The description of WHS responsibilities must include the name, position and appropriate authority of all such personnel. WorkSafe Victoria is committed to safe and inclusive work places, A Airservices Ambulance Victoria (AV) Australian Defence Force (ADF) Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Australian Government Department of Home Affairs Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Australian Red Cross (ARC) Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) B We are in a privileged position to make a difference, and help some of our community's most vulnerable. Regulatory authorities also have a range of powers and tools to facilitate continuous improvement and ensure compliance with the NQF, including the ability to issue compliance notices. Do you have enough trained first aiders to cover unplanned staff absences? To reduce workplace harm, we are targeting the 5000 Victorian workplaces that need the most support and attention - where harm is, or is likely to, occur. Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 18. Home Law and regulation WHS regulators and workers' compensation authorities contact information Back. On 22 September 2021 Part 7 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 was amended to enable HSRs to take photographs or measurements or make sketches or recordings in certain circumstances. [3] WHS Act, section 154. As a business owner you are legally accountable to manage your workplace health and safety (WHS). a business is conducted with a view to make profit and will have some organisation, system and continuity. The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for implementing, regulating and enforcing WHS laws in their jurisdictions. As a health and safety representative it's important to understand consultation procedures including what matters employers must consult about, what consultation involves, and different ways that consultation can occur. This information has not yet been updated to reflect the changes introduced by the amendments. Geelong VIC 3220. We publish a wide range of resources covering many work health and safety topics. Its also important to remember that health and safety obligations dont stop at workers and contractors; they extend to anyone who might be exposed to WHS risk from onsite operations, such as members of the public, visitors, and volunteers. APCBUhas a duty undermodelWHS laws to eliminate risks to health and safety of workers and other persons so far as is reasonably practicable. [4] WHS Act, section 31. WorkSafe Victoria acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait For example, a self-employed person may be simultaneously a PCBU and a worker. WorkSafe Victoria is committed to safe and inclusive work places, . WHS Authorities As a business owner you are legally accountable to manage your workplace health and safety (WHS). We develop national policy and strategy about workers' compensation. Access all our WHS resources including guides, videos and webinar recordings to help you understand the new requirements. We publish a wide range of resources covering many work health and safety topics. 54 Victoria Street, Carlton South VIC 3053 Phone: 03 9659 3511 Fax: 03 9639 0408 [5] Safe Work Australia, Interpretive guidelinemodel Work Health and Safety Actthe meaning of 'person conducting a business or undertaking'. We provide information for HSRs and workers interested in being a HSR about the role, HSR elections, support and guides, . If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks, they must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. In order to understand the training needed, analysis of the job and individual skills must be analysed. This includes inspections, campaigns, education programs, targeted interventions, guidance, warnings, enforcement and prosecutions. 0003/58170/Manage-WHS-risks-COP-2011.pdf The How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice provides practical guidance for persons who have duties under the WHS Act and WHS Regulation to manage risks to health and safety. This responsibility extends to contractors for matters over which the employer has management. Natural and Cultural Heritage Rehabilitation, workplace fatalities and life threatening or serious injury, transport of dangerous goods and chemicals and high consequence dangerous goods and explosives, use, storage and handling of dangerous goods and chemicals and high consequence dangerous goods, reduction/substitution of HAZMAT use (including inventory minimisation), HAZMAT storage design and maintenance (including transport design). If you need help please contact yourstate or territory work health and safety authority. The Victorian community services sector employs more than 60,000 people Regulators work together to implement national campaigns and ensure a consistent approach to compliance and enforcement across Australia. prohibitions, material volume and selection, route and timing selection, transport mode, stakeholder engagement (e.g. The Commonwealth, states and territories regulate and enforce WHS laws. Objectives should be specific, achievable and measurable, including: Any manager who represents your company for WHS needs to have the appropriate level of authority and competence required by the legislation. They also have a duty to make sure their work is carried out in line with WHS Management Procedures and any applicable legislation. In both capacities, employers and employees are at the heart of our service. Regulators work collaboratively to set strategic priorities at both a national and local level. WorkSafe's strategy How we will reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers. Your WHS obligations You must put health and safety practices in place as soon as you start your business. The WHS responsibilities apply to all employers and businesses, which includes any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). A volunteer association is a business or undertaking if it employs one or more paid workers to carry out work. OHS Management System. This tool provides information about duties under the model WHS laws, including duties for PCBUs and workers in the agriculture industry, how to meet these duties, and hazards you may face working in agriculture. Capeview Mitre 10 Cape Paterson Rd, Wonthaggi Victoria 3995. WorkSafe's job is to protect every Victorian worker from harm. Regulators work collaboratively to set strategic priorities at both a national and local level. