Model Work Health Safety
Regulations
Module: Common WHS Hazards
Workbook p24
What are common hazards?
The common hazards likely to be found in
most workplaces are considered to be:
• Electrical work
• Noise
• Falls
• Hazardous manual tasks
• Plant and Structures
• Hazardous chemicals
Workbook p24 Q.1, 2
Electrical Safety
The regulation mainly applies to specialist electrical
work but has some common workplace application.
Electrical Equipment is defined generally
but does not include vehicles.
Electrical installation is a group of
electrical equipment permanently
connected (not plug and socket
connection).
Electrical work covers the work done by
licensed people and not tasks such as
changing a light bulb.
Workbook p24
Electrical Work
Residual Current Devices
Must be used if supplying electricity to equipment
through a socket outlet where:
• The equipment is used in hostile environments.
• The equipment is frequently moved between
locations as part of its normal use.
• The equipment forms part of an amusement
device.
Workbook p25
Electrical Safety
Equipment and Installations
PCBU must
• Ensure unsafe electrical equipment disconnected
and repaired or replaced
• Inspect and test equipment
• Keep records of testing until next tested or
permanently removed
Workbook p25
Electrical Safety:
Energised Electrical Equipment
• Work on energised electrical equipment prohibited
except in certain circumstances.
• Must determine whether equipment is energised.
• De-energised equipment must not be
inadvertently re-energised.
Workbook p25
Electrical Safety:
Overhead & Underground Electric Lines
• Ensure that no person, plant or thing at the
workplace comes within an unsafe distance of an
overhead or underground electric line.
• If it is not reasonably practicable to comply,
conduct a risk assessment
Workbook p25
Falls
Manage the risk of a fall by a person from one
level to another by:
• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that
any work that involves the risk of a fall is
carried out on the ground or on a solid
construction.
• Providing safe access to and exit from the
workplace or any area within the workplace with
the risk of a fall.
Workbook p26 & 27
Falls
Manage the risk of a fall by a person from one
level to another by:
• Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable that
any work that involves the risk of a fall is
carried out on the ground or on a solid
construction.
• Providing safe access to and exit from the
workplace or any area within the workplace with
the risk of a fall.
Workbook p26 & 27
Falls
If not reasonably practicable to eliminate the
risk of falling then minimise the risk by providing
adequate protection such as (in order):
• Providing a fall prevention device or
• Providing a work positioning system or
• Providing a fall arrest system
Workbook p26 & 27
Noise
• Ensure that a worker is not exposed
to noise levels above the exposure
standard.
• Audiometric testing is required if a
worker frequently needs to wear
hearing protection because noise
exceeds the exposure standard and
in combination with other factors.
Workbook p28
Hazardous Manual Tasks
Take into account risk factors including:
• Postures, force, duration and frequency.
• Workplace environmental conditions, design
and layout of workplace.
• Systems of work used.
• Nature, size, weight and number
of persons, animals or things involved in the
hazardous manual task.
Workbook p29
Hazardous chemicals
• Correctly label hazardous chemicals used in the
workplace.
• Obtain and provide access to Safety Data
Sheets (SDS) for workers.
• Display safety signs.
Workbook p30
Hazardous chemicals
• Provide information, training and supervision
to workers.
• Identify risks of physical or chemical reaction.
• Keep chemicals isolated and stable.
• Eliminate or minimise ignition sources.
Workbook p30
Hazardous chemicals
• Maintain a register of hazardous chemicals used
at the workplace.
• Prepare and display a manifest of hazardous
chemicals if the quantity requires same.
• Display a placard if the quantity exceeds the
placard quantity.
Workbook p30
Plant and Structures
• Controls risks in commissioning and
de-commissioning of plant.
• Ensure competent persons are used, provide
information and undertake inspections.
• If guarding is used to control risks a hierarchy from
fixed or interlocked to presence guards is followed.
Workbook p31
Plant and Structures
• Ensure that plant not in use does not create a
risk to the health or safety of any person.
• Ensure that the maintenance, repair, inspection
and, if necessary, testing of the plant is carried
out by a competent person and in accordance
with manufacturer specifications.
Workbook p31
Plant and Structures
• There are additional controls for some plant
(e.g. tractors, earthmoving machinery and
industrial lift trucks)
• Certain plant has to be registered (e.g. tower
cranes and lifts ) and also have additional
controls
Workbook p31
Key Changes: These hazards are no longer
specified in the WHS Regulations
• Abrasive blasting
• Spray Painting
• Welding
• Electroplating
• Molten metal
Managing the risks associated with these
hazards is a duty of a PCBU
Workbook p31
Activity 4: Case study 1
If the noise is above the exposure standard, the
PCBU must provide audiometric testing for the
worker
 Testing should be carried out by qualified
persons and results made available
 Depending on results, measures should be taken
to reduce exposure (e.g. better maintenance of
saw, up-rated hearing protection)
Workbook p32
Activity 4: Case study 2


The work meets the definition of a hazardous
manual task ie may contribute to a
musculoskeletal disorder, including the duration
and frequency of the hazardous manual task
(Clause 60 (2)(b) WHS Regulations)
What would be reasonably practicable to
minimise the risk?
