Introduction This guide is intended to help users get a brief overview of the main features of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool. If you have any comments or queries not covered here, please use the contact form at the top of the screen.

What is the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is designed to give businesses an indication of how well they are handling workplace health, safety, workers compensation and injury management issues. It poses a series of questions on key hazards that most small to medium-sized businesses encounter and how often these exposures occur. A score out of 10 is then calculated for each section – with 10 the best possible result and 0 the poorest.

Questions around the frequency of incidents that have occurred over the past three years are also posed and you will be given an indication about how your business is performing in that area too.

What the Safety Self-Assessment Tool isn´t The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is not a comprehensive audit tool. It only considers 10 common hazards that most small / medium businesses encounter. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (OHS Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (OHS Regulation) you need to consider all the risks that your workers may face while at work. The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is not designed to deal with special hazards faced by particular industries. For these you may be able to obtain more advice by contacting WorkCover NSW directly or visiting your industry-specific webpage on WorkCover's Small Business website.

How will WorkCover use my/this information?WorkCover will not be collecting or using any identifying information that you may provide, but may collate anonymous data. Any information you submit for this self-assessment will be used to calculate your self-assessment score and for benchmarking against other businesses who also complete the self-assessment. You are the only person who will be able to access your results.

Using the Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Who should use the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is designed for use by any small or medium sized business (SMB) or organisation operating in New South Wales where there is more than one worker. SMBs are usually considered to be businesses that employ between 1 and 199 people at any one time. Large organisations may find the questions useful too, however organisations with 200 or more workers will not be included in the benchmarking.

Can large organisations use the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? As previously mentioned, the Safety Self-Assessment Tool is designed for small and medium sized businesses. Large organisations may find the questions useful, however organisations with 200 or more workers will not be benchmarked.

What does it cost to use? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is free of charge. The only cost is your time to complete the questionnaire.

I have multiple business locations; can I use the Safety Self-Assessment Tool for each of these? So that you can differentiate reports for various business locations the Safety Self-Assessment Tool allows you to save a number of questionnaires under different names.

Should I arrange for someone to check or verify my answers? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is a self-assessment.
If you wish to have another party check your answers, as you may find it useful, that would be entirely up to you.

Can I save my questionnaires and reports? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool has the ability to save your questionnaires for reviewed at a later stage. Make sure you follow the prompts to save your scores.

Why does the Safety Self-Assessment Tool 'time out' after if I leave for a while? As with many websites you will be 'timed out' after a period of inactivity (20 minutes). This is normal practice to avoid slowing down the website with too many inactive users logged in at the same time.

If this happens, press any button to continue, you will then be asked to log in again using your username and password where you can continue the survey from the last completed section.

Registering

Do I have to register to be able to complete the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? To be able to complete the Safety Self-Assessment Tool, get the calculated results and to benchmark against others, you must register by providing a username and password.

If you do not wish to register, you can view and print the whole of the questionnaire from the link on the front page. However, you would then only complete the self-assessment manually and will not be able to benchmark your performance against others.

Do I have to put my business name on the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? During registration, you do not have to enter your company/business name. However, when you're asked to name your reports, you may wish to put your business/company name on them to improve the appearance and validity of the reports – particularly useful if you want to share your results with someone else.

Please note that no-one else will be able to view or access your company name from the website without your permission. The system is secure and protected by user password.

Can I de-register? You can de-register from the Safety Self-Assessment Tool at any time by selecting the 'De-Register' link in the Login/Register Screen.

Can I get a paper version of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool without registering? You can print off all of the questions within the Safety Self-Assessment Tool by using the link on the first page. You can then complete your answers manually but you will need to register and re-enter the information online in order to get the calculated results and benchmark against others.

Compliance at a Glance

What is 'Compliance at a Glance'? 'Compliance at a Glance' is a colour-coded checklist that you can use to see how your workplace rates in terms of complying with the legislation and what you need to do to improve in the areas of management commitment, consultation, safe work procedures, training and supervision, reporting safety, workers compensation and return to work.

Each tick you give yourself in the green zone means you are more likely to be compliant. In these areas you are encouraged to monitor and review to continually improve; each tick in the orange zone means you are increasing your level of compliance but you still have work to do; and each tick in the red zone means you are less likely to be compliant and these areas need to be addressed immediately.

Is 'Compliance at a Glance' part of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? 'Compliance at a Glance' is not part of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool but is a checklist so you will be able to get an indication of where your business is performing in terms of complying with the legislation. You therefore will not get calculated results, nor will you be benchmarked against others. However, you are not required to register or login to complete it.

