O.H.S

Legislation overview for all states acts and national standards

The legislation of OHS (Occupation, health and safety) Covers employees and employers from accidents within a work site if OHS guild lines are followed, every state in Australia has its own OHS act, but a national requirement has to be met to insure safely requirements are met and risk factors within the workplace are managed.

The national legislation is as made to create a safer workplace environment and although the costs involved in making a safer work environment, training of staff members, costs for machinery and other OHS requirements maybe a bit costly, it is a long term investment within your business to prevent workplace accidents and/or cause any health or safety problems for any employees, customers within the business premises, or even the general public.

The manager, supervisor or anyone that is in charge makes sure that they follow the legislation by checking that the following are covered and to OHS standards and anything that is in breach to be deal with as soon as possible. The following is an overview of requirements in the legislation:

·         A Safe premises for employers, employees, customers, and the public.

·         Safe machinery and materials.

·         Safe systems of work.

·         Information, instruction, training and supervision.

·         A suitable working environment and facilities.

OHS inspections are run mostly by a third party, an OHS consultant will inspect the business and check if it is in breach of any OHS requirements and/or any risks are not dealt with, they will write them in a report of the inspection and address any risks that the business may have and if no action is taken about any breaches, the matter is then enforceable by law to provide a safe workplace.

They also provide education, training and advice on OHS to the workplace. You can get information about the OHS obligations and other valuable OHS information regarding the business and its employees.

Employees can report any breach’s or risks within the workplace to a supervisor/manager and they will be able to assess and manage the risk according.

Risk management:

Employers also manage the risk involve within the workplace, risks like:

·         Identifying hazards in the workplace and minimising the risks involved.

·         The work space provided and that there is enough room to carry out tasks.

·         Lighting is enough also to carry out tasks.

·         The lighting on emergency exit signs work and easy to see.

·         The management of noise within the workplace.

·         Electricity, that all ports are safe to use, testing and inspection of equipment and that the wiring is safe and secure and won’t cause any harm.

·         Manual handing and that correct procedures are followed when lifting, carrying, pushing etc.

In conclusion:

Employers are to follow the national and state requirements to insure that the workplace is a safe environment for all within the workplace, fail to do so, the manager/supervisor would be liable for any injury’s to employees, employers or the general public if they fail to provide a safe environment.

Training is provided to staff members to operate any machinery in the workplace and to insure that any risks involved with any tasks is dealt with by removing the risk or managing the risk to reduce to the risks involved.

Reference pages

http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/ohsrm/OHS%20Legislation%20Summary.pdf

http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Occupationalhealthandsafety/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Occupationalhealthandsafety/Pages/YourOHandSobligations.aspx

http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Occupationalhealthandsafety/Pages/OHandSActsRegulationsandCodesofPractice.aspx

This document was written by Christopher Matowitz