Racial Abuse

Racial abuse can be subtle or overt, including racial "jokes" at the expense at a particular worker or a group of worker's expense. Racial abuse can be considered racial discrimination if someone with authority in the workplace starts it.

The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 makes racial discrimination in employment against the law throughout Australia. The act aims to ensure that people of all backgrounds have equal rights in the workplace, and have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Victims can lodge complaints with the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Fire Safety

Fires can be divided into six classes:


Class A: Fires involving common combustibles
These include:
- Paper
- Wood
- Textiles
- Plastics
Water is the best method if fighting these kinds of fires and prevent re-ignition.


Class B: Fires involving flammable liquids
These include:
- Oil
- Petrol
-Kerosene
- Alcohol
- Paints and paint thinners
- Solvents
Water should not be used to fight these types of fires. Use C2 or foam extinguishers.


Class C: Fires involving gases
These include:
- Liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- Butane
- Acetylene
- Hydrogen
- Natural gas
- Methane
Dry chemical or vaporizing extinguishers should be used for these types of fires.


Class D: Fires involving combustible chemicals/metals
These include:
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Lithium
- Aluminium
- Magnesium
Use special dry chemical extinguishers to fight them.


Class E: Electrical fires
Equipment involved in these kinds of fires:
- Motor
- Generators
- Computers
- Lights
- Plugs
- Switches/cables
Fight this type of fire with dry chemicals CO2 or vaporising liquid extinguishers.


Class F: Fueled by cooking oil or fat
Use wet chemical, dry chemical or  C02 extinguishers.


Fire Extinguishers
These are colour coded according to their contents and purpose.





Using Fire Extinguishers 



Using Fire Blankets

Evacuation Procedure
All personnel must be familiar with their building and evacuation procedure.  
Everyone must know the location of fire exits, manual alarms, and safe assembly areas.
When an alarm sounds or an evacuation announcement is made:
-- Turn off electrical equipment, if safe to do so.
-- Close windows and doors, if safe to do so
-- Do not lock doors
-- Calmly move to the designated assembly area
-- Do not use the lifts, exit via the stairs
-- Keep talk to a minimum
-- Do not re-enter the building until it has been confirmed that it is safe to

Week Six:

In class today, we went down to Miller TAFE Library for an assessment in which we had to assess the library in relation to OH&S issues.

We also received a CPR chart compiled by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales. 

From our resource booklets that we worked from today, we learnt about several things, including:

• Good Housekeeping
• Cleaning as a hazards
• Storage of hazards
• Noise as a hazard
• Managing Stress

Good Housekeeping

Good housekeeping in a library includes both the staff rooms and  the area designated for the library clients. Good housekeeping ensures that there are less hazards for anyone in the library, for example rubbish should be removed regularly. However, cleaning can also be considered a hazard in regard to:

• Manual handling injuries
• Slips, trips and falls on wet and cluttered floors
• Electrical equipment 
• Hazardous substances in cleaning products
• Distributing hazardous substances during cleaning
• Working in confined spaces
• Discarded sharp objects and glass 

Storage of Hazards

Substances that are hazardous to human health or the environment should be stored safely and securely. 

Follow safe work procedures: 

• Plan storage systems or tasks
• Store tools, equipment and personal protective equipment properly
• Store items upright
• Use bins, racks, pallets
• Place heavier items on lower shelves
• Follow manufacturer's storage instructions

Noise

In many workplaces, noise is a hazard and should not be treated as an environmental nuisance. Exposure to excessive or prolonged noise causes irreversible deafness or hearing impairment by damaging the inner ear. 

Early warning signs or risk or actual hearing loss include 

• ringing in the ears after a noisy activity
• becoming "used to" constant levels of noise 
• having difficulty understanding what people say
• dialing to hear background noise

Regulations govern the level of noise that is allowed in the workplace. The standard level of noise in the workplace is 85 decibels over an eight hour working day. The noise in the workplace cannot exceed 140 decibels at any time. 

