism industry. These will vary greatly, for example; the WHS requirements of a theme park will be very different from those of a tourist visitor centre or a travel agency. In a theme park you may be dealing with adventure rides, wild animals and large crowds all of which need to be properly controlled as they could represent great risk of harm should anything go wrong. This would not be the case in a visitor bureau or a travel office. That is not to say there are no hazards in these types of premises – just different ones.
… continued in learner guide …