PART 1: Working safely

All working environments involve some degree of risk. They are therefore subject
to regulations that outline how to identify, assess and control specific workplace
hazards.
You may not currently be working directly with machinery (such as forklifts,
assembly lines, engineering equipment) or hazardous chemicals. However, it's
quite possible that your job involves work associated with unsafe environments.
Occupational health and safety (WHS) is concerned with the health and safety of
all people in the workplace.
The main objective of WHS is to promote practices that prevent disease and
injury caused by workplace influences.
In Australia there are approximately 250 work-related deaths, and over 300,000
cases of work-related injuries or disease every year. Such deaths and injuries
have disastrous consequences for the person involved, their families and their
colleagues. They also result in a loss of production for industry, and payouts in
compensation, among other consequences.
You can make an important contribution to the health and safety of your
workplace. As you work through this workbook, you will be given the opportunity
to develop the knowledge and skills required to participate in workplace
occupational health and safety (WHS) processes.
In this first lessons you will learn about:
1.1 Following safety procedures
1.2 Checking systems and equipment

1.1 Following safety procedures

Safety procedures can be an important guide to help you work safely. This
section gives you the opportunity to learn about:

your role in workplace health and safety

workplace risks and hazards
what you can do about workplace risks and hazards, including following
safety procedures based on Australian WHS laws
the information you need to maintain workplace health and safety.

Lesson Task 1 a
As you work through this unit, you will read words and terms that you are not
familiar with. You may also encounter new terms when you discuss WHS in your
workplace. For easy reference while you are learning about WHS, you may wish
to develop a glossary of WHS terminology that you can refer to in the workplace.
The following is a list of WHS terms and words. Definitions of these are contained
throughout the unit notes. As you work through, find the definitions, and write
them in your own word in the spaces provided .
WHS glossary

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

viii.
ix.
x.

xi.
xii.
xiii.
xiv.
xv.
xvi.
xvii.
xviii.
xix.
xx.
xxi.

xxii.
xxiii.

xxiv.

WHS
WHS legislation
WHS regulations
WHS standards
WHS codes of
practice
WHS policies
WHS procedures

PPE
MSDS
Duty of care
Hazard I
Risk
Risk assessment
Hazard control
Risk control
Consultation
Hazard or risk
register
Housekeeping
Manual handling
Noise pollution
Social and
psychological
hazards
Waste
management
Biohazard - Workplace
bullying

xxv.
xxvi.
xxvii.
xxviii.
xxix.

Use the spaces to add other WHS terms that you learn: