WHS Learner Resources
The following resources support learner understanding of workplace health and safety principles within assistance animal practice.
Resources have been selected to support:
- WHS duties and responsibilities;
- hazard identification and risk management;
- safe work systems;
- consultation and communication;
- incident prevention and investigation;
- safety culture;
- human factors;
- psychosocial safety; and
- continuous improvement.
This resource combines legislative guidance, workplace tools, professional resources and academic literature to support evidence-informed WHS practice.
Foundations of Workplace Health and Safety
Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Safe Work Australia provides national workplace health and safety guidance, model legislation, regulations, codes of practice, research and educational materials.
Recommended resources include:
- Model Work Health and Safety Act resources;
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations;
- Codes of Practice;
- WHS duties and responsibilities;
- risk management guidance.
Learners should become familiar with:
- the responsibilities of PCBUs;
- worker duties;
- consultation obligations;
- the principle of eliminating or minimising risks so far as reasonably practicable.
Reason, J. (1997)
Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing
Key concepts:
- organisational accidents;
- system-based approaches to safety;
- active and latent failures;
- the Swiss Cheese Model;
- organisational contributors to incidents.
Relevance to assistance animal practice:
Workplace incidents rarely occur because of one single action. A safety event involving an assistance animal, worker, client or member of the public may involve multiple contributing factors including:
- workplace systems;
- communication;
- training;
- environment;
- equipment;
- procedures.
Learners should consider the whole system when identifying safety improvements.
Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control
Safe Work Australia
How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – Code of Practice
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
This resource supports understanding of:
- hazard identification;
- risk assessment;
- risk controls;
- hierarchy of controls;
- reviewing control effectiveness;
- worker consultation.
Learners should understand the risk management process:
- Identify hazards
- Assess risks
- Control risks
- Review controls
The Difference Between a Hazard and a Risk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToaVW4nSdBA
Hazard, Risk & Safety – Understanding Risk Assessment, Management and Perception
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZmNZi8bon8
The Hierarchy of Controls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOkPcLD5Soo
Dekker, S. (2011)
Drift into Failure: From Hunting Broken Components to Understanding Complex Systems
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing
Key concepts:
- complex workplace systems;
- gradual development of risk;
- organisational drift;
- changing workplace conditions.
Relevance to assistance animal practice:
Safety risks may develop gradually due to:
- changes in workload;
- environmental changes;
- equipment changes;
- changes in procedures;
- increased service demands.
Regular review of WHS systems is therefore essential.
Consultation, Communication and Worker Participation
Consultation @ Work – The Basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OaLbST0SiI
Supports understanding of:
- workplace consultation;
- worker participation;
- communication;
- shared responsibility.
Safe Work Australia Consultation Resources
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Consultation supports workers and stakeholders to contribute information about:
- hazards;
- risks;
- workplace improvements;
- safety decisions.
Clarke, S. (2006)
The relationship between safety climate and safety performance: A meta-analytic review
Journal: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 11(4), 315–327.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.11.4.315
Key concepts:
- safety climate;
- worker perceptions of safety;
- communication;
- leadership influence;
- organisational commitment.
Relevance to assistance animal practice:
A positive safety culture requires people to feel able to:
- report hazards;
- ask questions;
- raise concerns;
- contribute improvements.
Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Work Practices
Personal Protective Equipment – PPE – Health and Safety
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEB7wE-YFXg
Supports understanding of:
- PPE selection;
- PPE limitations;
- correct use;
- workplace protection.
WorkSafe Chemical Safety Resources
WorkSafe Victoria – Managing Chemicals in the Workplace
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
Relevant topics:
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS);
- chemical registers;
- labelling;
- storage;
- exposure prevention;
- chemical risk assessment.
Biological Hazards and Infection Prevention
Infectious Diseases – An Introduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9axOFtPqS0c
Infection Transmission Types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxowv0Lr6tY
Zoonoses – Animal Diseases That Can Infect People
NSW Government
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/zoonoses.aspx
Supports understanding of:
- zoonotic diseases;
- animal-to-human transmission;
- hygiene;
- infection prevention.
Relevance to assistance animal practice:
Professionals working with animals should understand biological risks associated with:
- animal handling;
- waste;
- cleaning;
- veterinary-related environments;
- public access environments.
Incident Reporting, Investigation and Learning
Incident Investigation and Record Keeping
WorkSafe Queensland
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au
Supports understanding of:
- incident reporting;
- evidence collection;
- investigation processes;
- corrective actions.
Safety Video – Nothing is Routine
Running time: 2:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAsyxhaGezs
Reason, J. (2000)
Human error: models and management
Journal: BMJ, 320(7237), 768–770.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768
Key concepts:
- human error;
- active failures;
- latent conditions;
- system-based investigation.
Application:
Incident investigations should seek to understand:
- what happened;
- why it happened;
- what systems contributed;
- how recurrence can be prevented.
Dekker, S. (2014)
The Field Guide to Understanding “Human Error”
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing
Key concepts:
- just culture;
- human factors;
- learning from incidents;
- avoiding blame-based responses.
Application:
Organisations should focus on improving systems rather than simply identifying individual fault.
Safety Culture, Leadership and Continuous Improvement
Safe Work Australia – Psychosocial Hazards Resources
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Supports understanding of:
- psychosocial hazards;
- workplace wellbeing;
- consultation;
- organisational culture.
Christian, M. S., Bradley, J. C., Wallace, J. C., & Burke, M. J. (2009)
Workplace safety: A meta-analysis of the roles of person and situation factors
Journal: Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1103–1127.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016172
Key concepts:
- individual safety behaviour;
- workplace conditions;
- organisational influences;
- safety outcomes.
Application:
Safety outcomes are influenced by both:
- individual behaviour; and
- workplace systems.
Zwetsloot, G. I. J. M., Kines, P., Ruotsala, R., Drupsteen, L., Merivirta, M. L., & Bezemer, R. A. (2017)
The importance of commitment, communication, culture and learning for the implementation of safety management systems
Journal: Safety Science, 96, 1–10.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.03.012
Key concepts:
- safety management systems;
- leadership commitment;
- communication;
- organisational learning;
- continuous improvement.
Application:
Effective WHS systems require:
- leadership support;
- worker involvement;
- ongoing review;
- learning from experience.
Additional Safety Education Videos
The Importance of Health and Safety in the Workplace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URVdpjb9454
Workplace Health and Safety in Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nygEiM5pAYQ
Workplace Safety – Safety at Work Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCaeHrkRuBs
Manual Handling Training – Back to Basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt4PEss3Ppk