Management owes a duty of care to workers to ensure their place of work, equipment, and home workspaces are safe.

Legislation backing this up can be found in the WHS Act 2011 – 𝑠19 (3) (𝑎) 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑘𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑡𝑦.

We understand the confusion for some regarding if they need WorkSafe policies and procedures, given emphasis is placed on potentially dangerous equipment in manufacturing or even hairdressing, however, every part of the workplace is included in the Act, even offices, workstations and home offices if workers are working from home.

Who is WorkSafe and why do businesses need to be compliant in line with WorkSafe practices.

WorkSafe ACT is responsible for regulating safety and workers’ compensation legislation. WorkSafe ACT Inspectors are appointed under the legislation to make sure employers are fulfilling their safety and workers compensation obligations. 

Substantial penalties and fines are given to businesses, no matter what size, that are not compliant with all relevant legislation. 

Workplace Health and Safety requires planning and commitment. Work Health and Safety (WHS) involves managing risks to the health and safety of everyone in the workplace; workers, customers, visitors and bystanders.

Workplaces must be free from hazards, provide training and information on how to work safely in any environment within the workplace, avoid accidents and investigate accidents or incidents that do occur. Solid Health and Safety Policy and procedures involve risk audits and analysis, the creation of workplace policies and procedures, investigations and ongoing reflection. This can be done internally, preferably by appropriately trained workers, or by consultants such as Safety Management Consultants.

So, why does a business need to be Workplace compliant? Apart from the probable short and long-term physical and emotional costs to a person injured or even killed, a business can and will sustain substantial fines and even a conviction should they be found non-compliant to the WHS Act 2011. 

The cost of a consultant working with you to develop a thorough workplace safety management system is far less expensive than the alternative.

Please get in touch if you need some advice on how to best tackle Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures. They are a requirement for any business with more than one worker.