HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work

Name: Sunita Mehmi ID:10759

ASSESSMENT TASK 1 – QUESTIONING

1. Name the WHS/OHS legislation that applies in your state/territory and briefly explain the role of Safe Work
Australia and the National Work Health and Safety model.

Occupational health and safety act 2004(OHS act) is implemented in Victoria.

Safe Work Australia works to:

 Create and progress national policy and strategies
 Create and progress the model WHS legislative framework
 Take up research
 Gather, examine and outline the data
The National Work Health and Safety model: The main object of The National Work Health and Safety model is to
provide for a balanced and nationally consistent framework to secure the health and safety of workers and
workplaces. 
(REFERENCE: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/about-us/ law-and-regulation)

2. Identify the difference between a risk and a hazard? Identify two (2) forms of reporting workplace hazards.

RISK HAZARD
 The term risk is described as a situation liable to  A hazard is any biochemical or physical
damage or accident. substance that is likely to cause damage or injury
to humans, other organisms, or the surroundings
if it is not monitored.

Reporting workplace hazards:

 By presenting a hazard reporting document.

 By letting know your higher officer
 By reporting to administrator

3. List eight (8) common manual handling hazards in an aged care facility workplace.

 Shifting the clients from one point to other.

 Repetition of same movement again and again.
 Poor working space.
 Bulky manual work.
 Unexpected load carrying.
 No use of machines for carrying the load.
 No knowledge of dealing or using manual handling techniques and usage of machines.
 Not working on a levelled surface.

4. Explain in your own words, what a manual handling risk assessment is and how it would be carried out.

A manual handling risk assessment is a thorough assessment of physical aspects of actions which are done in a
particular facility or working area. The main idea of manual handling risk assessment is to detect any hazard which
may be liable to cause an injury to any person working at that facility.

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 HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work
Name: Sunita Mehmi ID:10759

Manual handling Risk assessment can be carried out by following steps:

Step 1: One of the most important aspects of your risk assessment is accurately identifying the potential hazards in
your workplace.
Step 2: Once a hazard to health and safety has been identified, the risk associated with that hazard must be
examined.
Step 3: It is then necessary to evaluate the likelihood of an injury occurring, along with its probable consequences.
Risk assessments are therefore based on two key factors:
 The likely severity or impact of any injury or illness resulting from the hazard, and
 The probability or likelihood that the injury or illness will actually occur.
Step 4: Urgent action is required for risks assessed as Critical or High risk.
Step 5: Documenting the process will help ensure that identified risk control measures are implemented in the way
that they were intended. It will also assist in managing other hazards and risks that may be in some way similar to
ones already identified and dealt with.
Step 6: Whichever method of controlling the hazard is determined, it is essential that an evaluation of its impact on
the use of the equipment, substance, system or environment is carried out to ensure that the control does not
contribute to the existing hazard or introduce a new hazard to the area.
(REFERENCE: HLTWHS002 - Certificate IV in Ageing Support PPT 1.pptx)

5. Describe why it is important to report hazards? How should this be done? Who should you report this to?
It is important to report hazards so as to take extra care in near future to avoid the particular hazard and minimise
risk.
Hazards report should be done immediately after its occurrence to pen down every detail. It can be hand written or
typed according to organisational policies and procedures.
Hazards should be reported to supervisor, manager or in charge of the facility.

6. Identify how fatigue can be hazardous to a worker? Provide two (2) examples of what may lead to fatigue.
Fatigue can be disrupting the efficacy of the worker, because they can put the client and themselves at risk and can
cause injury. Fatigued workers may not be able to do their job properly and can result in damaging the well being of
the facility.
Fatigue can be caused due to:
 Continuous or considerate physical or mental work.
 Insomnia

7. Identify how the effects of stress can be hazardous to your job working in aged care? Give two examples of
stress causes.
Stress can be hazardous both for the worker and facility. Stressed workers are not very much attentive to listen to
their tasks and cannot do their tasks properly resulting in injury to themselves or the clients.
Stress can be caused by:
 Overloading of tasks
 Not getting appreciation from others.

8. Outline the hierarchy of control. What does it do?

The hierarchy of control is a system used to minimise the risks in a facility or organisation. This hierarchy of control
can make good understanding among the workers to be careful and reduce or subside the hazards and risks.

2
 Consequence
s
E
ff
b
R
k
y
g
U
z
x
:d
Catastrophic
Death or
permanent
disability

Major
s
in
u
q
v
ti
c
.t
Serious injury,
a
h
m
r
lf
hospital treatment
required
Moderate
Injury requiring
medical treatment

Minor
p
o
e
S
Iw
Minor injury, first
aid only required

Insignificant
A
P
HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work
Name: Sunita Mehmi

Injuries requiring no
treatment or
first aid
RISK LEVEL
Critical (5)
May happen only
in exceptional
circumstances

High(4)
HIERARCHY OF CONTROL
(REFERENCE: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/hierarchy-control)

Could happen
some time

Moderate(3)
Possible
Might occur
occasionally

2
Very Likely
Will probably
occur in most
circumstances

Low(2)
5

2
ID:10759

9. Identify and describe the levels used to rate the likelihood that hazards will result in a harmful incident.

Rare Unlikely
Likelihood
Certain to Occur
Expected to occur
in most
circumstances

Very low (1)

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 HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work
Name: Sunita Mehmi ID:10759

(REFERENCE:
https://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/12917/12917_Hazard_Identification,_Risk_Assessment_and_
control_Procedure.pdf)
10. Identify how infections can be spread and how you can minimise the risk of the spread of infection?
Infections can be possibly spread by:
 Close skin to skin contact
 Sneezing or coughing without covering the face
 Use of contaminated equipments
 Poor hand hygiene practise
 Improper cleaning of wounds.

