OUR WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ROLE
Our work health and safety role
- Audits for International & Australian Standards
- Gap Analysis for OHS Management Systems alignment to Aust/NZ 4801
- Gap Analysis for Quality Management Systems alignment to International 9001
- Develop and implement strategies and programs to promote occupational health and safety and meet legal requirements.
- Advise and consult to Management and staff.
- Develop and provide specialised training.
- Measure and assess workplace hazards.
- Monitor and analyse accidents, injuries and occupational ill health and advise on risk reduction measures.
- Liaise with regulatory authorities and external bodies.
- Advise to meet statutory reporting requirements.
- Develop programs and information to promote staff wellbeing.
- Advise to support staff to achieve a healthy work/life balance in 4 main areas: physical activity, mental health, nutrition and general health.
BUSINESS UNPREPARED FOR NEW WHS (OHS) LAWS -
HOW TO COVER YOUR BACK
Even though businesses and individuals who do not comply with this year's harmonisation of Work Health
Safety (WHS) laws (NSW January 2012) face harsh penalties, many businesses are ill-prepared and have
not properly addressed the legislative changes. OHS Safety First Director Graham Stewart highlighted the
following key points to ensure workplaces are abiding by the new regulations:
• Employers are expected to do all that is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure safety – defined
as “That which is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to
ensuring health and safety”
• Employers must weigh up (without limitation):
- the likelihood of a hazard/risk occurring;
- degree of potential harm;
- what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard/risk
and ways of eliminating/minimising it;
- the availability and suitability of elimination/minimisation methods; and
- after all of the above, the costs.
• The laws affect any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and include all
employers, principal contractors, self-employed persons, franchisors, partners and
others. A "PCBU ' must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and
safety of workers (engaged, influenced or directed) while at work AND other persons
who may be impacted by work carried out as part of the business or undertaking -
contractors, volunteers and the like…
There is a four-step ongoing process that employers can follow to guide their WHS
adherence, namely:
1. Identify all hazards and risk (Risk Analysis)
2. Assess (Energy exposure and likelihood)
3. Control (Hierarchy of control)
4. Review (Audits)
"Contact Us" for more advice.
Safety (WHS) laws (NSW January 2012) face harsh penalties, many businesses are ill-prepared and have
not properly addressed the legislative changes. OHS Safety First Director Graham Stewart highlighted the
following key points to ensure workplaces are abiding by the new regulations:
• Employers are expected to do all that is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure safety – defined
as “That which is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to
ensuring health and safety”
• Employers must weigh up (without limitation):
- the likelihood of a hazard/risk occurring;
- degree of potential harm;
- what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard/risk
and ways of eliminating/minimising it;
- the availability and suitability of elimination/minimisation methods; and
- after all of the above, the costs.
• The laws affect any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and include all
employers, principal contractors, self-employed persons, franchisors, partners and
others. A "PCBU ' must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and
safety of workers (engaged, influenced or directed) while at work AND other persons
who may be impacted by work carried out as part of the business or undertaking -
contractors, volunteers and the like…
There is a four-step ongoing process that employers can follow to guide their WHS
adherence, namely:
1. Identify all hazards and risk (Risk Analysis)
2. Assess (Energy exposure and likelihood)
3. Control (Hierarchy of control)
4. Review (Audits)
"Contact Us" for more advice.
