Work Health and Safety Policy

POLICY CONTENT

Everyone has a right to be safe at work. Our School is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for educators, staff, children, families and visitors. We ensure that educators and staff are aware of and meet their legal and ethical responsibilities as clearly documented in current National Regulations and Work Health and Safety laws. Our Work Health and Safety Policy, procedures and practices ensure that management fulfils its responsibility to provide a safe workplace, without any negative impact on the health and wellbeing of employees; employees meet their health and safety obligations and are safe in the workplace; and the work environment supports quality early education and care.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

2.1	Health	Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted.
2.1.1	Wellbeing and comfort	Each child’s wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s needs for sleep, rest and relaxation.
2.1.2	Health practices and procedures	Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
2.1.3	Healthy Lifestyles	Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
2.2.2	Incident and emergency management	Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practiced and implemented.
2.2.3	Child Protection	Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.

PURPOSE

Our objective is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children, families, educators, and visitors within the School adhering to moral and legal obligations outlined in Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. We aim to go beyond compliance with all relevant legislation and work towards best practice to ensure a safe work environment. Our School is committed to continuous improvement in all areas of workplace health, safety, and wellbeing.

SCOPE

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the School.

IMPLEMENTATION

We believe that the provision of a safe working and learning environment for children, families, staff, and visitors are an integral and essential responsibility during the School operation. Work Health and Safety regulations require the Approved Provider to eliminate risks in the workplace or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Our School has a duty to consult with staff, visitors and families about work health and safety requirements and develop comprehensive policies and procedures to manage risks and hazards appropriately and effectively. All employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

Legislation

Each state and territory government have its own Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws and a regulator to enforce them. In WA, we are legislated by Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and regulated by SafeWork WA.

Workers Compensation Obligations

Approved Providers will ensure the following to facilitate compliance of WHS laws and regulations relating to Workers Compensation obligations:

Hold workers compensation insurance
Provide information relating to how employees can make a claim. This may include displaying a poster relating to injuries at work – check your state or territory WorkSafe website for specific requirements
Provide information to employees regarding a return-to-work program – check your state or territory WorkSafe website for specific requirements
1. WA Return to work program
Ensure staff incident reports are completed for all near-miss injuries or injuries, to record near-miss injuries and injuries.
Ensure staff injuries are reported to workers compensation insurer and state/territory WorkSafe within 48 hours. See each state or territory for information about injuries or serious incidents which are reportable to WorkSafe
1. WorkSafe WA 1800 678 198
Support the employee with the following
1. Assist with Dr appointment and certificate of capacity
2. Identify suitable duties based on certificate of capacity
3. Consider modification of existing duties
4. Consider modify of the workplace
Assist with participation of workers injury management plan upon return to work in consultation with insurer and medical practitioner, including providing suitable work conditions and alternative suitable employment if pre-injury role is unsuitable.

The Approved Provider and management are committed to:

providing all employees with a safe and healthy work and learning environment so far as reasonably practicable
ensuring the health and safety of children in attendance at the School so far as reasonably practicable
ensuring the health and safety of visitors, including contract workers and volunteers, whilst at the School so far as reasonably practicable
providing and maintaining an environment free of risks or hazards to health and safety so far as reasonably practicable
providing and maintaining an environment that is tobacco, alcohol and drug free
ensuring the provision of adequate facilities to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety including access to adult toilets, provision of hand hygiene resources (soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, paper towel) and personal protection equipment (PPE) (disposable gloves, masks, glasses)
implementing a proactive process of risk management facilitating continuous improvement
ongoing consultation, collaboration and communication with all staff throughout the risk assessment process
implementing a strategic approach to health and safety by using measurable objectives to monitor performance
meaningful consultation with employees regarding work, health and safety issues
providing an effective and accessible safety management procedure for all employees to guide safe working and learning throughout the workplace
ensuring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are provided for all hazardous chemicals used at the School
supporting and promoting the health and wellbeing of all employees
promoting dignity and respect within the School and taking action to prevent and respond to bullying in its workplace
providing staff with appropriate information, training, and guidance to facilitate a safe and productive work and learning environment
notifying the regulatory authority within 24 hours of any incident, situation or event that has occurred and presented imminent or severe risk to the health, safety and/or wellbeing of any person present at the School or if an ambulance was called in response to the incident/situation (not as a precaution)
investigating and managing any incident or accident to prevent further reoccurrence
providing return to work programs to facilitate safe and sustainable return to work for employees
providing a program of continuous improvement through engaging with industry and new technology and reviewing and updating policies and procedures
implementing safety management systems / procedures
keep up to date about current health risks and implement risk minimisation measures to reduce the risk of transmission of viruses such as coronavirus (COVID-19)
maintain accurate records of all WHS issues and maintenance.

