Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) program manager
Emma’s role provides a hands-on approach to members to understand the issues and ensure success. Emma conducts safety inductions, training, workplace inspections, OSH system audits, incident investigations, risk assessments, and further advice and support on a range of safety matters. She has 15 years’ experience in management and consultancy roles. In recent years, she dedicated her career to health and safety.
With the vast array of operations performed by and services local governments provide to their communities, there are many roles and functions which require the handling of chemical or hazardous substances.
These roles are found in the following facilities (among others):
There are several risks associated with handling chemicals or hazardous substances, and though these risks vary depending on the type of substance, the way it is being used, and the type of work being carried out, the following should be considered:
For example, carcinogens are a substance or a mixture which cause cancer. Unlike the many other toxic health effects of chemicals, a carcinogenic effect may take many years to develop and there may be no early warning of adverse effects. For the majority of carcinogens, there is no safe level of exposure. It is essential your workers and workplace comply with WA guidelines regarding the handling of carcinogenic chemicals in particular.
Usually occurs through inhalation, absorbtion, or ingestion. Exposure through these methods can result in acute or chronic health issues.
Local governments have many facilities with the potential to expose not only workers but also members of the public.
Both the local government and its employees are responsible.
As an employer, your local government has a duty to manage the risks to health and safety associated with purchasing, using, handling, generating and storing hazardous chemicals at your workplace. This includes:
Workers also have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. Workers must comply with instructions, as far as they are reasonably able to, and cooperate with health and safety policies or procedures that have been provided to workers.
Examples of such relevant policies and procedures that could be provided to the employee include:
If personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided by the local government, the worker must use or wear it in accordance with the information, instruction and training provided.
At its core, LGIS is all about local governments working together to achieve best outcomes for their organisations, people
and community. LGSAG is one such initiative where we have collaborated with member representatives to ensure they can create a safe and healthy work environment for their workforce when it comes into effect sometime next year.
The Workers’ Compensation & Injury Management Bill 2023, currently before Parliament in Western Australia, will enact major changes to WA’s workers’ compensation scheme
when it comes into effect sometime next year.
The importance of employers following internal policies and procedures and keeping accurate records can’t be emphasised enough when effectively managing a worker’s compensation claim. Our first case explores the need to follow one’s own internal polices in the context of a worker’s compensation work related stress claim.
The below risk management approach can be adapted to the safe management, storage and handling of chemicals and dangerous goods to lessen potential adverse effects on humans and the environment.
When making a decision on how best to control a risk, the most effective way is to eliminate the hazard and associated risk first. If this is not reasonably practicable, the risk must be minimised by using the hierarchy of control as shown below:
However, training in the safe handling of chemicals is required by law. It is always worthwhile to consider additional controls in the storing and handling of chemicals, including ongoing training, awareness, and supervision; understanding the incompatibility of different chemicals; and spill response processes and kits. In some cases, a combination of controls may be used to achieve greater control of the risk identified. For more information on how to manage your local government’s risks around chemical handling, contact the LGIS occupational safety and health team or your regional risk coordinator on 9483 8888. The team have toolkit documents available and can assist in risk assessments and implementing controls.
Each month we take your questions to one of our LGIS team members to answer.
If you want to submit a question for next issue, email us at [email protected].
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LGIS is the unifying name for the dedicated suite of risk financing and management services for WA local governments, established by the WA Local Government Association in conjunction with JLT Public Sector (part of the Marsh group of companies). LGIS is managed by JLT Public Sector (ABN 69 009 098 864 AFS Licence 226827).
Risk Matters, via this website, is designed to keep members, their staff and elected members informed on topical risk management and insurance issues and LGIS programs and services.
