OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH and SAFETY
POLICY
CONSULTATION STATEMENT
Commitment
Blaxland Public School recognises the rights and duty of care responsibilities under the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and OHS Regulation 2001.
The school is committed to promoting a proactive and positive safety culture by providing resources, procedures and consultation arrangements to ensure a safe, healthy and harmonious workplace for all.
The school will consult with all employees in implementing safe practices and work systems.
Occupational, Health and Safety Representatives
Occupational, Health and Safety Representatives, including the Principal have been elected for effective consultation and the promotion of health and safety at Blaxland Public School.
The Occupational Health and Safety Representatives for 2006 and 2007 are:
- Mrs Emma Jamieson - Principal (Employer Representative)
- Mrs Marilyn Pettitt - Assistant Principal (Teaching Staff Representative)
- Mr Colin Semmler - Librarian (Teaching Staff Representative)
- Mrs Debbie Potter - School Administration Manager (SASS/GA Staff Representative)
The Occupational Health and Safety Representatives are responsible for raising specific health and safety issues that arise in relation to employees in their work group. The work group is all employees who work for the Department of Education and Training located at Blaxland Public School.
Employees should raise issues directly with their supervisor or OH&S Representative.
How employees will be consulted about Occupational Health and Safety
When an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issue is raised either by the employer or and employee the OHS Representative will consult members of their work group. Feedback will be provided as to the outcomes of the consultation to the work group.
Employees should draw to the attention of their representatives or supervisors any health and safety concerns they have in order for the issue to be addressed appropriately. All employees have a collective and individual responsibility for work place safety.
Establishment of consultation arrangements
The school discussed consultation arrangement at a staff meeting reviewing Blaxland Public Schools Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Consultation Statement.
Representatives were established for OHS as appropriate for the school by staff.
Review of consultation arrangements
Consultation arrangements will be monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that consultation with all employees is effective and that all safety issues are being addressed.
Signed: Emma Jamieson Principal Date: 28th August 2007
POLICY STATEMENT
Blaxland Public School recognises the rights and duty of care responsibilities under the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and OHS Regulation 2001 to ensure the health , safety and welfare of the students, staff, parents and visitors to the school.
We acknowledge responsibility for ourselves and the safety of others.
Blaxland Public School recognises the right of staff, students, parents and visitors to expect that their health, safety and welfare is of paramount importance.
STATEMENT of PURPOSE
Blaxland Public School will ensure a sound Occupational, Health and Safety management system through the establishment of:
- a consultation statement highlighting staff commitment to OHS
- policies demonstrating staff commitment
- incident and prevention strategies
- plans for incident, injury and return to work management
- measurement, evaluation and review of OHS data
Reference Documents
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001
- Workplace Injury Management and Workers’ Compensation Act 1998
- Workplace Injury Management and Workers’ Compensation Regulation 2002
The Principal will:
- ensure that the workplace managed is equipped and maintained to provide for staff, student, parent and visitor health and safety as far as practicable;
- ensure that appropriate consultation structures are in place;
- identify, with the aid of staff all current and foreseeable hazards (including violence and aggression), assess associated risks and develop strategies to eliminate or control the risks as far as practicable.
The Principal and Staff will:
- provide and maintain, as far as practicable, a working and learning environment and conditions that are safe and without risks to the health of the learning community;
- comply with the obligations under the OHS Act;
- contribute to the Department’s meetings its OHS strategic plan and performance levels by complying with OHS procedures;
- take reasonable care to ensure the health and safety of themselves, and others under their
supervision at work, including students.
- use all provided personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) in accordance with directions, and report when any PPE requires repair, replacement or where risk assessment indicates the need for PPE to be provided by the employer;
- co-operate with the Department as far as necessary to enable compliance with any requirement under the OHS Act, including with any reasonable instruction or direction given by a principal or workplace manager;
- assist the Department with its OHS obligations by reporting and recording all incidents (including incidents of violence or bullying) and hazards that may cause injury or illness (including damage to facilities or plant requiring maintenance);
- participate in training arranged to support the implementation of this policy;
- engage with workplace managers in consultation on any OHS issues or information and
- co-operate in any return to work plan developed for injured staff.