Completing the hazard questionnaire

Why does the Safety Self-Assessment Tool focus on ten hazards? The questionnaire focuses on common hazards that may be experienced by small and medium sized businesses. The hazards include:

manual handling
repetitive tasks
hazardous substances
working at heights
using guarded machinery or machinery with dangerous parts
psychological issues and fatigue
workplace transport
uneven or slippery surfaces
noise
vibrating tools and equipment.

Do I have to answer all the questions in all the modules? If the hazards contained in a module are not applicable to your business, then when asked how often your business may encounter the hazard, you should answer 'Never' or 'NA' (not applicable) and you will not have to answer the questions from that section.

Once you have answered that the hazard is applicable to your business - by answering 'rarely', 'monthly', 'weekly', 'daily' or 'constantly'- then you must answer every answer in that section to receive a result at the end.

Unless you are absolutely sure that your workers are never exposed to the hazard, it is suggested that before you answer the question you read the introductory note for that hazard to ensure that you fully understand the nature of the hazard so that you do not overlook a hazard that might pose a risk in your workplace.

Does giving a 'no' answer mean that I am breaking the law? Not necessarily - the questions are designed to test how well you are dealing with health and safety issues. If you have given a 'no' answer the tool will help you to find out what action you need to take to give a 'yes' response. The tool is designed to encourage businesses to improve. From your results page you can find further sources of help.

How do I find out what a word or phrase used in the Safety Self-Assessment Tool means? You can use the 'more information' link to find out more information about a particular word or phrase. This may include definitions or further links to resources.

At the end of this section, you will also find a glossary that explains what certain terms mean.

Scores, weighting and verification

How does the scoring work? Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will get a score for your:

self-assessment hazard rating
self-assessment incident rating.

There is no combined score.

For the self-assessment hazard rating, a score out of 10 is calculated for key hazards that most small to medium-sized businesses may encounter and how often any incidents happen. The higher your score, the better your result.

Please note, however, that if on the initial (hazard exposure) question for a specific hazard section, you have indicated that your organisation is 'never' exposed to that particular hazard, or you select 'not applicable', you will receive a maximum score for the entire section.

For your self-assessment incident rating, you will be able to see your average number of all incidents that have occurred in your workplace, number of notifiable incidents and number of workers compensation claims that your business has encountered. You will also be advised as to whether the number and severity of your incidents appears to be increasing, staying the same or decreasing.

Why are the results weighted? Hazards where you have indicated a higher exposure frequency are weighted so that your score will generally be lower than for hazards that do not occur so often. Being exposed to a hazard more often increases the likelihood of an incident occurring. By reducing the frequency, this should help reduce the risk of incidents or injuries. Questions around hazards where the consequence is deemed more serious than others are also weighted accordingly.

Who can access my results? You are the only one to see your individual results. The system is secure and protected by user password.

As previously mentioned, your information will only be used by WorkCover for the collation of data and so that you can be benchmarked against other businesses. For more details see the privacy statement.

How can I improve my results? Carefully consider your answers, particularly those where you have said you face a hazard, and given 'no' answers. Are there any changes that you could make that would allow you to answer 'yes' in the future?

Also review your processes and procedures to see if you can reduce the frequency of a particular hazard as this will reduce the weighting of your scores and by default should also reduce the risk of having an accident, incident or work-related illness.

A link to useful resources and an action plan has also been added to the results page for each hazard. You can also contact a WorkCover Business Advisory Officer or Inspector to give further assistance to improve your results.

Benchmarking

How does the benchmarking work? The benchmarking facility allows you to compare your results with other businesses.

You can compare yourself to other businesses in your:

industry
division
subdivision
business category size ie 1-4, 5-19, 20-99, 100-199.

As the comparison is only with those businesses that have also completed the questionnaire, your results may not be a true reflection of how your particular sector is performing. As more people complete the questionnaire, the more accurate the reflection will be.

If my results are not visible to others, how can they benchmark with me? Individual results are only accessible to registered users and all results are added together anonymously to give an overall picture.

My business is a large business with more than 199 workers, why isn't it included in the benchmark? The Safety Self-Assessment Tool is specifically designed for small and medium sized businesses, that is, businesses with between one and 199 workers. Large organisations may find the questions useful too, however organisations with 200 or more workers will not be included in the benchmarking.