Safety measures 

• Use personal hearing protectors if provided for a specific purpose
• Minimise the duration of your exposure to noise
• Report defects in noise control equipment or personal hearing protectors to a supervisor

Managing Stress

Apparently research has shown that some stress is good for us and keeps us on our toes. 

But feeling "stressed out" is to feel tense, uncomfortable, under pressure and anxious. 

Symptoms of excessive stress:

Headaches Fatigue Anxiety Skin rashes and pimples Tension Irritability Tremors Aggression Reduced appetite

Indigestion Depression Weight loss or overeating Dizziness Poor memory Insomnia Irregular bowel movements Inability to concentrate Indecisiveness

Causes of Stress in the Workplace:

Work overload and long hours               Responsibility                    Fear of redundancy                   Bullying                   Dealing with the public              Harassment             Performance related pay conditions                      Lack of control over work             Interruptions                      Not expressing yourself/having no say in decision making

Not understanding/agreeing with management decisions             Poor or inadequate training             Unsatisfactory contact with the supervisor             Lack of constructive feedback on performance             Inadequate staffing levels             Feeling that tasks are too complex, boring or  repetitive             Shift work or overtime             Conflicts with managers and/or other workers

 

What can be done?

• Strike that happy balance
  - keep a happy balance between work and your personal life
• Work smarter not harder
  - Practice time management and strike a balance between competing demands of your time
• "To-do list"
  - Compile a to-do list of the tasks you need to do and cross them off as you go
• Get focused and analytical
  - Focus on one task at a time until it's finished before moving on to the next.
  - Break down large projects into smaller individual parts
• Use tools of your trade effectively
  - Make the most of the tools that you available to you
• Be tidy and organised
  - Keep your work space tidy - you'll feel calmer and ready to focus on the job at hand
• Take sufficient rest and eat well
  - Sleep well and take regular breaks at work to clear your mind and help you relax
  - Eat full, proper meals and have snacks when you need to
• Exercise
  - Physical exercise is a good tool for alleviating stress, depression and fatigue, as well as the physical benefits
• Express yourself
  - Seek advice and support when you need it - identify the contributory causes and discuss how you feel
  

Week Four/Five:

In this week, we learnt about manual handling and hazardous substances.

Manual Handling

• About 80% of Australia's will experience back pain at some stage in their lives
• Up to 15% will experience back pain in any one year
• Is an activity that involves lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, holding or restraining
• May also include stretching and bending, sustained and awkward postures and repetitive movements
• Can result in musculoskeletal injuries 

Examine Every Manual Handling Task

1. Is there a procedure for this task? If so, follow it.
2. Must the load be moved?
3. Must it be lifted?
       - Slid, pushed, pulled, rolled, poured, pumped
4. Can it be moved mechanically?
       - Crane, forklift, hand truck, winch
5. Can the load be reduced?
       - Consider bulk & weight and distance to be moved
6. Can or should assistance be sought?
       - 2 people or a team lift
7. Is the load too heavy or too bulky to lift safely?
       - Is it within your lifting capability?
8. What steps can you put in place to reduce the risk of injury associated with this task?

Correct Lifting Procedure

1. Asses the muscular effort required. Make sure the place where the load is to be put is clear of obstructions
2. Stand close to the load with feet apart so that you have a balanced stable base for the lifting
3. Don't bend your back. Bend at the knees and keep your back as straight as possible.
4. Get a firm grip and move the load close to your body.
5. Do not jerk the load. Lift it smoothly.
6. Always keep your arms and the load close to your body and when turning use your feet rather than twisting.

Hazardous Substances

There are nine classes for identifying hazardous substances and some labels also show the Packing Group (PG) which indicates the degree of danger:

PG I - great danger

PG II - medium danger

PG III - minor danger

Class 1 - Explosives

Substances and articles used to produce explosions or pyrotechnic effects. These include high explosives, fireworks and cartridges. 

Class 2 - Gases

These are gases which have been compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure.

