Work Health and Safety Policy

Purpose. Sets out the commitment of Bloom and Stem to the health and safety of its workers, customers, contractors and visitors, and the responsibilities of every person at each site.

1.Purpose and scope

This policy applies to every worker, contractor, student and visitor at the Prahran, Ringwood and Cremorne sites and at any event site where Bloom and Stem work is performed. It states how the business meets its duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Victoria) and the regulations made under it. The policy is the parent document for every safety procedure in the document register.

2.Commitment

Bloom and Stem will provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health so far as is reasonably practicable. The business will identify hazards, assess risks and apply controls in the order set by the hierarchy of controls. Safety performance will be reported to the General Manager each month and reviewed at the quarterly staff meeting.

• Eliminate hazards where possible
• Substitute, isolate or engineer controls before relying on procedures
• Provide personal protective equipment and training as the final layer

3.Principal hazards

The principal hazards of floristry work are cuts from knives, secateurs and wire, manual handling of buckets, boxes and installations, slips on wet floors, skin and eye contact with flower preservatives and foliage treatments, plant sap and thorns, working at height on event sites, driving delivery vehicles and fatigue during peak trading. Each hazard has a written procedure and a control plan.

• Cuts and puncture wounds
• Manual handling and repetitive strain
• Wet floors and cool room slips
• Chemical and plant contact
• Working at height and rigging
• Driving and fatigue

4.Responsibilities

The General Manager holds overall responsibility for health and safety and must ensure resources are provided. Department leads must implement the procedures in their areas, complete site risk assessments and investigate incidents. Every worker must take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others, follow procedures and training, use the equipment provided and report hazards, incidents and near misses on the day they occur.

5.Consultation

Workers will be consulted on matters that affect their health and safety through the monthly toolbox talk at each site, the health and safety representative and the quarterly staff meeting. Changes to procedures, equipment, chemicals or work layout must be discussed with affected workers before they are introduced.

6.Incident reporting and review

All incidents, injuries, near misses and hazards must be recorded in the Incident and Hazard Register within 24 hours using the Incident and Hazard Report Form. Notifiable incidents must be reported to the regulator immediately by the General Manager. Every recorded incident will be investigated by the department lead and closed only when corrective actions are complete.