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Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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The report also identified ‘human factors’ such as the train guards’ inadequate<br />

training <strong>and</strong> rostering leading to fatigue <strong>and</strong> diminished capacity to assess<br />

<strong>and</strong> respond to what was occurring.<br />

These are issues that are <strong>of</strong> concern to all employees employed by all private<br />

<strong>and</strong> public transport operators. It will be increasingly necessary for <strong>Union</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

OHS representatives in the workplace to be actively engaged in the systematic<br />

management <strong>and</strong> monitoring <strong>of</strong> OHS systems in their workplace. There is also<br />

a responsibility on the <strong>Union</strong> <strong>and</strong> its members <strong>and</strong> all those involved in OHS to<br />

identify key areas <strong>of</strong> concern <strong>and</strong> to work towards effective solutions.<br />

Developing OHS Management Systems<br />

The systematic <strong>and</strong> strategic management <strong>of</strong> OHS is vital in preventing<br />

workplace accidents, injuries <strong>and</strong> illness. This involves developing formal<br />

<strong>and</strong>/ or informal management systems for dealing with occupational health<br />

<strong>and</strong> safety matters. That is, OHS should be integral to the overall strategic<br />

business planning <strong>of</strong> the company, <strong>and</strong> not viewed as an ‘add-on’ or side<br />

issue.<br />

The Australian St<strong>and</strong>ard for Occupational Health <strong>and</strong> <strong>Safety</strong> Management<br />

Systems (AS 4804 1997) defines an OHS management system as:<br />

The part <strong>of</strong> the overall management system which includes<br />

organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices,<br />

procedures, processes <strong>and</strong> resources for developing, implementing,<br />

achieving, reviewing <strong>and</strong> maintaining the OHS policy, <strong>and</strong> so managing<br />

the OHS risks associated with the business or the organisation’.<br />

Principles <strong>of</strong> Occupational Health <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>Safety</strong> Management Systems (OHSMS)<br />

The Act <strong>and</strong> its supporting regulatory <strong>and</strong> advisory framework provide broad<br />

objectives <strong>and</strong> in some circumstances, detailed guidance to assist employers,<br />

employees <strong>and</strong> others in achieving health <strong>and</strong> safety. The legislative framework<br />

must be considered <strong>and</strong> applied specifically in relation to each individual<br />

workplace in order to achieve optimum health <strong>and</strong> safety.<br />

However, due to the complexity <strong>of</strong> workplaces, the interaction <strong>of</strong> people, plant,<br />

substances <strong>and</strong> systems, the organisational structure <strong>and</strong> workforce culture,<br />

BACK TO CONTENTS<br />

<strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Matters</strong> A Guide for Workplace OHS Representatives<br />

SECTION TWO<br />

RAIL<br />

TRAM AND BUS<br />

15<br />

Monitoring OHS Programs <strong>and</strong> Procedures<br />

U N<br />

I O N

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