Workplace Health and Safety obligations apply to both the employer and the employee, a collaborative effort is required to ensure a safe work environment is achieved.
As an employer, you have an obligation to ensure the workplace health and safety of all workers whether they are employees or contractors of your business. You are also responsible to ensure the health and safety of other persons, such as visitors, is not put at risk by the activities of your business.
Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety to ensure any acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons in the workplace. Employees are also required to comply with any reasonable safety-related instruction given by their employer and are required to cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure relating to health and safety in the workplace.
Some of the areas employers should consider when reviewing workplace health and safety obligations include the work environment, work systems, plant and structures, substances that are used or stored, as well as providing adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision for work to be carried out safely.
If you are interested in reviewing your company’s workplace health and safety obligations, an excellent starting point is the Worksafe Queensland website and its Serious about safe business’ pack and tool kit. If you require assistance, contact Big Yellow Safety on 07 5655 4047 or send us an email.