Reference no: EM132394219

Assessment - Evidence Portfolio

Part A -

TOPIC: Occupational Health and Safety in the Office

Background - The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of specific business documents (memorandums) and the 'writing process'. You are asked to apply these concepts to a workplace staple: the use of computers.

Your task: Working in pairs, you are to undertake research and prepare a memorandum for your immediate manager addressing the use of computers in the office and all related Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) issues. Several staff members have reported work related injuries such as a 'trip and fall' over a power cord, R.S.I. (Repetitive Strain Injury) and migraines, and in the interest of employee safety and productivity, management is anxious to establish safety protocols.

A. Research: Collect information about the range of injuries that occur as a result of computer use, why they occur, and the possible means by which they might be prevented. You should access government sites such as Safe Work (Australia) and Work Safe (Victoria), but these are not meant to be definitive. You are encouraged to seek other relevant sources of information to guide you.

B. Create a Memorandum: Prepare a summary of your findings, including how computer use may be linked to injury, how such injuries might be prevented, and the role of OH&S.

Specifically, you are to:

a. Create an 'outline diagram' to determine memo structure (submit).

b. Use correct memorandum format* (no more than two pages).

c. Make your memorandum persuasive.

d. Provide a clear Introduction, Body, Conclusion and Recommendations with a focus on explaining the concept of 'duty of care' for both employees and employers in relation to safe computer usage.

e. Include the full and correct title of the Victorian 2004 Act related to OH&S.

f. Include at least one direct quote from the legislation in your report

g. Include at least one quote regarding 'duty of care'.

h. Supply graphics if appropriate.

i. Reference your sources ('in-text' and 'end-text').

C. Create a poster for a notice board that will remind staff about their 'duty of care' in using computers safely.

The poster needs to be designed so that it can be enlarged to A3 size for notice boards around the organisation. Again, the focus is to be on reminding staff about their 'duty of care' to ensure they work safely.

Include:

• An attention getting title
• 4-6 points about strategies to help avoid computer injuries/ fatigue
• At least one graphic and/or supporting statistic(s), fully labelled and referenced where applicable
• Contact details for where to go for further assistance: within the organisation (use your name yours and telephone/email) and outside the organisation
• Date of issue

Word limit: There is no word limit. You should complete the task, with diagrams illustrating your words, and ensure you include all the required information. At the same time, however, you should provide the required information in as succinct a manner as possible. This is a very important business skill and one that you should seek to develop. Memorandum not more than 2 pages.

Part B -

Background - The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the fundamental concepts of conflict management and interpersonal communication as we have discussed in the unit to date.

Task: Read the following scenario 'Off the Clock' by Clare Bartlett and create a 'conversation' that you believe could be held and would solve the dilemma experienced by the subject of the case study. You will need to identify the issues identified, the values each party holds, and how you might reason with the key players. Place yourself in the position of the person in the scenario: what should you say, to whom, when and how?

In order to answer these questions, consider the following:

• What is the dilemma you are facing? i.e. What are your legal and moral responsibilities?
• What are the main arguments you are trying to counter? i.e. The reasons and rationalisations you need to address.
• What is at stake for the key parties (including those who disagree with you)?
• What arguments could you use to influence those with whom you disagree?
• What is your most powerful and persuasive response to the reasons and rationalisations they offer and you need to address?
• To whom should the arguments be made? When and in what context? Identify by position, and/or 'name'.

Word limit: Overall 1,000 words.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar