Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Health & Safety > Occupational Health & Safety Policy

Policy Authorised by: Board of Management 16 October 2024

Procedure Authorised by: Chief Executive Officer

Revised Date: 28 October 2024

Kyeema Support Services Inc. (Kyeema) is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of staff, participants, visitors and contractors by providing a safe workplace as far as is reasonably practicable, eliminating hazards that could result in injury and ensuring staff wellbeing through access to an employee assistance program where needed.

In Section 5 of the OHS Act, health is defined as including psychological health. Workplaces play a fundamental role in protecting, improving and supporting the mental health of Victorians.

Kyeema will:

• Implement and maintain safe systems of work;

• Undertake risk management activities to identify, eliminate and/or manage risks in the work place, including psychosocial hazards;

• Provide and maintain safe systems for the use, handling, storage and transportation of plant, equipment and hazardous substances;

• Consult with employees to enhance the effectiveness of the OHS Management System.

• Provide appropriate OHS training, information, instruction and supervision for all staff and supported employees

• Provide adequate resources, including finances, to facilitate the organisation’s OHS responsibilities;

• Comply with OHS Legislation, Regulations and relevant Australian Standards.

Definitions

The terms, participant and consumer, are interchanged throughout Kyeema Support Services Inc. OH&S and other policy and procedure documents and refer to people who have a disability and receive a service from Kyeema or are employed in a Kyeema supported employment service.

The term employees is used throughout the documents and includes administration, direct care (support workers), and grounds employees. Managers and CEO are deemed to be covered by the term employee, and may also be identified for specific responsibilities / roles.

Responsibilities

Board of Management Responsibilities

Board of Management will:

1. Review overall organisational health and safety performance

2. Participate where required in the resolution of safety issues

3. Review serious accidents/incidents and monitor corrective actions

4. Review health and safety performance of middle management

5. Ensure organisational compliance with health and safety legislation

6. Initiate actions to improve health and safety

Chief Executive Officer and Managers’ Responsibilities

The Managers will:

1. Ensure all appropriate actions are taken to implement the Occupational Health and Safety procedures and legislative requirements within their specific service areas.

2. Respond to health and safety matters within their area of responsibility, including the identification and management, as far as is practicable, of psychosocial hazards that may impact employee’s health.

3. Demonstrate commitment to health and safety through participation in discussions, workplace visits and hazard inspections, etc

4. Participate where required in the resolution of safety issues.

5. Review accidents/incidents specific to scope of their service and prepare reports if appropriate.

6. Review any health and safety related reports and take appropriate action

7. Participate in the Health and Safety Committee where required

8. Ensure consultation with employee health and safety representatives, particularly on any workplace changes which have a health and safety component

9. Regularly review the health and safety performance anyone the Manager supervises.

10. Facilitate rehabilitation of injured workers

11. Ensure all employees are inducted and receive regular training as required to perform jobs safely.

12. Ensure liaison with employee health and safety representatives, particularly on any workplace changes which have a health and safety component

Staff & Support Workers Responsibilities

Staff & Support Workers will:

1. Follow the Occupational Health and Safety Policy, OHS Procedures and legislative requirements

2. Contribute to the improvement of the health and safety performance within area of employment.

3. Demonstrate commitment to health and safety through participation in formal and informal discussions, and hazard inspections.

4. Participate where required in the resolution of safety issues

5. Initiate actions to improve health and safety within area of responsibility

6. Actively monitor the workplace to determine presence of hazards and take appropriate action to rectify any hazards found

7. Participate in the OHS Designated Work Group.

Consumer/Participants Responsibilities

Consumers / Participants will:

1. Adhere to all safe working procedures in accordance with instructions

2. Take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions

Psychosocial Health and Safety

The Victorian Government is currently considering options for the development of the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations (proposed regulations). In the interim there are resources available on the Worksafe Vic website to give guidance on work-related stress, violence, gendered violence and sexual harassment, bullying and work-related fatigue.

Bus safety

In compliance with the Bus Safety Act (2009) Vic all workers who drive Kyeema’s buses or have responsibility for managing the maintenance and safety checks must follow the guidance offered in Kyeema’s Bus Management Information System.

This is to ensure both safe use and safe condition of the buses.

The Bus Safety Policy and relevant procedures are on the QMS or in K Drive as below.

Related Policies, Procedures and Documents:

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Vic

Bus Safety Act 2009

Bus Safety Policy and Procedure

Participant Transportation Procedure

Bus Daily Pre-Trip Check Form BSF-04

Bus Safety Inspection Checklist BSF-05

Bus Audit Scope Planner QAF-10

Noticeboard Contents all Worksites SF-18

Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) SF-21