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BSBWHS501 Ensure a safe workplace

Learner Instructions 1

(Establish and maintain WHS management systems)

Performance objective

For this task, you will demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain a WHS management system.

Assessment description

Referring to the simulated business and scenario information provided in the Appendices of this task, you will plan and develop a WHS management system to assist the organisation to comply with WHS legislation. You will identify and use sources of expert advice to plan your system. You will gather a portfolio of evidence to collect samples of documentation to support the WHS management system. You will then prepare a report outlining and explaining the system, duty holders, resources, and approval required.

Procedure

  1. Review the Australian Hardware scenario in Appendix 1.
  2. Review the Australian Hardware simulated business information in Appendices 2–5.

Note: Detailed information on Australian Hardware, including operational policies and procedures, risk management, and financials may be accessed at:

  1. ‘Australian Hardware’, IBSA,

<http://simulations.ibsa.org.au/australian_hardware/>.

  1. Research WHS management systems (WHSMS) to determine the features for an appropriate WHS management system to propose for Australian Hardware. Consider:
    1. which policies and procedures to include
    2. what adaptation and amendments may be required to existing policies and procedures
    3. the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities required
    4. which human, physical and financial resources are required (estimate costs over first year of implementation). See table below for costs.

Note: Two hours of training per employee has been approved relating to the new WHSMS itself, duties, and role-specific safety training. The total approved budget is $1 million.

Resource

Wage incl.

entitlements cost

($ hourly)

Lost productivity cost

($ hourly)

Total cost ($ hourly)

Senior managers

100

100

200

Store managers

50

50

100

Team leaders (5–8 per store)

30

30

60

Workers (15–20 per store)

25

25

25

WHS consultants

60

N/A

60

Training rooms

50

N/A

50
  1. Amend the Wollongong Store WHS policy to apply nationally.
  2. Develop a report on the proposed WHSMS. Include:
    1. description of the features of the proposed WHSMS, including policies and required amendments
    2. explanation of how the proposed WHSMS meets legislative requirements, including description of duty holders (PCBU, officers, workers, etc.)
    3. explanation of how the proposed WHSMS meets organisational requirements and integrates with organisational needs, including budget.
  3. Submit all required documentation, including a budget for your proposed WHSMS, to your assessor for approval as per specifications below. Keep copies for your records.

Specifications

You must provide:

  • a one- to two-page report on your proposed WHS management system a portfolio of evidence, including:

○ an amended WHS policy to apply nationally

○ an outline of resources and costs for the system, which includes the name of the designated person for approval.

Your assessor will be looking for evidence of:

  • knowledge of relevant WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice that apply to WHS risk management and recordkeeping in the context of the simulated business and scenario
  • literacy skills to adapt and communicate WHS policies that reflect WHS legislative requirements
  • information technology skills to, for example, source simulated business information and use word processing software to adapt existing policies.

Appendix 1: Scenario – Australian Hardware

You are a WHS consultant. You have been contracted by Australian Hardware to research and propose a WHS management system for the organisation.

Australian Hardware has expanded rapidly to include 138 warehouse stores nationally. Unfortunately, one of the possible results of this rapid expansion is a lack of a national, consistent approach to WHS compliance.

The company does take seriously its legal and ethical obligations to provide a safe workplace; however, safety standards may be slipping. According to incomplete Australian Hardware records, last year, the Lost Time to Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) was 13.9. The current industry benchmark 10.1[1].

Areas and types of injuries of particular concern include:

manual lifting of outdoor furniture and hardware goods in warehouses and in customer service areas

hazardous materials handling by forklift drivers, drivers and customer service staff.

In addition, a lack of systematic WHS recordkeeping has meant the organisation cannot be entirely sure of health and safety performance, nor can it be sure of WHS compliance.

The main needs of Australian Hardware with respect to the proposed WHS management system are:

legal compliance across jurisdictions

the safest possible workplace conditions for workers (objective: bring LTIFR and Injury Rate (IR) to 10% below national averages)

integration with all other Australian Hardware management systems, operations and corporate culture

to advertise and demonstrate Australian Hardware’s commitment to WHS.

Appendix 2: Australian Hardware national business plan (excerpt)

The Business

Business name: Australian Hardware Ltd

Business Public company since 1982 structure: 4000000000

ABN: Australian Hardware is headquartered in Sydney, NSW. The

Business location: business owns and operates 138 stores throughout Australia.

Website: http://simulations.ibsa.org.au/australian_hardware/

Date established: 26 January 1921

Business owners: The Greenwright family retains a controlling interest in Australian Hardware. Holden Greenwright serves as both Chair of the Board of Directors and CEO.

Products/services

Australian Hardware supplies hardware and home improvement products and provide expert advice and service to the Australian consumer market through its network of 138 stores/warehouses.

The Market

Target market

The market has been divided into three target markets or segments:

1. home improvers

2. DYIs

3. tradespersons.

