Training, Teaching and Learning Materials (TTLM) Level – I

Sector: Economic Infrastructure

Occupation: Basic Clerical Works
Module Title: Participate in OHS Process

PARTICIPATE IN OHS PROCESSES

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to participate in workplace
occupational health and safety (OHS) processes to protect workers own health and safety, and that of
others.
ELEMENTS OF COMPETENCY:
1. Work safely
2. Implement workplace safety requirements
3. Participate in OHS consultative processes
4. Follow safety procedures

LO-I.
SAFETY
Safety is a precaution taken to protect an individual, the tools, the equipment, the machine the materials
and the shop in general from a certain kind of accident before, during and after an operation.
Safety can be:-
personal safety
tool safety
equipment safety
machine safety
material safety
work shop safety
Key terms and concepts
Term Definition
Consultation and Management or the owners of a business/organization must consult with
participation employees about OHS matters that can directly affect them in the carrying
out of their duties. All employees must have the opportunity to participate in
or have access to an OHS committee so any concerns they have regarding
their safety or the safety of others may be communicated upwards to
management/owners.
Emergency Any situation that may arise unexpectedly that could cause injury or harm to
situations/incidents any person in a workplace environment, including bomb threats, fire,
robbery/armed hold-up, flood, external threats or if a number of people
suddenly fall ill.
Employee and employer Employees must take reasonable care to ensure the safety of themselves and
responsibilities others, and comply with all OHS requirements. Employers must maintain
premises in a safe condition, by providing adequate facilities and equipment.
Hazard identification and Identifying any hazard as a source of potential harm to people, or damage to
risk control property, or the environment and either the elimination or minimization of
the risk.
Occupational Health and OHS concerns the health and safety of all people in a workplace, including
Safety (OHS) employers, employees and visitors, with the main objective being to prevent
injury and disease caused by or in an unsafe work environment.
OHS legislation and codes Legislation is law passed by Federal or State Parliaments regarding safety in
of practice the workplace, and enforceable through the court system. Legislation is
supplemented by Regulations that detail safety standards and penalties
incurred if these standards are not met. Codes of practice are the “best
practice” industry guidelines agreed to by unions, employers and
government, regarding the safe performance of tasks, enabling organizations
to meet legislative regulations.
Safe work practices and These provide practical guidance to business on how to fulfil their duty to
procedures provide a safe and healthy workplace; and for employees to follow to ensure
their safety and the safety of others.
Workplace accidents, Unexpected events that cause physical harm or damage to people or
injury or impairment property.

1.1 Following safety procedures

Your role in Workplace Health and Safety
Businesses in Ethiopia must provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees, customers,
visitors and the general community. You must follow the workplace OHS policies and procedures of
your organisation. You have a responsibility to:
Cooperate with OHS representatives
Report any hazards to your supervisor
Report any job-related injury or illness to your supervisor or health and safety representative
Understand and exercise your rights under OHS
Wear personal protective clothing and equipment if appropriate

Workplace risks and hazards

Risk in the workplace is the chance of something happening that will cause injury or damage.
Workplace hazards are those things in your workplace that pose a risk to you and/or your work
colleagues.
Hazards that office workers could be exposed to include anything that is a source of:
Potential harm in terms of human injury or ill health
Damage to property
Damage to the environment

General sources of potential harm in an office may include:

Cramped working conditions
Extreme temperatures
Inefficient fire and emergency procedures
Lifting heavy loads
Overwork or interpersonal issues
Poor lighting
Poorly designed workstations

In a medical setting, some sources of potential harm include:

