SparklingStars - Workplace Health and Safety Policy
SparklingStars - Workplace Health and Safety Policy
SparklingStars - Workplace Health and Safety Policy
1. Policy Statement
Sparkling Stars Childcare Centre is committed to protecting the health and safety of
children, staff, parents and visitors to the centre by keeping everyone informed about
the Work Health and Safety Act and ensuring appropriate codes of practice are
followed at the centre.
2. Considerations
These will vary from state to state and will be dependent upon current
Legislation
▪ Philosophy – caring role-need for safe and healthy environment.
▪ Legislation – Current state/territory regulations:
o Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations
o Health Act and supporting Regulations
o Public Health Act and Regulations
o National Quality Framework (NQF) and the National Quality
Standards (NQS)
o Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations
o Workers Compensation & Rehabilitation Act.
o Food Acts and Regulations
o Pest Management Act
▪ Children’s needs – Safe and healthy environment in which to play and learn.
▪ Parents’ needs – Reassurance that health and safety standards are
maintained at the centre and their children are safe.
▪ Staff needs – A safe and healthy workplace; clear guidelines
about their responsibilities under WHS Act.
▪ Management needs – Clear guidelines about their responsibilities under
WHS Act; employees co-operation in following health and safety
instructions.
Information about the Work Health and Safety Act, Regulations, Codes of practice
and guidelines are held on the Intranet at the centre and may be read by staff,
committee and parents of children attending the centre.
Employee and Employer responsibilities for Workplace Health and Safety are
included on the intranet. These responsibilities are highlighted to new staff and
committee members as part of their induction.
Elimination
(Physically remove the hazard)
Substitution
(Replace the hazard)
Engineer Controls
(Physical change in the workplace)
Administrative Controls
(Change the way people
work)
PPE
(Personal Protective
Equipment)
Substitute
Replace one substance or activity with a less hazardous one.
Example: A staff member in toddlers room reported headaches after using bleach to
clean the toilets. The management obtained information about alternative products
(including their material safety data sheets), and decided to trial two different
cleaning products. One of these did the job just as effectively and generated no
strong fumes. Staff reported no incidence of headaches after its use
Isolate
If equipment or materials cannot be changed or substituted to make them safer it
may be possible to separate them from people, either by moving them away or by
installing a barrier to prevent people from coming into contact with them.
Example: In one section of the playground the artificial grass had lifted and was a
trip hazard. This area of the playground a barrier was put up to block off this area
until the artificial grass can be fixed.
Engineering Controls-
If a hazard can’t be isolated, perhaps redesign the surroundings to minimise risks.
This may involve redesigning the workplace, providing increased ventilation or
lighting or finding engineering solutions to make plant and equipment safer.
Example: One staff member has injured her back when lifting a toddler onto th e
nappy change bench. A set of step could be installed so the children can walk up the
step themselves (this would be aided by the staff member by holding hands).
PPE
If no other measures will totally solve the problem, consider whether PPE (including
clothing and footwear) could help reduce the risk. Because PPE focuses on the
person rather than the hazard, it should not be relied on solely and should be used
in conjunction with other measures.
Example: Using gloves when cleaning/changing/handling soiled clothing.