A Nominated Supervisor and Educators responsibilities

Educators and other staff must ensure:

the health and safety of children, families and visitors of the School is paramount
policies and procedures are being followed and adhered to at all times
that they observe, implement and fulfil the responsibilities under the current Work Health and Safety Act and National Regulations
they participate in the review of WHS policies
they take practical steps and responsibility for their own health and safety and of others affected by their actions at work
work, health, and safety audits are conducted frequently to ensure the School is maintaining a safe environment for children, families, staff and visitors
appropriate resources and processes are in place to identify hazards, eliminate or minimise risks and achieve work health and safety compliance
they know the location of fire extinguishers, blankets or other safety devices and know how to use them
identified risks are assessed and controlled
that any potential and actual hazards in the workplace are reported to the Health and Safety Representative (HSR)
management and/or the HSR is notified of any incidents and accidents in the workplace as soon as practicable
workplace incidents are reported and investigated to ascertain the circumstances of the incident or accident and appropriate action is taken to prevent further incidents from occurring
compliance with any reasonable instruction or lawful direction, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied by the employer as required
areas identified for improvement are included in the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)
they participate in training and consultation with the support of management
they follow the correct manual handling procedures
that work areas are safe, and they will help reduce accidents to themselves and others
all safety checklists are implemented as required on a regular basis
children’s equipment is regularly checked for safety
that children are supervised at all times
all dangerous chemicals are stored appropriately
children are kept out of kitchen areas
all power points have safety plugs
no hot drinks are around children
gates are closed and locked after entry/exit
all spills are cleaned up immediately (to prevent slipping), following the correct cleaning procedure
reports and/or concerns about work health and safety are reviewed and responded to
current work health and safety knowledge is maintained

Families and visitors are to:

take reasonable care of their own health and safety whilst visiting the School
report any health and safety issues to management
participate in consultation in WHS issues affecting them
take reasonable care to ensure they don’t affect the health and safety of other people (eg: Health Declaration for infectious diseases)
comply to School policies and procedures in relation to WHS including actions to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases or illnesses such as physical distancing (if recommended by Australian Government Department of Health) personal hygiene practices and exclusion if children and visitors if unwell
comply to School policies related to the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs at all times.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE

Our educators and staff will elect a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) as per WHS legislation. If a request is made for a Health and Safety Representative, the Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor will:

initiate consultation with workers about the number of HSR required
provide all educators and staff with the opportunity to nominate a HSR and contribute to the decision of who will hold this position if there is more than one contender
notify staff of the outcome of the consultation as soon as possible

The Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor must keep a current list of all Health and Safety Representatives and display a copy at the workplace in a prominent position.
A Health and Safety Representative (HSR) can:

inspect the workplace as directed by management
be present and represent a staff member at an interview (with their consent) with the Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor or an inspector regarding health and safety issues
monitor compliance measures by the Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor
enquire into any risk to the health or safety of staff at the School.

Our School will ensure HSRs are:

never prevented from carrying out any of their duties
able to give people assisting them access to the workplace
able to take paid leave to attend to their health and safety duties
able to take paid leave to attend an initial work, health and safety course or annual refresher training approved by the regulator within 3 months of their request to attend. The School will pay the course costs and reasonable expenses.
able to access any resources, facilities and assistance that they reasonably require to undertake their duties.

Health and Safety Representatives are elected for 12 months unless they leave the School, are disqualified or resign. They are not personally liable for anything done or not done in good faith whilst carrying out their role.

DUTY OF CARE

A duty of care is the legal obligation to provide reasonable care while performing any acts or making any omissions that could foreseeably harm others.
The duty encompasses a wide range of matters, including (but not limited to):

provision of adequate supervision
ensuring grounds, premises and equipment are safe for children’s use
implementing strategies to prevent bullying and
providing medical assistance (if competent to do so) or seeking assistance from a medically trained person to aid a child who is injured or becomes ill at the School.