Blood
Breakage/spillage
Drug hold-ups
Needle sticks
Medical emergencies: e.g. A fall, bleeding, a seizure, fainting, collapse, panic attack or psychosis
 Spread of infection
Potential sources of infection, such as:
o Breakages
o Contaminated waste
o Patients with colds, flu and other infectious diseases
o Sharps (needles and scalpel blades)
o Spillage
o Used dressings, bandages and equipment
o Unsterilized or poorly sterilised equipment and work surfaces
o Unwashed hands
You should become actively involved in your organisation and assist to identify hazards and then
eliminate or minimise the risk of harm they pose.
What you can do to prevent, eliminate or minimise risks and hazards
You can prevent, minimise and/or manage workplace risks and hazards by being alert to potential hazards
and reporting them to your supervisor and/or your organisation’s designated health and safety officers
and/or representatives. If you are in a medical setting, you can talk with doctors, nurses and/or the practice
manager about safety issues.
You can also adopt safe work practices by following workplace policies and procedures, which are based
on laws that include regulations and standards. Your organisation must follow these laws and regulations
or else it will risk being fined or taken to court.
OHS legislation
Each state and territory in Australia has its own OHS legislation. There is a Commonwealth Act covering
Commonwealth employees. The OHS act in your state or territory describes the legal requirements to
ensure workplaces are kept safe and healthy including the following:
Identify, assess, eliminate or control risks to health and safety
Promote and maintain the health, safety and welfare of people at work
Protect people at work from injury and illness
Protect the health and safety of the public in workplaces
Consult workers and encourage participation in maintaining workplace health and safety
Provide rehabilitation and maximum recovery for injured workers

Show the main OHS legislation in our country

It is essential that you work in line with legislative requirements, Ethiopia and industry standards, and the
relevant codes of practice.
OHS regulations
Every state in Australia has regulations that establish requirements, duties and procedures applying to
specific work areas. Some regulations apply to all workplaces and some apply to specific industries.
Codes of practice
Codes of practice provide practical advice to organisations, employers and workers in specific industries
to help them meet their obligations. Codes of practice are developed through consultation involving
industry representatives, employers, workers, professional associations and relevant government agencies.
Workplace policies and procedures
A policy describes the overall approach the organisation has adopted toward a particular aspect of its
operation. A procedure is a set of instructions that an employee must follow to complete a task effectively
and/or safely, in a way that maximises efficiency and effectiveness. When you are unsure of how to
perform a task at work, your supervisor may expect you to access your workplace procedures for
information. A procedures manual may be available in printed form or electronically on your
organisation’s computer system and you should familiarise yourself with this information.
OHS policy and procedures
OHS procedures are a set of instructions that have been developed to ensure all employees work safely
and effectively. OHS policies and procedures will include important information about:
Use of personal protective clothing and equipment
Personal presentation
Standard precautions
Safe handling of chemicals, poisons and dangerous materials, including material safety data sheets
(MSDS)
Emergency, fire, accidents and drills
General safety precautions
Housekeeping
Implementation of hazard identification and control systems

Manual handling
Staff development and training programs
Waste management
Workstations
Emergency contact numbers
OHS personnel
Location of first aid equipment
Selection, use and storage of personal protective equipment
Information on local doctors, hospitals and ambulance services
Personal presentation
Employees in retail, health and hospitality may have to ensure they maintain a clean, neat and tidy
appearance and dress in a manner that is not likely to offend customers or patients, or risk contamination.
You may be required to wear a uniform. It is important that your clothing is ironed, clean and kept in good
condition. Jewellery and makeup should be kept to a minimum, with long hair tied back neatly.
Personal protective equipment
Some aspects of your work may require you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is clothing
and equipment designed to protect workers from direct exposure to blood, body fluids, and potentially
infectious materials. PPE is provided by your workplace and you should use PPE correctly to protect your
own health and safety.
PPE may include:
Overalls (to protect the body from grime and hazardous substances)
Safety boots (to protect feet – compulsory on a construction site)
Safety gloves (to protect hands against cuts, extreme hot and cold, chemicals and poisons)
Safety helmets (to protect the head against injury from falling objects)
Respirators (to protect lungs where workers may be working in noxious atmospheres or confined
spaces)
Ear muffs (to protect against industrial deafness)
Standard precautions
Standard precautions are work practices. In a medical environment standard precautions include washing
and drying hands before and after patient contact and exercising care when handling sharps and
contaminated or infectious waste.
Material safety data sheets
Organisations use a range of chemicals, hazardous substances and work-related equipment. Workers in
office environments may be exposed to chemicals (toners for a printer or photocopier) that pose a risk to
workplace health and safety if they are not used correctly.
Manufacturers of chemicals and hazardous substances must provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) to
their customers. MSDS explain the correct storage, care and handling of manufacturers’ products.
As an employee you have a responsibility to ensure you follow the MSDS instructions. You will be given
training on how you can use the information on the MSDS to assist with health and safety in the
workplace.
OHS in your workplace
When you start work you will receive an induction, where you will receive information about the
organisation and your conditions of employment and basic information about OHS. Other information
covered in an induction may include the following:
Duty of care
Employer duty of care
Employee duty of care
Fire and emergency procedures
First aid facilities
General work instructions
Health and safety rules
OHS committee and health and safety officers
OHS training programs available in the workplace
The organisation’s health and safety policy
Risk management
Personal protective equipment

