Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Workplace

Purpose and Scope

Skills Insight is committed to providing, as far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy workplace, safe working methods, and the provision of safe equipment. This Policy applies to all employees, visitors and contractors.

In this policy, a ‘workplace’ includes working on site or off-site, attendance at a work-related conference or function, and attendance at a client workplace or other work-related event, including retreats and social events.

Work health and safety (WHS) laws based on national model legislation now apply in the Commonwealth and in all Australian states and territories except Victoria and Western Australia, where earlier occupational health and safety (OHS) laws still apply. For the purpose of this policy Skills Insight will aim to meet the legislative and regulatory requirements of all states where our employees are based.

This policy sets out the responsibilities of the organisation and its employees with the aim that together we can keep our workplaces safe and productive.
Skills Insight values, behaviours and strategies are the foundations for this policy and all actions must be consistent with them. Any conflict between this policy and the values, behaviours and strategies of Skills Insight should be brought to the attention of the CEO for resolution.

Policy and Procedure

Skills Insight supports the rights of all persons covered by the policy to work in an environment that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health.

Skills Insight is committed to the promotion of a joint and united approach to consultation and resolution of Work Health and Safety issues.

This will be accomplished through the ongoing development, in consultation with Skills Insight’s Health and Wellness Committee, of management systems and procedures designed to, so far as is reasonably practicable:

• identify, assess and control workplace hazards
• reduce the incidence and cost of occupational injury, physical and mental
• provide a rehabilitation system for those affected by occupational injury or illness
• develop and implement safe systems of work
• provide adequate safety information, training and supervision.

Work Health and Safety statutory requirements, including regulations and codes of practice, are minimum standards and so the aim is for them to be improved upon, where practicable.

Maintaining safe premises

Premises

As Skills Insight sub-lets the premises the ability to change the fabric of the building is limited. Good communications will be developed and maintained with the head-lessee and the landlord to ensure they provide safe premises.

Skills Insight will conduct office “walk-throughs” on no less than a quarterly basis, using the relevant parts of Safe Work Australia check lists. Where possible problems will be rectified as soon as practicable.

Lighting, air quality, air conditioner temperature controls, firefighting equipment, signage and emergency lighting will be regularly checked and monitored.

There will be the required number of fire wardens and first aid officers on site and they will be appropriately trained and certified.

Regular emergency drills will be conducted covering a range of potential incidents to test readiness.

Contractors and visitors

Skills Insight will ensure that visiting contractors are clearly identified, that they are fully inducted on to the premises and sign an agreement that states they will abide by OHS legislation and industry codes, and work in a compliant and considerate manner. See WPS for visiting tradespersons and associated agreement form.

First aid

Victorian employers have specific duties and obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) 2004 and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OHS Regulations) 2017 for providing appropriate workplace first aid facilities. Guidelines for compliance are contained in the WorkSafe Victoria Compliance Code 2008 (the Code). As a small to medium sized organisation Skills Insight will meet or exceed the prescribed approach in the latest available version of the Code when providing first aid services. The prescribed approach defines the number of first aid officers required and their duties and training, the number of first aid kits and their contents. This relates to at least one first aid officer and one first aid kit for 10 to 50 employees. Location and use of the first aid kit, its contents, monitoring and signage will be as required by the Code.

First Aid Officers will hold at a minimum the unit of competency Provide first aid and training will be current and updated regularly. CPR refresher training will be carried out annually, and first aid qualifications will be renewed every three years.

Staff who travel where first aid facilities may not be available will be issued with mobile first aid kits.

When Skills Insight conducts off-site events first aid needs will be provided by the host organisation and the first aid contact will be provided in event documentation.

Maintaining a safe working environment

Managing fatigue

In a work context, fatigue is a state of mental and/or physical exhaustion that reduces a person’s ability to perform work safely and effectively. It can occur because of prolonged or intense mental or physical activity, sleep loss and/or disruption of the internal body clock.

At Skills Insight fatigue is most likely to arise from periods of extended travel, or as a result of days of intense concentration when working to external deadlines.

Staff members and their line mangers will monitor fatigue levels and discuss what measures to take to relieve the effects of fatigue. Measures include taking frequent breaks, getting some exercise, working from home, using leave in lieu of working long days, or providing a cab fare home.

Ergonomics

At Skills Insight, providing a safe working environment includes providing fit-for-purpose equipment and ensuring this equipment is adjusted and used properly.