The Approved Provider and Nominated Supervisor will ensure all practical steps are taken to ensure the health and safety of all educators, staff, volunteers, children, their families, and any other people impacted by the School operations. This includes ascertaining and eliminating or minimising all realistically foreseeable hazards and providing suitable training and instruction for employees to ensure health and safety. Educators, staff, and volunteers will also take reasonable care for their own health and safety, ensuring their conduct does not adversely affect the health and safety of other people. Staff, educators, families and visitors are notified that smoking on or within our School’s premises, including car parks, is prohibited. Educators and staff must not consume alcohol or be affected by alcohol or drugs (including prescription medication) so as to impair the educator’s capacity to supervise or provide education and care to children.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

A hazard is a source of potential harm or a situation that could cause or lead to harm to people or property. Workplace hazards can be physical, chemical, biological, mechanical or psychological.

Potential Hazard	What does this include?	Example	Potential accident

Physical	Floors, stairs, steps, ladders, fire, falling objects, slippery surfaces, manual handling (lifting, pulling, pushing), noise, heat and cold, radiation, poor lighting, ventilation	Children’s beds placed in an open area, wet bathroom floors, lifting children for nappy changes.	Trips, slips and falls, manual handing injury (soft tissue/back injury)
Mechanical and/or Electrical	Electricity, machinery, equipment, washers and dryers, kitchen appliances, motor vehicles.	Lint accumulation in dryers can be a combustion hazard. Frayed power cords or unplugged power points are an electrical hazard.	Fire, electric shock, electrocution
Chemical	Includes substances such as acids or poisons, cleaning agents, dusts and fumes.	Cleaning chemicals, Medication	Fire, explosion, poisoning
Biological	Includes bacteria, viruses, mould, mildew, insects, vermin and animals.	Sick staff or children attending the School, Contaminated food, mice infestation.	Cross-infection, food poisoning.
Physchological	Workplace stressors.	Bullying, children’s needs exceed skill or confidence of educators, insufficient management support.	High stress levels (staff and children), compromised care practices, failure to be inclusive.

Reference: Work Health and Safety in Education and Care Services PSC National Alliance (2012).

RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Management is part of our School’s commitment to Work Health and Safety (WHS) to ensure that clear processes are in place for the identification of hazards, assessment of risks and implementation of control measures so far as reasonably practicable. Risk management plans include risk identification and risk assessment. Plans are reviewed regularly to ensure that they are effective in controlling risks.

Our School will comply with WHS legislation and ensure all staff and visitors are aware of the potential hazards and risks and are provided with the necessary information and strategies to undertake to help keep them safe and healthy.

Risk Management is a systematic and methodical examination of potential risks and hazards within our working and learning environment. The process of risk assessment assist to:

identify hazards
assess who or what might be harmed and how
evaluate the risks and deciding on appropriate control measures
record findings
review the effectiveness of exiting control measures regularly and update when necessary assessments regularly
consult and communicate with all stakeholders - staff, families, visitors and community members.

Risks assessments are routinely conducted for emergencies including evacuation, lockdown, excursions and management of natural disasters such as bush fire, flood, cyclone and earthquake.

Additionally, risk assessments can be undertaken when presented with a hazard such as the potential health risk associated with exposure to coronavirus- COVID-19 and implement control measures to manage those risks.

HAZARD REDUCTION

Educators and staff have responsibilities to take a risk management approach to all activities and plan for the safety of themselves and children. This may include:

always work with safety in mind
be aware of any hazards and report them immediately
keep hallways and doors completely clear as an object could become a hazard in an emergency evacuation situation
using resources appropriately
open doors slowly
do not stand on furniture (chairs or tables)
walk, not run within the School (particularly up and down stairs)
adhere to sun protection guidelines
ensure personal safety by wearing PPE, implementing hand hygiene procedures
follow behaviour guidance plans to ensure personal safety and that of other children

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

We strive to minimise the health and safety risks associated with the handling and storage of hazardous materials. We adopt a risk management strategy that enables practices that minimise the risk of harm, injury, or illness caused by any hazardous material.

As far as is reasonably practical, our School will:

provide the least hazardous chemical, product, or equipment for the task without jeopardising hygiene
ensure that staff, contractors, students, and visitors are protected from both short- and long-term health effects of hazardous substances and processes
ensure all staff, contractors, visitors, and students have access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and adequate training on the safe use and storage of all hazardous substances prior to any exposure to those substances.
ensure that non-toxic plants are planted within the workplace and regular garden and grounds maintenance will be undertaken to minimise the risk of toxic plants within the grounds and premises.