Further Assistance

What if I need help? If you require further assistance with the Safety Self-Assessment Tool, please click on the 'Contact Us' tab available on each page to contact WorkCover's Business Assistance Unit through email.

How do I provide feedback to WorkCover about the Safety Self-Assessment Tool? To provide any feedback you may have about the Safety Self-Assessment Tool, please click on the 'Contact Us' tab in the upper right hand of the homepage to contact WorkCover's Business Assistance Unit through email.

What if I need further assistance with my occupational health and safety and injury management? If you require more information to improve health and safety in your business contact WorkCover on 13 10 50 or visit WorkCover's small business website.

Glossary

Anchorage

A secure point of attachment on a structure to which a fallarrest device, or lanyard assembly or restraint line may be secured.

Asthma

A form of bronchial disorder associated with airway obstruction, marked by recurrent attacks of paroxysmal dyspnea, with wheezing due to spasmodic contraction of the bronchi.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Entrapment of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flex or retinaculum and the carpal bones. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma; wrist injuries; rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesia involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers that may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur.

Certificates of competency

Proof of competence issued by WorkCover based on a Notice of Satisfactory Assessment issued by an accredited assessor or registered training organisation following completion of training and assessment for a prescribed activity (such as operation of particular plant or task such as asbestos removal)

Competent person

A competent person for any task means a person who has acquired through training, qualification or experience, or a combination of them, the knowledge and skills to carry out that task. (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 3).

Controls

Measures to minimise the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable if the risk cannot be eliminated.

Dangerous goods

Dangerous goods are substances or articles as classified by the United Nations criteria that have the capacity to pose an immediate risk to life, property and the environment due to their potential to cause fire, explosion or release of toxic fumes (for legal definition see section 135A of the OHS Act 2000 and Clause 3 of the OHS Regulation 2001).

Dangerous parts

Dangerous parts of plant and equipment are mechanical parts which may pose a risk to health and safety of persons when in use. Such parts may include such things as moving gears, rollers, conveyor belts, chains etc.

Dermatitis

Any inflammation of the skin.

Eczema

A pruritic papulovesicular dermatitis occurring as a reaction to many endogenous and exogenous agents.

Emergency facilities (procedure)

An employer must ensure that, in the event of an emergency at any place of work at which the employer's undertaking is conducted, arrangements have been made for:

the safe and rapid evacuation of persons from the place of work, and
emergency communications, and
appropriate medical treatment of injured persons.

If the employer does not have control, or has only limited control, of the place of work, the duty applies only to the matters over which the employer has control. (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 17).

Engineering controls

See: Hierarchy of controls

Fatigue

Fatigue can be described as an acute and/or ongoing state of tiredness that affects employee performance, safety risk or health and requires rest or sleep for recovery.

Fragile surfaces

Fragile surfaces are surfaces that are brittle or easily damaged so as to affect their structural integrity and capacity to carry loads. Typically fragile surfaces include such things as glass, fibreglass, alsynite, asbestos cement sheet etc.

Harassment

Harassment is bullying conduct that is inappropriate and unwelcome. It often involves behaviour taking the form of discrimination or verbal or sexual harassment.

Hazard

Hazard means anything (including work practices or procedures) that has the potential to harm the health or safety of a person.

Hazardous substances

Hazardous substances are chemicals that have the potential to harm people's health either in the short term (usually hours or days) or long term (usually months, years, decades). They may be chemicals, materials or products.

Hearing protection

Personal protective equipment, such as earmuffs or earplugs, designed to protect the human ear from exposure to noise.

Hierarchy of controls

A system to address risks, based on a choice of measures listed in order of effectiveness from most effective to least effective. In general terms first eliminate the risk. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, control the hazard (substitution, engineering controls, isolation), implement administrative controls (training, procedures, safe work methods) or provide personal protective (PPE). PPE is the least effective means of controlling a risk.

High visibility clothing

Clothing designed to increase the visibility of persons so as to reduce the risk of accidental contact with moving objects.

Host structure

Structure to which attachment points are connected as part of a fall arrest or fall prevention system.

Incident

An occurrence or event that interrupts normal procedure or precipitates a crisis.

Injury

Damage or harm done to or suffered by a person or thing.

Licence

Licence means a licence to carry on the business of licensed work granted and in force under Chapter 10 of the OHS Regulation 2001. Note. Certain former licences and certificates are taken to be licences granted under the Chapter. See Part 10.4. (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 317).