Duty of care
Duty of care describes the legal obligation that individuals and organisations have towards customers,
visitors and each other in ensuring the workplace is kept safe. A person or organisation is obliged to
remove or minimise any possible cause of harm.
Employer duty of care
An employer must provide, as is practicably possible, a safe and hazard-free workplace for employees.
Your employer’s duty of care requires them to do the following:
provide competent staff to manage and supervise the business
provide sufficient staff to carry out the work safely
provide and maintain a safe working environment and equipment
provide information, instruction, training and supervision so you can perform your role safely

Employee duty of care

An employee’s responsibilities may vary depending on the type of work performed by your organisation.
You should clarify your duty of care with your supervisor. You may find it involves some or all of the
following:
Being careful and look after your own safety
Cooperating with your employer in their efforts to comply with their OHS responsibilities
Ensuring customers and visitors are aware of any special OHS requirements
Following all safety regulations and procedures in your workplace
Never putting the safety of colleagues and others at risk
Reporting hazards, accidents and injuries
 Taking care not to interfere with health and safety equipment
Taking care not to deliberately endanger another’s safety
Wearing personal protective equipment as required

1.2 Checking systems and equipment

At work you may be required to use a range of technology and equipment. Equipment can pose a risk to
health and safety if it isn’t in correct working order or used incorrectly.
Equipment and systems safety checks
As part of your daily routine you should check the various systems and equipment you will use during the
day and make sure it is in correct working order. You may need to perform this checking procedure at the
beginning of your working day or at specified intervals during the day.
Documenting equipment and systems safety checks
Records may need to be kept of regular safety checks carried out on medical instruments if you work in a
medical office. Maintenance records are kept for the equipment that is used to sterilise instruments.
Records would usually document information such as:
Model and serial number of each steriliser
Date of servicing
Reason for the service request
Maintenance performed and a description of the parts that were used
Equipment start up and operation procedures
Your workplace policies and procedures should include detailed information on how to clean, start
and operate machinery. You should receive training in the safe operation of this machinery and
equipment. You will be required to wear appropriate PPE including goggles, gloves, hairnets, safety
boots or shoe covers. It is your responsibility to ensure you wear the PPE correctly.
2 IMPLEMENTING SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Reporting OHS queries and concerns
Participating in OHS in your workplace involves asking questions and reporting concerns to either your
supervisor or specialised OHS personnel.
Your supervisor
If you are unsure about any aspect of your work it is important to ask questions. Your supervisor has a
duty of care toward you and they are responsible for identifying any risks and minimising or eliminating
those risks. Supervisors will generally appreciate your participating in workplace health and safety.
OHS representatives
Staff can elect health and safety representatives to promote their interests with regards to OHS. The role of
an OHS representative is to:
Investigate incidents and accidents
Identify hazards
Accompany government safety inspectors on inspections in the workplace

