Shearwater Cleaning Site

Emergencies

Important Emergency Information

The first aid kit and snake bite kit are located at the sign in cupboard at the high school (on the wall near the keys).
You must notify the office if you use the first aid kit
Emergency procedures and emergency phone numbers are displayed on the front of the first aid kit.

Incident Reports

A written incident report must be documented within 24 hours of an accident or potentially dangerous incident. Notify the office and they will send you an incident report.

In Case of Fire

All cleaners should know:

Know where all fire extinguishers are located
Where emergency phone numbers are (in the cleaning cupboard)
If an employee comes across a small fire and has been trained on how to use a fire extinguisher, they should put it out and then call the Beyond Cleaning Group Manager
If they are unable to safely put out the fire, employees should immediately leave the building, call 000, and then call Beyond Cleaning Group Manager
Beyond Cleaning Group Manager should then call the Shearwater contact person

Mother Nature

Heavy rainfall and flooding

If you are on your way to work in heavy rain and come up to a flooded road, find an alternate route. Never try to cross a flooded area, as you can find yourself in a dangerous situation.
Please check on days with high rainfall at https://www.livetraffic.com/

for possible road closures.

Left Bank Road, as the only access road, is subject to tidal flooding just before Melaleuca Drive. Please never drive through it. Please also be aware it may rise at high tide without added considerable rainfall after some flooding has already occurred as it’s tidal. Also, look at https://tides.willyweather.com.au/nsw/far-north-coast/brunswick-heads--river-entrance.html as it can assist in predicting possible flooding. Water usually rises there about 1-2 hours after high tide in Brunswick Heads. Wait if you get cut off as it will go back down at low tide. Other main access roads into Mullumbimby are also affected by tidal floodwaters so just be alert on days with high rainfall. Contact Beyond Cleaning Office if in doubt.

Natural disasters

Remain calm in an emergency. Be aware of what the emergency procedures are for the buildings that you work in and follow those procedures

Chemical Spills

Blue folder with SDS at Shearwater

Cleaners need to know what chemicals they are using, how to use them correctly and safely, where to find the SDS sheets and how to read them. No matter how careful you are when using and handling cleaning products, there can occasionally be a spill.

SDS Sheets

SDS Sheets at Shearwater are kept in plastic folders on the wall beside the first aid kit. Less regularly used chemicals are stored in the cleaning shed, and their SDS sheets can be found folder.

Cleaning up chemical spills

When cleaning up chemical spills, personal protective equipment (gloves and goggles) are to be worn. Many cleaning products contain chemicals that can cause burns, eye irritations or skin irritations. If there is a small spill, wipe it up with a clean cloth and allow it to dry. Barricade anything that cannot be wiped up immediately. If you don't have any barricade tape, use a chair or something that is easily seen and that people can't walk through. Then go clean up the spill. The method for cleaning the spill depends on the chemical that was spilled. The product's SDS will contain information on how to clean up spills. If you have any questions about dealing with a spill, immediately contact the BCG Office or BCG Manager.

Health Problems on the Job

All employees are encouraged to stay home if they are sick. We do not want to spread germs or viruses to other cleaners and throughout the school.

There may also be sudden health problems that come up on the job that you should know how to deal with. Instructions on how to deal with some situations are described below. Please note that in all cases, you must contact your supervisor immediately after taking the steps below and submit an incident report as soon as possible.

Choking

If an employee does not have first aid training and there is no one nearby that has first aid training, they should call 000 and ask for help.

Heart Attacks

Make the victim comfortable and immediately call 000.

Cuts and bleeds

Cuts and bleeds are also common in our industry with hands being our main tools often being softened by water and products we easily scrape and get small injuries. Please stop bleeds by applying pressure and consequently applying antiseptic and covering with a waterproof bandage. Larger cuts or bleeds might have to be seen by a GP and require stitching. Apply a pressure bandage until they can see a health professional.

Eye or skin irritations

Minor eye or skin irritations need to be treated by flushing eyes with eyewash and skin irritations with water for 10 to 20 minutes. This will depend on the cause, read the label of products or the SDS for first aid and if any doubt seek medical help immediately.

Major eye or skin irritations call 000.

Snake bite

Please be aware that there are snakes at Shearwater. Some are harmless however, there have been sightings of brown snakes. Have sufficient lighting and watch where you walk. In case of snake bite please follow procedures outlined in St John’s first aid: https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/news/snake-bite-first-aid-tips/

There is a snake bite kit near the first aid kit at the High School sign in.

Bandage bite site firmly, keep the victim calm and call 000. If the victim collapses from a snake bite, CPR is necessary immediately.

Insect and tick bites

January to April are the main season for mosquito borne diseases namely Ross River, Bharma Forest and Dengue Fever. They present with a variety of nasty, and at times, long-term symptoms. Protect yourself by using insect repellent and/or clothing covering your body as much as possible. Insect repellant has been supplied by BCG and is located in the High School storage cupboard.

Paralysis ticks are common in rural areas and need to be appropriately removed. Prompt and complete removal of the tick is the key treatment for tick bite. One immediate method of tick removal is to use fine-tipped or pointed tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. With steady pressure, gently pull the tick straight out. If you have the opportunity to get to a pharmacy, buy an ether-based product, such as Wart-Off Freeze or Verruca & Wart Remover. Although these are products designed to freeze off warts, they will also freeze paralysis ticks, causing them to die and fall out with no further intervention. Seek a doctor if nexcessary and inform BCG.

Emergency Plan for Workplace Accidents

Personal injury - minor

Contact the nearest First Aid Officer (If the office is open, there may still be an officer on-site).
Send the injured person to a local Medical Centre if necessary (business hours only). After hours seek help at Byron (02) 6639 9430 or Tweed Hospital (07) 5506 7444.
Inform supervisor (Team Leader if on shift, BCG Office or BCG Manager)
Complete a confidential incident/injury report form.

Personal injury – major

Care for injured person(s) – call for assistance.
For life threatening and serious emergencies call 000
- Provide all information
- Name;
- Location (Address, building, level, room number);
- Nature and type of injury;
- State of consciousness of the injured person(s);
- Age and gender of the injured person(s);
- If possible, the names of the injured person(s); and any relevant information – breathing/not breathing, chest pains, bleeding.
Ensure the area is clear for emergency personnel.
Inform your supervisor.
Complete a confidential incident/injury report form.

EMERGENCY Phone Numbers

Police (02) 6684 2144

Ambulance 000

Byron Hospital (02) 6639 9430

Tweed Hospital (07) 5506 7444

Fire Brigade (02) 6684 3786

SES 132 500

BCG Account Manager Lizzie 0431678608

BCG Manager Holly 0434 491 500

BCG Office 0451 102 239

Team Leader Nicole 0422 730 131

Shearwater Staff - James Goodlet (Principal, lives across the road) - 0432 212 586, Elyse Vaughan - 0476 429 585

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