Aussie Childcare Network Forum

11.What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A “hazard” means a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards in your business may include: noisy machinery, a moving forklift, chemicals, electricity, working at heights or a repetitive job at your workplace.
A “risk” is the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard in your workplace.

10.What is a SDS? What is its purpose?
 - SDS is Safety Data Sheet
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS), previously called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), is a document that provides information on the properties of hazardous chemicals and how they affect health and safety in the workplace.

13.How do codes of practice in relation to WHS help us in the workplace
Work Health and Safety (WHS) Codes of Practice offer practical guidance to achieve the standards of health, safety and welfare required in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011(WHS Regulations).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances detailed in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act and Regulations. WHS Codes of Practice are admissible in court proceedings. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control, and rely on it to determine what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances. Following another method, such as a technical or an industry standard may achieve compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations, if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code.
An inspector may refer to an approved code of practice when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice.