HAZARD REPORTING POLICY
The Hazard Reporting Log is a tool designed to assist Trainers in the Victorian Thoroughbred
Racing Industry report and address hazards in the workplace and to ensure is it as safe as is
reasonably practicable.
This log documents the risk management process for all hazards and their potential to cause
injury and damage along with associated costs for Trainers in the Victorian Thoroughbred
Racing Industry including:



Assisting Trainers and employees to comply with the OHS Act 2004 (VIC);
To record all hazards identified by employees/employers/contractors within the
workplace; and
When a hazard is observed in the workplace, all staff have a duty of care to report
potential risks to safety.
Definitions
Hazard:
anything with the potential to cause injury or illness.
Risk:
the Likelihood (probability) of exposure to a hazard resulting in
injury or illness.
Risk Management:
A logical and systematic approach to managing the uncertainty
regarding risk of injury, illness and damage.
Safe Work Method
Statement:
A procedure that identifies the hazards associated with each step
of a job and develops solutions for each hazard that either
eliminates or controls it (also known as Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP), or Job Safety Analysis (JSA)).
Roles and Responsibilities
Employee
 Identify hazards in the workplace;
 Enter hazards into the StableSafe Hazard Reporting Log;
 Discuss with Trainer/Employer about hazards in the workplace;
 Assist Trainer/Employers in the hazard resolution process; and
 Follow any reasonable direction.
Trainer/Employer
 Conduct a walk-through safety audit of the workplace with employees;
 Identify hazards in the workplace;
 Evaluate work processes and hazards involved in tasks;
 Consult with employees, as it is one of the easiest and most effective means of
identifying hazards in the workplace;
 Review Incident/Injury Reporting Log to identify areas/actions where incidents occur;
 Manufacturer’s instructions are an important source of information regarding the safe
operation of plant and any associated hazards; and
 Check Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) for hazards in chemicals used around
stables (refer to the dangerous good policy for further MSDS information).
Risk Assessment
Carry out a Risk Assessment to determine the following:








The risks associated with the task;
The number of persons at risk;
The likelihood of a hazard resulting in an Incident/Injury;
The frequency in which employees are exposed to the hazard;
The possible consequences HIGH, MEDIUM or LOW that may result;
What measures to take to control the risk;
Prioritise hazard control measures for HIGH risk activities; and
Requirements for short-term/immediate control measures and long-term control measures.
Is the risk HIGH, MEDIUM or LOW
HIGH
Incident or Injury is highly likely to occur
MEDIUM
Incident or Injury is likely to occur sometimes
LOW
Incident or Injury is not likely to occur but is possible
Control Measures
Control Measures are actions taken after the risk assessment, to remove the identified hazard from
the workplace. The control measures listed below are in order of preference for the resolution of a
hazard in the workplace.
Elimination
Allows hazards to be designed out and control measures to be designed in. It
will require a modification to the process, method or material to eliminate the
risk.
Substitution
Replacing the material or process with a less hazardous one.
Engineering
Redesigning plant or work processes to reduce or eliminate risk.
Administration
Adjusting the time or conditions of risk exposure (e.g. job rotation, increased
supervision). Ensure staff members have received training, information and
instruction regarding the particular hazards and Safe Work Method
Statements (SWMS) within the stables.
Personal Protective Using appropriate safety equipment where other control measures are not
Equipment
practicable.
Apply, Monitor and Review Control Measures





By consulting with employees;
The potential effectiveness of the control measure (i.e. would the risk be reduced if that
control measure were applied);
Whether the application of the chosen control measure will introduce a new hazard;
Referring to manufactures’ instructions; and
If the control measure would not introduce any new hazard and if the control measure
would effectively apply the control measure.
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
After assessing risks involved with task hazards and if it deemed to be a high risk activity, it is
important to break down the task into basic steps and provide an action plan to minimise the
risk of damage.
Reminder: If a Trainer or their Employee(s) identify any hazards at a registered training facility
used for training their horses; they are required to report the hazard to the racecourse manager
and complete any associated forms.