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 contains sections that describe the responsibilities of: employers employees self-employed persons persons who have control of workplaces (e.g. Everyone has a role in workplace health and safety. Review of the model Work Health and Safety lawsFinal Report. We use a range a tools and tactics to ensure workplaces are safer. Have you evaluated your business activities to identify areas of increased risk? help duty holders, workers and representatives consult and coordinate on, promote and share information, tools and initiatives, including with other, WHS regulators and workers' compensation authorities contact information, Comparing workers' compensation in Australia, Workers' compensation for psychological injury, state or territory work health and safety authority. The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for making their own work health and safety (WHS) laws. A person can have more than one duty under the model WHS laws. Participating agency for the following hazardous materials (including industrial waste) incident mitigation activities: Participating agency for the maritime emergency (non -search and rescue) mitigation activity: legislation and enforcement (e.g. SWA is not a regulator and cannot advise you about WHS issues in the workplace. Our aim is to keep all workplaces (including major emergency workplaces) healthy and safe, and to deliver high quality care and treatment when employees are injured. Want to capture tangible business benefits from the culture of consultation youve created? Overwhelmed by the plethora Acts, Regulations, and Codes? If youre a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must manage the health and safety risks to your workers, so far as is reasonably practicable. Worksafe Victoria, Dangerous Goods transporter maintenance, training, licensing, inspection etc. manufacture, importation, transportation, supply, storage, handling or use of dangerous goods, design, manufacture, importation, supply, erection or installation of plant, manufacture, importation or supply of substances, partnership, unincorporated association, franchising operation, or not-for-profit organisation. Your obligations Understand your OHS, workplace injury and rehabilitation obligations. Does your workplace run emergency drills? As part of this you must, so far as is reasonably practicable: The law requires employers to eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable. 4.4 Establish processes to monitor achievement against the plan and update plans as required. Communication of WHS responsibilities can be done quickly and effectively when your organisation has efficient processes in place. Ensure the safe use, handling, storage or transport of plant or substances. What is the role of a SafeWork inspector? They also share information, tools, and initiatives. Generally HSRs and deputy HSRs have the same functions and powers. We educate, support and guide Victorian workplaces to provide a safe environment for their workers. You can allocate WHS responsibility at the site level with a functional responsibility matrix. Everything you need to know about worker's compensation insurance, whether you're an employer needing to insure your workers or a worker who's been injured at work. See our latest Key work health and safety statistics. Roles and responsibilities employers, occupiers and contractors . Box 306 Black Rock VIC 3193 Australia, regular maintenance of industrial plant and safety, putting processes in place to reduce health risks in operations the use, handling, storage or transport of plant or substances, minimising hazards and maintaining safe conditions in the work environment, providing adequate facilities for workers welfare, providing proper information, training and supervision that teaches workers to perform their work safely and without risk. As part of the provisions of the WHS Act, employers must provide a first aid kit with the necessary supplies to provide emergency health care. ), Participating agency for the mine emergency mitigation activity: legislation/regulation and enforcement of Mineral Resources Sustainable Development Act 1990 and regulations (licensing and approvals process for operators of declared mines), Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, EM Act 2013, EM (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Regulations 2015, Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and Regulations 2014, Energy Safe Victoria Act 2005, Provide technical support to other agencies in the area of plant, construction, chemicals, dangerous goods, high consequence dangerous goods, explosives (other than ordinance and explosives or firearms at crime scenes), mines, prescribed mines, quarries, on-shore petroleum sites and geothermal or on-shore exploration sites and in relation to occupational health and safety matters regarding extent of damage, immediate threats, and loss of life these matters may present. This includes when they are working from home. To improve outcomes for injured workers, we're identifying early those injured workers whose recovery or return to work is not going to plan, and providing targeted intervention and tailored support. Agency roles and responsibilities are individually outlined in this section. Seven reasons why strategically managing your health and safety processes will improve your bottom line. Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and For more information about the officers duty, including the meaning of due diligence, see theOfficer duties page. A serious incident that results in a worker sustaining an injury or severe injury (requiring immediate hospital admission) must be managed sensitively and without delay. We educate, support and guide Victorian workplaces to provide a safe environment for their workers. Last but not least, all workplaces should have a manager or managers appointed who are specifically concerned with WHS for example, a WHS manager, WHS advisor, human resources manager, etc. We do this by: making sure work health and safety laws are followed investigating work-related fatalities and serious injuries taking legal action when work health and safety laws are broken Rights and responsibilities; Psychosocial hazard resources; Q. Quad bikes; R. Risk assessment; Remote or isolated work; S. Sedentary work; Sexual harassment; Slips, trips and . A workplace injury can significantly change a person's life. Duty holders should seek their own independent advice on how the requirements of WorkSafe-administered legislation should be applied. As part of a businesss WHS responsibilities are the ability to respond to any accident or emergency in your workplace. We know the best outcomes