Workplace Health & Safety

Learn to recognise potentially dangerous situations, and avoid litigation, work disruption, and significant, unnecessary costs.

Course Code: VBS103
Fee Code: S1
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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BE SAFER IN THE WORKPLACE

Learn Occupational Health and Safety
  • Learn to recognise potentially dangerous situations
  • Learn how to respond to identified risks
  • Be prepared for when things go wrong
  • Self Paced 100 hour course
  • Expert, highly qualified and experienced tutors
Understanding Workplace Health and Safety is important for avoidance of litigation, work disruption, and significant, unnecessary costs. Make sure that an accident that could have been avoided is not the reason your business fails.
This course was developed by highly qualified professionals, who have years of experience in industry.


ACS student comment: Yes [I find the course valuable], because it is opening my eyes further to what I am studying and making me look for info and answers on the internet rather than being spoon fed info from the course notes. The feed back from the tutor is great and is very encouraging and the marking time frame very efficient. Paula Farrell, Australia, Workplace Health and Safety course.


Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction
    • Nature and Scope of Workplace Health and Safety
    • Work Related Fatalities
    • Duty of Care: employer, employee, other person, manufacturer
    • Significance of Illness
    • Protective Equipment; personal protection, machinery, equipment, signs and information
    • Further Information and Resources
  2. Legislation
    • Legislation across different countries: Australia, UK, Canada, USA, NZ etc
    • Examples: Worksafe Australia, Health & Safety Commision UK, Occupational Health & Safety Commission USA, etc
    • International Commission on Occupational Health
  3. Protective Equipment
    • Introduction
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    • Selecting and Maintaining PPE
    • Hand Protection
    • Eye Protection
    • Hearing Protection
    • Respiratory Protection
    • Body Protection
    • Knee Protection
    • Foot and Leg Protection
    • Sunscreen
    • Head Protection
    • Machine and Equipment Guards
    • Flooring
    • Protective and Temporary Barriers
    • Temporary Signs
    • Protecting Hearing
  4. Handling Chemicals
    • Storage and Disposal
    • Transporting Chemicals
    • Protecting theEnvironment
    • Protective Clothing
    • Safe Use and Mixing Chemicals
    • Toxicity of Pesticides
    • Safe Application of Pesticides
    • Hazardous Substances
    • Personal Protective Equipment Plan
  5. Handling Equipment
    • General Safety Rules
    • Manual Handling
    • Employer Responsibilities
    • Employee Responsibilities
    • Safety with Different Types of Equipment
    • Handling Tools and Equipment Safely
    • Machinery Safety
    • Machine Hazards
    • Machine Guards
    • Welding Equipment, Compressors, Conveyor Belts
    • Horticultural Equipment; Mulchers, bruch cutters, mowers, chainsaws
    • Tool Maintenance
    • Safety with Electricity
  6. Handling Objects
    • How to Lift
    • Strategies for Manual Handling
    • Skin Penetrating Injuries
    • Risk Categories
    • Preventative Measures
    • Treating Wounds: First Aid
    • Case Studies of Manual Handling Injuries
  7. Using Computer Work Stations
    • Using VDU's
    • Eyesight
    • Repetative Strain Injuries
    • Carpel Tunnel
    • Headaches
    • Radiation
    • Creating a Healthy Work Station
    • Rest Breaks, Stretching, Posture
  8. Working Alone
    • Duty of Care, Responsibilities
    • Common Tasks Undertaken by a Lone Worker
    • Mobile Workers
    • Risk Assessment
    • Risk Management
  9. Standards and Rules
    • Introduction
    • Identifying Risks
    • Hazard and Risk Management
    • Workplace Policy
    • Risk Assessment Safety Audits
    • Identifying Risks
    • Audit Forms
    • Safety Audit
    • Safety Outdoors; fire, bites, potential accidents, cuts, strains, poisoning, allergies, etc
    • First Aid; Shock, Fainting, Fractures, Strains, Sprains, Heat Exhaustion, etc
    • Skin Cancer
    • First Aid Supplies
  10. Signs and Signals
    • Introduction to standard signs and signals
    • Conventions in different countries; UK, Australia

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Determine procedures followed in the workplace to control workplace health and safety practices.
  • Determine workplace health and safety legislation which is relevant to your industry and locality.
  • Identify procedures for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace.
  • Identify procedures for the safe use of equipment, including tools and machinery, in the workplace.
  • Identify procedures for the safe manual handling of objects in the workplace.
  • Develop workplace health and safety rules and practices, for a specified workplace.
  • Identify standard signs and hand signals used in workplace health and safety in Australia.

