1. Occupational Health Safety and Welfare
 Powerpoint presentation resource from
Charles Darwin University, Australia

2. Legislation
The Workplace Health and Safety Act.
“An Act to promote occupational health and safety in the
Territory to prevent workplace injuries and diseases, to
protect the health and safety of the public in relation to
work activities, to promote the rehabilitation and
maximum recovery from incapacity of injured workers, to
provide financial compensation to workers incapacitated
from workplace injuries or diseases and to the
dependants of workers who die as the results of such
injuries or diseases, to establish certain bodies and a
fund for the proper administration of the Act, and for
related purposes.”

3. Legislation cont’d
The aim of the Act is to protect workers at work by promoting a culture of
safety awareness. Both the Act and the Regulations have mandatory
requirements and fines for breaches of the Act and regulations are
outlined within the documents.
Codes of Practice under the Act provide practical guidance on how a
health and safety standard can be achieved. These are mandatory
requirements and should be followed. Minimum standards are stated
and if there is another solution which achieves the same or better
standard of health and safety it may be used
Australian Standards provide guidance on how a standard can be
achieved. These standards are developed by Standards Australia and
contain requirements that should be followed. Minimum standards are
stated and if there is another solution which achieves the same or
better standard of health and safety it may be used.
IF IN DOUBT, ASK!!!

4. Employer and Employee Responsibilities
 Responsibilities of employers and
employees are outlined in the Workplace
Health and Safety Act and the University
Health and Safety Policy.

5. Inspections of the Workplace
 Regular inspections of the workplace are designed to identify hazards
for assessment and control to maintain a safe environment
 Inspections must be carried out on a regular basis and form part of the
overall OH&S management system of the University
 Inspections are carried out on a scheduled basis by a team who
complete the checklist and identify hazards for correction
 Where there is a significant change in activities and/or area use an
inspection must be performed
 High risk areas should be inspected more frequently
 It is the responsibility of staff in the area inspected to take remedial
action within timeframes set.

6. Managers and Supervisors
 Staff in a supervisory capacity are
required to ensure that regular
inspections are carried out and that
appropriate remedial action is
undertaken

7. Health and Safety Inspection Check List
 Download the
Health and Safety Inspection Checklist
 Regular Inspections provide a means for you to measure your OHS
performance.
 Keep records
 Complete the checklist and don’t forget to identify who will be
responsible for correcting identified hazards

8. Safe Work Procedures (SWP’s)
 Where a specific hazard exists it may be appropriate to have
safe work procedures clearly described and posted close by
so as they can be easily read and understood
 International signage is useful where there may be difficulty in
communication
 DO NOT rely on verbal information for it may not be received
by all who need it.
 Document all information
 Procedures should be reviewed at inspection time
 Safe Work Procedure Template

9. Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments
 Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments must be completed when
dealing with Hazardous Substances
 They are designed to address the key points associated with the
substance such as Usage, Health Effects, Hazard Identification, Control
Measures and Disposal Processes
 All this information can be obtained from the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for the substance.

10. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s)
 MSDS’s can be obtained from manufacturer/supplier or through a chemical
database such as ChemWatch
 Electronic information may not be available when needed so hard copies of the
information must be kept where they are easily accessed
 Every chemical substance in the workplace should have a printed MSDS to
inform the user of the nature of the product in use.
The MSDS provides valuable information on:
 what the formula is, it’s appearance, odor and use
 permissible exposure limits (PEL), exposure effects
 monitoring and measurement procedures
 health hazard information
 emergency first aid
 personal protection
 leak/spill procedures, waste disposal and storage

11. Labelling of chemicals
Labelling of substances is governed by the
National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances [NOHSC:2012 (1994)]
LABELS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
The label on a hazardous substance should draw the attention of a user who is handling or using
the substance to the significant hazards involved. It should take into account all the hazards
which are likely to occur during the use of the substance.
INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 500 mL(g)
6. Product Name
7. Chemical Name
8. Concentration or formulation details
9. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels
10. UN number
11. Risk Phrase(s)
12. Safety Phrase(s)
13. Directions for use (as appropriate)
14. First Aid procedures
15. Emergency Procedures
16. Expiry date
17. Manufacturer details
18. Reference to MSDS

12. Labelling of chemicals
 Small containers may have insufficient space to include all the information needed on the label
in a style and size that is legible and clearly distinguishable from other markings on the
container. The information needed on labels for small containers is therefore a subset of that for
containers of more than 500 mL(g).
INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH A CAPACITY OF LESS THAN 500 mL(g)
4. Product Name
5. Chemical Name
6. Concentration or formulation details
7. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels
8. UN number
9. Risk Phrase(s) – at least the most significant
10. Safety Phrase(s) – at least the most significant
11. First Aid procedures
12. Manufacturer details
13. Reference to MSDS
Where a container of a hazardous substance is so small that this information cannot be
provided on the actual container, the container should be labelled with at least:
18. Product Name/Chemical Name
19. Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and subsidiary risk labels
20. Manufacturer details
Consideration should be given to other methods of providing additional information, such as on
outer packaging. Alternative packaging can be used to provide enough room to allow the full set
of information to be supplied.