Marketing strategy

Australian Hardware takes a two-pronged strategic approach, characterised by product and service differentiation along with select targeted marketing activities.

The Future

Vision statement

Within five years, Australian Hardware will lead the hardware and home improvement market in Australia.

Strategic directions for FY 2013

Australian Hardware’s strategic directions are to:

increase sales revenue and gross profit

maintain or increase market share

control direct and indirect operational costs

maintain superior product and service quality standards

establish Australian Hardware’s reputation as a socially and environmentally responsible company.

BSBWHS501 Ensure a safe workplace

Appendix 3: Australian Hardware organisational chart

BSBWHS501 Learner Instructions 1

Version 1.0 Page 7 of 11

Appendix 4: Australian Hardware (Wollongong) WHS policy and procedures

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that work is carried out safely in accordance with Australian Hardware’s ethical and legal obligations to provide and maintain a safe workplace. Australian Hardware recognises its responsibility to provide a healthy and safe working environment for employees, contractors, clients and visitors. Australian Hardware is committed to the continued wellbeing of its employees and to ensuring that all employees are safe from injury and health risks while undertaking work-related duties, including home-based work.

Scope

The scope of this policy covers all employees and contractors of Australian Hardware – Wollongong Store.

Responsibility

Responsibility for the implementation of this policy rests with employees and management of Australian Hardware with responsibility for providing a safe place of work.

Management at the Wollongong Store are responsible for:

consultation with employees regarding health and safety and changes to legislation and/or working practices which may affect the workplace

providing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for work

providing support, training, and supervision to employees to ensure a safe and healthy workplace

the provision of adequate resources for employees to meet health and safety management system targets.

Individual employees are responsible for:

following all workplace health and safety policies and procedures

ensuring that they report all potential and actual risks to managers/supervisors

taking care to protect their own health and safety and that of their colleagues at work

ensuring that their own, or others’, health and safety is not adversely affected by the consumption of drugs or alcohol

encouraging others to follow healthy and safe working practices in the workplace.

Relevant legislation/ standards

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)

AS/NZS 4804:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems – general guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques.

Updated/ authorised

20/09/2012 – Lynn Lee (Finance Manager, Wollongong).

Health and safety management system principles and objectives

In order to ensure a healthy and safe working environment, Australian Hardware will:

  • establish a safe and healthy workplace
  • ensure compliance with all relevant legislation
  • provide written procedures and instructions for safe working practices and material safety data sheets (MSDS) where required
  • provide appropriate support, instruction, training and supervision to employees to ensure safe working practices
  • consult employees and affected persons on health and safety issues
  • set and monitor clear performance goals for prevention and lessening of illnesses and injuries in the workplace for employees, contractors and visitors (including clients and volunteers)
  • detect hazards leading to assessment and appropriate control activities for all risks in the workplace
  • commit to participation in workplace health and safety matters by all senior managers, line managers, supervisors and staff (including employee representatives)
  • access and provide appropriate information relating to working safely and the training required for organisational employees to carry out their duties in a safe manner
  • establish and commit to a health and safety management system and continual improvement including internal/external audits and systematic management review.

Page

Appendix 5: Australian Hardware procurement policy

Purpose

Procurement is also called ‘supply management’ or ‘purchasing’. The procurement policy is concerned with processes that control incoming products and materials.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the purchase of resources

is carried out consistently, fairly and transparently and in accordance with Australian Hardware requirements.

Scope

The scope of this policy covers the purchasing and acquisition of resources by employees and contractors of Australian Hardware.

Responsibility

Responsibility for the implementation of this policy rests with employees and management of Australian Hardware with responsibility for purchasing resources.

Relevant legislation

Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth)

anti-discrimination legislation

Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth)

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax

Administration) Act 1999 (Cwlth)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cwlth)

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth)

work health and safety legislation.

Updated/ authorised

20/09/2012 – David Mifsud (CFO).

Approval authority

Who

Purchase amount

Required number of quotes

Comment

CEO/Board/

FARM

Committee

Unlimited.

Two or more competitive quotes.

Must be consistent with business/operational and strategic planning.

Chief

Financial

Officer

(CFO)/ Chief

Operating

Officer

(COO)

Authority to sign contracts for products and services up to $500,000.

Two or more competitive quotes.

Must be within the approved budget and consistent with business/operational and strategic planning.

Store

General

Manager

Authority to sign contracts for products and services up to $200,000.

Must seek approval from Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for amounts above $200,000.

Two or more competitive quotes for contracts over $75,000.

Must be within the approved budget and consistent with business/ operational and strategic planning.

Detailed services contract required.

[1] Source: Safe Work Australia, 2013, Australian frequency rates by industry, available online, Safe Work Australia, viewed January 2015, <http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/Statistics/ Documents/National_time_series_freq_rates.pdf>.