Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Safety Training, Testing and Tracking Program for workshops in Australian Secondary Schools

‘OnGuard’ ACEPro www.1300BeOnGuard.com

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Introduction

Contents

• Title page

• Background Information

• Lack of Teaching Resources

• Our Solution

• Sample Client Experience

• Specific Client Evidence

• Innovation – Award for Excellence

• OH&S Challenges in School Workshops

• Challenges for Workshop Teachers

• Client Feedback – sample

• Broader Application

• National OH&S Footprint

• ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro T&TP links to sample pages – Pg1

• ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro T&TP links to sample pages – Pg 2

• Summary

Page Samples - ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Login Page

Select Course

Select Machine

Open Media Page

Open Web Instruction

Open Computer Quiz

Certificate of Safety

Student Training History

Course Training History

Supervisor Resources

Live Internet Demonstration

Background Information• In 2001, NSW Department of Education and Training established the ‘Equipment in

Schools Committee’ to oversight the supply of workshop tools and equipment to schools. Since 12 may 2003, a machine tools contact for schools by NSW Supply has been mandatory for NSW government schools. This was the DET Guidelines for Use of the NSW Supply Contract 027/7232.

• On 10 July 2003 memorandum to principals mandating the prohibition of some items of plant in schools as sufficiently hazardous to warrant their removal from schools. This was Memorandum to Principals DN 03/00228.

• Accompanying the memo was a ‘consultation package’ produced by the NSW Properties Directorate – named the ‘ Equipment Safety in Schools’ - which outlines the DET Risk Assessment process and subsequent equipment protocol. The ‘consultation package’ outlined in detail the ‘interim’ Generic Assessment Advice for equipment used in TAS workshops and ‘interim’ DET Usage Control Advice for selected items of equipment. This ‘consultation package’ became known to workshop teachers as the ‘Blue Book’.

• NSW DET had proposed to issue a final advice for implementation in government schools by the commencement of the 2004 school year.

• To date the ‘Blue Book’ is still the current guide used by workshop teachers in NSW.

• The NSW Department of Commerce released a digital companion publication titled ‘Improving Workshop Safety’ in 2004.

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Lack of Teaching Resources

• Fact 1 - The ‘ Equipment Safety in Schools’ – Blue Book - outlined in detail the ‘interim’ DET Usage Control Advice for selected machines and equipment.

• Fact 2 - Every equipment item’s DET Usage Control – included a table with seven (7) advisory components. These included:

1. User Group, 2. Typical Tasks, 3. Usage Control, 4. Machine Control, 5. Instruction, 6. Supervision and7. PPE

• Fact 3 - The ‘Instruction’ component Years 7 - 12 included two (2) strategies: a. Teacher demonstrationb. Written safety test * Identified Issue

• Identified Issue: DET did not include any safe work teaching resources or student written safety tests

in the ‘Equipment Safety in Schools’ – Blue Book, despite mandating that safety tests had to be administered as part of the instruction process.

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Our Solution

Broad Statement• After the introduction of the ‘Equipment Safety in Schools’ – Blue Book in 2003, safety

training of students became a mandatory component of the teaching and learning processes delivered in technology work rooms of NSW secondary schools. Of paramount importance was the development of safety training resources for Industrial Arts teachers to help manage student learning in the safe use of workshop machinery. NSW DET had no immediate plans to produce or publish any safe work tests or safe work training resources for its Industrial Arts teachers.

Solution• ITE Services (‘OnGuard’ Safety Training) took a proactive stance as early as 2001,

after the introduction of the NSW OH&S Act 2000 and began to produce a cost effective training program that included procedural information for the establishment, management, communication and recording of a ‘school based’ workplace safety training program within the technology workrooms of NSW secondary schools.

Transfer• Technology teaching staff from other states were also able to utilise these resources to

deliver written safe work instructions and written safety tests to their students via the safety training resources provided by ITE Services (‘OnGuard’ Safety Training).

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Sample Client Experience

• A collaborative partnership was formed between ITE services (OnGuard Safety Training) and Parramatta Catholic Education Office in 2004, to develop a training solution to implement the guidelines set by the NSW DET ‘Equipment Safety in Schools’ document. The training solution was to be implemented across twenty one (21) secondary schools.

• The ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program was developed over many months after extensive consultation with practicing Industrial Arts workshop teachers.

• Development of the training solution was made considerably easier because the ‘OnGuard’® software developer (Bruce Lewis) was willing to use his workshop knowledge and skills and apply them to specific wood and metal school workshop safety training needs.

• ITE Services (OnGuard Safety Training) utilised the NSCA Risk Scoring system and specified a numerical risk level to every machine listed in the NSW DET ‘Equipment Safety in Schools’. Teachers and students are warned if there is a high risk associated with the use of machines. Risk level signs and the safe operating procedures (SOP) have also been developed for all machinery listed.

• The ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program has significantly changed the work culture with regard to the communication of safe work practices used by students and staff.

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Specific Client Evidence

Outcomes evident after implementing the ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program :• Workplace safety training conducted and records retained for staff and students• Safe Work Practices were developed and posters are now displayed on machines• Risk Levels were identified and are now displayed on machines• Documented Risk Assessments were carried out on each piece of machinery• Teachers were trained to ensure the safety of themselves and their students.• Consistent guidance was provided across all 21 school sites in the areas of signage,

emergency procedures, safety training and plant maintenance.• Safety training resources and safe work tests have been implemented with ease of

access via intranet and internet technologies.• Skill levels of teachers expanded to include OH&S workplace auditing.• Students have been introduced to contemporary OH&S management principles which

has equipped them to deal with hazards which may occur in their future work life.• Zero (0) reportable student workshop incidents over a 2 year period 2005/2006.

