OHS Legal Framework - Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd - Case Study Example

Name: Instructor Institution: Course: Due Date: OHS Legal framework: Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd Review Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd is a manufacturing company found in Queensland. The company also deals with warehousing. The tasks mainly performed in the company include fork lifting, lifting, packing, tasks involving climbing of ladders, and use of machines like the photocopiers. The risks involved in the company include accidents caused by the forklifts, accidents caused due to lifting of heavy materials. Accidents can also be caused by falling of heavy materials or goods stored in the warehouse (Walters, Richard and Kaj 34). This therefore requires that procedures, policies, and regulations to ensure the safety of the workers are in place. OHS legislation and compliance codes applicable to Brisbane Blinds There are a number of OHS legislation codes that are applicable to Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd. They include the workplace health and safety act of 1995 and the workplace health safety 2008. The compliance codes applicable to the company include managing the risk of falls at workplaces code, Hazardous manual tasks code, and how to manage work health and safety risks code (Bluff and Richard 89). The company has a number of policies regarding the safety of workers. The policies include undertaking risk assessment and implementation of procedures that will ensure the safety of works, provision of training to its workers, providing written procedures to be followed by others among others. However, the company is sometime not compliant with its own policies. For instance, there are some instances where workers are not trained. Older workers in the company are presumed to be experienced to carry out their duties safely and are therefore not taken through the induction offered at the company. This has been one of the causes of accidents witnessed at the company. Though the company has not all its procedures written down, there are some, especially those on evacuation and lifting, which are written down. the procedures on evacuation give guidelines on how to evacuate the premises of the company in case of an emergency or accident. For instance, the procedures on evacuation give directives on what should be done during the evacuating of the building in case of an incident. For instance, one procedure guides workers not to use lifts during evacuation (Walters, Richard and Kaj 22). Another procedure warns workers against carrying bags or luggage during the emergency evacuation because this might slow one down. on the procedures of lifting, workers are advised against manual lifting and to look for alternative ways of lifting objects or items. They are also advised against carrying items overhead as the objects might slip and cause injuries. In case of manual lifting, workers are advised to gauge their ability to lift such items so as to avoid straining that can be detrimental to the physical health of workers. Legislation or compliance codes could be applied in a number of ways to Brisbane Blinds. In order to apply the compliance codes, one has to first assess the kind of codes applicable to the company. One has to look at the compliance codes relevant to the setting of the company. Secondly, one has to determine instances in the company where the workers or the management is not complying with the required legislation or compliance codes. Lastly, one has to carry out civic education to workers and the management on the importance of complying with the legislation or compliance codes. They should be told that it is for the good of the company and safety of the workers that they should comply with the compliance codes or legislation. The compliance codes should be presented to the company in written form so that they are available to be read by all (Bluff and Richard 107). There are a number of changes that can be done to make the company comply with the legislation. One of the changes is strict laws to be put in place to indict companies that do not comply with the laws necessary for the safety of the workers. Another change is to present to Brisbane Blinds only those compliance codes applicable to its case. The presentation to the company the compliance codes that are in line with what the workers are experiencing makes them likely to comply to them rather than having laws and regulations that seem abstract. The company should also put in place stricter laws against workers who break the laws and are careless with handling machines (Bluff and Richard 86). In order to ensure safety of its workers, the company has put in place policies and laws that ensure workers do not get involved in accidents. For instance, the company provides a safe environment for its workers by having the warehouse partitioned and every area designed for a specific purpose. For instance, the warehouse has specific areas for the maintenance, storage and use of potentially harmful equipment. These areas are clearly labeled so as to warn stray workers from venturing in such places. The company has also a first aid kit to be used during accidents. There is also a defibrillator (Walters, Richard and Kaj 47). The company has policies that encourage its workers to undergo training pertaining safety issues. It also encourages workers to consult in case of any issues to do with safety. There is even a work and health safety representative who addresses and presents the grievances and issues of workers pertaining their safety, to the management. In addition, the management has put in place measures that ensure all the laws and regulations are adhered to. The management has also provided enough resources to ensure proper implementation of the policies as well as in ensuring a safe environment for the workers. There are a number of ways in which legislation in the company can be implemented. One of the ways is to ensure that the setting of the company provides a conducive environment that ensures the safety of the workers. Another way in which the compliance codes can be complied with is to do a risk assessment periodically so that risk factors are identified and removed (Bluff and Richard 71). There should also be provision of safety equipments in the company. There are a number of legal obligations that the company has towards its workforce. They include provision of training, information and instruction pertaining safe performance of tasks (Bluff and Richard 109). The management should carry out close supervision of workers to ensure they are safe. Other obligations include ensuring safe systems of work for the workers, ensuring that there is safe handling of substances and equipments, reporting any incident to the authorities, compensating workers involved in accidents, providing insurance cover for its workforce, carry investigation on dangerous incidents and putting in place to avoid a repeat of the same incidents. There are many consequences for non-compliance for Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd. One of the consequences is health risks, where workers can be involved in accidents because of non-compliance with legislation and procedures. This can result to workers getting hurt or even