13. Resolution of OHS issues
 Initially the OHS issue should be discussed with your
supervisor
 Should the supervisor not be able to assist, the matter should
be referred to your Health and Safety Representative on the
Faculty Workplace Advisory Group (WAG) and seek advice from
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).
 Refer paperwork to WAG or HSE for action
 If the matter remains unresolved it can then be referred to the
University Health and Safety Group (UHSG)

14. Hazards
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health
effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.
 Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the
health effect it caused rather than the hazard. For example, the
disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some but in
general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard"
or "hazardous biological agent".
What are examples of a hazard?
 Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources.
General examples include any substance, material, process,
practice, etc that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health
effect to a person under certain conditions. See Table 1 (next slide).

15. Table 1 Hazards
Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Harm Caused
Object Knife Cut
Substance Benzene Leukaemia
Material Asbestos Mesothelioma
Energy Source Electricity Shock, electrocution
Conditions Wet floor Slip, fall
Process Welding Metal fume fever
Practice Quad bike riding Crash
As shown in the table, workplace hazards also include practices or
conditions that release uncontrolled energy like: an object that could fall
from a height (potential or gravitational energy), a run-away chemical
reaction (chemical energy) or the release of compressed gas or steam
(pressure; high temperature).

16. Accident, Injury and Incident Reporting
 Accidents, Injuries and Incidents should be reported within 24hours to
Health, Safety and Environment on Accident, Injury and Incident report
If a matter is considered to be serious, involves serious injury or involves
a death, IMMEDIATE notification to HSE is required.
 Supervisors are responsible for the follow up and investigation of all
incidents and accidents and are required to forward the accident,
incident and incident form to the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
unit.
 Supervisor is to keep a copy of the Accident, Injury and Incident report
form and forward a copy to the Chair of the WAG

17. Manual Handling
 Manual Handling presents a significant risk in most
workplaces and there is a
Manual Handling Risk Assessment Checklist to
determine risks associated with activities.
 Training is recommended for any person who is required
to perform manual handling duties as part of their work
and is available internally or externally to the University
 Check Health, Safety and Environment training dates
 Manual handling information is available as a Regulation
and Code of Practice

18. Screen based equipment and Ergonomic
Assessment
 The procedure for users of keyboard and screen based equipment is
available at: Screen based equipment - Selection and Use
 Use the Workstation Checklist to make an assessment of your situation

19. First Aid and Medical Assistance
 The University requires each work area to maintain trained First Aid
personnel. Depending on the size of the area, one or more may be
required to service the area
 First aid personnel are responsible for maintaining the kits to comply with
the current Code of Practice and keeping records of all illnesses, injuries
and treatments given.
 Security personnel are trained in first aid and can be called if you are
unable to locate your first aid officer. If no first aid assistance can be
provided call for Ambulance assistance.
 Medical practitioners are not currently available on campus. As a general
rule, cases requiring ambulance attendance and further treatment are
sent to Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department.
 Do not delay in seeking first aid and always remember to complete an
Accident, Injury and Incident report

20. Emergencies
When the alarms sound:
1. Evacuate building immediately by nearest safe exit or as directed by your floor
warden.
2. Proceed directly to the designated Assembly Area
3. Wait until the “all clear” given by Fire Brigade Officer or Building Warden or
Security
 DO NOT enter buildings if alarms are sounding
 DO NOT USE lifts/elevators during an evacuation.
 Familiarise yourself with the floorplan of the building you are in and the
designated assembly area

21. Fire and Fire Fighting Equipment
Only attempt to extinguish minor fires – do not take personal risks
 Fire brigade: The fire brigade is alerted by the faculty's automatic alarm
systems.
 The Building Warden or the deputy Building Warden must meet the
Emergency Services personnel when they arrive at the fire panel of the
building. As soon as possible inform the University Security on extension
7777 or 8946 7777 or 8946 6500 (Casuarina Campus only).
 Each laboratory usually has a Fire extinguisher of DRY CHEMICAL General-
purpose type
 Most laboratories also have a fire blanket. Fire blankets are the method of
choice for small and contained fires.
 Each building also has fire hoses in them. See floor plans for their positions
in each building

22. Forms and Useful Links
Forms Policy and Procedure
 New employee health and safety checklist  University OHS Policy
 University Health and Safety Policy
 Health and Safety Inspection Checklist
 Field Manual
 Safety Manual
 Safe Work Procedure Template
 Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments
 Hazard Report
 Accident, Injury and Incident report Other Links
 Manual Handling Risk Assessment Checklist  ChemWatch
 Health, Safety and Environment
 NT WorkSafe