One can minimise infections by:

 Using of gloves when touching infected site
 Covering your face while coughing or sneezing
 Proper sterilization of equipments after use
 Washing your hands properly
 Proper care of wounds and infected lacerations

11. Describe the term “duty of care”.

Duty of care refers to the commitment by the worker to grasp responsibility towards their client’s safety and well
being. Duty of care is in progress when a person is doing tasks in an aged care for the clients.

12. Explain the role and responsibility of all workers in any workplace, with regard to health and safety.
Roles and responsibility of workers:
 Take reasonable care for your own health and safety while at work and ensure your acts or omissions do not
adversely affect the health and safety of other workers in your workplace
 Exercise duty of care in relation to what is reasonably expected, taking into account the degree of control
you have over work activities and work environment
 To be proactive and become actively involved in activities and programs designed to improve health and
safety
 Cease or refuse to carry out work if there is a reasonable concern that the task would expose you to a
serious risk to health or safety
 Comply with any policies or procedures that have been put in place for your health and safety
 Notify your manager, WHS Site Officer immediately of any injuries or illness that occur at your workplace
 Be proactive in recognising and reporting potential hazards in the workplace
(REFERENCE: HLTWHS002 - Certificate IV in Ageing Support PPT 1.pptx slide 59, 60)

13. Identify why it is necessary that employers use consultative procedures when determining health and safety
strategies?
It is necessary that employers use consultative procedures when determining health and safety strategies because it
is essential as it will affect the efficiency and well being of employees. By this way employers can have a closer look
on reducing the workplace hazards and risks and also implementing safe work practice.

14. Identify the following signs or symbols that you are likely to see in a workplace and describe what they mean
and where they are used
Symbol Name, meaning and use
 This symbol is known as wet floor caution.
 It alerts the people about the presence risks on that particular surface where
water or any leakage is going on.
 It is used as safety precaution to avoid fall or slipping of an individual due to
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 HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work
Name: Sunita Mehmi ID:10759

walking or standing on that surface in various organisations like hospitals,

corporate buildings and aged care homes.

 This symbol is known as no smoking zone.

 It notifies people that a particular area is no smoking area and you are not
supposed to do so.
 It is used mostly in hospitals and critical care and aged care homes.
 This sign is called Fire Extinguisher Sign
 They are used to detect the location of fire extinguisher when in an emergency
they are required to easily approach them. They are always placed above the
fire extinguisher for their clear visibility.
 They are used almost in every organisation from smaller to bigger one.
 This is gloves must be worn sign.
 This sign indicates that gloves must be worn by the workers in order to avoid
chemical touching their hands which may lead to laceration of skin and also
while dealing with hot liquids.
 These signs are used in chemical industries and highly potent substance carrying
jobs.
 This sign is known as exit sign.
 It represents the closest exit in the premises.
 It is used in every building and every organisation regardless of the language so
that everybody can know the exit door.
 It is a biochemical hazard or biohazard sign.
 It indicates the presence of potential hazard causing biological material is in the
premises.
 It is used in healthcare industries and other organisations where there is use of
biological substances like organs or blood.
 It is known as first aid kit sign.
 It is used to locate first aid kit in organisational premises.
 It is used in many organisations where there is chance of minor injury and they
can provide first aid like small corporations , clinics etc.
 It is known as fire hazard sign.
 It means that the area where it is placed is potentially fire causing area and extra
preventive efforts should be taken into account and no flammable substances
should be brought near this area.
 These are used in chemical industries and radioactive units.
 This sign is called electric shock risk sign.
 It represents potential risk of getting electrical shock in the area.
 It is used near heavy voltage machines or premises.

15. using the rating scale, rate the risks to your health of the following, and explain your answers.
Risk Risk Rating (tick) Explain
There is the risk of severe back injury ⬜ High level of risk  It is very likely to happen in
from incorrect lifting and transferring ⬜ Medium level of risk workplace.
procedures ⬜ Low level of risk
There is a risk of needle stick injury ⬜ High level of risk It might be occur sometimes but not

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 HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct care work
Name: Sunita Mehmi ID:10759

when working directly with clients ⬜ Medium level of risk  necessarily.

⬜ Low level of risk
There is a risk of a person with ⬜ High level of risk  It is very likely to happen as the
impaired vision slipping and falling ⬜ Medium level of risk person cannot see properly and
from water spillage on the floor ⬜ Low level of risk needs assistance.
There is the risk of burns when ⬜ High level of risk It might be occur sometimes but not
handling client’s food ⬜ Medium level of risk  necessarily.
⬜ Low level of risk
There is the risk of dermatological ⬜ High level of risk It is very unlikely to happen unless
reaction from excessive hand ⬜ Medium level of risk the person is allergic to that
washing ⬜ Low level of risk  chemical.
There is the risk of being punched by ⬜ High level of risk It is very unlikely to happen unless
a client ⬜ Medium level of risk the person is agitated.
⬜ Low level of risk 
There is a risk of a person with a ⬜ High level of risk It might be occur sometimes but not
physical disability tripping over a ⬜ Medium level of risk  necessarily.
loose mat on the floor ⬜ Low level of risk

16. What can you do to ensure currency of safe work practices is maintained?
 Use OSHA's Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet to find out how you're doing.
 Review annually and as needed
 Investigate accidents, injuries, illnesses and close calls as they occur.
 Conduct frequent (daily, weekly as needed) inspections of specific equipment and processes.
 Evaluate your injury and illness statistics
 Document all your safety efforts.
 Change analysis: Review new and changed processes, materials, facilities and equipment for hazards
 Ensure hazard correction systems are in place and working
 Evaluate effectiveness of training
(REFERENCE: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/safe_workplace/safety_management/ )