Part 1

This report presents the discussion about the WHS regulations, code of practices, and legal obligations of business firms for the WHS consultation. It also involve a first aid training report that discusses about potential training providers, available courses in NSW with their advantage and disadvantages, methods of encouraging employees and mentoring the effectiveness. Along with this, report also presents the discussion about procedures to identify the workplace hazards and discuss about the risk that may arise from the hazards in relation to health and safety of employees. This report also provides the ways to mitigate the hazards for the workplace for managing the health and safety risk effectively. Apart from this, report discusses about the WHS record that is must be maintained by the business organisations and required forms and registers to collect the required information. Further, it also discusses about the effectiveness of WHS information in improving the performance of organisations.

Task 1: WHS legislation, codes of practice and regulations:

WHS refers to workplace health and safety laws which support in protecting the health and safety of people. The business organizations or employers must follow the work health and safety act to protect the health and safety of employee, customers, suppliers, and visitors. Along with this, it is also required that business organization or owner should comply with the legal requirements to ensure that all the WHS laws are followed effectively and workplace meet with obligations related law. In New South Wales (NSW) there is Work Health and Safety Act 2011 available that is applied in all the NSW workplaces including mines industry (Workplace OHS, 2017). This act was developed by the Safe Work Australia in consultation and it is supported by the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 also supports to Work Health and Safety Act 2011. WHS regulations 2011n is the along with this, WHS regulation also involves the different codes of practices such as First aid in the workplace, Confined spaces, managing work health and safety risks and electrical risks in the workplace, Construction work, Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work, Managing the work environment and facilities (Safe work, 2017).

Communication methods to communicate about WHS legislation:

AEIT has a Work Health and Safety Representative, which provides the information and advice to staff members. Company also discloses all the information to its employees, client, and visitors through notice board that company follows all the WHS legislation for the protection of workplace. Along with this, company uses the written communication method effectively to communicate the information about WHS legislation. Through using these communication channels, company discloses that AEIT follow the work health and safety regulation 2011 and code of practices effectively to protect the visitors and employees from the workplace hazards (Guffey and Loewy, 2012). At the same time, company also comply with managing the work health and safety risks at workplace, first aid in the workplace, fire exit, confined spaces, managing working environment and electrical risks in workplace, and managing noise and preventing hearing loss at workplace for the health and safety of workplace employees and visitors.

Task 1: WHS legislation, codes of practice, and regulations

Alternative communication methods:

There are two different communication methods are available for the AEIT such as online and face to face. These methods can support the AEIT to ensure that all the employees are continually aware about the work health and safety regulations. The online method involves the different tools such as Email, instant message, SMS, and Chat. The company also can use the Email tool to communicate with employees about the company WHS policies and keep them up-to-date. In this method user needs to develop messages and send to required recipients and can transfer the information on timely manner. Along with this, company can provide the information to employees and make aware about the company WHS policies through organizing meetings timely manner when it is required (Guirdham, 2014). In this meeting representative of company must discuss about the updates. Moreover, the existing communication system of company would be better if company use the sign board with notice to provide information about the WHS policies. AEIT should place the sign board related to emergency exit and fire alarm. Along with this, AEIT also place a notice board at the entry gate and disclose all the required information on that for providing information to employees.

Legal obligations of AEIT for WHS consultation: 

Business organizations have legal responsibilities that business does not create any health and safety issues for the visitors, clients, and employees. As per the Work Health and Safety legislation, AEIT is obliged to:

• Provide safe and healthy workplace through preventing accidents.
• Ensure all the workplace hazards are removed and controlled through implementing appropriate measures (Business gov, 2017).
• Health of employees, clients, and visitors are promoted.
• Provide clean and suitable working environment at all times.
• Ensure safe and healthy workplace to achieve aim.

Policies and procedures to cover WHS consultation:

There are different policies and procedures that cover the WHS consultation at AEIT. It is the policy of company that they provide safe and healthy working environment, which protect the health of visitors, clients, and employees. Along with this, to cover the WHS consultation company also ensure that all the employees and clients are protected from the workplace injuries and company provide the clean training environment. At the same time, to comply with WHS legislation, company also encourage its employees for participating in ongoing development and implementing the health and safety programs effectively. The company also promotes the health of employees through mitigating or controlling the hazards related to safety and health (Archer et al, 2011). Apart from this, to cover the WHS consultation, company has an Work Health and Safety representative that direct the all the enquires and responsible for the providing support or advice to staff members. Moreover, Health and Safety representative also record the all the activities and review polices on an annual basis that all the WHS legislation requirements are meet effectively.