CLEANING

Educators and staff must:

adhere to the cleaning schedules and procedures within the School including hand washing, use of gloves, colour coded mops/cloths
follow manufacturer’s directions for cleaning products and chemicals (see Safety Data Sheets- SDS)
ensure a register of all hazardous chemicals, substances and equipment is used at the School. The register should include where they are stored, their use, any risks, first aid instructions and the current SDS.
chemicals are never mixed together
chemicals and cleaning products are stored in original containers provided by the manufacturer
all items are clearly labelled
wash hands immediately if any chemical is spilled
in the event of a chemical spill, isolate the area and advise the Nominated Supervisor
wash hands thoroughly after using any chemical or disinfectant
ensure containers are disposed of correctly following local council guidelines and not reused under any circumstances
seek medical advice immediately if poisoning or potentially hazardous ingestion, inhalation, skin or eye exposure has occurred.
WA Poisons Information Line 13 11 26 or call an ambulance on 000
ensure emergency, medical and first aid procedures are carried out

SLIPS TRIPS AND FALLS

Children must be adequately supervised at all times. Identifying potential hazards such as sustaining an injury from play equipment or slipping on a wet surface should be considered through the risk assessment process. Establishing appropriate control measures for staff and children, assist in managing the possible risk.
All staff should:

wear covered shoes with slip resistant soles and heels
be alert for any object that could be a trip hazard
pick up any objects sticking up from the floor or ground, so as not to cause injury
ensure warning signs alerting others of wet and slippery floors are used
immediately clean any spills to avoid slips and falls
notify the Nominated Supervisor and the HSR if a slip or fall is witnessed, whether it is a work colleague or visitor
ensure the appropriate paperwork is completed (including notification to the Regulatory Authority if required).

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT TESTING

Schools must ensure that electrical equipment is tested by a qualified person on a regular basis which is recorded with a tag attached to the equipment tested. This must be kept until the equipment is next tested or disposed of and must specify:

name of the tester
date and outcome of the testing
re-test date

Records will be maintained including details of electrical equipment tested, tag number, location, test date, pass/fail and when electrical equipment is due to be re-tested (the recommendations are for all equipment to be tested annually).

MAINTENANCE OF FIRE EQUIPMENT

All fire equipment at our School will be maintained as per the Australian Workplace Safety Standards. External agencies will be employed to conduct the maintenance of the fire equipment. Fire extinguishers will be inspected every six months.

BACK CARE AND MANUAL HANDLING

Our School refers to Safe Work Australia / Manual Handling practices as part of our commitment to ensure a best practice approach. Educators are at risk of work-related ergonomic injuries, particularly back injuries, through carrying children, bending, reaching and not using adult
sized furniture.

Manual handling is any activity requiring the use of strength used by the person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any person or object.

Manual handling injuries may be caused by the activities listed above. Injuries can include back strains, similar strains and sprains in parts of the body such as the neck, arm, shoulder and knee. Manual handling injuries also include overuse injuries or, because of falling during manual handling, bruising or laceration.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Due to the physical demands of working with children, it is sensible to do warm-up exercises for three to five minutes before starting work particularly through the winter period as muscles and tendons are more likely to be damaged when cold. Simple exercises to warm and stretch all the major muscle groups will help prevent injury.
To help prevent injuries, there are legal requirements for manual handling in the workplace.

THE APPROVED PROVIDER/NOMINATED SUPERVISOR WILL:

provide educators and staff with annual training in Manual Handling and Back Care
make sure that equipment and containers are designed and maintained to be, as far as workable, safe and without risk to health and safety when manually handled
make sure that the work practices involving manual handling and the work environment are designed to be, as far as workable, consistent with safe manual handling activities
identify, assess and control all risks associated with manual handling in each workplace
clearly mark any equipment which requires more than one person to lift or move it.

PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES

Eliminate or reduce the amount of manual handling
Reduce the amount of bending, forward reaching, and twisting, in all tasks
Reduce worker fatigue
Keep all equipment in good working order
Keep the workplace environment safe

TO HELP PREVENT MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES

Kneel rather than bend down
Sit down with the children rather than bend over
Sit in an appropriately sized chair or on the floor
Carry children only when necessary
The correct way to carry a child is with one arm under the child’s buttocks and the other arm supporting the child’s back. At the same time, hold the child facing you, as close to your body as possible
Adults should try to avoid carrying a child on their hip because this can strain the back
When lifting awkward loads, be careful to lift with a balanced and comfortable posture
Minimise the need to reach above shoulder level
If necessary, use a step ladder
Avoid extended reaching forward. For example, leaning into low equipment boxes
Share the load if the equipment is heavy, long or awkward
To lift a child out of a cot, it is vital to put the side down of the cot first, lean against the cot and raise the child as close as possible to your body. Do not stretch over and lift.
When sliding, pulling or pushing equipment that is not easy to move, e.g. trestles or gym mats, ask for help and organise a team lift
Where possible, rearrange surroundings to meet the needs of both children and adults
Remember these needs when buying furniture and equipment or upgrading facilities
Use equipment and furniture that can be moved around as safely and easily as possible
To complete lengthy writing tasks, e.g. program planning, sit at an appropriate adult sized chair at an adult sized table
Larger children to climb up steps/ladder provided to change table.

AVOID TWISTING WHEN LIFTING

Many injuries result from twisting while lifting. To avoid this:

move equipment when children are not around
rearrange storage so that it is easier and safer to replace and remove items
lift only within the limits of your strength
use beds and equipment that are easy to move
make sure you can see where you are going when carrying equipment or children
be especially careful when lifting a child with special needs.

AVOID ACCIDENTS WITH CAREFUL ‘HOUSEKEEPING’

‘Good housekeeping’ means fewer accidents. Check that:

the floors and other walking surfaces are uncluttered, even and non-slip
the workplace is tidy
there is adequate space to perform each task
equipment is maintained regularly
lighting is adequate.

HOW TO LIFT SAFELY

Place your feet in a stride position
Keep your breastbone as elevated as possible
Bend your knees
Brace your stomach muscles
Hold the object close to your centre of gravity, i.e. around your navel
Move your feet not your spine
Prepare to move in a forward-facing direction
Ask for help when it is not possible to lift on your own

HOW TO ORGANISE A TEAM LIFT

Ask a colleague who is willing and able to help. Ideally the colleague should be well matched to you in size and strength.
Agree on a plan of action. A coordinated movement during a lift is important
Timing is important for co-ordination. One person should act as a team leader and ‘call’ the lift.

HOW TO ASSESS THE CORRECT STORAGE AND SHELVING HEIGHT

Correct storage and shelving height are important to prevent slips, falls and strains.

The best height range for handling loads is around waist level
The acceptable height for lifting is any point between the individual’s knuckle and shoulder
Seldom-used objects can be stored at the shoulder-to-raised arm height (use ladders to avoid stretching)
Avoid storing objects at a level between an individual’s knuckles and the floor
Mechanical aids such as ladders and trolleys should be used where possible to avoid lifting

RISKY PLAY/ ADVENTUROUS PLAY

Educators will provide an environment that encourages children to effectively learn in play which involves supporting them to take risks. No play space is risk free. It is important for children’s development to become adventurous and participate in opportunities to explore and test their own capabilities, manage risk, and to grow as capable, resourceful, and resilient people.

Educators will assess the risks to children’s safety and develop guidelines to encourage children to test their abilities within a safe environment.

When we find children exploring risky play, educators will supervise and assist when appropriate.

RECORDING AND DOCUMENTING STAFF INCIDENTS AND INJURIES

The Nominated Supervisor is responsible for the recording and documenting of any incidents or injuries that staff present with on Employment Hero.

To do this, click on the following sections:
1. Click on the "Compliance" tab
2. Click on the "Incidents" tab
3. Click on "Report an incident"
4. Complete all required fields.
5. Upload any supporting documentation, out of pocket medical costs, photos and medical reports

All supproting documentation, out of pocket medical costs, photos and medical reports can also be uploaded to the employees HR file under their "uploaded documents section".

FURTHER RESOURCES

Child Care Centre Desktop: Work Health and Safety Manual
Western Australia: WorkSafe Western Australia regulates and promotes occupational safety and health regulations in the workplace commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe
For further information see: safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

SOURCE

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2012). PSC- National Alliance How to- Work health and safety in education and care services.
Australian Government. Department of Education, Skills and Employment. Belonging, Being and Becoming. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. (2009).
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016).
Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2017).
Guide to the National Quality Framework. (2017). (amended 2020).
National Health and Medical Research Council. (2012) (updated June 2013). Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services.
Revised National Quality Standard. (2018).
Safe Work Australia.
Work Health and Safety Act 2020. (WA).
Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022. (WA).

Did this answer your question?