The NSW Government have introduced the new Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2000 and Regulations 2001.
The changes to the Act are designed to strengthen the laws and make it easy for OH&S rep’s committee members and union reps to understand.
Newcastle Trades Hall Council has received WorkCover Assist funding to provide training and information to unions and their members to assist them with the implementation of OH&S Workers Compensation and Injury Management at the Workplace.
The current training being provided includes:
OH&S Workers Compensation information training Risk Management Consultation Return to Work
Train the Trainer courses are also being provided in the above so unions can deliver training for their members by way of lunch and learn or in short sessions at times that suit members and employers.
Newcastle Trades Hall Council website can provide a resource to unions and members’ links to the Union Safe website are also available.
Warren McRae Newcastle Trades Hall Council Training Co-ordinator
02-4929 1162 warren@newtradeshall.com
Below are listed some handy OH&S/Workers Compensation Checlists for your convienence 
OHS checklist
q Do you have OHS Consultative mechanisms in place, i.e. OHS Reps and/or Committee and/or other arrangements?
q Are the details of the arrangement displayed in the workplace?
q Has your employer approached you about identifying workplace hazards?
q Has your employer conducted a risk assessment?
q Has your employer done anything about eliminating or, if they were unable to be eliminated, controlling risks?
q Have the workers in your workgroup been trained to perform their tasks safely?
q Is there a Safety Induction Program got new employees?
q Have you attended the union training course on OHS?
IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN SAFETY ISSUES CONTACT YOUR WORKPLACE UNION REPRESENTATIBE.

Workers Compensation checklist
q Does your employer have a rehabilitation program?
q Has the union been involved in selecting suitable duties?
q Have you developed a list of suitable duties for your workgroup?
q Is there a poster of what to do if there is an injury, displayed in your work area?
q Is there an Injury Register?
q Have you found out what the Injury Reporting Mechanisms are?
q Do you have your Union Representative’s kit and access to weekly fact sheets?
q Are you able to access the UnionSafe OHS site?
q Does your employer have a current Workers Compensation policy?
q Have you been to the union’s training course on Workers Compensation?

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS
SAFETY CHECKLIST
Slips, trips and falls account for nearly a quarter of workplace injuries. You must ensure that your workplace is maintained free of hazards that cause these incidents. This checklist will help you prevent these types of injures. You should involve your employees in filling out this checklist.
Note: If you mark a NO box on the checklist you need to take action to make your workplace safer.
Date checklist completed: |
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| Date checklist to be reviewed (annually or when there is a change or addition to manual handling tasks | in the | workplace): |
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| Name(s) of person(s) who completed checklist. | Initial- |
| Position title. Company. |
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| Floors |
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| Are floor surfaces free of water, ice, oil or other fluids? | Yes | No | Are floor surfaces even? (e.g. no loose tiles or carpet that is torn or has ridges or holes) | Yes | No | Are ramps designed to prevent slips and fails? | Yes | No | Housekeeping |
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| Are walkways and doorways clear of boxes, extension cords and litter? | Yes
| No | Are spills cleaned up immediately? | Yes | No | Are the responsibilities for cleaning floors, clearing work areas and walkways clearly specified? | Yes | No | stairs |
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| Are stairways kept clear of boxes, equipment and other obstructions? | Yes | No | Is the tread. on stairs adequate to minimise slipping? | Yes | No | Is the foot-space on each stair adequate? | Yes | No | Are handrails adequate? | Yes | No | Lighting |
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| Are work areas, walkways and stairs well fit? | Yes | No | Does the lighting enable workers to move between indoor and outdoor tasks safely? | Yes | No | Footwear |
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| Is the footwear worn by workers suitable for the workplace? | Yes! | No |
For more information or assistance, go to the WorkCover website www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or contact the WorkCover Assistance Service on 13 10 50.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
SAFETY CHECKLIST
As part of your responsibility to ensure the safety of people in your workplace, you are required to make arrangements for a safe and rapid evacuation in case of an emergency. This checklist will help you develop your emergency procedures. You should involve your employees in developing these procedures. If you share your workplace or worksite with other businesses, you can use the checklist to coordinate your emergency response with them.
Note: If you mark a NO box on the checklist you need to take action to make your workplace safer.
Date checklist completed: |
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| Date checklist to be reviewed (annually or when there is a change to the workplace): |
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| Name(s) of person(s) who completed checklist. | Initial. |
| Position title: Company.. |
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| Have you identified emergencies that may require an evacuation of the working area? | Yes | No | For example fire, explosion, chemical spills, bomb threat, flooding |
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| Responsibility |
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| Have you nominated a person(s) to be responsible for managing the evacuation? | Yes | No | Signal to evacuate |
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| Have you identified what signal(s) will be used to start evacuation? | Yes | No | Have you identified where these signals will be located? | Yes | No | Is someone authorised to be responsible for activating the signal? | Yes | No | Evacuation procedure |
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| Have you identified how people will evacuate from the workplace? (e.g. the shortest and |
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| most direct route to safety, the routes people should use, how people with disabilities |
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| would evacuate?) | Yes | No | Do you have an assembly place after evacuation? | Yes | No | Have you identified the checks that should be followed to ensure everyone is accounted for? | Yes | No | Have you identified a signal that gives the all clear to return, and nominated who will give it? | Yes | No | Re-entry |
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| Have you established re-entry management procedures? | Yes | No | Your emergency procedures |
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| Are emergency procedures displayed in your workplace? | Yes | No | Are all employees aware of the emergency procedures? | Yes: | No |
For more information or assistance, go to the WorkCover website www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or contact the WorkCover Assistance Service on 13 10 50.
ELECTRICAL
SAFETY CHECKLIST
Electricity has great potential to seriously injure and kill. As electricity is invisible it is even more dangerous. You have a responsibility to ensure the electrical fittings and electrical equipment in your workplace is safe, and inspected and maintained regularly. This checklist will help you manage the risk of injury from electricity. You should involve your employees in filling out the checklist.
Note: If you mark a NO box on the checklist you need to take action to make your workplace safer.
Date checklist completed. |
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| Date checklist to be reviewed (annually or when there is a change in electrical equipment or an electrical incident)-. |
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| Name(s) of person(s) who completed checklist. | Initial. |
| Position title. Company. |
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| Electrical switchboards and equipment |
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| Are switchboards, electrical equipment in a safe condition? | Yes | No | Is portable electrical equipment protected by safety switches? |
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| (This safety measure is mandatory for construction work.) | Yes | No | Power points, light fittings and switches |
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| Are all power points, light fittings and switches in a safe place and free of obvious defects? | Yes | No | Check if they are mounted securely, there are no loose covers or wires, broken or damaged |
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| fittings, or signs of overheating. | Yes | No | Are main and isolating switches clearly labelled and accessible? | Yes | No | Power tools, flexible leads and power boards |
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| Are power tools, extension leads and power boards maintained in a safe operating condition? | Yes. | No | Check for damaged insulation, water leaks, bum marks, bent or loose pins and fittings. | Yes | No | Are extension leads and power boards located in a safe position to prevent mechanical or |
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| other damage? | Yes | No | Inspection and maintenance of all electrical |
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