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The Catholic Diocese of Parramatta is located in one of the fastest growing areas of New South Wales. The diocese is west of Sydney and reaches from Dundas Valley, west to Katoomba, south to Luddenham and north to Richmond including:- 21 secondary schools, 19 000 secondary students and 1 900 secondary staff.

• ITE Services has already been awarded the prestigious National Safety Council of Australia’s Award for ‘Best Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training Program’ in a joint submission with the Catholic Education - Diocese of Parramatta in Sydney. The award was presented at a ceremony at the annual NSCA Awards ceremony in Sydney on the 5th October 2006.

• No other organisation or company in Australia produces workplace safety training resources, specifically designed to be used by workshop students (ages 11-18) and delivered by Technology curriculum teachers of varying backgrounds and training.

Innovation – NSCA Award for Excellence

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OH&S Challenges in School Workshops

• Maintaining health and safety at the highest level for a large number of workshop staff and students, particularly those using high risk plant and hazardous substances on a regular basis

• Ensuring that inexperienced staff and students are safe when operating power tools, using fixed plant and machinery and when handling hazardous substances

• Educating staff and students about hazards, how to identify them and how to manage them in an appropriate and safe manner

• Empowering all staff and students to become committed to OH&S and a culture of safe workplace procedures including quality training and supervision

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Challenges for Workshop Teachers

• Maturity level of their students (ages 11 through 18)

• Literacy levels - including staff & students with non English speaking backgrounds• Student - teacher workshop/classroom ratios (class sizes related to supervision)

• Physical workshop environments (floor area, machine spaces) • Teacher training and degree of experience • Competencies of students • Measuring and assessing student learning and knowledge retention• Implementation of a suitable workplace safety training program in the classroom• Allocating funding to enable the full implementation of such a program

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Client Feedback - sample

• “The safety sheets for machines have been a very good addition to our existing guidelines, and the matrix has informed the development of our own program.”

• “Immediate feedback in the tests and a chance to repeat things as needed  is great. Also the gathering of appropriate certificates is good for students.”

• “OnGuard is great - saves teachers having to produce safety instructions and tests.” • “OnGuard is fantastic. I have used it in other schools so I convinced my current

school to purchase it. It is a very much needed service to teachers. Thank you for making our work a little easier.”

• “It is an essential teaching tool in the workshops in my school.” • “I have used the OnGuard safety training program for some years now and found it to

be an excellent resource for our school.”• “The measure of OnGuard's success is the enthusiastic manner with which our

students complete the units we set for them.  They derive great pleasure from receiving the ‘Certificate of Safety’ to include in their resume.”

• “I like the standardisation of the product along with it's compliance  with relevant standards.”

• “Risk assessments are very good- Its also important for Senior students to access these. Improvements are excellent-keep up the good work.”

• “Great product - still using weekly!”

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Broader Application

• The systematic implementation of a common, student centred, safety training program has created a heightened degree of OH&S awareness to thousands of students and a culture of OH&S empowerment in school workshops across Australia

• Schools can demonstrate with confidence that Technology staff and their students have received quality OH&S training and that ‘duty of care’ has been exercised at the workshop level

• Other current client organisations include several Universities, TAFE colleges, a food processing plant and a metal fabrication company. Future industry application is expected.

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National OH&S Footprint

• It is envisaged that students will enter the workforce in the future with OH&S principles firmly embedded in their basic ‘worldly kit’ of competencies and skills. Currently, from the age of 11, students in 62% of NSW school workshops are instructed, trained and tested in the safe and proper use of machines, tools, equipment and processes using the ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program .

• Currently there are 2685 secondary schools in Australia. Almost 600 schools, from a range of education systems across Australia are using the ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program . Entire education districts from Catholic Education, NSW DET, Seventh Day Adventist and Christian Brothers mandate the implementation of the safety program in their schools.

• The ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program already has made a significant impact on how OH&S training is presented in Australian secondary school workshops.

• Positive growth in the number of schools using the ‘OnGuard’® Safety Training Program in the immediate future is expected.

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‘OnGuard’ ACEPro Testing & Tracking

The following pics are links to screen shots from ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro T&TP.

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‘OnGuard’ ACEPro Testing & Tracking – slide 2

The following pics are links to screen shots from ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro T&TP.

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Login Page – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

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Select Course – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

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Select Machine – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Open Media Page – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Open Web Instruction – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Open Computer Quiz – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Certificate of Safety – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Student Training History – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Course Training History – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Supervisor Resources – ‘OnGuard’ ACEPro

Safe

Work TestSelected

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Live Internet Demonstration – ‘OnGuard’ Online

If you are connected to the Internet click on this link or the picture to open the fully functional demonstration version.

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Summary

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Workplace safety training has always been a high priority for secondary teachers in the technology areas such as Industrial Technology and Home Economics. With the review of workplace safety legislation across Australia, an increased emphasis on ‘duty of care’ well and truly was placed onto the shoulders of the modern technology workshop teacher.

The 'OnGuard' ® Safety Training Program presents safety instruction and training resources that are designed to be: preventative in nature,

protective in practice and

proactive by design.

The training resources that we have produced are actually written with the specific needs of the young learner in mind. Working with our creative and innovative product designers are fully credentialed and experienced education consultants.  Our national award winning training program really works!

We have designed and produced several unique digital media training packages for the education market since starting business in 2001. Being proactive in our approach to making sense of workplace safety training in schools, has eased the burden for school administrators. Our training solutions are preventative by their very nature, afford a visible level of protective care and are proactive by deliberate design. We have been serving our large client base since 2001, with educational training products designed to provide practical OH&S resources for Head Teachers, Subject Co-ordinators and Teachers working in secondary school workshops. 

Visit the OnGuard Safety Training website: www.1300BeOnGuard.com