are achieved when workers and employers work together with injured workers, their families and treating health professionals. Information on applications, requirements, training and registrations for regulated industries. Return to work. To do this you must: provide a safe work environment The information on this site is of a general nature only. Ensure the safe use, handling, storage or transport of plant or substances. . See WHS Act, section 34. Provide and maintain safe plant (machinery and equipment). Supporting them to recover and, where possible, return to safe work. WorkSafe Victoria acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait The modelWHS laws still apply if workers work somewhere other than their usual workplace,such asworking from home. owners or managers) persons who manufacturer or supply plant (machinery or equipment tools) and substances used at work An overview of employer and employee responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. a) WorkSafe Victoria, b) Victorian WorkCover c) Provide and maintain for employees a workplace that is safe and without risk to health. You will need to do one of the following: Answer the questions that were incorrect in writing. We administer legislation that improves workplace health and safety, public safety, and deliver insurance protection and workers compensation services for Victorian employers and workers. The Commonwealth, states and territories regulate and enforce WHS laws. It allows duty-holders to determine their approach to achieving compliance with the Act. Yet our role is more than just a funder of benefits. Know your duties - a tool for working safely. Major Hazard Facilities, Dangerous Goods Code preventative requirements), supported by audits and inspection. , , , . Conduct inspections and certifications/authorisations/approvals under health and safety and dangerous goods legislation that provides information for current and emerging risks and hazards, where relevant, before, during and after an incident, Continue the safety regulator role during emergency events, including promoting compliant occupational health and safety management systems. Refer to the Safe Work AustraliaCOVID-19 - Working from homewebpage for specific guidance. Being 'Safe and Well Every Day' is the promise WorkSafe Tasmania makes to the Tasmanian community. Our community expects and deserves nothing less. They also share information, tools, and initiatives. It is important to understand the health and safety requirements that apply to your type of business in order to correctly prepare for any accident or emergency. Provide and maintain safe systems of work - for example, controlling entry to high-risk areas and providing systems to prevent falls from heights. Consult employees on matters that may directly affect their health, safety and welfare. As expected, the WHS Act provides for the election, powers and functions of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs). HAZMAT transport requirements (e.g. Under the OSH law, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace. [6] WHS Act . Driving heavy vehicles safely in poor road conditions. Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and As part of a businesss WHS responsibilities are the ability to respond to any accident or emergency in your workplace. How WorkSafe applies the law in relation to Reasonably Practicable, Report an incident: Criteria for notifiable incidents, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, Information for occupiers and those who manage or control workplaces. These include the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, Accident Compensation Act 1985, Workers Compensation Act 1958, Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994, and Dangerous . A health and safety representative (HSR) is elected by their work group to represent workers in work health and safety (WHS) matters. WorkSafe Victoria is the WHS regulator for the state, administering acts and regulations related to WHS. secure the health, safety and welfare of employees and other people at work; [2] WHS Act, section 156. Have you done a first aid assessment of your business? There is a range of responsibilities within any company from managements overall WHS responsibility to the day-to-day responsibility of individual workers. We lead the way with a clear set of policies and procedures. This includes a good knowledge and understanding of: All workers are responsible for the WHS impact of their own actions. federal statutory authority. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging. WHS regulators and workers' compensation authorities contact information, Comparing workers' compensation in Australia, Workers' compensation for psychological injury, Implementation of the Model WHS Laws Review Recommendations, Review of the model WHS laws - terms of reference, National compliance and enforcement policy, Regulator and inspector powers to gather information, What powers do inspectors have to enter workplaces, What powers to regulators and inspectors have to gather information, Guide to Work Health and Safety for Volunteer Organisations, What is a person conducting a business or undertaking, Guide to work health and safety for volunteer organisations, state or territory work health and safety authority, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), such as an employer, an officer, such as a business owner or CEO. WorkSafe Victoria Provide and maintain safe plant (machinery and equipment). the right to workers compensation. the right to speak up about work conditions. WorkSafe is reminding Victorian employers and workers of the shocking consequences of workplace harm after the loss of 61 lives last year. Contact your regulatory authority for enquiries about: submitting application and notification forms. These managers should personally sign and endorse WHS policies and make sure their employees understand them. A crane company has been convicted and fined $400,000 after one man died and two others were injured during a concrete pour at a Box Hill construction site. Who is responsible for WHS? WorkSafe Victoria is committed to safe and inclusive work places, Assist in identifying hazards. 4.1 Determine WHS priorities in consultation with work group. Resolving health and safety issues and discrimination against HSRs. Examine workplace conditions to make sure they . SWA is not a regulator and cannot advise you about WHS issues in the workplace. Health and safety representative powers Health and safety representative training PCBU obligations to HSRs Provisional improvement notices (PINs)