Work Health and Safety Policy

Purpose. Sets out the commitment of CAQA Sentinel Defence Support Services to the health and safety of its workers, contractors and visitors, and the responsibilities of every person in the business.

1.Purpose

This policy states how the business will meet its duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the regulations that apply at each site. It applies to every worker, contractor, labour hire employee and visitor at every Sentinel site and at every customer location where Sentinel staff work. The policy is the top of the safety document hierarchy and every procedure, work instruction and job safety analysis must be consistent with it.

2.Commitment

The business will provide and maintain a working environment that is without risk to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Hazards will be identified before work starts, risks will be assessed and controlled using the hierarchy of controls, and controls will be checked to confirm they work. The business will consult workers on matters that affect their health and safety and will act on what it hears.

• Eliminate hazards where possible before considering other controls
• Provide plant, equipment and personal protective equipment that is fit for purpose
• Provide information, training and supervision so that work is done safely
• Report, record and investigate every incident and near miss
• Review performance against measurable safety objectives each quarter

3.Responsibilities

The general manager holds overall accountability for health and safety and must ensure that resources are provided. Site and department managers must implement this policy in their areas, complete risk assessments for the work they control and act on reported hazards within the time set in the incident reporting procedure. Every worker must take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others, follow procedures and instructions, use the controls provided and report hazards and incidents promptly.

4.Stop work authority

Every person at a Sentinel site has the authority to stop a task when they believe the risk is not controlled. A stopped task must not restart until the supervisor and the person who stopped it agree that the risk is controlled. No person will be disadvantaged for stopping work in good faith.

5.High risk work

Explosives handling, bulk fuel operations, confined space entry, working at height, forklift operation and live range activity are designated high risk work. High risk work must not start without a current job safety analysis, a competent and authorised person in charge and the permits required by the relevant procedure. Licence conditions for explosive facilities take precedence over any production requirement.

6.Consultation and review

Each site will hold a monthly health and safety committee meeting with elected health and safety representatives, and every site will run a Monday safety brief. Minutes and actions must be recorded and tracked to completion. This policy will be reviewed annually or after any notifiable incident.