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Authorised Officer A person from a union, given legal power to enter a

workplace on occupational health and safety issues.
Code of Practice An approved industry code of practice is a practical guide to
achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare
required by the OH Act !""" and #egulation.
Consultation $he sharing of information and e%change of views on
occupational health and safety matters between managers
and workers or their representatives. $his may include
participating in decision&making on OH issues.
'uty of Care $he responsibility of the employer to look after the health
and safety of people at work.
(mployee An individual who works under a contract of employment or
apprenticeship.
(mployee #epresentative A person elected by employees to represent them on the
Occupational Health and afety Committee.
(mployer A person who employs persons under contracts of
employment or apprenticeship.
Ha)ard Anything that might cause harm to a person.
Ha)ardous substance Products that can harm a person*s health causing illness,
in+ury or disease. ,or instance, cleaning solvents and
hairdressing chemicals.
Hierarchy of control A method of deciding what is the best or most practical way
to reduce the risk of in+ury by an identified ha)ard. ,or
e%ample stopping the loud noises in a factory is better than
handing out ear plugs.
-nspector An inspector appointed by .orkCover to ensure
Occupational Health and afety law is observed.
/anual handling $he lifting, lowering and moving of ob+ects by a person. ,or
instance, carrying bo%es or house bricks.
Occupational Health and
afety
0eeping people safe and healthy at their place of work by
prevention of accidents, in+ury and illness.
Occupational Health and
afety Act
$he main law in 1. covering the responsibilities and
rights of employers and workers. -t also outlines fines and
penalties for breaking this law.
Occupational Health and
afety Committee
A group formed to allow consultation between employer and
employees on workplace safety issues.
Occupational Overuse
yndrome 2OO3
An in+ury caused when using your body in unnatural
positions or carry out repeated actions. ,or e%ample
working at the computer or on a factory assembly line or
playing music for long periods of time. Problems occur in
muscles.
Personal Protective
(quipment 2PP(3
(quipment used by workers to protect them from ha)ards in
the workplace. (quipment includes safety boots, gloves,
goggles, aprons and sunscreen.
Place of work Premises where persons work.
Plant Any machinery, equipment or tools used at work.
Premises -ncludes any place and in particular any land, building or
part of a building, any vehicle, vessel or aircraft, any
installation on land, on the bed of any waters or floating on
any waters or any tent or movable structure.
#egulation A specific part of the Occupational Health and afety 4aw
that details how to carry out work safely.
#isk $he probability that harm might come to a person.
#isk management $he process of managing risks caused by ha)ards in the
workplace. #isk management involves ha)ard identification,
risk assessment and risk control.
afe work method $he way employees should be trained to do a +ob safely.
elf&employed person A person who works for gain other than under a contract of
employment, whether or not employing others.
tress -llness caused by mental strain causing psychological illness
through negative e%periences at work.
upervisor $he person chosen by the employer to organise and
oversee the work carried out by employees.
$raining -nstruction on how to do a +ob safely. ,or e%ample,
operating a forklift.
5ltraviolet radiation #ays of the sun that can damage the skin and cause skin
cancer.
5nion An industrial organisation that represents workers.
.orkCover 1. .orkCover 1. is a statutory authority. -ts primary
ob+ective is to work in partnership with the 1. community
to achieve safe workplaces, effective return to work and
security for in+ured workers.
.orkplace $he premises of the employer and any place where an
employee carries out work.