Reference no: EM133288876

Assignment:

Diploma in Work Health and Safety (Australia)

To provide evidence that you have the essential knowledge required for the following performance criteria and related knowledge evidence.

Project A

You must lead the initial response to one work health and safety (WHS) incident that complies with legislative and organisational requirements.

You are responsible for health and safety at a transport company. The company has a permanent workforce of 100 workers consisting of drivers, maintenance staff and administrative staff. The company operates from a single site consisting of a workshop, depot sheds and an administration area. You are responsible for coordinating incident investigations and report directly to the general manager. One evening you are contacted at 11.45 pm by Michael Moore, the workshop manager and advised that there has been an accident.

The facts of the incident are as follows:

1. At 11.05 pm, a truck driver, Steve O'Brien entered the workshop prior to commencing his night shift. As per company policy Steve looked around the workshop to check on the night mechanic, Jody Watkins. This policy had been instituted as a preventative measure because the night mechanic works alone.

2. Steve found Jody lying face up on the pit floor with her head propped on the handrail post of the stairs leading up from the pit. Jody's head was bloodied and, although conscious, she appeared dazed and possibly in shock. She was unable to recall how the accident had occurred.

3. A truck with its wheel removed was found on top of the gantry platform where the night mechanic services trucks. A large wheel brace was also found nearby. A pool of blood was found in the pit, approximately 1.4 metres beneath this gantry platform. There was smeared blood leading from this point to the foot of the pit stairs where Jody was found.

4. O'Brien sought the assistance of another truck driver and bandaged Jody's head while an ambulance was called. Steve assisted the ambulance crew in treating Jody. Steve also rang the workshop manager, Michael Moore, to advise of the incident.

5. Subsequent to the accident, a day driver, Tran Ngyuen, advised that at the end of his shift (approximately 10.45 pm), he had spoken to Jody who looked weary but was otherwise fine.

6. Jody has been employed by the company for 12 years. She is 51 years old and is the regular night mechanic by choice. A review of the company's register of injuries reveals that Jody has suffered two previous work-related injuries. On one occasion she suffered a twisted knee from slipping down the stairs beside the gantry platform in the workshop. On the other occasion her leg was badly swollen when a wheel brace she was stamping on to loosen a nut slipped and hit her leg.

Complete the following:

Write a brief describing how you propose to go about this investigation, specifically addressing:

Develop and document a plan to investigate the incident

• details about who should be included in the investigation team
• information about how each member could contribute
• the type of information that could assist the investigation. What data will you review and why?
• a plan covering what you will inspect and the processes that you will apply in undertaking the inspection
• an interview plan, including who you need to interview
• create a timeline with intervention points based on the information provided
• create a root tree analysis of the incident based on the information provided
• establish key events, conditions and/or circumstances that contributed to the incident
• identify actions required to respond to the incident, including any recommendations for changes to health and safety arrangements
• prepare a report on the outcomes that addresses immediate and underlying causes of incident and recommends practical prevention measures

You might have to take artistic licence and add reasonable detail to complete the project.