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WHY DO YOU NEED SAFE WORK PROCEDURES?
You have an obligation to protect workers from risks in the tasks that they carry out or from the plant, equipment and machinery used to carry out a task.
WHAT ARE SAFE WORK PROCEDURES?
Safe work procedures ensure your workers are aware of the risks in their work tasks, and outline how to avoid injury or illness while doing these tasks. Safe work procedures are a means of documenting the risks associated with a work task and incorporating the appropriate risk control measures into a sequence of steps for doing the task safely. (Workcover, 2007)
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
Legislation requires that ALL hazards are identified and the risks arising from these hazards are eliminated entirely – or controlled in the following sequence if they cannot be eliminated:
1. Substitution – replace the hazardous substance, machine, process or task with a safer alternative.
2. Engineering – modify tools and equipment, erect enclosures around equipment, place guards around moving parts.
3. Administration – develop and implement safe work procedures and introduce training for hazardous tasks.
4. Personal Protective Equipment – safety glasses, footwear and hearing protection may be useful, but as a control measure they are to be used as a last resort.
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