HSC RETAIL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is the meaning of health and safety? - Answer -Health and safety is the right of
every individual who enters a workplace to leave with no adverse effects to their health
or safety.
What are the implications of cost of workplace injury? Provide examples. - Answer -
Human: Human cost is the physical suffering of an individual caused through workplace
injury, e.g. illness, physical, psychological and emotional.
Social: Social cost is the cost to society and taxpayers as injured workers access the
medical system and other services, e.g. community, colleagues, friends and families.
Economic: Economic cost is the financial cost to the organisation, injured worker and
his/her family, e.g. medical, hardship, insurance (workers compensation) and legal.
Organisational: Organisational cost is the need to replace and retrain another employee
while the injured worker recovers from the workplace injury, e.g. productivity loss, fines
and loss of business, legal cost and medical bills (for the employer).
Who has the responsibility of WHS in the workplace? - Answer -Everyone in the
workplace.
What are internal and external sources of workplace WHS information? - Answer -
Internal Sources - Workplace Policy and Procedures, WHS Committee, supervisor and
colleagues
External Sources - WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations 2011 and Work Cover
What is Work Cover? - Answer -Work Cover NSW is a NSW WHS regulator who offer
advice on improving work health and safety, provide licenses and registration for
potentially dangerous work and enforce WHS laws.
What does it mean to act within scope of responsibility/level of authority in relation to
WHS in the workplace? Also, what aspects do these need to be in and why is it
important? - Answer -- Taking initiative
- Problem solving
- Decision making
An employee's scope of responsibility is to do with your job description and the range of
activities, duties, or responsibilities the position requires you to do. Employees can only
act within their scope of responsibility in relation WHS in the workplace in regards to
taking initiative, problem solving and decision making. This is because some may be
more trained in areas that might be potentially dangerous for untrained employees to
deal with.
,An employee's level of authority refers to the power they have in making decisions. This
is important as the higher authority the more trained they are on certain aspects.
What is the difference between an act, regulation, code of practice and standard
(Australian, industry and workplace)? - Answer -Act - These are Australian laws and
legislations.
Regulation - These are guidelines that indicate how acts are applied.
Code of Practice - Codes assist employers by providing them with the guidelines that
they are expected to follow to help them comply with the WHS legislation. The Code of
Practice cover many many areas and is usually industry based.
Standard Operating Procedures - These are guidelines derived from the WHS Act and
Code of Practice that employees must follow in order to maintain the health and safety
of all individuals.
What is the purpose and intent of WHS legislations and their application to a retail
services industry, workplace and job role? - Answer -Work Health and Safety Act 2011
(NSW) - This is Australian law that governs workplaces and instructs employers with
what they are required to do under this legislation. They are expected to provide a
workplace that is free of hazards and uphold the safety of every individual who enters
that workplace.
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW) -
Regulations are guidelines that indicate how the provisions of the Act (WHS Act 2011)
are applied.
What is the concept of 'participation' and 'consultation' in relation to WHS? - Answer -
Participation: To be active and pro-active in observing and following WHS rules,
regulations and standard operating procedures in the workplace with regards to safety.
Consultation: If there is an issue, be proactive in the negotiation and consultative
process to find suitable solutions for the identified safety issues.
What is the primary role/function of key bodies/authorities involved in WHS? - Answer -
- Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Australia (SWA) is an Australian government statutory
body established to develop national policy relating to WHS and workers' compensation.
- Unions: The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) works to
protect and to advance the wages and working conditions of our members in retail, who
are responsible for the wages and working conditions of most Australian workers.
Unions negotiate for improvements to members working conditions .
- Local Councils: Local Government NSW
,What is the purpose and intent of codes of practice and their application to a retail
services industry, workplace and job role? - Answer -They outline:
- Hazardous substances and dangerous goods
- First aid
- Manual handling
- Risk management
- WHS consultation
This is done for workplaces and industries to follow in order to help maintain a safe work
environment.
What are some rights and responsibilities of employers and employees? - Answer -
Employer (PCBU):
Rights:
- They have the right to expect that employees abide by rules, policies and procedures
with regard to workplace safety and other aspects of the business.
Responsibilities:
- Health and safety regulations outlines that employers are legally required to protect
the employee from harm. They have a 'duty of care'.
- Provide training to all staff so that they are aware of safety requirements as per
legislation and codes of practice.
- Keep accurate record of breaches and corrective measures that were taken in each
instance.
