Sneak Peek
This course takes a multidisciplinary approach to Workplace Health and Safety. It helps you appreciate hazards that can exist in any type of workplace, relevant to both blue colour and white colour industries.
Many OH&S courses are focussed on developing specialised knowledge; that is learning the laws and practices that relate to a particular industry in a particular legal jurisdiction. This produces a specialist – someone who can deal with a particular workplace I a particular jurisdiction. Well established research shows that there are some distinct advantages though to being more of a generalist than being a specialist. Generalists know a little about lots of things and research has shown that generalists are more innovative in their thinking.
Who is this Course For?
- Professional development for supervisors, managers, HR professionals
- A taster course for people interested in a career in workplace health & safety
- Safety officers in any workplace
- Worker representatives
- Small business owners/employers
What's covered in the course?
LESSON 1 OHS POLICY & REGULATIONS
Introduction
Defining a Worker
Worker Rights and Duties
Laws and Regulations
Policies, Procedures and Codes of Practice
Licensing Requirements
Compliance v Non-compliance
Ethics
Importance of OHS Regulations
The Importance of Ethics to Workplace Health and Safety
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 2 GENERAL WORKPLACE HAZARDS
What are Workplace Hazards?
Types of General Workplace Hazards
Vibrations
Temperature
Radiation
Electricity
Noise
Air
Lighting
Fire
Computer Equipment
Impact Levels
Occupational Epidemiology
Case Study: Searcy Missile Silo Fire
Common Occupational Diseases
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 3 CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Chemical Hazards
Workplace Exposure Standards
Health Monitoring
Working with Chemicals
Chemical Classification
Labelling Procedures
Workplace Signage and Staff Training
Storage Methods
First Aid
Biohazards
Workplace Hygiene
Safety Data Sheets
Case Study: Bhopal Chemical Spill
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 4 PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS IN THE WORKPLACE
What is Psychosocial Workplace Stress?
Models of Stress
Types of Psychosocial Stress
Conflict
Bullying
Sexual Harassment
Job Security
Hours of Work
Workload
Autonomy at Work
Performance Measures
Discrimination
Equity
Burnout and Fatigue
Individual Differences
Neurodiversity
Defining Stress
Symptoms and Effects of Stress
Defining Neurodiversity
The Difference Between Neurotypical and Neurodivergent Brains
LESSON 5 RISK MANAGEMENT & CONTROL MEASURES
Duty of Care
Risk Management
Control Measures
Dedicated Compliance Teams
Design Factors and Workplace Signage
Staff Training & Education
Observing Safety Instructions
First Aid Kits, Signage and Training
Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Procedures for Dealing with Specific Workplace Hazards
Working with Machinery
Working at Heights
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Working in Confined Spaces
Lifting & Handling Goods
Working Outdoors
Working with Hazardous Materials
Case Study: Hamlet Chicken Processing Plant Fire
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 6 WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, & INJURIES
Dealing with Workplace Emergencies
Dealing with Workplace Accidents, Incidents, and Injuries
Reporting Procedures for Accidents & Injuries
Dealing with Physical Assault
Procedures for Dealing with Psychological Injuries
OHS Responsibilities
Workers Compensation
Rehabilitation
Case Study: Deepwater Horizon
Fatigue and Accidents At Work
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 7 SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES AND OHS
Agriculture
Construction
Painting and Decorating
Mining
Pharmaceuticals
Textiles
Transport
Hospitality
Education
Healthcare
The Implications of Workplace Injuries and Illness
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 8 OHS WORKPLACE CULTURE
Hierarchical Culture
Adhocracy Culture
Market Culture
Clan Culture
What Can Happen When Workplace Culture is Bad?
Toxic Cultures
How to Develop and Sustain a Positive Culture
Creating Clear Goals
Developing Employee Relationships
Recognition
Flexibility
Inclusive Approach
Opportunities for Development
Communication, Connection, Celebration
Factors Affecting Mental Health
Bullying
Review What You Have Been Learning
LESSON 9 OHS CHALLENGES FOR WORKING REMOTELY
Working Remotely
Duty of Care
Drawbacks to Remote Working
Symptoms and Effects of Stress
Burnout
How to Support Remote Workers?
Provide Necessary Tools
Employee Assistance Programs
Working Hours
A Certain Area
Time Off
Loneliness and Isolation
Overcoming Burnout
Exercise
Help Staff Adjust to Adapt to Change
Mental Health Management
What Is Burnout and How to Avoid It
Review What You Have Been Learning
Final Assessment
LEARN TO MINIMISE RISKS
There are risks to health and safety everywhere; but minimising those risks is both an ethical and legal responsibility that should be attended to in any workplace.
Minimising such risks begins with identifying and mitigating as many hazards as is reasonable.
Hazards are things that can potentially cause harm, and they can include all sorts of things. For example, at work they might be a workplace activity, aspects of the physical work environment, or materials or equipment used in the workplace. Whenever hazards are identified, they must be annulled or controlled to prevent harm or reduce the risk of harm.
Workplace hazards might include vibration, temperature, noise, electrophysical factors and radiation, chemicals and other substances -minerals, dusts,
Some aspects of OH&S are commonly regulated, and others are not. There are many examples of why occupational health and safety regulations are important but perhaps the clearer picture can be seen by looking back to a time in industry where there were no regulations. The Industrial Revolution covered the period from the late 1700s to early 1800s and described the widespread adoption of large-scale manufacturing processes in the United Kingdom. These new manufacturing processes were centred in more urban areas where large work forces were available, and goods could be transported easily. It marked a shift from the necessity of hiring skilled trades to unskilled labour. As the machines used were relatively easy to operate and there was a readily available work force business owners generally took the cheapest options available for anything they did. These included;
- Hiring women and children solely because they could pay them half of what they paid men.
- Working children as young as five.
- Extremely poor working hours – 12 to 16 hours a day with one break for lunch was typical.
- No safety equipment.
- No help, support or pay for those injured on the job (including children).
- Limited light in the factories due to smoke, fumes, and limited windows.
- High incidence of health conditions due to smoke, fumes, and poor working conditions.
These conditions led to many health problems, injuries, and deaths. Many children grew up stunted or deformed by the labour they were performing at such a young age. There was no incentive to introduce legislation in favour of workers though as there was always a ready supply of people wanting to work, as the money earned was often more than they could get elsewhere.
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