COMMONLY ASKED OHS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. INTRODUCTION
Use the following information to complete the Pre-qualification OHS questionnaire. The
questionnaires are normally segregated into sections, which are mimicked below.
Where details are required please write procedure/form numbers, do not give copies. The
questionnaires will require you to attach a copy of the OHS policy and the content page of the
OHS Management Plan.

2. DEFINITIONS
Safe Work Method (SWM) - Method statement-outlining actions to be undertaken to address
safety issues that may arise while undertaking a task.

Risk - The likelihood of an injury or illness occurring from exposure to the hazard.
Hazard - Anything (including work practices or procedures) that has the potential to cause
harm to the health or safety of a person.

Manual Handling (MH) - Any activities that involves lifting, carrying, holding, pushing or
pulling when handling materials:

OHS Policy and Management

QUESTION YES NO

Is there a written company OHS policy? X

Is there an OHS Management System Manual or Plan? X

Does the System/Plan clearly define:

OHS responsibilities for all levels of staff? X
Safe work procedures relevant to your company? X
X
General safety rules (including public safety)?
X
Induction and training requirements? X

Is the OHS Management System audited or reviewed on a regular basis? X

Is there a company OHS organisational chart? X

Are line managers held accountable for OHS performance? X

OHS Management System Accreditation

QUESTION YES NO

Does your company have an OHS Management System accredited against

the xxx Government OHS Management System Guidelines?

Check with your local Operating Centre OHS&R Coordinator.

 COMMONLY ASKED OHS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Does your company have an OHS Management System certified against any
other OHS Management System model? I.e. Safety MAP AS4801 etc.

Check with your local Operating Centre OHS&R Coordinator.

If the above answer is ‘no’ is your company in the process of gaining X

accreditation?

Subcontracting and Purchasing

QUESTION YES NO

Does the company have policies and procedures for purchasing? X

Does your company use OHS criteria to select contractors? X

Consultation and Communication

QUESTION YES NO

Will there be an OHS committee? X

Are employees involved in decision making over OHS matters? X

Are there employee OHS representatives? X

The word OHS representative has a specific meaning under OHS&R Acts.
The OHS Committees are made up of Management and employee
representatives. Contact your local OHS&R co-ordinator for specific details.

Risk Management and Process Control

QUESTION YES NO

Does the company use a risk management approach throughout its X

operations?

Does the company create written procedures and SWM for tasks and X
activities?

Are these procedures operated/owned by the company? X

Are safe operating procedures or specific safety instructions issued to X

employees?

Does the company have any permit to work systems? X

Are there procedures for storing and handling hazardous substances? X

Are there procedures for assessing and controlling risks associated with X
Manual Handling?
 COMMONLY ASKED OHS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Training

QUESTION YES NO

Describe how OHS training needs are determined? X

Is OHS training conducted in your company? X

Is OHS training provided for specific work activities? X

Is a record maintained of all training and induction programs undertaken for X

employees in your company?

Are the competencies of all personnel under the company control recorded? X

Records and Record Management

QUESTION YES NO

Does the company have a system for records management? X

Corrective Action

QUESTION YES NO

Is there a procedure for conducting scheduled site inspections/observations? X

Are actions from inspections, hazards and incident reports formally closed X
out?

Are standard workplace inspection checklist used to conduct health and X

safety inspections?

Is there a procedure by which employees can report hazards at a workplace? X

Is there a documented incident investigation procedure and does that X

procedure define under what circumstances an incident will be investigated?

Does the company have a hazard/incident reporting (including near miss X

reporting) and investigation system?

Do incident reports contain prevention recommendations? X

OHS Performance Monitoring

QUESTION YES NO

Does your company have a system for monitoring and reporting on OHS X
performance?
 COMMONLY ASKED OHS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Workers Compensation and Injury Management

QUESTION YES NO

Does the company hold a current Workers Compensation Policy? X

Does the company have a system for checking the workers Compensation X
arrangements for subcontractors?

Does the company have procedures for injury notification? X

Does the company have a Return-to-Work Program? X

Does the company utilise a Register of Injuries book? X

In electronic format – The OHS&R Committees do report on this, with regular
reporting to Directors. For further information, please contact your Operating
Centre coordinator.

General

QUESTION YES NO

Does the company have procedures for emergency response? X

Most offices have emergency evacuation procedures but this is not an
emergency response procedure for fieldwork.

Is there a procedure or policy addressing fitness for work including Drugs and
Alcohol management?

A corporate policy is being developed.

Is safety performance on the agenda of management meetings? X

Is senior management involved in analysis of safety performance statistics? X

The management group in each Operating Centre are being made aware of
lost time injuries.

Has the company ever been convicted of an OHS offence?

Please contact your local OHS&R co-ordinator.
 COMMONLY ASKED OHS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Could you please provide a summary or examples of OHS training courses
undertaken by employees?
Answer: Listed below are a few examples of OHS training courses undertaken by
employees. Please contact your local Operating Centre OHS&R coordinator for training
courses related to your specific location.

GHD internal OHS New Starter Induction

OHS Systems Training
WorkCover NSW OHS General Induction for Construction Work in NSW
WorkCover New South Wales Course in OHS Consultation

Question: Which company personnel are responsible for investigating incidents?

Answer: OHS&R Coordinator, Line Managers, People Manager

Question: Who is responsible for implementing remedial measures recommended?

Answer: Service Group/Line Manager