Policies and procedures of AEIT:

The policies of AEIT related to work health and safety are easy to understand because company encourage its employees for the cooperation and participating in ongoing policies and implementing new health and safety programs. Along with this, process of company is very easy to understand because company has appointed to Michael as Health and Safety Representative and at the workplace all the enquiries are directed to representative. Along with this, Michael also provides support or advice to staff members (Caponecchia and Sheils, 2011). Moreover, representative can seek advice that how effectively they can collect or maintain the required information to comply with WHS legislation. Further, they can take advice on that how can mitigate or remove injuries and accidents from workplace in effective manner.   

Task 2: Communication methods to communicate about WHS legislation

Task 1: Potential first aid training providers:

There are various courses of the first aid that includes provide first aid, CPR express, education and care first aid, Asthma, Anaphylaxis, LVR&CPR, CPR refresher, WHS safety, Medical courses, and others (VFA, 2017). The first aid training includes the content such as fractures and dislocations, burns and scalds, bandaging techniques, breathing difficulties, positioning, bites, fainting and others. There are various potential training providers in the NSW for first aid. These trainers are Vital First Aid Training Service, Allens Training, Health Corp, St John, and Australian Training Institution.

Features of courses and providers:

These training institutions provide different for minimum duration of 1 day that would valid for 3 years. These courses are offered in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, and Australia-wide (St John, 2017). These training providers confer the first aid certificates to the trainees. The trainer will provide training in the training rooms.     

Advantages and disadvantages of options:

The main advantage of vital first aid training service is that VFA is a leading sports trainer education in Australia. The company also offers the first aid training at $105 for a day. The prices of company are lesser as compare to Australian Training institution.VFA also purchase the first aid products from the TGA register suppliers (VFA, 2017). But at the same time, course of company is expensive as compare to St John because it provides the first aid training on the $195 for 1-2 days that can increase the saving of individuals. Apart from this, ATI provides the training at $95 cost for 3.5 hours including online theory and classroom practice and all the required resources and assessments are available in the ATI classroom.

But the same time, cost of course is higher at ATI as compare to other training providers as they charge $105 for 1 day, and $195 for 1-2 days that can increase the cost of users. Moreover, main advantage of getting training from the St John is trainers at St John are well qualified and experienced. It also offer training in partnership of registered first aid training organisation namely St John ambulance Australia (St John, 2017). At the same time, getting training from the St John of first aid can increase the training cost as it changes the $195 for 1-2 days training, which is higher as compare to other training providers in NSW.   

Cost of available options:

Different training provider charges different prices for courses. Vital First Aid provides first aid training courses at the price of $105 in the format of one day (VFA, 2017). At the same time, the ATI provides first aid training at the cost of $95 in the format of 3.5 hours classroom (ATI, 2017). This is valid for the 3 years. Furthermore, St John provides first aid training in the format of 1 to 2 days at the price of $195 (St John, 2017).

Reporting person at AEIT for costs involved:

The principle will be reported about the cost to be incurred on the training for first aid in the organization. First of all, all the cost involved in the training courses will be identified and then a budget for that will be prepared. This budget will be revealed before the principle of AEIT.

Task 3: Legal obligations of AEIT for WHS consultation

Best training course provider and its reasons:

I believe Vital First Aid Training Provider is the best training provider as it is the professional paramedical trainers. It is dynamic and registered training provider that offers practical training in different courses for pre hospital and first aid (VFA, 2017). Unlike other training providers, Vital First Aid Training does not cancel the course once it confirmed the course with trainee. Along with this, it is recognized training organization offer first aid training with new standards.

Methods of encouraging employees to participate in training:

The company can encourage its employees through discussing about the benefits of first aid training in relation to their life and workplace. In this way, company should communicate the benefit of first aid training that through getting the first aid training they can save the life of their family members, relatives, colleagues when they get injuries (Reese, 2015). Along with this, company also communicate the benefit of first aid training in relation to their job that training can make them more employable and can enhance their skills to save the life of co-workers from the workplace injuries.   