Staff members have a responsibility to ensure they can work comfortably and if not, to discuss this with their Go-To as soon as a problem arises. Problems may be rectified by reviewing the equipment and how it is used and making modifications, taking breaks and performing simple exercises and stretches, or sourcing more suitable equipment.

Mental wellness

Skills Insight recognizes that workplace stress is a health and safety issue and acknowledges the importance of identifying and reducing workplace stressors. Mental health problems and stress can affect anyone, regardless of their position in the organisation. We aim to create a workplace environment that promotes the mental wellbeing of all employees, to tackle workplace factors that may negatively affect mental wellbeing, and to develop management skills to promote mental wellbeing and manage mental health problems effectively.

We provide access to free support and assistance through our Employment Access program (EAP) provider.

Staff members have a responsibility to monitor their own mental wellness and act early to prevent an escalation. Go-Tos will monitor staff for signs of mental stress and unwellness and address the matter with the employee in confidence.

Reporting

There is a regulatory requirement all States to report and record health and safety incidents to management. Staff should report incidents directly to their Go-To, who will lodge a report in the Employment Hero HR portal and follow the incident through to resolution. If the incident warrants, it will also be reported to the regulator.

Certifications for fire wardens and First Aid Officers will be kept on their personnel file within Employment Hero.

Training

Skills Insight offers first aid training to all staff on a voluntary basis. More than 80% of Skills Insight staff have receive first aid training over a rolling 4-year period.

Other training will be offered periodically on topics such as stress management and resilience.

Health and Wellness Committee

Skills Insight will form a Health and Wellness committee with committee members representing all work teams. The committee will meet monthly, or more frequently if required, and report to the Executive Management Team and make recommendations on:

• OHS monitoring and rectification
• security
• fire
• staff wellbeing – in and out of the office
• policies and procedures related to the above.

Responsibilities

Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to making the workplace health and safety policy effective.

CEO and Executive Managers will:

• be committed to the provision and maintenance of a healthy and safe workplace;
• consult and participate in health, safety and wellness programs
• inform all persons to whom this policy applies in relevant policies, procedures and health and safety obligations
• participate in Skills Insight’s inductions and implement all safety procedures.
• coordinate the identification, development, implementation and review of Work Health and Safety policies and procedures
• ensure that all staff receive appropriate training in the policy and related procedures, and their obligations under occupational health and safety laws
• consider any proposal for, or changes to the workplace, policies, work practices or procedures which may affect the health and safety of employees
• promote the importance of health and safety amongst management and employees
• ensure any reportable incidents acted upon promptly and are recorded in the Employment Hero HR portal
• monitor Skills Insight’s health and safety performance.

Employees will:

• read, and accept, this and other related policies
• participate in health and safety training, actions and activities and support Skills Insight in its efforts to reach its health and safety and, where relevant, rehabilitation objectives
• follow reasonable health and safety instructions from Go-Tos or supervisors
• report any serious incidents, accidents, injuries or hazards in the workplace to supervisors or designated representatives
• aim to work in a way that does not endanger the health or safety of themselves or others;
• properly use and maintain safety equipment
• make sure visitors follow safety rules in the workplace; and
• participate in Skills Insight induction and wellness programs and implement all detailed safety procedures.

Communication and consultation

We recognise that employee consultation and participation in our safety system is vital and improves decision–making about health and safety matters in the workplace. Consultation is also included in the process of risk assessments and the development of our safe work practices.

Employees shall be actively involved in the workplace safety and wellness system. Suggestions for change and improvements to policies, procedures or safe work practices are encouraged, through reporting to management or directly to the Health and Wellness committee. Meetings to consult and inform employees on safety issues shall be conducted through staff meetings, as regularly as is necessary.

Employees shall be made aware of safety issues relating to their jobs on a regular basis. The manner of doing so will vary depending upon the type of information to be conveyed.

We expect our employees to be committed to working with management to effectively manage health and safety on the job. Employees are encouraged to contribute to decisions that may affect their health and safety in the workplace, through contact with management and staff meetings.

Executive Management shall work in conjunction with employees to review and update this, and other policies and procedures.

Breach of this Policy

Any breach of this policy may result in counselling and/or disciplinary action, which, in the case of employees, may lead to dismissal, or, in the case of volunteers, may lead to the cessation of their engagement.

Any breach of this policy by a contractor may result in the cancellation by Skills Insight of the services provided by that contractor.

Feedback and Amendments

Organisations change and develop over time, and so do their policies. Please contact an Executive Manager if you believe that any part of this policy needs changing or updating. The Executive Manager will follow a policy review process as endorsed by the Executive Management Team.