Activity 1: Identifying hazards and risk management
Suggested answers
Answer the following questions.
1) List 3 hazards that you may find in the following workplaces:
a. Office
ergonomics (seating, table height), stress, manual handling (lifting),
tripping, storage at heights.
b. Hotel
manual handling (lifting luggage), wet floors and spills, making beds,
tripping, storage, using knives, hot plates
c. Factory
plant and machinery, chemicals, road traffic (fork lift trucks),
Spills, noise, welding sparks.
machinery, animals, vehicles, hazardous substances
d. Farm
e. Building
sites
falls from heights, plant and equipment, manual handling, chemicals
2) List injuries that may result from each of the following hazards:
a) Manual handling
back injuries, strains, sprains
b) Noise
hearing loss, eardrum damage
c) Hazardous substances
Skin disease, poisoning.
Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 1 of 7
Student Activity 2: The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000
Worksheet 1: Suggested Answers
Go to the website: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ohasa2000273/
Click on Item 13 – Duty of employer to consult in Part 2 - Duties Relating To Health,
Safety And Welfare At Work, Division 2 – Duty to consult.
1. Why must an employer consult with or discuss health and safety issues with
employees?
It enables the employees to contribute to the making of decisions affecting
their health, safety and welfare at work and it also a legal requirement of
the OHS Act 2000.
2. What are the maximum penalties for those employers who fail to consult with
employees?




For
For
For
For
a corporation
a corporation
an individual
an individual
(being a previous offender)—750 penalty units
(not being a previous offender)—500 penalty units
(being a previous offender)—375 penalty units
(not being a previous offender)—250 penalty units.
3. How does an employer consult with employees on health and safety issues? (Note:
You will need to refer to Item 16 to help you answer this).
An employer can consult with their employees in one of three ways:
 consultation may be undertaken with an occupational health and safety
committee or committees established by the employer and employees for the
place of work or the employer’s undertaking (an "OHS committee" ),
 consultation may be undertaken with an occupational health and safety
representative or representatives elected by the employees to represent
them (an "OHS representative" ),
 consultation may be undertaken in accordance with other arrangements
agreed by the employer and the employees.
Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 2 of 7
Suggested Answers: Worksheet 2
Go to the website: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ohasa2000273/
Click on Item 18 - Functions of OHS committees and OHS representatives in Part 2 Duties Relating To Health, Safety And Welfare At Work, Division 2 – Duty to consult.
Read through the details on this web page and list the three main functions of
Occupational Health and Safety Committees.
An OHS committee or an OHS representative has the following functions:



to keep under review the measures taken to ensure the health, safety and
welfare of persons at the place of work,
to investigate any matter that may be a risk to health and safety at the
place of work,
to attempt to resolve the matter but, if unable to do so, to request an
investigation by an inspector for that purpose
Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 3 of 7
Student Activity 3: Workplace Hazards
Case Study 1: Suggested Answers
1. How many employees were injured in the accident?
Two workers were injured.
2. Identify the hazard in the article above.
Building collapse due to weakened structures.
3. List the factors that contributed to the accident.




Lack of clear instructions
Lack of proper supervision
Weakened building structures
Replacement supervisor not experienced for the dangerous operation
4. List some control measures that could have been used to prevent the accident.



Suitably trained supervisor
Clear instructions to workers
Building inspection before commencing work to identify possible hazards
and risks.
5. Why was the employer held responsible for the accident?
The employer had failed to provide a suitably qualified supervisor for
the dangerous task, even though the state manager had approved the
use of a demolition supervisor.
The employer had used a replacement who was not experienced enough for the
operation.

Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 4 of 7
Case Study 2: Suggested Answers
1. Why are young people vulnerable to workplace injuries?
They lack experience in the workplace.
2. What must an employer provide to young workers?
An employer must:
 provide a safe workplace for all employees
 provide proper training
 provide supervision
3. How many young workers were injured in NSW in the period 1998/1999?
Over 8,400 workers under the age of 25 were injured.
4. How many young people were killed in the same period?
9 workers were killed.
5. What does the education campaign launched by WorkCover NSW consist of?


Television and radio commercials
Mulit-media kits distributed to high schools and TAFE colleges
6. What penalty applies to employers who fail to provide a safe workplace?
Penalties of up to $875,000
Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 5 of 7
Student Activity 4: Duties and Responsibilities in the WorkplaceSuggested answers
EMPLOYER
EMPLOYEE
Provide a safe working
environment
Take care of the
health and safety of
yourself and others
Talk to employer about
health or safety
hazards
Co-operate with
employer on safety and
health matters
Report any incident,
accident or near miss
Use equipment for its
intended use
Correctly use
protective equipment/
clothing
Read safety
information and follow
safety rules
Provide and maintain
safe plant (machinery,
equipment)
Identify, access and
eliminate risks
Provide information on
workplace hazards
Provide clean and tidy
work areas
Provide ventilation
systems for dust
removal
Provide appropriate
training and instruction
Provide information
and training on
chemicals
Provide supervision so
employees can work
safely
Establish a health and
safety committee
Provide first – aid
facilities
Provide protective
equipment and clothing
Provide guards on
dangerous machines
Provide storage areas
for equipment
Provide amenities
(drinking
water, washrooms etc)
Regulate the speed
and frequency of work
Ensure a safe system
of work
Suggested Answers
HEALTH AND SAFETY
REPRESENTATIVE
Be paid time to attend
OH&S courses
approved by WorkCover
Be consulted about any
proposed changes to
the workplace
Investigate any matter
that may be a risk
WORKCOVER
INSPECTOR
Investigate any
suspected breach of
OHS legislation
Carry out medical
examinations with the
employee’s consent
Restrict access to or
dismantle things on
the premises
Attempt to resolve any
Require any person to
workplace safety issues. answer questions
Request a Workcover
Inspector investigation
Accompany a
Workcover Inspector
during an inspection
Accompany an
employee, if requested,
during an interview on
an OHS matter
Take care to use
equipment safely
Tidy or remove any
tripping hazards in your
workplace.
Must not prevent aid to
an injured worker
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 6 of 7
Student Activity 4: Roles and responsibilities in the workplace
Suggested Answers
1. What do you notice about the number of number of cards on each board?
Each party has key roles and responsibilities. The employer has more roles and
responsibilities than the other parties, followed closely by the employee.
2. Who has the greater number of responsibilities in occupational health and safety
issues?
The employer
3. What are the three most important factors you have learned, about your role and
responsibility in the workplace?
An employee must:
 Take responsibility for their own safety and that of others in the
workplace
 Make sure they follow instructions and use equipment in the correct
manner
 Report any hazards that they observe in the workplace
Suggested Answers
Unit 2 Student Activities
Page 7 of 7