Health and safety officers

Health and safety officers have extensive experience in workplace safety, and expert knowledge of
legislation, regulations, and codes of practice, equipment and work systems. They are employed by the
organisation and perform the following tasks:
Analyze incident reports
Assist in preparing standard operating procedures
Conduct safety audits
Coordinate fire and emergency responses
Coordinate OHS training
Inspect plant, equipment, processes and working methods
 Investigate accidents and incidents
Provide advice on safety matters to supervisors and senior management
Provide information to employees
Provide specialist advice to the OHS committee
2.2 Identifying, reporting and recording hazards
Hazard
A hazard is a source, or potential source, of human injury, ill health or disease.
A risk is the likelihood of a hazard resulting in an injury or disease, together with the seriousness of the
injury or disease; for example, electricity is a hazard, and there’s a risk that someone may receive a shock
if it is incorrectly wired or if wiring is exposed. A toxic chemical is a hazard, and there’s a risk that a
person may be poisoned, burned or suffer breathing problems if it is not handled according to the
manufacturer’s instructions and with the necessary PPE.
There are five types of hazards:
Biological (bacteria, viruses, mould, mildew, spillages of blood or body fluids and waste, needle stick
injury, contaminated sharps, dressings and waste, fumes and insects)
Chemical (acids or poisons and those that could lead to fire or explosion, cleaning agents, materials and
fumes, scheduled drugs and poisons)
Mechanical and/or electrical (electricity and equipment, plant and machinery)
Physical (floors, stairs, work platforms, steps, ladders, fire, falling objects, slippery surfaces, manual
handling, excessively loud and prolonged noise, vibration, radiation, poor lighting, ventilation, hold-ups,
threatening customers or patients)
Psychological (workplace stressors arising from sources such as workplace bullying, conflict and poor
time management)
Hazard identification
The hazard identification plan for your organisation may include the following:
Analysing injury and illness records
Analysing work processes
Collecting information on trends and developments in workplace health and safety
Consulting with OHS representatives and OHS committee members
Gathering feedback from employees (consultation)
Investigating workplace incidents and near-miss reports
Performing inspections or safety audits
Reviewing the potential impact of new work practices or equipment introduced at work

Workplace inspections
Workplace inspections are conducted on a regular basis with the assistance of the OHS representative or
health and safety officer. The purpose of these inspections is to identify the health and safety hazards in
the workplace before they cause harm.
2.3 Controlling risks
Risk assessment
Risk assessment involves:
Identifying hazards
Working out the chance of injury or damage occurring as a result of the hazard
Working out the likely degree of seriousness of the injury or damage
Finding the most appropriate method for managing that risk
Once a hazard has been identified, the next step is to assess the risk it poses. Your supervisor may
collaborate with OHS specialists to give priority to:
Control or
Eliminate the risk based on the likely degree of seriousness of the injury or damage

After a risk assessment is carried out, results should be recorded and employees affected by the hazard
should have access to this information.
Hierarchy of controls
Risks can be managed using a hierarchy of controls. If the first option is not available, choose the next best
option.

1. Eliminate the hazard (get rid of)

2. Substitute or modify the hazard
(replace)

3. Isolate the hazard (remove or secure

it)
4. Engineering methods to control the
hazard
5. Administrative controls
(Instructions and signs)
Personal protective equipment
(goggles, gloves and masks
Eliminating the risk
In your workplace you may be able to control some situations such as the following:
Move objects that people may trip over
Replace hazardous materials or equipment with less dangerous items
Move files that is normally stored on high shelves to waist height
Replace a manual-lifting task by using a hoist
Help workers eliminate back strain by providing training in better posture and work breaks

Taking action
Where you feel an immediate risk to health and safety, you should take action to protect your colleagues
and other people in the work environment. You may need to clean up a spill, turn off the electricity, or
shut down machinery to control an immediate hazard.
After a risk assessment your organization may take the following actions to control risk in a specific
department or work team:
Analyze existing work practices to find ways to make them safer
Arrange fire or emergency response training and drills
Coordinate workplace health and safety training
Counsel Employees about unsafe work practices
Investigate an accident or incident
Maintain or modify plant and equipment
Revise or prepare standard operating procedures or manuals
Purchase new equipment
Commonly used hazard signs and safety symbols
Signs and symbols are used to warn people of existing hazards, to inform them of the location of safety
equipment and give guidance in an emergency. The advantage of signs and symbols is that everyone can
interpret them, regardless of their literacy level or nationality.