Methods of monitoring effectiveness of training:

There are three methods available to analyse the effectiveness of first aid training such as pre-test questionnaire form, post-test questionnaire form, and observation from. In the pre test questionnaire form the knowledge of participant would be measured in relation to first aid. Along with this, in the post-test questionnaire form the questions can be asked to participants to access the first aid knowledge after getting the training and views of the participants about the first aid (Clarke and Furnell, 2016). Furthermore, in the observation form method the skills and behaviour of participants would be analysed on first aid.

The organization must adopt the following process to continually identify and monitors the hazards at the workplace to ensure healthy and safe working environment. The procedure for identifying and monitoring the hazards include following steps such as identification of the hazards through hazard checklist. Then the risk and hazards should be assessed in form of their sensitivity and nature. Then the risk control measures are applied to control the risk (WSU, 2015). The control hierarchy consisting of elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administration, and personal protective equipment can helps in controlling the hazards.

Inspection to identify the workplace hazards and list of hazards:

The below table presents the inspection report in which workplace hazards are identified:

From the above inspection report, it is analysed that at AEIT there are some workplace hazards such as sign boards are not readable, floor is slippy, emergency lighting is not at workplace, and some areas of workplace are dark.

Risk from the hazards to health and safety:

The above table shows the hazards that may raise different risk related to health and safety of employees. Due to dirty or not readable sign boards, employees can enter into restricted areas such as machinery that can affect the safety policies and employees can get injuries. Along with this, employees at AEIT can fell down on the floor as floor of company is slippy. This may be cause of accident at workplace or employees can get serious injuries (Underhill and Quinlan, 2011). Furthermore, situation when electricity cuts suddenly then employees can get injuries that can affect the health of them. This risk may arise as emergency lights are missing at AEIT workplace. At the same time, some areas of AEIT workplace are dark due to lack of lighting that may arise the risk related to employees health and safety because due to dark employees can fear to work at that place.

Task 4: Policies and procedures to cover WHS consultation

Level of hazards (high, medium, and low):

Hazards	Level of Hazards
Floor is Slippy	High
Some areas are dark	High
Emergency lighting is not available	Medium
Sign boards are not readable	Low

Prioritise to workplace hazards:

There are four different hazards available at AEIT workplace in relation to health and safety of employees. The company will provide the first importance to slippy floor, second to dark workplace areas, third to emergency lighting, and four prioritise to sign boards which are not readable at workplace.  

Ways to address the hazards and managing the risk:

The company can address the risk from the slippy floor through placing the Carpets and Rugs at slippy areas. This will support in mitigating the employees health and safety related risk effectively (Sorrentino and Remmert, 2016). Along with this, company also focus on placing lights at dark places and also place the emergency lights at workplace that can support in mitigating the workplace health and safety issues. At the same time, company also replace their sign boards with new sigh boards, which should be readable and clear.

The WHS regulation includes some requirements for keeping the record that applies in almost every territories and states.  Keeping the record according to the WHS requirement can help the organization in doing its work, meeting its legal obligation, strengthening its relation with employees and customers. Apart from this, there are some kinds of the requirements of the record keeping for all the businesses in NSW (QG, 2017). Basic records requirements of the WHS include cash book, bank account, employment record, sales record, and proof of purchase, occupational training record, and health and safety record at the workplace. Along with this, the record of current monetary penalty, administrative, hazardous substances, insurance, plant, and lead record are keep in the organization in Australia to meet the legal record requirement. Therefore, the AEIT must keep the record of the employees, cash book, employees, training records, insurance record, hazardous substances, and other records to comply with WHS record requirements and regulations (Workplace OHS, 2017). Apart from this, the AEIT can keep the record of injuries and accidents, workers compensation record, first aid record, record of training, record of risk assessment and management, record of workplace safety inspection, and others.

Forms, registers, and records to collect the information:

There numbers of forms, registers, and records that must be used by the organizations to gather the information about incidents and injuries on workplace. The WHS regulation provides some forms and registers to record the information about injuries and incidents at the workplace (GSA, 2014). There are four kinds of the report forms such as near misses, incidents and hazards report form, register of injuries report form, accident compensation claim form, and incident notification form that must be maintained by AEIT (ELAA, 2017). The register of the injury includes the information about name of the injured worker, the workers’ address, time and data of injury, the nature of the injury, the occupation of the workers while get injured, and the cause of the injury (NSW, 2017). Along with this, different forms are filled such as From 3 (Incident and injury report), Form 7 (Hazard report), Form 8 (Hazard Log), Form 9 (Hazardous Manual Task Assessment), and other forms.

