Policy Title :        Health, Safety & Welfare
Policy No :           1.2             Version No: B 
Date Of Issue :   13/1/2005       Review Date:        13/1/2009
Distribution :       All employees

Statement Of Intent

Total Peripheral Supplies (TPS) sees the proper management of occupational health, safety and welfare as ranking equally with all other operational considerations.
It is the aim of TPS to minimise the risk of injury and disease to our employees and other persons by adopting a planned and systematic approach to the management of occupational health, safety and welfare and providing the resources for its successful implementation.

Scope

This policy covers all employees employed by TPS in any place where an employee works or goes while at work. It includes apprentices and persons receiving on-the-job training in a trade or vocation from another employee of TPS.

Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to ensure:

• All hazards and risks to health and safety are identified, assessed and where they cannot be eliminated are effectively controlled;
• Measures to control hazards and risks to health and safety are regularly monitored and evaluated;
• Employees participate and contribute to the decision making process on occupational health and safety matters affecting their health and safety at work;
• All managers, supervisors and employees receive the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to safely carry out their responsibilities.

Strategies

TPS will achieve its occupational health, safety and welfare objectives by developing and implementing appropriate policies and procedures which document standards and guide managers, supervisors and employees in carrying out their responsibilities in:

• identifying hazards and risks to health and safety associated with tasks and activities carried out by TPS;
• assessing the degree and level of risks arising from hazardous tasks or activities;
• selecting, implementing and maintaining appropriate measures to control risks to health and safety;
• consulting with employees and their representatives on matters which may affect their health and safety;
• identifying, developing and providing appropriate information, instruction and training to equip managers, supervisors and employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their responsibilities;
• developing, implementing and monitoring plans to put TPS health and safety policies and procedures into effect.

Roles And Responsibilities

Responsible Officer

The OH &S Officer as the responsible officer will be accountable for providing a healthy and safe workplace for employees and will ensure adequate resources are provided to meet the health and safety objectives and implement strategies.

In particular the OH&S Officer will ensure:

• appropriate health and safety policies and procedures are developed and implemented to enable the effective management of health and safety and control of risks to health and safety;
• mechanisms are provided which enables the identification, development, implementation and review of appropriate health, safety and welfare related policies and procedures;
• mechanisms are provided to enable employees and their representatives to be consulted on any proposals for, or changes to the workplace, work practices, policies or procedures which may affect the occupational health, safety and welfare of employees;
• managers are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively enable them to carry out their health and safety responsibilities.
• mechanisms are provided to enable the assessment of managers' and supervisors' health and safety performance.
• occupational health and safety performance is an integral component of the TPS business and financial plans;
• mechanisms are provided to regularly monitor and report on health and safety performance;
• annual health and safety strategic plans are developed and implemented to meet health and safety objectives.

Occupational Health And Safety Coordinator

The Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator will be held accountable for coordinating TPS management of health and safety on behalf of OH&S Officer. The Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator does not assume the responsibilities of managers and supervisors.

The Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator shall :

• coordinate the identification, development, implementation and review of health and safety related policies and procedures;
• assist managers and supervisors in the identification, assessment and selection of measures to control hazards and risks to health and safety;
• assist managers and supervisors in monitoring and evaluating hazards and risk control measures;
• assist managers and supervisors in the identification, development and provision of appropriate health and safety related information, instruction and training;
• monitor and advise on legislative and technical changes relating to health and safety;
• monitor and provide regular reports to the Responsible Officer and the Health and Safety Committee on the TPS occupational health and safety performance;
• support employees and Health and Safety Representatives to follow policies and safe work procedures developed.

Managers

Managers will be held accountable for their areas of control to ensure:

• relevant health and safety policies and procedures are effectively implemented;
• all risks to health and safety are identified, assessed and effectively controlled;
• the effectiveness of risk control measures are regularly monitored and deviations from standards rectified;
• supervisors and employees have adequate knowledge and skills to carry out their health and safety responsibilities;
• employees and their representatives are consulted on any proposals for, or changes to the workplace, work practices, policies or procedures which may affect the health and safety of employees.

Supervisors

Supervisors or persons with supervisory responsibilities will be held accountable for working conditions under their control to ensure:

• relevant health and safety policies and procedures are implemented in their areas of control;
• all risk control measures in their areas of responsibility are implemented, regularly monitored and maintained;
• employees under their control are provided with the necessary information, instruction and training to effectively and safely carry out their jobs.

Employees

Employees have a legal duty to take care to protect their own health and safety and to avoid adversely affecting the health and safety of any other person.
Employees have a responsibility to :

• report any incident or hazards at work to their manager or supervisor;
• carry out their roles and responsibilities as detailed in the relevant health and safety policies and procedures;
• obey any reasonable instruction aimed at protecting their health and safety while at work;
• use any equipment provided to protect their health and safety while at work;
• assist in the identification of hazards, the assessment of risks and the implementation of risk control measures;
• consider and provide feedback on any matters which may affect their health and safety;
• ensure they are not affected by alcohol or another drug which may endanger their own or any other persons' health and safety.

Health And Safety Committee

TPS will establish a health and safety committee consisting of management and employee representatives. The Health and Safety Committee will be the principal forum wherein management consults with employees on broad health and safety and policy issues.
The responsibilities of the Committee are to :

• assist in the development, monitoring and review of health and safety policies and procedures;
• consider any proposal for, or changes to the workplace, policies, work practices or procedures which may affect the health and safety of employees;
• promote the importance of health and safety amongst management and employees;
• monitor TPS health and safety performance;
• monitor the rehabilitation of injured employees;
• assist in the resolution of health and safety disputes.

Health and Safety Representatives

TPS will encourage and facilitate the formation of work groups and election of Health and Safety Representatives to represent employees on health and safety matters.
The role of Health and Safety Representatives is to :

• represent employees from their Work Group on health and safety matters;
• investigate health and safety related complaints prior to representations to management;
• make representations to management and report back to employees on any matter relating to health and safety;
• discuss with the employees, any proposals or matters which may affect the health and safety of employees;
• assist management in the identification of hazards, the assessment of risks and implementation of risk control measures;
• assist in promoting adherence to health and safety policies and procedures;
• assist in the monitoring of risk controls and health and safety policies and procedures.

Review Of Policy

The health and safety policy will be reviewed annually in consultation with the Health and Safety Committee.  The review will involve assessing the effectiveness of the policy and program by such means as:

• Reviewing overall health and safety performance.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of policies and procedures.

Dissemination Of Policy

All employees will be provided with a copy of TPS Occupational Health and Safety policy and related procedures through their supervisor.  New employees will be provided with a copy of the policy as part of their induction.