Low-level Obstacles

Low-level obstacles include debris, cables, pipes, product components, boxes, etc

Maintained

Kept in good working order as per the manufacturers specifications.

Manual handling

Manual handling means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any animate or inanimate object (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 79).

Mechanical aid

Device provided to assist in the restraint or movement of animate or inanimate objects in a manual task.

Mechanical assistance

See mechanical aid.

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Document that provides detailed information regarding the physical properties of and the requirements for the safe usage, storage, emergency treatment, environmentally and occupationally, of a chemical.

Noise

Noise can be defined as an unwanted or intrusive sound.

Noise exposure

The level to which a person is subjected to sound on an intermittent or ongoing basis. An employer must ensure that appropriate control measures are taken if a person is exposed to noise levels that:

exceed an 8-hour noise level equivalent of 85 dB(A), or
peak at more than 140 dB(C). (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 49).

Plant

Any machinery, equipment or appliance.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes safety devices or safeguards worn by persons/workers to protect against OHS or environmental hazards.

Pre-employment hearing test

Test undertaken prior to commencement of work to determine the baseline level of a person's hearing.

Repetitive tasks

Tasks that require little force to complete but are carried out on a repetitive basis. For example, using a computer mouse or bricklaying can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders.

Repetitive stress injury (occupational overuse injury)

Repetitive stress injury is the name given to a group of conditions that are caused when too much stress is placed on a joint. Repetitive stress injury happens when the same action is performed over and over.

Risk

The likelihood that a person will become injured or ill through exposure to a particular hazard, and the probable severity of such an outcome.

Safe work procedure

A procedure that describes the hazards or risks associated with a task and sets out the steps to be followed (including the risk control measures) to carry out the task in a safe manner.

Safe work method statement

Safe work method statement means a statement that:

describes how work is to be carried out, and
identifies the work activities assessed as having safety risks, and
identifies the safety risks, and
describes the control measures that will be applied to the work activities, and includes a description of the equipment used in the work, the standards or codes to be complied with, the qualifications of the personnel doing the work and the training required to do the work. (OHS Regulation 2001 Clause 224).

Safety footwear

Safety footwear refers to footwear that has been deemed a safety requirement as identified through a risk assessment and would mean non-slip and chemical resistant footwear appropriate to the particular working conditions and environment.

Slippery surfaces

Slippery surfaces include wet surfaces, or surfaces contaminated with soap, dry powders, milk, oil, foodstuffs, polythene etc.

Stress

Stress is a psychological and physiological reaction to some form of pressure being applied to an individual. Individuals convert pressure into stress according to their perceptions and personality.

Symptom

A physical condition which shows that one has a particular illness or disorder.

Temporary edge protection

Physical barrier, designed for short-term use, to prevent a person falling from an exposed edge.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of a tendon.

Tennis elbow

A condition characterised by pain in or near the lateral humeral epicondyle or in the forearm extensor muscle mass as a result of unusual strain. It occurs in tennis players as well as housewives, artisans, and violinists.

Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of the tendon sheath.

Trained spotters

People who have been trained to alert the operator of moving plant or persons coming into close proximity of a hazard, for example, preventing moving equipment from contacting powerlines.

Uneven surfaces

Uneven surfaces include uneven paving stones, construction sites etc.

Vibration white finger

Exposure to hand-arm vibration may result in a range of health effects collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome or HAVS. The most well known is vibration white finger (VWF); other effects include damage to nerves, muscles and joints.

Working at heights

Working at heights means working at or accessing a location from which a person has a risk of injury resulting from the action of falling onto a lower level.

Workplace bullying

Workplace bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a person or group of persons that creates a risk to health and safety.

Workplace transport

Usually includes trucks, cars, forklift trucks, four wheel drives, dumper trucks, mini diggers etc.

Workplace violence

Workplace violence includes verbal and emotional abuse or threats and physical attack on an individual or to property by another individual or group at a workplace.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements WorkCover NSW would like to thank the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom for their support and assistance with the development of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool.

WorkCover - New South Wales

Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Useful information

Overview of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Using the Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Registering

Compliance at a Glance

Completing the Hazard Questionnaire

Scores, weighting and verification

Benchmarking

Further Assistance

Glossary

Acknowledgements

Overview of the Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Using the Safety Self-Assessment Tool

Registering

Compliance at a Glance

Completing the hazard questionnaire

Scores, weighting and verification

Benchmarking

Further Assistance

Glossary

Acknowledgements