The Work Health and Safety Act provides a framework for protecting employees’ health, safety, and welfare in the workplace. Organisations across the country are required to implement safety systems in compliance with the law. There are different ways through which an organisation can achieve this, either through prevention or protection.
However, many business owners in Australia are still guilty of negligence regarding safety compliance, and only a limited number can be said to be diligent. As an employer, there are legal requirements that you must comply with to ensure your workplace meets WHS obligations.
These include:
- Maintaining the workplace in a safe condition
- Making sure workers have adequate safety information and training
- Monitoring and assessing potential risks
- Consulting with employees on safety and health issues
Contrary to what most people believe, the Work Health and Safety Act goes beyond protecting just the employees. All workers are by default covered by the Act, including contractors, apprentices, and volunteers.
Apart from workers, companies are also required to ensure that the nature of their business does not compromise the safety and health of their clients and the general public.Â
Business owners tend to view the implementation of safe practices as an additional expense to their business. However, failure to comply with these requirements can leave you vulnerable to prosecution and employee compensation claims. Depending on the breach, you may even end up paying as much as a million dollars in fines. Â
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At Recovery Partners, we provide our clients with industry-leading solutions designed to ensure full compliance with the WHS legislation.Â
We have also recently introduced an online safety software so you can manage your WHS requirements from your phone, tablet or laptop. Find out more here.
Our services are available nationwide. For more information about our services contact us.
Our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email enquiries@rrp.com.au
Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â