Introduction to Workplace Health and Safety in Australia

Workplace Health and Safety is known to be the discipline related to the protection of health and safety of the concerned stakeholders in the particular workplace as a result of exposure to different hazards and risks as a result of varied workplace activities. All states in Australia are in support of adoption of distinct set of WHS laws, policies, codes of practices that are outlined for improving health and safety outcomes. It has been reported that Australian workplaces are entailed to conduct regular work health safety assessments and coming up with recommendations through which hazardous incidents can be reduced. Work safety assessments ensure that all stakeholders have a disciplined attitude towards maintaining safety activities. The present assignment is based on a work health safety assessment carried out in a selected workplace. The six steps of completing an assessment are followed. The paper identifies and describes key agencies governing work health and safety in the type of working environment selected. The findings of the work safety assessment are summarized and details of managing risk to vulnerable population are discussed. 

Workplace hazards are common in almost all forms of working environment, and it is crucial to identify and eliminate the same for ensuring work health and safety. It has been noted that the requirements and nature of work in different workplaces contribute to the particular form of hazards commonly identified in the same workplaces (Holt & Allen, 2015). In the present scenario, the suitable environment selected for conducting a work health safety risk assessment was a fuel station in a prime location within the city. Own role in the fuel station workplace is that of a Customer Service Attendant. The fuel station has provision for providing diesel, petrol and liquefied petroleum gas. Apart from fuel dispensers, there is provision for air compressor that is generally used for inflating care tyres. A small convenience store is located at the end of the premise that houses grocery food and snacks items, and selected groceries. This determines that the daily footfall of users of the fuel station is considerable. Fuel stations are known to be at high risk of hazards since the same are responsible for storing and dispensing hazardous substances, particularly inflammable substances like diesel, petrol, ethanol, butanol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Workplace employees have the accountability to implement and adhere to proper mitigation systems and processes for ensuring safety and health of all stakeholders (Ahmed et al., 2010).

Work Health Safety Governance in Fuel Stations in Australia

Notable agencies and institutes in different countries are responsible for governing work health safety in diverse workplaces. In Australia, Safe Work Australia is a Government statutory agency that oversees and administers work health safety in workplaces, including fuel stations. The agency had been set up in the year 2009 and encompasses representatives of the territory and state governments, the Commonwealth, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Industry Group (safeworkaustralia.gov.au, 2018). The agency is a national policy body that aims to bring improvement in the working conditions of employees of different workplaces. Safe Work Australia has outlined a Code of Practice for management of work health and safety risks, and it is to be noted that the code is approved under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act). The code is applicable to all stakeholders having duty of care in the particular circumstances as mentioned in the code. This would include employees working at high risk sits such as the fuel station.

The Work and Safety Act 2011 regulates the safe management of hazardous chemicals that includes combustible and flammable substances (Keim, 2018). Fuel available at the present fuel station is classified as hazardous chemicals under the WHS regulations. Owners and employees of the workplace have therefore duties as the PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) under WHS regulation for safe management of hazardous chemicals. The present fuel station operates under the s.14 and s.15 of the Act. Practical guidance is provided to employees regarding the technical resources such as-

• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2013
• AS 4977: Petroleum products-Pipeline, road tanker compartment and underground tank identification 
• AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
• AS 4976: The removal and disposal of underground petroleum storage tanks
• AS 4897: The design, installation and operation of underground petroleum storage systems

The present work safety assessment was carried out following the six steps of completing such an assessment. A template was used for recording all hazards identified, existing control measures implemented in the workplace, the corresponding risk level, control measures further needed for reducing risks. The aim was to reduce risk of harms and mitigate the damage caused as a result of inherent risk. The work area was examined and the potential threats to health and safety were identified. Hazards were correlated to the chances of illness, damage or injury. The likely severity of the risk was measured against the control measures identified. Research was carried out for understanding additional strategies that could be implemented in future.

Movement of vehicles- Hazards identified in relation to movement of vehicles was accidental collision that can lead to injuries to individuals as well as damage to vehicles. At present, there is provision for safety system devised for traffic movement at the entry and exit point, along with display of clear warning signs. It is recommended that resources are allocated for mechanical protection of vulnerable structures like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage areas and fuel tanks. Ensuring that the substance used is compatible with the weather condition of the area in which the pump is located, mechanical support would need to be provided on the boundary of the vulnerable structures. This would ensure that damage done to the structures as well as to the vehicles is minimal.

