Occupational safety and health

Policy Statement

Cybertots Child Care Centre is committed to protecting the health and safety of children, staff, parents and visitors to the centre by keeping everyone informed about the Occupational Safety and Health Act and ensuring appropriate codes of practice are followed at the centre.

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:
  • Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations
  • Health Act regulations
  • Community Services (Child Care) Regulations
  • Workers Compensation & Rehabilitation 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 OSH Act.
• Management needs - Clear guidelines about their responsibilities under OSH Act; employees co-operation in following health and safety instructions.

How Policy will be implemented (Specific Policies and Procedures):

• A Health and Safety policy and procedure handbook concerning the Occupational Safety and Health of the occupants and users of the centre will be produced and followed.
• Information about the Occupational Safety and Health 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 Occupational Safety and Health are included on the intranet. These responsibilities are highlighted to new staff and committee members as part of their induction.
• A "Safety Officer" will be nominated from and by the staff at the centre. This Safety Officer will be responsible and investigate all reports of breaches of the Health and Safety policies of the centre.
• A training program is organised every 12 months to ensure staff and committee members can identify:
  • key elements of the OSH Act
  • the centre's health and safety procedures and policies
  • safe and healthy workplace practices
  • how to recognise and report hazards
  • how to have a say in safe work practices and procedures.
• Staff will be encouraged to report incidents leading to high stress levels and positive steps will be taken to understand and minimise stress suffered by individual staff members.
• Staff will check all play areas and equipment regularly to ensure they are in a clean and safe condition. Any equipment and/or area that is not clean and in a safe condition is to be notified to the "Safety Officer" by all staff to ensure it is made safe.
• All new equipment will be checked to ensure it meets the Australian Standards.
• The management will ensure that health and safety practices followed in the centre comply with Health Regulations, Community Services (Child Care) Regulations, Australian Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Act (1984) and will allocate sufficient resources in the annual budget to ensure a healthy and safe environment.
• Staff will record all injuries or illness (to children and adults) in the centre's Accident/Illness record. Details entered will include: date, time, place of incident, injury or condition, brief description of events, adult witnesses, any anticipated treatment or outcome. (See Policy on health for Accident/Illness Record Form) within an accepted time frame. Notification, will be forwarded to Director of any injury /illness and subsequent leave needed.
• Staff will record all incidents with the potential to cause injury or illness in the centre's Damage Report book.
• The management will ensure that appropriate workers compensation cover is available to all employees of the service, and that employees understand the importance of reporting injuries or illness, which occurs during the course of their work. Employees will also be informed about the time deadlines for completing workers compensation forms.
• The management will ensure that injured employees are provided with appropriate rehabilitation and health care services and that a flexible rehabilitation program is implemented in the centre.
• The centre is a non-smoking area. This includes all indoor and outdoor areas and anywhere that is within sight of the children. (Community Services (child Care- Regulations 63(b).
• No child, parent, staff member or potential staff member will be excluded from the centre due to living with HIV/AIDS, and the following points apply:
  • information about a child, parent or staff member living with HIV/AIDS will be kept strictly confidential at all times
  • staff will follow universal hygiene procedures to eliminate any risk of HIV/AIDS transmission in the centre.