WHS documentation

Posted by SkillMaker in Nov, 2014

What is WHS documentation?

A WHS management system commonly has different structural components. And allowing academic debate, and the overlap of some components, these components may be grouped into Documentation, Risk Management, and Management Processes. Documentation is all about being particular of policies safety and risk management, documented control and review of all tasks done, registers and records and the formulation of safe work method statements and procedures.

What is the purpose of WHS documentation?

• Research the internet. Copy and paste results. Rewrite in your own words.

6 benefits of efficient documentation procedures

Your documentation procedures, if carried out correctly, should achieve the following:

• provide evidence of your proactive health and safety management;
• ensure that management is aware of organisational performance;
• assist with continuous improvement;
• demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety performance;
• enable a more effective performance; and
• Ensure review of individual managers’ health and safety performance.

Additionally, records enable effective reporting to managers and directors who are not directly involved in workplace health and safety matters.

WHS documentation is important in a workplace because as activities are recorded or documented, the person provides evidence of the performance of the management to provide a healthy and safe environment for workers, management is made aware of the performance of the organization and continuous improvement of the business may be assured through workers’ cooperation. Also, documentation shows commitment to continuous improvement to health and safety, to ensure a more effective performance and to review health and safety performance of a manager.

What are the different types of WHS documentation?

There are different types of WHS documentation, here are the most common:

• Training programs – every kind of training program is well-documented form the planning stage to the implementation. Evaluation of the results of training is also documented and supported b tests and measurement tools.
• Meetings to discuss WHS issues – documentation should be made for every meeting especially meetings pertaining to WHS issues.
• Investigation of all hazards, incidents and injuries – a complete documentation of accidents or injuries are done to ensure that investigation is carried out efficiently while hazards to health and safety of workers should also be documented.
• Internal and external review of work health and safety management should also be well-documented

What are the components or elements of WHS documentation?

WHS documentation:

• Policies – these are made of WHS policies that the user should observe as he documents any activity or emergency incident.
• Documented accountabilities, roles and responsibilities – this contain all the responsibilities as well as the roles of regulators in a workplace.
• Document control and review – this contain documents that will provide control during an emergency situation or incident and a review if these procedures are followed
• Registers and records – these are documents that contain all important incidents that need to be registered and reviewed.
• Safe work method statements and procedures – these are documents about work safety, how work safety should be done and evaluation of these procedures.

What terms are used when preparing WHS documentation?

• WHS Document – this includes, but not limited to, Safe Work Method Statements, Safe Work Procedure, Standard Operating Procedures; WHS Risk Assessment and risk control worksheets, Council and Group / Section procedures, standards, forms, correspondence, tools and instruments, WHS Manual and System Model documents.

• High Risk Construction Work – involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, this could be work in a telecommunication tower, a demolition work of a structure, the disturbance of asbestos, or involves structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse, or carried out in or near a confined space, or carried out in or near: a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel, or involves the use of explosives, or carried out on or near pressurized gas distribution mains or piping, or carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines, or carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services, or carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, or involves tilt-up or precast concrete, or carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in use be traffic other than pedestrians, or carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant, or carried out in an area in which there are artificial extremes of temperature, or carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning, or involves diving work.

Where can I find more information about WHS documentation?

http://workplaceohs.com.au/risk-management/whs-management-system/documentation
http://www.haccohs.adhc.nsw.gov.au/risk_management_process/communications_and_consultation

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/model-whs-laws/model-whs-regulations/pages/regulations