WHS Audit You are a Work Health & Safety consultant who has been commissioned to prepare a report with recommendations based on the following scenario. Your report should: • List the hazards identified • Describe how you assessed the priority (likelihood/severity) for each hazard. • Recommend best practice control strategies • Describe the legal implications to the company for non-compliance. Your report should be no more than 1500 words in length. 2 LA014853 WHS Audit Report-Assessment 1 BSBOHS509A Ed2 © New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities 2012, Version 5, 03/2012 Scenario – Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd is a large manufacturer of gate bolts and hinges for commercial and agricultural use. The company has been in business for seventy years and employs a staff of 120 people ranging from managerial, marketing and sales, engineering, trade and production personnel. Recently the General Manager (GM) contacted you to review the company's current hazard status since the introduction of three new metal stamping presses that were made and purchased from China. When you arrive at the factory the GM tells you that he hasn't enough time to take you into the plant but directs you to the 'Press Room' directly behind the administration block. On entering the 'Press Room' you notice signage indicating "Safety Equipment must be worn in this area". Some of the operators are wearing face masks, hearing protection, safety boots and gloves, some employees are wearing an assortment of protective equipment, some none at all. You find the three new Chinese presses, which are operated by the same number of employees – none of whom are wearing any protective equipment. It is extremely noisy in the 'Press Room' and the three operators have to continually shout at each other to be heard above the noise emanating from all of the presses. You observe that the new machines do not have any guarding around the stamping (press) head, as is the case with the other presses. Moreover, a lot of the labelling on the imported machines is written in Chinese. It appears someone has taped some English translation signs next to the Start, Jog and Stop buttons which are located directly above the operator's head out of their line of vision. On leaving the plant you inform the GM that you have concluded your observation and will, in due course, forward your report. The GM ushers you to the door to see you off the premises. As you are entering the car park you notice paramedics wheeling an employee to the back of an ambulance. When you inquire about the nature of the employee's injury, the GM informs you that a forklift driver ran over the employee's foot. The GM further states that a number of the forklift drivers frequent the local hotel during their lunch break. Their supervisor suspects that some of them might be 'over the limit' when they return to work but they feel powerless to do anything regarding the trips to the 'local' during the lunch break. The GM suggests that you might 'throw in' a few suggestions in your report on strategies for addressing alcohol and substance abuse.