2.4 Reporting emergency incidents and injuries

Incident reports
All employees are required by law to report hazards, emergency incidents and injuries that occur in the
workplace. An incident report form should be completed and submitted to the supervisor as soon as
possible.
Incident reports provide an organisation with information on the types of injuries occurring in the
workplace and their causes. These can then be investigated and steps taken to eliminate or minimise the
risk of the incident occurring.

OHS incidents
An OHS incident is any accident or event that occurs in the workplace that involves:
Dangerous occurrences that could have but didn’t injure any person
Disabling injuries
Exposure to hazardous substances or circumstances
Minor injuries
Occupational illnesses
Serious equipment, plant or property damage
Uncontrolled fire and explosions
Any other serious incident that could put employees, visitors, contractors or customers at risk
There are five categories of incidents you may have to report on:
1. near miss – an accident in which a person just avoids being injured
2. damage to plant or equipment – a serious occurrence but one in which no-one is hurt
3. minor injury – this could highlight a more serious safety problem
4. major injury – a serious incident
5. work-related travel injury – occurs while a worker is travelling to or from work

Reporting serious injuries

By law the types of injuries that must be reported include:
injury that results in the death of an employee
fracture of the skull, spine or pelvis
fracture of any bone in the arm (not wrist or hand) and leg (not ankle or foot)
loss of sight
injury resulting in a likely absence from work of 10 or more days

Incident report processes

When a hazard, accident, emergency or incident occurs, your immediate priority is to take action to
prevent further people from being hurt.
This may involve:
barricading the area
contacting security, the fire warden or a health and safety officer
telephoning emergency services
administering first aid or medical treatment, if you have the appropriate knowledge and skills
3 PARTICIPATING IN OHS PROCESSES
3.1 Contributing to meetings, inspections and consulting activities
Consultation
Consultation is the term used to describe the process of gathering information, sharing ideas and giving
feedback.
Your organisation will undertake consultation with you and your work colleagues regarding OHS issues
including:
Changes to policies, work practices and procedures
Changes to premises, plant or substances used at work
Conducting workplace risk assessments
Incorporating new health and safety requirements imposed by legislation, regulations and codes of
practice
Making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for the health and safety of workers
Making decisions about the organisation’s consultative procedures
Reviews of policies, procedures and work practices
Risk control

Methods used for consultation purposes include:

Appointing OHS representatives and providing them with reasonable access to you and your work
colleagues during working hours
Involving you in workplace inspections and/or asking for your comments and feedback during
workplace inspections
Involving you in risk assessments and/or asking for your comments and feedback during risk
assessments
Ensuring that OHS is included on the agenda, and encouraging you to discuss OHS at regular team
meetings
Forming an OHS committee, and providing OHS committee members with reasonable access to
workers during working hours
Asking you for your comments and feedback during informal conversations

OHS representatives
Part of the OHS representative’s role is to consult with employees on workplace health and safety.
Contributing to OHS consultation
OHS issues may be raised in team meetings. Discussion may cover the following:
recent workplace incidents
Production time lost to workplace injuries
New practices to improve workplace health and safety
Hazards that have been identified
Minutes of OHS committee meetings

