Work Health and Safety Act Hospital Environment

Question: Discuss about theWork Health and Safety Actfor Hospital Environment. Answer: Introduction WH Safety Act 2011 was initiated for enhancing safe work practices within the country (Australia). As such, the essay will exemplify and clarify the understanding the aim of the Act as far as an employer-employee relation is concerned in a work environment. In this regard, it will identify a handful emergency procedures within a hospital environment, list activities that are not permitted in a workplace, and as well explain why it is important to identify hazards. Moreover, further contents will contain the importance of the risk assessment process, incident reporting process under NSW government hospitals, role, and responsibility of the WHS committee, a hierarchy of control, workplace safety and incident/ accident reporting procedure. The Aim of WH Safety Act 2011 The famous WH Safety Act is important in that it enhances the provision of an explicit framework for enhancing protection of health, welfare, and safety of all employees within their work jurisdictions. In addition, the WHS Act 2011 also provides health and safety protection to all other peoples who could be affected by the work in one way or the other (NSW Legislation, 2011). Among the groups protected by the act comprises of: employers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, interns and experienced students, trainees and apprentices, and out workers. As such, public is not excluded since the general public is also protected by the act since they are either affected directly or indirectly (safe work website). Employer/ Employee Responsibilities for Maintaining a Safe Working Environment Employer The employer is responsible for the provision of workers and contractors with adequate facilities to enhance safety at work. This may not be limited to capital resources but also amenities, hygienic eating areas, and clean drinking water among others. It is the role of the employer to ensure that much consultations are carried out with employees regarding factors that directly impact their welfare. As such, health and safety representation within an organization should include employees so that their plight would be addressed accordingly. An employer has to nominate a senior member of the management team or (yourself) to be responsible for handling workers affairs including health and safety issues within the organization. Keeping relevant and valid information regarding workers health and safety. Such records could include asbestos assessment, biological monitoring, relevant medication information and first aid records among others. Periodically, the employer should organize for and/or engage qualified people with expertise in health and safety to advise the workers on issues that affect their wellbeing as employees leading to effective work/ life balance. The employer should also be able to avail information to the employees in appropriate language about available arrangements about employee health and safety, and to whom they should make any complaint or inquiry. The WHS Act 2011 explicate that an employer should ensure that workers have sufficient information, training, instruction, and supervision that enhance their health, safety and wellbeing at work (Safe Work Australia, 2012: NSW Health website). Employee Although it is rightful to state that an employer has to enhance health and safety working conditions in an organization, workers also have distinct roles that have to be accomplished to realize work health and safety. According to WHS 2011, workers are responsible for the following: Taking care while working to ensure that the manner in which they work does not harm themselves and others. When there is any injury or illness, employees are responsible for notifying the employer within 30 days from the time they realize any concern that could compromise their work, health, and safety. Although employees are entitled to medical treatment or time off as a result of illness or injury. They are responsible for making claims and as well decides to choose preferred doctor and/or healthcare provider. Moreover, when there is a need for occupational rehabilitation services, the worker has the right to select from a list of three (3) service providers. In a workplace, accident victims are responsible for choosing a representative, person to support or assisted in the return to work process. But, the WHS Act 2011 affirms that a legal practitioner cannot be a representative (safe work website). Three Emergency Procedures within a Hospital Environment In a hospital environment more specifically in Australia, the WH S Act 2011 indicate four main emergency procedures: Alert (when there is a possible emergency). Standby (when the emergency is eminent) Response (when the emergency ideally exists and a response is required). And stand down (when the emergency has abated and recovery activities can begin). Activities that are not permitted in the workplace under the WHS Act 2011 Being irresponsible as to the risk of death or serious illness or injury on an individual (Work Health | Safety Act, 2011, 42). Engaging in conduct that exposes an individual to the risk of death, injury or illness (Work Health Safety Act, 2011, 42). Failure to comply with health and safety duty (Work Health Safety Act, 2011, 42). Any person conducting an undertaking should not provide monetary support to representatives in health safety departments purposefully to the person referred to in action (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011, 