Employee:
Rights:
- Right to be safe in the workplace
- Right to be provided with inductions and ongoing training when they enter the
organisation and through their term of employment
Responsibilities:
- Have knowledge of safety requirements and abide with health and safety procedures
- All employees must attend and complete training required with regards to compliance
and safety in the workplace.
What are the consequences of non-compliance with WHS workplace policy and
procedures and legislative requirements? - Answer -Non-compliance can result:
- Legal action
- Termination
- Injury, illness and death
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological impact
- Low workplace morale
- Absenteeism
- Poor productivity
, - Poor industry and organisational reputation
- Compensation costs
What are safety signs and what types of are used in the retail workplace and what
requirements do they need? - Answer -Safety signs need to follow legislative
requirements, have certain colours and shapes as well as be appropriately placed and
positioned. The types of safety signs are:
- Stop signs: These indicate that you must not do something and they have a red circle
or red shape, usually regarding to restricted areas.
- Caution signs: These warn you of a danger to your health and safety and they have a
yellow background.
- Emergency information signs: These signs have a green background and provide
emergency information that can easily be identified.
- Mandatory signs: These signs indicate what you must do. They have a blue
background.
What type of reports are made in the workplace and who are they given to? - Answer -
Reports must be reported to the appropriate people and there are formal and informal
reports. Also, there are written and verbal reports. There are hazard report forms and
incident report forms.
What is the difference between a hazard and risk? - Answer -A hazard is a situation
with the potential to cause injury or illness. A risk is a possibility of injury to a person or
loss of goods when exposed to a hazard.
How are risks managed in the workplace? - Answer -Hazards need to be identified and
risk assessments need to be taken, as well as risk controls and monitor and reviewing.
How are hazards identified? - Answer -Hazards are identified by inspecting the
workplace, talking to people and checking records and legislation. Also, they need to be
aware of the range of hazards which include Human factors (self, customer and others),
Manual handling, Materials, Tools and equipment, Work environment
and Work processes and practices.
What is a risk assessment? - Answer -This Is done through an audit. A risk assessment
requires analysing the level of risks and the measures to implement to minimise or
eliminate the risk. They include:
- Identifying hazards
- Analysing the likelihood of a risk (low, medium or high)
- Evaluating the best solutions
- Monitoring hazards and solutions
- Communicating risks and solutions to employees to reduce injury.
What is the meaning of health and safety? - Answer -Health and safety is the right of
every individual who enters a workplace to leave with no adverse effects to their health
or safety.
What are the implications of cost of workplace injury? Provide examples. - Answer -
Human: Human cost is the physical suffering of an individual caused through workplace
injury, e.g. illness, physical, psychological and emotional.
Social: Social cost is the cost to society and taxpayers as injured workers access the
medical system and other services, e.g. community, colleagues, friends and families.
Economic: Economic cost is the financial cost to the organisation, injured worker and
his/her family, e.g. medical, hardship, insurance (workers compensation) and legal.
Organisational: Organisational cost is the need to replace and retrain another employee
while the injured worker recovers from the workplace injury, e.g. productivity loss, fines
and loss of business, legal cost and medical bills (for the employer).
Who has the responsibility of WHS in the workplace? - Answer -Everyone in the
workplace.
What are internal and external sources of workplace WHS information? - Answer -
Internal Sources - Workplace Policy and Procedures, WHS Committee, supervisor and
colleagues
External Sources - WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations 2011 and Work Cover
What is Work Cover? - Answer -Work Cover NSW is a NSW WHS regulator who offer
advice on improving work health and safety, provide licenses and registration for
potentially dangerous work and enforce WHS laws.
What does it mean to act within scope of responsibility/level of authority in relation to
WHS in the workplace? Also, what aspects do these need to be in and why is it
important? - Answer -- Taking initiative
- Problem solving
- Decision making
An employee's scope of responsibility is to do with your job description and the range of
activities, duties, or responsibilities the position requires you to do. Employees can only
act within their scope of responsibility in relation WHS in the workplace in regards to
taking initiative, problem solving and decision making. This is because some may be
more trained in areas that might be potentially dangerous for untrained employees to
deal with.
,An employee's level of authority refers to the power they have in making decisions. This
is important as the higher authority the more trained they are on certain aspects.
What is the difference between an act, regulation, code of practice and standard
(Australian, industry and workplace)? - Answer -Act - These are Australian laws and
legislations.
Regulation - These are guidelines that indicate how acts are applied.
Code of Practice - Codes assist employers by providing them with the guidelines that
they are expected to follow to help them comply with the WHS legislation. The Code of
Practice cover many many areas and is usually industry based.