What You Will Do

  • Define workplace health and safety, for a specified industry.
  • List different individuals and groups within a workplace who have a responsibility with respect to workplace health and safety.
  • Identify the role of the workplace health and safety officer in a workplace.
  • Explain the operation of consultative processes in the management of workplace health and safety.
  • Define duty of care, for a specific industry.
  • Outline the scope of federal legislation in workplace health and safety.
  • Outline the scope of state legislation in workplace health and safety.
  • Explain workplace health and safety regulations within a specified industry.
  • Explain the legal standing of workplace health and safety codes of practice.
  • Assess different specified workplace situations to determine which are liable to prosecution, and which are not liable to prosecution.
    • including:
    • petroleum products
    • cleaning chemicals
    • explosives
    • pesticides
  • Explain factors that contribute towards problems with dangerous chemicals.
  • Analyse a workplace situation to determine potential safety problems with dangerous chemicals.
  • Recommend changes in the workplace in response to the potential safety problems with dangerous chemicals.
  • List legal requirements for storage and use of dangerous chemicals in a specified workplace situation.
  • Explain appropriate storage procedures for different types of chemicals, including:
    • pesticides
    • petroleum products
    • cleaning chemicals
    • explosives
  • Explain appropriate disposal procedures for different types of dangerous chemicals.
  • Identify potential problems in the workplace with different types of dangerous chemicals.
  • List factors that contribute towards safety problems with equipment.
  • Analyse a workplace situation to determine potential safety problems with equipment.
  • Recommend changes in the workplace in response to the potential safety problems with equipment
  • Develop a procedure for the safe operation of a piece of machinery.
  • List factors that contribute towards problems with manual handling, in a specific industry.
  • Analyse three different case studies of injuries which resulted from incorrect manual handling.
  • Recommend changes in three different specified workplaces, in response to the analysis carried out on manual handling injuries.
  • Determine health risks in a specified workplace.
  • Determine accident risks in a specified workplace.
  • Develop a code of practice to minimise health risks in a specified work place.
  • Develop a code of practice to minimise accident risks in a specified workplace.
  • Distinguish between different classes of dangerous goods, for a specific industry
  • Interpret different standard hand signals used in a specific workplace.
  • Interpret different standard signs used in the workplace, including:
    • hazardous chemicals
    • vehicle and pedestrian
    • fire
    • dangerous machinery
    • noise
    • eye protection

DUTY OF CARE

Most WH&S laws require that participants in the workplace observe certain obligations to ensure that WH&S measures are effective and that practical steps are taken for that purpose. These responsibilities, referred to as 'duty of care', apply to all staff and employers. A particular onus is placed on those people controlling workplace activities to determine necessary and appropriate WH&S standards and to make sure these standards are maintained.

 

(A) Employer duties.

Employers are required to:

  • take all practical steps necessary to protect the health and safety of employees,
  • provide a healthy and safe working environment,
  • take all practical steps necessary to protect the health and safety of other people at or near the workplace, such as sales representatives and pedestrians,
  • provide a healthy and safe environment for people visiting the workplace.

(B) Employee duties.

Employees are required to:

  • act responsibly and perform their work in accordance with established WH&S standards
  • take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of other staff, non-staff and others.

(C) 'Other person' duties.

People other than employers or employees are required to:

  • comply with the WH&S standards and obey directions of staff at the workplace.

(D) Manufacturer duties.

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of equipment, materials or substances are required to:

  • provide such items at a reasonable and acceptable standard,
  • provide all information relating safe use and handling,
  • provide for suitable safety mechanisms within the design of the item used in the workplace.

  

WORK PLACE SAFETY

Accidents do happen but can be prevented by making sure ‑

  • The job being done and all surrounds are safe,
  • Educate your employees to practice safety,
  • Enforce safety rules and be sure employees practice safety.

Accidents occur in five major areas ‑

  1. Wherever materials are handled
  2. Around machines (every type, even computers)
  3. Wherever people walk
  4. Wherever hand tools are used
  5. Lifting:

A supervisor should stress safety at all times: it is his problem when an accident occurs, and production is reduced, machinery is damaged, etc.

 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ILLNESS

Sickness or injuries can result in:

  • Monetary loss to the worker
  • Suffering & stress for the worker & his family
  • Loss of production
  • Cost of repairs to equipment damaged by injuries
  • Loss of material spoilt in injury
  • Cost in money & time to train replacement staff
  • In case of repeated accidents, other employees may exhibit unwillingness to do that particular job.
  • Accidents which result in damage or injury to non-company people or property can result in bad publicity and high compensation payments.
  • Employees who are not in peak of health do not work their best.
  • Employees who are stressed, suffer from tension or nervous disorders and can be less productive themselves, and cause tension and stress amongst their work mates.

 

Employers should strive to achieve a good level of health amongst their employees for all of the above reasons.
 
 




AFTER STUDY -WHAT CAN THIS COURSE DO FOR YOU?

All industries need people proficient in workplace health and safety to work as WH&S officers or just to ensure that no problems arise from hazards in the workplace. Learn to detect the hazard and assess the risk and produce WH&S plans.
Understanding Workplace Health and Safety is important for avoidance of litigation, work disruption, and significant, unnecessary costs. Make sure that an accident that could have been avoided is not the reason your business or your employer's business fails.

ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
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If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

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We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

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We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Lyn Quirk

M.Prof.Ed.; Adv.Dip.Compl.Med (Naturopathy); Adv.Dip.Sports Therapy
Over 30 years as Health Club Manager, Fitness Professional, Teacher, Coach and Business manager in health, fitness and leisure industries. As business owner and former department head for TAFE, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role as a tutor for ACS.

Jacinda Cole

Former operations manager for highly reputable Landscape firm, The Chelsea Gardener, before starting her own firm. Jacinda has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing, Writing and Education. Jacinda has a B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA.

Kate Gibson

Kate has 12 years experience as a marketing advisor and experience as a project manager. Kate has traveled and worked in a variety of locations including London, New Zealand and Australia. Kate has a B.Soc.Sc, Post-Grad. Dip. Org Behaviour (HR).

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