OHS committees
An OHS committee must be established when the majority of employees request one or when the
organisation employs 30 or more staff.
OHS committees identify health and safety problems, consult with workers and make recommendations to
improve health and safety in the workplace, and monitor and report on OHS performance.
3.2 Raising OHS issues
Communicating about OHS
The first step in reporting an OHS issue is to decide the best person to advise. Your supervisor will
generally be your first point of contact on OHS issues; however your induction should include advice on
the standard communication channel for reporting OHS issues.
How to report OHS issues
You should advise your supervisor or other appropriate OHS staff by speaking to them in person.
When reporting an OHS issue you should remember to do the following:
Explain the issue clearly
Refer to any evidence you have
Make a suggestion on how to solve any problems raised
Follow this up with a formal notification eg. Email
Check with your supervisor or OHS specialist on whether this incident should be recorded
3.3 Taking action to eliminate hazards and risks
How to eliminate hazards and control risks
Hazards may be dealt with in the following ways:
Substituting the hazard with a hazard that poses less risk of harm
Isolating the hazard from the person at risk
Minimising the risk by engineering means
Using administrative means to minimise the risk
Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
Eliminate tripping or slipping hazards

Other ways OHS risks can be controlled in an organisation include:

Keeping work areas clean
Following correct procedures
Storing chemicals appropriately
Using correct manual-handling procedures
Managing noise pollution appropriately
Preventing slips, trips and falls
Preventing social and psychological hazards
Housekeeping
Each organisation has a housekeeping policy which covers general cleaning and presentation of the
workplace including reception and waiting areas. As an employee you should become familiar with this
policy and understand your responsibilities.
Stock requiring special handling
Some stock may require special handling and storage so employees must observe the correct procedures
and any legislative requirements. Flammable goods must be sealed in metal containers or cupboards, with
restricted access.
Storing chemicals
Chemicals may be hazards because they may be:
Poisonous
Flammable
Explosive
An oxidising agent or corrosive
A combination of these properties

Chemical hazard may include:

 Industrial cleaners used by cleaning staff
Printer or copy-machine cartridges
Glass-and-surface cleaner
Antibacterial soaps
Furniture polish

Waste management
Organisations have specific workplace procedures to advise staff on the correct handling, storage and
disposal of waste. Waste is a biohazard which is any organism, or material of biological origin, that causes
harm to humans, plants, animals or the environment.
Manual handling
Manual handling is any work-related physical task or activity, effort or movement such as:
Lifting heavy boxes
Holding, lowering, pushing or restraining an object or a load

Manual handling is the major cause of injury in workplaces as people often lift or push items that are too
heavy or too high up, without using the proper techniques.
Injuries caused by manual handling include:
Hernia
Neck and back injury
Occupational overuse syndrome
Slips, falls and crush incidents
Strained heart muscles
Strains and sprains
Noise pollution
Too much noise can result in a lack of concentration, errors and a loss of communication between
workers. If you feel that the noise in your work area poses a hazard to health and safety, you should notify
your supervisor or OHS specialist.
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls in workplaces can be caused from uneven and slippery floors, items left in walkways
or electrical cords on the floor.
Social and psychological hazards
Social and psychological hazards include those that affect your emotional, psychological and/or social
wellbeing. The most common of these hazards is stress. Causes of stress include:
Lack of variety in work tasks
Lack of independence
Not enough feedback from supervisors or managers
Poor ability to interact with other people
Harassment and bullying
Insufficient personal satisfaction in the work
Not enough training opportunities
Being overworked or not having enough to do

Workplace bullying
Many organisations that have failed to prevent bullying have been prosecuted. Reported effects of bullying
include:
Stress, anxiety and tension
 Feelings of social isolation at work
Loss of confidence and self-esteem
Loss or deterioration of personal relationships

Headaches, backaches, stomach cramps, depression

Deterioration of work performance
Any incidents of bullying should be recorded in a diary, noting the date, time and location of the incident
and any comments or behaviour by the other party. If you are being bullied you should ask the person
bullying you to stop the behaviour. If they fail to do this, you should then refer the matter to your
supervisor or OHS specialist. If you feel threatened you should immediately refer the matter to appropriate
personnel. The police may also be notified.
4 FOLLOWING SAFETY PROCEDURES
4.1 Identifying and reporting emergency incidents
Emergency incidents may involve employees or visitors to the organisation such as suppliers, contractors,
customers and members of the public. Types of emergencies include:
Acts of terrorism
Bomb threats
Environmental threats including spills
Explosions
Fire
Hold-ups
Medical emergencies
Motor vehicle accidents
Natural disasters including flooding
Toxic release

