Safety Tips

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• Do not carry out any job or operate any equipment if you are not authorised and fully trained to do so. If you haven’t been trained, tell your supervisor immediately & do not do the job
• Housekeeping. Keep your work area tidy and free from hazards.
• Any item which could cause a person to trip, fall or cause a mechanical breakdown must be placed in its correct place or removed safely to reduce the hazard it presents
• Before operating any equipment, even in office environments, ensure that all guards and safety devices are in position and operating correctly. While operating plant equipment do not endanger yourself or any other persons by its operation
• Safety warnings and directional signs must be observed at all times
• All injuries, however minor, must be reported to Careerlink AND to your work supervisor. Necessary first aid or medical treatment MUST be obtained.
• Practical jokes or like practices however seemingly harmless are strictly prohibited
• Any electrical or mechanical faults must be reported to your work supervisor immediately. Unqualified personnel must not attempt any repairs whatsoever under any circumstances
• Appropriate danger tags and lockout devices must be affixed to equipment while maintenance and/or repairs are being carried out. This applies to  any and all office equipment. Tags and lockouts must remain in place until the equipment is safe and serviceable, and may be removed only by the person who first put them in place. In his or her absence, refer removal to his or her immediate supervisor.
• Do not handle, use or mix hazardous substances unless you have been trained to do so
• Personal protective equipment and clothing is required to be used in all situations where indicated, even if required in an office environment
• Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Bare feet, thongs, sandals and slippers are prohibited
• Hair of long, loose or unruly nature must be confined by net or cap, or tied back, when working near machinery and in production areas
• Any situation which you believe may be or could become a hazard, should be reported to your work supervisor and Careerlink immediately
• Unauthorised consumption of intoxicating liquor and/or the use of drugs, other than prescribed medication, is strictly forbidden during work hours on premises or in work vehicles. Reporting for work in an intoxicated condition or under the effect of drugs will not be tolerated and could result in instant dismissal
• "No Smoking" restrictions and other fire precautions must be observed at all times
• If you are on a prescribed medication, please advise Careerlink, the site Occupational Health Nurse, and site Supervisor to ensure it won't impair your own safety or the safety of others
• Do not run or take short cuts. Do not step over moving machinery. Always use designated pathways, ramps and stairways
• Treat others as you like / expect to be treated. 
• Brawling, fighting and behaviour of an aggressive nature will not be tolerated and may result in instant dismissal

It is a legal requirement that even in Office environments, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be made available for all harmful or toxic substances throughout the plant or worksite. Make sure you are familiar with whereabouts and use of these. Harmful or toxic substances can include but are not limited to toner from copiers, cleaning powders and/or liquids in kitchens and bathroom facilities.

MSDS sheets provide information relating to recommended handling practices, the appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing to wear, health hazards, chemical content of substances etc.

Your site supervisor is responsible for providing this information to you as well as providing information on labelling, storage and handling of any hazardous or harmful product before you begin working with it.

• Wherever possible lift and carry by some mechanical means
• Assess the load to be lifted. First check the weight and ask yourself whether it is within your capabilities
• If it is too heavy, too large or too awkward, always get help
• Position your feet as near as practicable to the load, and sufficiently apart for comfort and balance
• Bend your knees and squat down, keeping your back straight
• Lift with the strong leg and thigh muscles, not your back muscles
• Keep the load close to your body
• When lifting as a team, lift together and distribute the weight evenly, lifting in unison. Let one person who is lifting take charge.

Visit the Safework SA website to view the Safework SA Manual Handling Information Booklet.

• Only authorised and qualified licensed electrical tradespersons (or apprentices under their supervision) are permitted to carry out work on electrical equipment
• Regard all electrical wires as dangerous. Do not attempt to repair defective wiring or electrical equipment. Send them to a licensed electrician.
• Electrical leads should be placed where they do not become a tripping hazard or are likely to be cut or chafed. Extreme care should be taken when using electrical tools in damp conditions
• Ensure that the electrical appliance, tool or cord is correctly tagged as required under the Electrical Safety Policy for your worksite
• When using any hand held electrical appliance, whether directly plugging on or through a flexible extension card, the supply of electricity to the appliance must incorporate an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker/Residual Current Device (ELCB / RCD).

• When you are sitting at your workstation, you should be able to place your feet firmly on the ground or on a footrest. Your thighs should be parallel with the floor, and the backrest of your chair should support your lower back. You should be able to move your chair easily about the work area and its base should have five points touching the floor.
• Your workplace should be set up so that you don’t have to twist, reach or bend too often. If you do have to reach for something it is better to get up out of the chair and take the opportunity to change the set up so that you can read the screen with very little movement of your head, neck and shoulders. You should take rest breaks for your eyes every 20 minutes and the simplest way to do this is to look away from the screen at something in the distance.

Visit the Safework SA website to view the Safework SA Computer Workstation - Design Guidelines