OH&S OVERVIEW

PMOs handle animals all the time and zoonoses are a continuing occupational health and safety (OH&S) issue for them. But there are other probably more important OH&S issues that concern them also:

ï protective clothing and equipment

eg. bite resistant trousers and gloves, catch-poles, purpose-designed impounding vehicles, safe-to-handle stray cat traps

ï chemicals

eg. disinfectants, detergents and insecticidal rinses used in pounds/vehicles

ï facility design

eg. noise levels, ventilation, non-slip flooring, washing-up facilities in impounding kennels

ï handling methods

eg. lifting dogs, dealing with aggression, coping with stray/feral cats

ï personal care

eg. vaccinations, stress management, protection from physical assault

ï training

eg. looking after trainees, training method in general, training recording

In addition to these specific issues, PMOs should also be aware of the general OH&S issues that relate to all people in local government.

Many of these issues are covered by OH&S legislation at both federal and state levels of government in Australia. Each state/territory has its own OH&S responsibility in arranging statutes, codes of practice, frameworks for administration and regulations. These official processes also set out arrangements for compensation and rehabilitation of workers who suffer injury or sickness that is associated with their work.

All sorts of sources including local government associations, municipal officers associations, local government departments, council safety officers, council librarians and workersí unions will be able to assist with information on this subject. Many useful texts exist.eg. ^{1 2 3}

Just like so much of the other legislation and regulation that has been dealt with in this book, the basic approach of OH&S is to provide defined codes of conduct. The codes are not as much about taking offenders to court as they are about ensuring that everyone knows whatís expected of them.

OH&S should be seen as a means of enhancing job comfort, safety, efficiency and satisfaction, in such a way that the cost of the better conditions is compensated for by improvements in productivity. It is supposed to be a win-win-win scenario. The employee wins, the employer wins, and the ethic of everyone working together to go forward together, wins.

We move on from here to discuss two OH&S issues that are of special interest to PMOs: dealing with dangerous dogs and dealing with difficult people, both of which present a very real risk of personal stress and injury.

1. Shaw J, Chase R, Moore L, Toohey J. 1994. Occupational Health and Safety: best management practice. Harcourt Brace.

2. Butrej P, Douglas D. 1995. Hazards at Work: a guide to health and safety in australian workplaces. 2nd ed. The Open Training and Education Network.

3. CCH Australia. 1993. Occupational Health and Safety - Committees and Representatives Manual. 3rd ed. CCH Australia.