High Risk Works

Job Management Software For High Risk Workers

In accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety, Safe Work Australia develops model Codes of Practice as part of the package of harmonised work health and safety laws. Model Codes of Practice are often based on jurisdictional codes in place at the time of development and are informed by public comment.

However:

Many businesses seem unaware that work involving hot or cold temperatures can lead to a range of symptoms from physical discomfort through to life threatening conditions. Air temperatures that are too high or too low can contribute to fatigue and heat or cold related illnesses.

Risks within the regulatory context and definition of ‘High Risk Work’ relate to several industries and separate parts of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations define them. The risks include; Death, serious injury, loss of bodily function, crush injury, exposure to hot or cold temperatures and many other less widely recognised risks to health and wellbeing.

Although schedule 3 of the WHS Regulations outlines the classes of HRW which require HRW licences, this does not absolve any employer or manager from exposing themselves, their staff or sub-contractors from avoidable risk *.

JGID provides efficient job and project management software. The systems we have automated for your efficiency; are industry best practice.

If it isn't possible to eliminate exposure to extreme heat or cold, then the risk of heat-related illness or hypothermia must be minimised, where reasonably practicable.

Heat-related illness can arise when:

• working in high temperatures
• exposed to high thermal radiation, eg working on a roof of a building
• exposed to high levels of humidity, eg in a foundry, commercial kitchen or laundry.

Hypothermia can arise when someone gets an abnormally low body temperature as a result of exposure to a cold environment.

Both heat-related illnesses and hypothermia can be fatal.

If you're a business or employer, you must make sure so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers carrying out work in extreme heat or cold are able to do so without risk to their health and safety.

Consider these factors when assessing the risk to workers from working in extreme environments.

Personal factors include:

• the level and duration of physical activity
• the amount and type of clothing worn
• the duration of the exposure.

Environmental factors include:

• air temperature
• the level of humidity
• the level of air movement and radiant heat.

The ideal temperature for sedentary work is between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius, depending on the time of year and clothing worn.
*

• reach stacker operation
• forklift operation
• pressure equipment & boiler operation
• boom-type elevating platform operation
• turbine operation
• basic, intermediate and advanced scaffolding
• dogging
• basic, intermediate and advanced rigging
• crane and hoist operation.

The managing the work environment and facilities code of practice provides more information on how to eliminate or minimise extreme exposure to heat or cold conditions.