Workplace Health & Safety

Policies for Volunteers

July 2002

A message from the Minister for Emergency Services

As Emergency Services Minister, I am constantly aware of the risks our Volunteers face whilst conducting activations. Whether its cliff rescues, tarping roofs, traffic control or midnight river searches, our SES Volunteers are often confronted with dangerous and arduous situations. Because of the very nature of the Volunteer role, there will, therefore, always be an element of risk. Thats why I see it as absolutely imperative that we do what we can to assist our Volunteers in limiting these risks. To achieve this, in fulfilling our Duty of Care commitment to our Volunteers, we are adopting safety methods, which we can integrate as a core consideration into all SES activities. It is my privilege to endorse and now present to you the Manual, SES Workplace, Health and Safety Policies for Volunteers. I urge each and every one of you to read this Manual and give it the necessary consideration and attention. Workplace, Health and Safety should be our priority as well as our shared responsibility.

HON MIKE REYNOLDS Minister for Emergency Services Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland

Preface
The Department of Emergency Services, in keeping with its duty of care obligations, is totally committed to ensuring that all emergency service volunteers are protected and able to operate within a safe working environment. A key strategy for the State Emergency Service (SES) is to establish and maintain a Workplace Health and Safety support framework for its volunteers while working towards making the workplace of SES volunteers free from unacceptable risk. An integral component of fostering this safety culture in the SES is the adoption of Workplace Health and Safety Policies that not only reflect the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 but also address the specific needs of our volunteers in order to prevent and/or minimise their exposure in the workplace to a risk of injury, illness or death. These policies have been developed and refined after extensive consultation with staff and volunteers across the state. The policies and will be updated periodically with new policies developed where a need is identified. Workplace Health and Safety is a shared responsibility and it is in all our interests to ensure that we reduce the potential risk to all volunteers by applying and maintaining Best Practice and safety standards. I commend these policies to you for implementation.

Ian Rector Director, SES & VMR Support Date: 5.8.2002

Workplace Health and Safety Policies for SES Volunteers

POLICY WHS 001 POLICY WHS 002 POLICY WHS 003 POLICY WHS 004 HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY COMMUNICATION ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SUPPLIERS AND PURCHASING CONTROLS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSULTATION WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEES RISK MANAGEMENT HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION & CONTROL PROVISION OF INFORMATION TRAINING - SAFETY INDUCTION WORKPLACE SPECIFIC ISSUES INCIDENT/ACCIDENT AND INJURY REPORTING, RECORDING AND INVESTIGATION EMERGENCY PLANNING FIRE AND EMERGENCY EVACUATION WORKPLACE REHABILITAITON WORKPLACE INSPECTIONS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

POLICY WHS 005

POLICY WHS 006 POLICY WHS 007 POLICY WHS 008 POLICY WHS 009

POLICY WHS 010

POLICY WHS 011 POLICY WHS 012 POLICY WHS 013 POLICY WHS 014 POLICY WHS 015

Acknowledgement
A number of people were involved in the development of these Workplace Health and Safety Policies. s Special acknowledgement is made of the SES staff and volunteer members who were directly or indirectly involved in the development and review of the policies. s Acknowledgement is made of the contribution and advice from Judith Arthur, Manager Health and Safety Welfare Unit, State Emergency Services of South Australia Roger Boulton, Manager Workplace Health and Safety, Iplex Industries. Greg Ward, Manager Organisational Health Unit, Education Qld.

Meg Garbutt Project Officer - WH&S

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE Workplace Health and Safety For Volunteers

AMENDMENT LIST
Amendment No Date Paragraph Description of Amendment Effected Initials Date