Work Health Safety Assessment in a Fuel Station

Hazardous substances- In a fuel station, accidental spillage and leaks are common that cause significant health complications. The workplace has policy for proper storage of hazardous chemicals in the corresponding containers. Since the risk severity is high, additional strategies are being put forward. The employees are to be provided with adequate personal protective equipment and education is to be imparted regarding the utility of the same for protection from occupational exposure. The fundamental personal protective equipment that the workers are expected to use are hand protection such as gloves, respiratory protection such as disposable masks, foot protection such as boots, skin protection such as aprons and long sleeved cloths, and head protection such as helmets.

Electricity- Electrical system in the fuel system imposes a high risk of electric shock as a result of misuse and manhandling of electrical equipment. At the preset, the workplace has strategies for electrical installation certified by a reputed electrician every two years, and protection and insulation of all equipment. There is however a need of clearly labeling all electrical controlling machinery. Considering the complexity of the parts, the machineries are to have a handling manual available to the workers. Further, there is a need of insulating the electrical equipments and supplying them same through a circuit which has a 30 mA Residual Current Device. The electrical instillation are to be deemed fit for a wet environment and have adequate protection from mechanical damage.

Maintenance of forecourt – Oil and fuel spillage on the forecourt pose significant hazard of slips, trips and slips which lead to mechanical trauma and injury to individuals. Since the risk severity is high, the authorities have provision for supply of industrial salt along with gravel spread on the forecourt for fuel absorption and cleaning. It is recommended that the workers are further trained for dealing with minor spillages. Spill containment systems in areas for the dispensing work on the forecourt are to be maintained. Workers are to be trained for ensuring fill and dip point markers for underground tanks. The workers are to be educated that spill containment boxes are to be free of fuel and in case water is present, the seals are to be replaced (worksafe.qld.gov.au, 2018).

The risk of suffering health and safety concerns for the vulnerable population is high, and thus the fuel station must set provision for addressing the concerns of such population. Disabled drivers might be facing challenges in accessing services at the station. It is therefore recommended that a separate area in the forecourt is provided where disabled drivers can have their vehicles filled. Another option is that mechanical alarm system can to be installed so that workers from the station can be alerted for assisting the disabled drivers when they arrive. Such alarm systems are to be placed at all the fuel filling counters. Speaking in terms of ethnic diversity, it has been noted that non-indigenous Australian population is to be regarded as a vulnerable population due to their level of English literacy. It is therefore recommended that individuals from the non-indigenous population are employed in the fuel station so that communication station users do not face challenges in putting forward their concerns and communicating effectively (Monney, 2015).

In conclusion, the present work and safety assessment was pivotal for understand the further needs of adhering to principles of health and safety. Through the assessment a number of hazards have been identified that need to be addressed at the earliest. The areas encompassed in the assessment are movement of vehicle, hazardous substances, electricity, and maintenance of forecourt. While the current risk rating for movement of vehicles is moderate, the rating for others is high. A set of distinct recommendations have been outlined appropriate to the identified risks. This includes awareness of the vulnerable populations and the corresponding strategies to be implemented.

References

Ahmed, M.M., Kutty, M.K.S. & Shariff, A.M., (2010). December. Analysis of Fuel Stations Hazards By Using Risk Assessment Criteria. In Int’l Conference on Environment. Retrieved from : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228521317

Al-ayyadhi, N. & Akhtar, S., (2018). Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Self-Rated Morbidities Among South Asian Migrant Gas Station Workers in Kuwait. Journal of immigrant and minority health, pp.1-8. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4fb5/1bf581db0e5db2e057d387b6750c2aa1d8ca.pdf?_ga=2.250591302.1996354190.1533960056-37392305.1532343454

Holt, A. S. J., & Allen, J. (2015). Principles of health and safety at work. Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TrYyDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Holt,+A.+S.+J.,+%26+Allen,+J.+(2015).+Principles+of+health+and+safety+at+work.+Routledge.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-wq3bjuTcAhULO48KHXuTAREQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q&f=false

Keim, S., (2018). Investigations under the’Work Health and Safety Act 2011′. Proctor, The, 38(5).14. Retrieved from https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=632097674998639;res=IELAPA

Monney, I., Dramani, J.B., Aruna, A., Tenkorang, A.G. & Osei-Poku, F., (2015). Health and safety in high-risk work environments: A study of fuel service stations in Ghana. J Environ Occup Sci, 4(3), 133. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/39397079/62-1435591663.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1533963921&Signature=IpaRAsQ3XOF2qVQSSWySeDW0Lj8%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DHealth_and_safety_in_high-risk_work_envi.pdf

Safeworkaustralia.gov.au. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/how_to_manage_whs_risks.pdf [Accessed 11 Aug. 2018].

Worksafe.qld.gov.au. (2018). A guide for service station operators under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. [online] Available at: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/82910/guide-service-station-op.pdf [Accessed 11 Aug. 2018].