losing their lives. Non-compliance can also result to lawsuits being brought against the company. The company can be sued for negligence and non-compliance (Walters, Richard and Kaj 68). Non-compliance incidents at Brisbane Blinds There are a number of non-compliance incidents at Brisbane Blinds Pty Ltd. One of the incidents is the failure to train workers. The company sometimes overlooks the training of workers in matters of safety. This is breaching against the legislation that requires companies to undertake training of their workers. The management fears unrest among the workers if it introduces new regulations (Bluff and Richard 113). That is why it is reluctant to take the workers through the required training. Old workers, particularly, are not trained because they are not presumed to be experienced in the job. This has been the cause of accidents in the company. In addition, workers who have been on a long holiday are never reoriented in the system. the equipments and machinery in the company are not also not placed properly. They are some that are overhanging and all these factors have been sources of accidents. There is a number of non-compliance related to hazards. They include machines that are not properly installed, faulty electric wires and connections that could result in electric shocks and electrocution, chemicals that are wrongly placed or wrongly labeled, wet surfaces that could result to injurious falls, and many other hazards (Walters, Richard and Kaj 82). These are hazards that are responsible for the many accidents witnessed in the company. Every hazard has a risk factor. For instance, the risk factor for physical accidents caused by machines is due to poor installation of the machines. For the electric shock and electrocution, the risk factor is the poor connection of electric wires and negligence in terms of ensuring that all wires are properly insulated. Accidents caused by chemicals are mainly caused by poor labeling of the chemicals as well failure to label some chemicals. Poor storage of the chemicals is another risk factor for the chemical accidents. Some chemicals may not be stored properly or in the required place. This makes them hazardous. Accidents caused due to wet surfaces are due to unchecked spilling of liquids like oil or water. Making of the floors wet increases the risk of fatal falls, especially when one is carrying heavy luggage. The controls for these hazards include proper installation of equipments and machines by keeping potentially harmful machines in separate places, preventing any leakages of liquids by sealing any leakages on containers and taps, sorting and labeling all chemicals in the company, so that one can avoid coming in contact with dangerous and harmful chemicals, proper insulation of electric of wires and also ensure that all connections are properly done (Walters, Richard and Kaj 134). Research schedule Operation of a forklift Operation of a forklift comes with many dangers. Many workers in Queensland have been involved in fatal due to poor and unprofessional operation of forklifts. This therefore calls for precaution to be taken in operation of the machine. For employers to ensure safety of their workers who are involved in operation of forklifts there are a number of conditions that have to be met. One of the conditions is that employers are supposed to allow only those workers that hold a license of high risk work to operate forklifts. This ensures that only those workers that are highly experienced operate the machines. This reduces the chances of unwarranted accidents that are mainly brought about due to inexperience of workers (Master Ohs and Environment Guide 117). Another condition is to ensure that those workers entrusted with the operation of forklifts are thoroughly trained. This helps them to gain the required knowledge, skills and experience needed for the operation of the machines. This also goes a long way to reduce accidents brought about by the wrong operation of the forklifts. Workers are also supposed to be trained in the way the machines should be operated (Walters, Richard and Kaj 29). Forklifts come in different models and each model has its way of operation. This therefore requires the forklift operators to be trained in the specific models they are going to handle and the kind of environment the machines can work in. this will help avoid the mistakes brought about by applying the same kinds of operation techniques to all machines. Machines should be regularly serviced and maintained to ensure that they operating properly. Forklifts are used to carry heavy loads. This therefore means that any slight technical hitch or breakdown can be fatal as it can result to lose of lives. Before any machine is used for lifting of any luggage or load, it has to be checked if it is safe. Safety check is mandatory for forklifts if the nature of their work is taken into consideration. For night operation, enough lighting should be provided for forklift operators. Forklifts are usually large machines and are usually prone to accidents in case of poor lighting at night. Such accidents can be avoided if the machines are provided with enough lighting. An employer has to ensure only the authorized person that machine. This helps to avoid cases where inexperienced people handle the machines causing accidents (Bluff and Richard 57). Due t their huge sizes, forklifts do not operate in all environments. This therefore calls for their areas to be delineated. Obstacles in the working area have to be painted so that accidents can be avoided. For employees who use forklifts, there are also a number of conditions they have to take into consideration when operating the machines. One of the conditions is that an employee has to ensure that he/she holds a license of high risk before he/she operates a forklift. This is because the operation of a forklift requires special skills and experience because it is dangerous machinery. In addition, one has to read the required instructions before operating the machine. This enables one to understand the requirements of the machine and how to operate it. Also helps one to avoid mistakes that can prove to be fatal. A worker should also comply with the instructions required to operate so as to avoid making mistakes or using procedures that are not designed for that particular forklifts. In addition, a worker is supposed to use the forklift for the required work only and not for other purposes (Master Ohs and Environment Guide, 37). All these procedures are part of compliance and legislation designed by the government of Queensland to safeguard workers and companies against accidents and injuries. These procedures are important and required to apply in all companies in order to minimize accidents and other hazards that are brought about by non-compliance of companies and workers. Works cited Bluff, Elizabeth, Neil Gunningham, and Richard Johnstone. Ohs Regulation for a Changing World of Work. Annandale, N.S.W: Federation Press, 2004. Print. Master Ohs and Environment Guide 2007. North Ryde, N.S.W: CCH Australia Ltd, 2007. Print. Walters, David, Richard Johnstone, and Kaj Frick. Regulating Workplace Risks: A Comparative Study of Inspection Regimes in Times of Change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub, 2011. Internet resource. Read More