Providing regular training sessions and demonstrations
Providing regular training sessions and demonstrations helps in instructing the large number of people in basic skills at one time. The audience that is participating can also hear, discuss and participate in the demonstration. If the way of demonstration is used properly then it can generate a great deal of interest and enthusiasm (Underhill 2013).
If the number of participants is large then some of the people are unable to hear and see clearly what is being demonstrated and may adopt working techniques. Many people are not able to practice the training concepts due to lack of time and facilities. People may also indulge in adopting wrong techniques.
Placing posters in prominent positions around the workplace
The main benefit of poster communication is that several messages can be conveyed at the same room and at same time. Posters can also be used several times at different events.
The main drawback is that once a poster is printed out it is difficult to make the amendments as it is less flexible compared to presentation.
Ensuring your company's policies are available to your team and that they are written in a way that is easy to understand
The benefit of communicating in a way that is easy to understand is that even the layman can understand the importance of work, health and safety. It will be effective as it is easy to understand.
The team may misuse the policies for their own benefit. People may not understand exactly what the conveyor wants to communicate.
Sending staff memos, emails, notices on a regular basis or as updates and changes occur
The employees and the general public are updated with policy changes on regular basis. It also saves time as the new problem can be handled quickly (Underhill 2013).
People who do not have access to internet and emails will not have any information and update of the policies of the work, health and safety.
There are various communication methods that can be used by the firms to communicate work, health and safety measures to its employees. The employees and the staff members of the organization can access the information on work, health and safety policies through various sources. The other ways of communication include use of social media, internet, and consultation. Consultation helps in effective communication directly to the employees that are affected by the measures of work, health and safety policies. Consultation involves method of listening to the queries of the employees and trying to solve them through proper method and policies. It also involves sharing information with the employees keeping them updated with the policy changes and information (Martinov et al. 2014). The information that is conveyed must be translated into appropriate languages so that it is easy for the employees and staffs to understand. For consultation a special room or place must be created so that the information can be shared between employers and employees. It is essential to measure the safety of people at workplace for a safe and healthy environment. The main aim of using the consultation method of communication is to communicate the work and health safety to the people that come from different culture and background. The main problem is that of linguistics. Communication should incorporate proper planning in its measure and method (O’Neill et al. 2013). Before consultation, the plan and the information that is going to be conveyed should include the proper organizations plan, and the problems that the employees face regarding work, health and safety. It is the responsibility of the employer to convey the information to the employees and keep them updated, for this it is requires for the communicator to communicate the information effectively and they should also build a trust among its employees so that they believe on whatever the conveyor wants to communicate (Chen and Zorigt 2013).
The full form of OHS is occupational health and safety in Victoria where the workplace health and safety is governed by a system of laws, regulations, and compliance codes. The occupational health and safety act (2004) is the cornerstone of legislative and administrative measures to improve occupational health and safety in Victoria. The main aim is to ensure that the workers follow the regulations with the act and regulations. The regulations can be achieved through Compliance Codes, work safe positions, and non statutory guidance.
Four samples of the legislation on work safety in Australia are as follows:
The legislative framework in Australia for work, health and safety programs at workplace includes the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and Work Heath and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations) in the commonwealth jurisdiction.
The main regulatory activities of the act include managing the policies and programs under the WHS Act. The primary aim of the regulatory activities is to reduce the human and the financial costs that arise due to rise in diseases and illness (Yassi et al. 2013).
The work and safety legislative framework consists of five parts in Australia. The WHS safety act will was passed for the commonwealth jurisdiction except for the states and territories of Victoria and Western Australia. It also includes WHS regulations and the codes of practice to implement the act that is enforced.
The legislative framework also includes guidelines and standards to fulfil the program of work health and safety policies. It includes the set of guideline policies for the employers to follow it in their organization so that the employers are able to provide a safe place for the employees to work. The companies that are covered under WHS are agricultural and mining sector, construction industries, licensing and small business and major hazard facilities (Lundgre and McMakin 2013).
Commonwealth and national regulators:
There are various acts that the government has levied to ensure the health and safety of employers and employees at workplace. One such example is Comcare that works in partnership with employees and employers to reduce the human and financial costs of workplace injuries and disease in commonwealth jurisdiction. Another example is The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
Work safe Victoria’s responsibilities include:
- Help avoid workplace injuries occurring
- Enforce Victoria’s occupational health and safety laws
- Provide reasonably priced workplace injury insurance for employers
- Help injured workers back into the workforce
Energy safe Victoria is a regulation in Victoria covering electrical equipment safety and efficiency administered by ESV. The three responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the design, construction and maintenance of electricity, gas and pipeline networks
- Licensing and registering electricians and
- Issuing and auditing certificates of electrical safety (gov.au. 2016).
The act available in Victorian Law is:
Workplace injury rehabilitation and compensation Act 2013 was operational from the 1st July 2014. The WIRC act delivers on government commitment to reduce the regulatory burden associated with workers compensation legislation. It will make it easier for the employers and workers to use legislation and understand the rights, obligations, and responsibilities. The act aims at reducing the incidence of accidents and diseases in the workplace and maintains a fully funded scheme. It also aims at providing a framework for the effective occupational rehabilitation of injured workers and their early return to work. The WIRC act also includes the compensation to all the Victorian workers that includes the benefits that are available to them (Worksafe.vic.gov.au 2016).
The regulations available in Victorian Law are:
Occupational Health and safety regulations:
The objectives of the regulations are:
- Providing health and safety in relation to workplaces and hazards, activities and things at workplaces.
- Providing procedures for the resolution of health and safety issues at workplaces.
- Providing procedures for the resolution of health and safety issues at workplaces.
- Specifying the information to be included in entry permits issued under Part 8 of the Act.
- The regulation also aims at providing for the registration for safe operation of major hazard facilities and mines in order to reduce the likelihood of a serious incident occurring (Safeworkaustralia.gov.au 2016).
Codes of conduct:
The moral codes of conducts are practiced in relation to the workplace safety that is as follows:
- Work health and safety consultation co-operation and co-ordination- this code of conduct is practiced to provide the practical guidance to persons conducting a business or undertaking on how to effectively consult with workers who carry out work for the business. It includes information on mechanisms to facilitate worker participation and representation.
- Hazardous manual tasks-this code of practice is followed to identify hazardous manual tasks that helps in assessing the risks and provide methods to reduce this risk (Safeworkaustralia.gov.au 2016).
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