Standard Operating Procedures - These are guidelines derived from the WHS Act and
Code of Practice that employees must follow in order to maintain the health and safety
of all individuals.
What is the purpose and intent of WHS legislations and their application to a retail
services industry, workplace and job role? - Answer -Work Health and Safety Act 2011
(NSW) - This is Australian law that governs workplaces and instructs employers with
what they are required to do under this legislation. They are expected to provide a
workplace that is free of hazards and uphold the safety of every individual who enters
that workplace.
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW) -
Regulations are guidelines that indicate how the provisions of the Act (WHS Act 2011)
are applied.
What is the concept of 'participation' and 'consultation' in relation to WHS? - Answer -
Participation: To be active and pro-active in observing and following WHS rules,
regulations and standard operating procedures in the workplace with regards to safety.
Consultation: If there is an issue, be proactive in the negotiation and consultative
process to find suitable solutions for the identified safety issues.
What is the primary role/function of key bodies/authorities involved in WHS? - Answer -
- Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Australia (SWA) is an Australian government statutory
body established to develop national policy relating to WHS and workers' compensation.
- Unions: The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) works to
protect and to advance the wages and working conditions of our members in retail, who
are responsible for the wages and working conditions of most Australian workers.
Unions negotiate for improvements to members working conditions .
- Local Councils: Local Government NSW
,What is the purpose and intent of codes of practice and their application to a retail
services industry, workplace and job role? - Answer -They outline:
- Hazardous substances and dangerous goods
- First aid
- Manual handling
- Risk management
- WHS consultation
This is done for workplaces and industries to follow in order to help maintain a safe work
environment.
What are some rights and responsibilities of employers and employees? - Answer -
Employer (PCBU):
Rights:
- They have the right to expect that employees abide by rules, policies and procedures
with regard to workplace safety and other aspects of the business.
Responsibilities:
- Health and safety regulations outlines that employers are legally required to protect
the employee from harm. They have a 'duty of care'.
- Provide training to all staff so that they are aware of safety requirements as per
legislation and codes of practice.
- Keep accurate record of breaches and corrective measures that were taken in each
instance.
Employee:
Rights:
- Right to be safe in the workplace
- Right to be provided with inductions and ongoing training when they enter the
organisation and through their term of employment
Responsibilities:
- Have knowledge of safety requirements and abide with health and safety procedures
- All employees must attend and complete training required with regards to compliance
and safety in the workplace.
What are the consequences of non-compliance with WHS workplace policy and
procedures and legislative requirements? - Answer -Non-compliance can result:
- Legal action
- Termination
- Injury, illness and death
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological impact
- Low workplace morale
- Absenteeism
- Poor productivity
, - Poor industry and organisational reputation
- Compensation costs
What are safety signs and what types of are used in the retail workplace and what
requirements do they need? - Answer -Safety signs need to follow legislative
requirements, have certain colours and shapes as well as be appropriately placed and
positioned. The types of safety signs are:
- Stop signs: These indicate that you must not do something and they have a red circle
or red shape, usually regarding to restricted areas.
- Caution signs: These warn you of a danger to your health and safety and they have a
yellow background.
- Emergency information signs: These signs have a green background and provide
emergency information that can easily be identified.
- Mandatory signs: These signs indicate what you must do. They have a blue
background.
What type of reports are made in the workplace and who are they given to? - Answer -
Reports must be reported to the appropriate people and there are formal and informal
reports. Also, there are written and verbal reports. There are hazard report forms and
incident report forms.
What is the difference between a hazard and risk? - Answer -A hazard is a situation
with the potential to cause injury or illness. A risk is a possibility of injury to a person or
loss of goods when exposed to a hazard.
How are risks managed in the workplace? - Answer -Hazards need to be identified and
risk assessments need to be taken, as well as risk controls and monitor and reviewing.
How are hazards identified? - Answer -Hazards are identified by inspecting the
workplace, talking to people and checking records and legislation. Also, they need to be
aware of the range of hazards which include Human factors (self, customer and others),
Manual handling, Materials, Tools and equipment, Work environment
and Work processes and practices.
What is a risk assessment? - Answer -This Is done through an audit. A risk assessment
requires analysing the level of risks and the measures to implement to minimise or
eliminate the risk. They include:
- Identifying hazards
- Analysing the likelihood of a risk (low, medium or high)
- Evaluating the best solutions
- Monitoring hazards and solutions
- Communicating risks and solutions to employees to reduce injury.