Task 5: Potential first aid training providers

Effectiveness WHS information in improving the performance:

The WHS records and statistics along with accomplishment of the legal requirements can help in improving the performance of business in future. The records and WHS information helps in measuring the possible incidents and accidents at the workplace that helps in ensuring the safe and healthy working environment at the workplace (FU, 2013). This policy and action of the organization increase the morale level and motivation of the employees that improve their performance. This indirectly increases the performance and productivity of the organization. This is because health is wealth.  The healthy employees are able to give more effective performance. The WHS legal requirement states that employees should be given training regarding at the workplace safety and healthy.  It builds workplace sustainability. The WHS contributes in improving the quality, cost reduction, and productivity that in turn improve the performance of the organization (SWA, 2014). The record helps in measuring the current WHS performance with record that helps in improving the business performance.

Conclusion:

From the analysis of above report, it can be concluded that business organisations should follow the WHS regulations to protect the health and safety of employees. Along with this, they also use the proper communication channels to disclose the company policies and procedures in relation to WHS. it also concluded that business organisation also provide the first aid training to their employees to face the workplace situations effectively. Moreover, business organisation should also maintain the WHS record to meet the legal requirements effectively.   

References: 

Archer, R.J., Borthwick, K., Travers, M. and Ruschena, L., (2011). WHS: A management guide. AU: Cengage Learning.      

ATI (2017). First Aid Training. Retrieved from https://atiaustralia.edu.au/courses_category/first-aid-training/

Business gov, (2017). Workplace health & safety. Retrieved from: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/workplace-health-and-safety (Accessed: 27 June, 2017).

Caponecchia, C., and Sheils, I. (2011). Perceptions of personal vulnerability to workplace hazards in the Australian construction industry. Journal of safety research, 42(4), 253-258.

Clarke, N. and Furnell, S. (2016). Proceedings of the Tenth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2016). UK: Lulu.com.  

Community Workers: Work health and safety guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/CommunityWorkers.pdf 

ELAA (2017). Reporting and Investigation. Retrieved from https://www.ohsinecservices.org.au/node/15 

FU (2013). Work Health and Safety Performance Measurement and Reporting. Retrieved from https://www.flinders.edu.au/ppmanual/health-safety/work-health-and-safety-performance-measurement-reporting.cfm 

Guffey, M. and Loewy, D. (2012). Essentials of Business Communication. USA: Cengage Learning.

Guirdham, M. (2014). Work Communication: Mediated and Face-to-Face Practices. UK: Palgrave Macmillan.  

NSW (2017). Register of Injury. Retrieved from https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety/Report-an-incident-or-injury/register-of-injuries 

QG (2017). Basic record keeping requirements. Retrieved from https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/finances-cash-flow/records/requirements 

Reese, C. (2015). Occupational Health and Safety Management: A Practical Approach, Third Edition. USA: CRC Press.    

Safe work, (2017). LEGISLATION AND CODES. Retrieved from: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/law-and-policy/legislation-and-codes (Accessed: 26 June, 2017).        

Sorrentino, S. and Remmert, L. (2016). Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants – E-Book. Canada: Elsevier Health Sciences.  

St John (2017). First Aid Training. Retrieved from https://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/course-list/ 

St John (2017). First Aid Training. Retrieved from https://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/provide-first-aid-1-day-195-/-recertification-178_1004493/?nocache 

SWA (2014). WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY,BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. Retrieved from https://www.workplaceleadership.com.au/app/uploads/2014/10/Workplace-Health-and-Safety-Business-Productivity-and-Sustainability-Report-2MB.pdf

Underhill, E., and Quinlan, M. (2011). How precarious employment affects health and safety at work: the case of temporary agency workers. Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, 66(3), 397-421.         

VFA (2017). First aid related course. Retrieved from https://www.vitalfirstaid.com.au/courses/course-types.aspx 

VFA (2017). First Aid Training with Professional Paramedical Trainers. Retrieved from https://www.vitalfirstaid.com.au/ 

Workplace OHS, (2017). NSW legislation. Retrieved from: https://workplaceohs.com.au/legislation/nsw-legislation (Accessed: 26 June, 2017).       

WorkplaceOHS (2017).  Western Australia’s record keeping requirements. Retrieved from https://workplaceohs.com.au/legislation/record-keeping/wa 

WSU, (2015). Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Procedure. Retrieved from: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/12917/12917_Hazard_Identification,_Risk_Assessment_and_control_Procedure.pdf