Human Resource Management

What you have to do
For this task you will need to focus on the legal requirements on organisations to comply
with WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice in order to provide a safe place of work
for employees and others who attend the workplace.
The work team will be consulted in accordance with WHS legislation requirements and
informed about the organisation’s WHS policies, procedures and programs, in particular as
they relate to hazard identification and the outcomes of risk assessment and control.
Using the unit’s information, prepare a report to management on the policies, procedures
and programs that are in place to guide consultation on safety matters with the work team,
how hazards are identified and how outcomes of risk assessment and control are
communicated and implemented.
You will also analyse the role of supervisors/team leaders in meeting the organisation’s
WHS responsibilities as well as considering how well the organisation supports them in
satisfying those responsibilities.
You may base your assessment on your current work organisation, OR one in which
you have previously worked. For privacy reasons, use a fictitious company name.
.
Task
Write a report of around 1,500 words to your chosen organisation’s management which
contains the following three parts:
Please note: this is a formal business report and must contain:
 Executive Summary (Remember this is written last!)
 Table of contents
 Introduction
 Body
 Recommendations
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
 Appendix
Part one: Report introduction
Your introduction needs to:
 Outline the purpose of the report
 Outline a brief company profile, including information on:

o Structure (e.g. single site of operations or multi-site)
o Number of employees
o The name of the WHS/OHS Act that applies to the company
o The nature of the work performed and risks associated with that work
 Outline the research methodology being used for this report e.g. Secondary sources
such as WHS legislation (Act and Regulations), specific codes of practice, current
workplace WHS/OHS policies and procedures, etc. Primary sources such as staff
surveys, interviews etc.
Part two: The body of the report
A. Identifying hazards, assessing risks and controlling risks
The body of your report will outline the formal and informal practices used to identify
workplace hazards, conduct assessments of the risks associated with those hazards and
determine appropriate control measures for those risks. You will also evaluate the
effectiveness of the processes.
Use the following headings (in italics) and write your answers under each heading:
a) WHS policies, procedures and programs – list and briefly describe the WHS policies,
procedures, programs, etc. in place.
In your answer, indicate if induction training is provided that informs work teams
about fire and other emergency evacuation procedures, hazard and incident
reporting, etc.
b) Hazard identification – briefly describe the process for identifying hazards and
reporting those to management. (Methods may include observation, audits, site
walkabouts, reviews of statistical data, consultation and records are typical
examples.)
Comment on the effectiveness of the process.
c) Risk assessment – briefly describe the process/es for assessment at your workplace.
How are hazards analysed and prioritised (e.g. is a risk matrix or other risk
assessment tool used to rate the ‘likelihood’ and ‘consequences’ of the risks arising
from the identified hazards)? What documentation is used in the assessment
process? Is the work team consulted in the process?
Comment on the effectiveness of the processes.
d) Risk control – briefly describe the process/es used to control hazards. Is the
hierarchy of control followed i.e. elimination, substitution, engineering, isolation,
administration and use of PPE, or is another approach/es used?
Comment on the effectiveness of the process/es. In your answer indicate whether the
work team is informed about the outcomes of the risk assessment and risk control
processes
) WHS consultation – briefly describe the WHS consultation mechanisms utilised
within the organisation. Organisations are required to comply with WHS/OHS
legislation regarding consultation with work teams. Refer to your State/Territory
WHS/OHS legislation for HSRs (Health and Safety Representatives), Health and
Safety Committees or other Agreed Arrangements and the relevant
consultation code of practice in your answer, citing relevant Section and
Clause numbers.
Comment on the effectiveness of the process. In your response, indicate whether
work teams are informed promptly of outcomes of consultation on WHS issues.
f) Specific WHS hazards and their associated risks – WHS legislation refers to
processes for managing ‘specific’ risks (e.g. hazardous chemicals, manual handling
and systems for reporting or recording WHS hazards and risks). List the ‘specific’
hazards and associated risks that need to be managed in your workplace.
Comment on the effectiveness of the management of those risks.
g) WHS training – list the safety training programs conducted at the workplace. Have all
safety training needs been addressed?
Comment on the effectiveness of the training provided. (In your response consider if
incidents and injuries have reduced as a result of the training; are workers more
informed about working safely and follow safe work procedures, etc.)
B. Role of the PCBU
This section continues the ‘body’ of your report and examines the legal responsibilities of
PCBUs. In particular management’s commitment to providing a safe place of work and the
responsibilities assigned to supervisors / team leaders in implementing that commitment.
 Discuss the PCBU’s (employers are classified as a PCBU) Primary Duty of Care
legal responsibilities as mentioned in the health and safety legislation of your State
or Territory (e.g. in NSW refer to S.19 WHS Act 2011).
 What duties do supervisors / team leaders perform in providing that duty of care to
workers, contractors and others in the workplace? (e.g. conduct WHS training on
the job, conduct daily tool box talks, etc.)
 What are the legal responsibilities of workers? State the section number of the
WHS/OHS Act that applies.
 To what extent do workplace policies, procedures and programs as well as the
culture of the organisation support the supervisors / team leaders in implementing
their WHS/OHS responsibilities? In your answer discuss the following:
o How well trained or informed supervisors / team leaders are to perform their
WHS responsibilities.
o Whether the systems, policies, procedures etc. assist supervisors / team
leaders to implement safe work procedures and practices.
rt three: Finalising your report
 Recommendations
From your review of Part Two, A and B, prepare a list or table of recommendations
for management to improve workplace processes. You are required to present
these in a form that can be used to implement the actions, stating who (position
title/s) is responsible for each.
 Conclusion
Write a one paragraph conclusion.
 Executive Summary
Provide an overview of your report, summarising the key points and key
recommendations. Insert at the front of your report.
 Table of Contents
Insert after the Executive Summary.
 Bibliography
List all sources accessed in preparing your report.
 Appendix
If you have any additional information that you wish to submit, please attach as an
appendix. (Appendices are not included in the word count.)