42) Knowingly making misleading representation to another person about rights or obligation under the WHS Act 2011 (Work Health Safety Act, 2011, 58). Why it is Important to Identify Hazards Hazard identification is important and very crucial in the mitigation process. However, it also enhances the realization and adoption of appropriate measures to control further risks that may occur through the continuous use of new work processes, workers involvement, and equipment (NSW Health website). The Importance of the Risk Assessment Process In any organization, risk assessment process plays a great role in determining effective occupational health and safety practices that are integral in deriving a realistic risk management plan.as such, assessment process creates awareness about the risk and associated hazards thus enhancing the realization of the people who are at risk be it employees, employers, contractors, subcontractors, interns, subordinate staff or the general public. As such, this helps an organization to directly monitor risks and as well monitor the effectiveness of predetermined risk mitigation strategies (safe work website). The incident reporting process under NSW government hospitals In NSW government hospitals, incident reporting process includes the following: Identification of the incident (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011, 42). Immediate action(s) to mitigate adverse consequences notification of the incident into the incident management system (IMS) under categorized relevant incident type in order to enhance allocation of SAC rating (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011, 42). Documentation of incident management system number in the patient medication record is done (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011, 42). Prioritization is done through confirmation of SAC rating hence preparation and submission of reported incidents for all SAC1 incidents and others according to Ministry of Health (MOH) mandates. Investigation of incidents (Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011). Classification and confirmation of final incident type(s) (Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011). Incident analysis to identify emerging themes/ trends that contribute to such incidents (Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011). Finally, action plans on implementation of recommendations based on the action plan. The Role and Responsibility of the WHS Committee The roles played by WH S safety committee mainly ensures that an organization has a genuine representation of workers in health and safety related matters that affect their involvement in the organization. However, the committee is also responsible for assisting to enhance the realization of standard, rules and procedures related to health and safety to be complied within the workplace, and any other function as may be agreed between employer and employees (Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011). Hierarchy of Control According to WHS Act 2011, the hierarchy of control should be utilized sequentially as follows: eliminating, substituting, isolating, engineering, administering and personal protective Equipment (PPE) (Safe Work Australia, 2012). Workplace Safety: In most cases, enrolled nurses are prone to accidents like: Cuts Infection Burns Others include but not limited to the wrist, ankle and back strains. The incident/ accident report should include the following factors: Hazard Hierarchy of controls Illness Incident Serious injury or illness Actual consequences Potential risks Residual risk (NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, 2013). Conclusion Considering the essay, it is imperative to state that the WHS 2011 is important in enhancing the understanding of how best to enhance enrolled nurse practices within the hospital working environment. In addition, other stakeholders in the respective organization also rely heavily on the content of the act in order to enhance smooth operations and workers health and safety. Indeed the content of the paper is adequate to realize what law require as far as health and safety in the workplace are concerned. References Guide to the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011. Queensland. Retrieved from: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0006/82545/guide-to-work-health-and-safety-act-2011.pdf Safe Work Australia, 2012. Australia Government Website. Retrieved from: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/model-whs-laws/model-whs-regulations/Historical/Model_Explanatory_Statement-January2012.pdf NSW Health, 2012. Australia Government Website. Retrieved from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx NSW Legislation, 2011. Australia Government Website. Retrieved from: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/inforce/f8df8095-a335-66a0-8828-f33d06042cb9/2011-10.pdf NSW Safe work (Website). Retrieved from: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety Work Health and Safety Act, 2011. No 10. Assented to 7.6.2011. Date of commencement, 1.1.2012, sec 2. Work Health and Safety Act, 2012. Legislation. Retrieved from: https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/WORK%20HEALTH%20AND%20SAFETY%20ACT%202012/CURRENT/2012.40.UN.PDF NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, 2013. Work Health and Safety Essentials for Nurses and Midwives. Retrieved from: https://www.nswnma.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/NSWNMA-Work-Health-and-Safety-Essentials-for-Nurses-and-Midwives-2013.pdf