◦use mechanical picker for products above head
height
◦stack heaviest product on lower racks
◦use shelf step
Workbook p33
Activity 4: Case study 3



Spray painting must continue to be undertaken
without risk to health and safety
The hazards must be identified and risk controls
used – the airborne contaminants, hazardous
chemicals and lead process sections may all
apply
Existing practices based on previous regulation
and authoritative guidance will form the basis of
the state of knowledge about the hazard and
how it should be managed
Workbook p34
Work Health Safety
Regulations
Module: High Risk Hazards
Workbook p35
What is High Risk Work?
high risk work
means any work
within the scope of a
high risk work licence
Workbook p35
high risk work
licence means any
of the licences listed
in Schedule 3
High Risk Work:
Requiring a licence
New class
Reach Stackers
Discontinued classes
front-end loaders
front-end loader / backhoes
 front-end loaders -skid
steer
excavators
Workbook p35
High Risk Work:
Licensing
A PCBU must ensure :
Direct
Supervision
Evidence of
Licence
• Direct supervision of
person carrying out work,
unless to do so is
impracticable or
unnecessary and reduced
supervision does not cause
risk to any person
• Written evidence that the
worker has the relevant
high risk work licence
• Written evidence that the
supervisor holds relevant
license
• Must keep records for 1 yr
Workbook p35
Demolition
A PCBU must give written notice to the regulator at
least 5 days before the work commences:
a) demolition of a structure, or a part of a structure
that is loadbearing and is at least 6 metres in
height
b) demolition work involving load shifting
machinery on a suspended floor
c) demolition work involving
explosives
Workbook p35
Asbestos
• A PCBU must not carry out, or direct or allow a
worker to carry out, work involving asbestos
• A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that exposure of a person at the
workplace to airborne asbestos is eliminated or
if not practicable minimised
Workbook p35
Asbestos
• A PCBU must ensure asbestos at a workplace is
identified.
• A PCBU must assume a material is asbestos if
reasonably believed to be so or is
inaccessible but believed to be asbestos.
• Indicate presence and location of asbestos.
Workbook p35
Asbestos:
Register
A PCBU must:
• Ensure an asbestos register is prepared and kept at the
workplace; and kept up to date
• Review the register as required
• Make the register accessible to workers, HSRs
Workbook p35
Asbestos:
Management Plan
A PCBU must ensure:
A written asbestos management is prepared and kept up
to date
An asbestos management plan contains particular
information
A copy of the asbestos management plan is readily
accessible to workers and PCBUs
The plan is reviewed in certain circumstances and at
least every 5 years
Workbook p35
Asbestos:
Duty to limit use of equipment
The following equipment must not be used on
asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (ACM):
•
•
high-pressure water spray
(except by fire-fighter)
compressed air
The following equipment must not be used unless
controlled:
• power tools
•
brooms
•
any other implements that cause the release
of airborne asbestos into the atmosphere
Workbook p35
Lead Work
Lead risk processes include spray painting with
lead paint, abrasive blasting on lead surfaces and
foundry process involving melting or casting lead
alloys
Workbook p35
Lead Work
PCBU duties include ensuring the following specific
control measures are in place:
• Containment of lead contamination
• Cleaning methods
• Prohibition on eating, drinking & smoking
• Provision of changing & washing facilities
• Laundering disposal and removal of PPE
Workbook p35
Activity 5: Case study 1
 If
a small area (e.g. 5 sq metres) then it may be
practicable to remove the sheeting
 Another
option would be to enclose the damaged
area with a solid false wall and put bollards in the
potential contact areas
 Update
the Asbestos register and Asbestos
management plan to indicate what measures
were taken and to indicate presence of AC
sheeting behind the false wall
Workbook p36
Activity 5: Case study 2
 The
PCBU’s general duties apply including the
responsibility to ensure that a worker is properly
informed and trained has the necessary knowledge
and skills to operate equipment
 The Managing Risk section requires the PCBU to
identify any risks and control them (e.g. complexity of
tasks, operator skill and experience, worksite
conditions)
 The Plant section has requirements for powered
mobile plant
 Previously published competency standards for this
equipment continue to provide sound guidance
Workbook p37