Controlling job demandsControlling job demands

Controlling job demands

Note: These are examples only. You must identify and implement control measures that eliminate or minimise the risks in your workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable.

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border:0.75pt solid #000000; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="width:67.2pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>Job/work design</span></p></td><td style="width:362.45pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Schedule tasks to avoid intense or sustained low or high job demands (e.g. schedule non-urgent work for quieter periods).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Manage supply chains to avoid large fluctuations in demand (e.g. delays in supplies causing backlogs of orders).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Plan shifts to allow adequate rest and recovery, particularly between periods of high demand.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:67.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>Physical work environment</span></p></td><td style="width:362.45pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Design the workplace to eliminate demanding tasks or jobs (e.g. locate the storeroom next to the loading dock so deliveries do not require double handling).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Provide quiet spaces for workers doing mentally demanding work.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Implement systems to reduce human error (e.g. use IT systems to capture important information and generate reminders).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Provide appropriate break areas (e.g. air-conditioned or shady areas for physically demanding work or staff-only areas for workers dealing with difficult customers).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:67.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>Modifying job demands</span></p></td><td style="width:362.45pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Plan your workforce so you have an adequate number of appropriately skilled staff to do the work and so that tasks utilise your workers’ skills.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Roster enough workers to ensure they can take required breaks over long or busy shifts.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Rotate workers through demanding or repetitive tasks.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Reschedule non-urgent tasks if demand is unexpectedly high or low.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Provide additional support during periods of high demand (e.g. provide more workers, better equipment or outsource tasks).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Schedule enough time for difficult tasks to be completed safely. Inexperienced workers may require additional time, supervision or support.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Outsource tasks to external companies with the capacity to deliver services safely (e.g. outsource tasks to companies that have appropriately skilled workers or specialised equipment).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:67.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>Safe work systems and procedures</span></p></td><td style="width:362.45pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Empower workers in situations where they face high emotional demands (e.g. allow discretion in providing refunds where appropriate to avoid customer aggression or distress).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Have regular conversations about work expectations, workloads, deadlines and instructions to ensure job demands are understood and can be managed.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Regularly review and update work policies and procedures to avoid unnecessary work (e.g. ensure reporting lines are suitable for current workloads).</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Have systems for escalating problems and getting support from managers.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:67.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>The worker</span></p></td><td style="width:362.45pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Set achievable performance targets, with consideration for the worker’s experience and skills.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>Provide training if required to ensure workers have the skills to meet work demands.</span></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="margin-left:36pt; text-indent:-18pt"><span><span>-</span></span><span style="width:14.34pt; font:7pt 'Times New Roman'; display:inline-block"> </span><span>If emotional demands are an unavoidable part of a worker’s role, ensure these are captured in the position description and applicants are informed at the pre-selection stage (e.g. at interview) of the demanding nature of the role.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:440.45pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="BodyText" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span>For information on safe physical work environments see the</span><span style="color:#135b85"> </span><span>Code of Practice: </span><span style="font-style:italic">Managing the work environment and facilities. </span><span>For information on designing structures which will, or could reasonably be, used as a workplace see the</span><span style="color:#135b85"> </span><span>Code of Practice: </span><span style="font-style:italic">Safe</span><span> </span><span style="font-style:italic">design of structures.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>