Reporting emergency incidents

All employees are required to report hazards and emergency incidents that occur in the workplace, in the
form of a verbal report and completing a hazard or incident report. Many organisations conduct regular
drills where staff practise responding to an emergency.
Immediate response
In emergency situations it is important to act quickly to protect your personal safety and safety and health
of other people around you.
An emergency should be reported to an appropriate person or department including the following:
Communications officer
Emergency services (police, ambulance, fire service)
Fire warden

First aid officers

Floor wardens
Health and safety officer
Internal security staff
OHS representative
Owner-manager
supervisor
Making emergency calls
To report an emergency you will need to know:
 a telephone number for the organisation
the address of your workplace
the nature of the emergency
the nearest cross street to your workplace
whether people are trapped or injured

4.2 Following organisational procedures for responding to incidents

Emergency manual
An emergency manual describes emergency procedures and fire-safety precautions within the
organisation, and guides those who are required to take action to protect lives and property.
Accidents
Accidents are events that result in human injury or damage to property or have the potential to cause injury
or damage.
Accidents may be the result of:
careless staff
fault, incorrect or unstable equipment
inappropriate work spaces
incorrectly stored items
lack of safety precautions
lack of training
lack of use of personal protective equipment
obstructions over exits
poor maintenance of equipment
poor supervision
rushing to get a job done

Preventing accidents
Accident prevention involves ensuring all equipment and fixtures are organised, checked frequently and
maintained. Many organisations use a ‘breakdown and maintenance’ checklist or register to record
breakdowns and to make sure repairs are carried out promptly. Slips, trips and falls are a common cause of
injuries in the workplace. Notify your supervisor or health and safety officer of any issues regarding
flooring in your work environment. Substances that have spilled on the floor are significant hazards.
Lighting can also be a hazard. If an area is poorly lit you should notify your supervisor.
Responding to an accident
In the event of accidents, take immediate action to prevent further injuries occurring, give first aid if you
are qualified to do so and get assistance from:
colleagues
customers
emergency services
a health and safety officer
members of the public
security staff
your supervisor

Evacuation
An organisation will have developed an evacuation plan and will conduct regular emergency drills. A well-
written evacuation plan will cover:
 fire procedures
bomb-threat procedures
clearance of all people in the building
assembly of everyone at evacuation meeting points

checking of names of all evacuated individuals

Bomb threat
A bomb threat may be received via telephone, in written format or as a suspect object. Your organisation
will have a bomb-threat checklist that is kept in close proximity to each telephone. If you receive a
telephone bomb threat, keep the caller talking (don’t hang up at any time), and note as many details as
possible.
You should record the following:
details of speech, accent, delivery and background noises
exact wording of the threat
gender and other details of the caller, such as estimated age
location of the device
time of detonation

Safety alarms
Alarms should never be ignored. Most alarms have an audible (sound) and/or visible warning that
something is wrong. An audible alarm could be a siren, hooter or bell. The visible component may be a
flashing light.
Service failure
Service failures can include interruptions to the supply of communications, electricity or water. Your
supervisor or workplace procedures manual may have advice on what to do. You will need to refer to a
telephone directory or Internet site to get information on reporting the interruption to your service
provider.
Toxic or noxious fumes
In situations where a spill is emitting toxic or noxious fumes you should:
call emergency services on 000 and ask for the fire service
notify the fire warden for your department
provide as much information as possible about the hazardous material to the emergency services contact
open windows and doors to ventilate the area
ask all people on the premises to evacuate
assist with the evacuation to the assembly area
remain at the assembly area until advised by emergency services