Health, Safety & Wellbeing

Question 1

How must supervisors and managers treat reported complaints of sexual harassment?

Answer 1

They must be treated as genuine and employees must be provided with support and guidance in dealing witht he issue

Question 2

What should be done, where appropriate, to resolve complaints of sexual harassment before formal resolution processes are commenced?

Answer 2

Attempts should be made at local, Regional, Command or Departmental level to resolve the issue

Question 3

Who should an employee report an issue of sexual harassment to?

Answer 3

In the first instance they should approach the other party invovled, provided it is appropraiate and safe. If it is not possible to resolve the issue, they should report the matter to a direct supervisor or line manager as soon as possible.

Question 4

Where an issue of sexual harassment has been reported to a supervisor, what must they do?

Answer 4

They must take immediate action, record the issue and ensure that the matter is managed in good faith by making efforts to resolve the issue.

Question 5

What should be done if an issue of sexual harassment can’t be resolved at the Local, Regional, Command or Departmental level?

Answer 5

Assistance should be sought by contacting Workplace Standards.

Question 6

What should be done when there is an incdent of sexual assault, or other behaviour that may constitute a criminal offence, in the workplace?

Answer 6

It should be immediately reported to PSC

Question 7

When there is a report of sexual harassment, what must managers and supervisors do in relation to employee wellbeing?

Answer 7

They must take responsibility for it and offer assistance to all parties. This may include a referral to Welfare Services or other support services as deemed appropriate.

Question 8

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

What does ‘workplace’ mean?

Answer 8

any place where an employee attends for the purpose of carrying out any functions in relation to his employment. An employee’s workplace need not be their principal place of employment and includes work-related activities such as conferences, work functions, training programs, office parties, business and field trips.

Question 9

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

What is bullying?

Answer 9

Bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

Question 10

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

When can bullying also be discrimination?

Answer 10

When it occurs because of an employee’s characteristics (protected attributes)

Question 11

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

What is not bullying behaviour?

Answer 11

Reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable way in connection with an employee’s employment

Question 12

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

What is discrimination?

Answer 12

Unlawful discrimination is treating or proposing to treat an employee unfavourably because of a protected attribute

Question 13

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

What is harassment?

Answer 13

any unwelcomed behaviour that has the effect of offending, intimidating or humiliating another employee

Question 14

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

If an employee makes a bullying, discrimination or harassment complaint committed by another employee which amounts to a criminal act, who must the complaint be made to?

Answer 14

PSC

Question 15

Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment

If an employee makes a complaint of bullying, discrimination or harassment that does not amount to a criminal offence, who must the complaint be made to?

Answer 15

Manager, Organisational Standards & Behaviour Branch and may be made to PSC

Question 16

OHS Incident Management

What is the definition of ‘incident’ in the VPM’s?

Answer 16

an event that results in a person’s injury, illness or death; or serious malfunction or damage to equipment, buildings or property, or environmental factors that had the potential to cause injury or illness to an employee, contractor or visitor

Question 17

OHS Incident Management

What is the defintion of ‘near miss’ in the VPM?

Answer 17

a situation where an incident could have occurred that had the potential to cause injury or illness, including injury of a psychological nature

Question 18

OHS Incident Management

What must be done for all incidents and near misses?

Answer 18

They must be recorded on HR Assist within 24 hours of the incident occurring.

Question 19

OHS Incident Management

Employees must respond to a health and safety incident or near miss immediately provided it is safe to do so. Initially employees must do what?

Answer 19

• Provide assistance to persons involved, if safe to do so
• If required to provide first aid assistance do so with a reasonable degree of care; and within the limitations of any training received.
• Eliminate or isolate any remaining hazards
• Notify approporate emergency or Victoria Police support services as required
• In the case of a serious workplace incident, preserve the site
• Notify the relevant Work Unit Manager or Supervisor and commence the reporting and investigation process

Question 20

OHS Incident Management

What are the incident and reporting and investigation responsibilities of the Work Unit Manager or Supervisor?

Answer 20

As soon as practicable after an incident occurring the Work Unit Manager is to:

• complete the Incident Investigation on HR Assist detailing how the incident occurred. This action may be assigned to a Supervisor via the HR Assist Incident Investigation module
• consult and involve relevant people in the investigation, including the affected person and the Health and Safety Rep as required
• consider the systems of work, hours of work, work environment, facilities, information or instructions provided and supervision at the time of the incident
• Make recommendations regarding implementation of workplace risk controls
• ensure causes and corrective actions identified are made known.

Question 21

OHS Incident Management

Notifiable Incidents must be reported to Worksafe. What are notifiable incdents?

Answer 21

• the death of a person
• a person requiring mediacl treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance
• a person requiring immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital
• a person requiring immediate medical treatment for amputation, serious head injury, serious eye injury, electric shock, separation of skin from underlying tissue, spinal injury, loss of bodily finction, or serious lacerations
• collapse or failure of plant, structure or building that may place employees at risk
• an implosion, explosion, fire or escape of a substance that may pose a risk to employees
• the fall or release from a height of any plant

Question 22

What is Safe-T-Works?

Answer 22

Victoria Police’s OHS management system

Question 23

What five principles is Safe-T-Works based on?

Answer 23

• committment and policy
• Planning
• Implemantation
• Measurement and evaluation
• Review and improvement