Class 2.1 - Flammable gases

Class 2.2 - Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Class 2.3 - Toxic gases: gases likely to cause death or serious injury to human health if inhaled

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

These are liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in suspension, which in most instances can be ignited and will burn.Class 3 PG I - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint less than 23°C and an initial burning point not greater than 35°C Class 3 PG II - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint less then 23°C and an initial burning point greater than 35°CClass 3 PG III - Flammable liquids with a flashpoint of 23°C or more, but less than or equal to 60.5°CClass 4 - Flammable SolidsClass 4.1  - Flammable solids, self-reactive and related substances and desensitized explosives - solids easily ignited and readily combustible.Class 4.2 - Substances liable to spontaneous combustion.Class 4.3 - Substances which emit flammable gases when in contact with water.Class 5 - Oxidizers Class 5.1 - Oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide)Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides (liquid or solid)Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious SubstancesThese are poisonous and infectious substances (excluding toxic gases). Class 6.1 - Toxic substances. These are liable to cause death or serious injury to human health if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.Class 6.2 - Infectious substances. These are substances containing viable micro-organisms that are known or believed to cause disease in humans or animals.Class 7 - Radioactive SubstancesThese emit ionizing radiation.Class 8 - CorrosivesThese are substances (either solids or liquids) which will damage living tissue, goods or equipment on contact, by chemical action. Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous GoodsThese are substances and articles which have potentially dangerous properties that are relatively minor.

Week Two:

In this week, we learnt several things, including:

• Hazard management,
• Workplace hazards and examples, and
• Safety signs and colour at work.

Hazard Management

Based on four broad principals:

• Identification :- identify the potential risks
• Assessment :- what threat does the risk pose?
• Control :- what can be done to fix/control the risk?
• Evaluation :- how well has the implementation worked?

Workplace Hazards and Examples

Based on the seven different classes of risks:

• Physical

Noise and heat, temporary electrical wiring, electrical equipment in unsafe condition, untidy work condition, spills on floor, poorly lit stairways, incorrect lifting.

• Chemical

Photocopiers and toners, air contaminants, moulds, smoking, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

• Biological

Air contaminants, infections, Legionnaires Disease.

• Psychological

Stress (dealing with abrasive clients and co-workers, poor conditions, bullying, conflicts, etc.) and burnout

• Mechanical/Electrical

Equipment not properly guarded, using equipment/machinery for something it is not designed for, overloading powerboard.

• Ergonomic

Visual display unit (monitor glare), using furniture that is not adjustable, actions that require repetitive movements.

• Radiation

Ultraviolet light (photocopiers).

Safety Signs and Colour at Work

Safety signs are used to draw attention to hazards (especially hazards that may not be obvious) and provide general information and directions. The signs are also used to show where emergency equipment is located and remind employees where personal protective equipment must be worn. 

Categories	Colour	Shape
Prohibition	Red and white	Circle
Mandatory Action	Blue	Circle
Caution	Yellow	Triangle
Emergency Treatment	Green or Red	Square or rectangle

Prohibition Sign

Mandatory Action Sign

Caution Sign

Emergency Treatment Sign

Week One:

We went through the OH&S Act 2000. This act outlines the general duties of the employers and the duties of the employees.

Employers must:

• maintain the work place under their control in a safe condition and ensure safe entrances and exits;
• make arrangements for ensuring the safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances;
• provide and maintain systems of work and working environments that are safe and without risks to health;
• provide the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees.

Employees must NOT:

• interfere with or misuse things that are provided for the health, safety and welfare or persons;
• obstruct attempts to give aid or attempts to prevent a serious risk
• refuse a reasonable request to assist in giving aid or preventing a risk
• disrupt a workplace by creating health and safety fears.

The Act also says that the employer must consult with employees about OH&S matters, and take their concerns into consideration.

In week one, we also looked at some useful OH&S related websites, including:

• Comcare Virtual Office

We also looked at hazards and how to identify them.

In general hazards can be grouped into seven classes:

• Physical
• Chemical
• Biological
• Psychological problems
• Mechanical/Electrical
• Ergonomic
• Radiation