What is Work, Health and Safety
Some of the benefits of Work health and safety precautions can include:
- Keep you and your staff safe
- improve staff productivity
- reduce injury and illness in the workplace
- reduce the cost of injury and workers' compensation
What employers must do
What employees must do
provide and maintain safe machinery and structure
provide any information, training, instruction or supervision needed for safety
monitor the health or workers and conditions at the workplace
provide and maintain adequate facilities
Take care of their own health and safety
take care not to do anything that could hurt others
follow WHS instructions
Follow the workplace's WHS policies and procedures
Common hazards in a workplace
biological - biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals that ca cause health impacts. e.g. mould, blood, harmful plants etc.
chemical - hazardous substances that can cause harm. These hazards can result in both health and physical impacts, such as skin irritation, respriatory system irritation, blindness, corrosion and explosions
physical - Environmental factors that can harm an employee without necessarily touching them, including heights, noise, radiation and pressure
safety - hazards that create unsafe working conditions e.g. exposed wires, damaged carpet - trip hazard
Ergonomic - hazards that are a result of physical factors that can result in musculoskeletal injuries e.g. poor workstation in an office can result in poor posture
psychosocial - hazards that may effect an employees mental health or wellbeing e.g. sexual harassment, stress and workplace violence
What is Work, Health and Safety?
Work, health and safety (also known was WHS) involves the management of risks to the health and safety of people in the workplace. This can include the health and safety of employees, customers, visitors and suppliers
WHS requirements in states or territories
Act - outlines the broad responsiblities
regulations - certain requires for specific hazards and risks e.g. machinery and noise
Codes of practice - provide practical information on how you can meet the requirements in the act and regulations
regulating agency (regulator) - inspects workplaces, provides advice, enforces the laws
Consequences of not follow WHS protocols
According to Queensland government "if you do not fulfil your duties or obligations, you are in breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) or the Electrical Safety act 2002 (ES Act) and could be prosecuted".
There are 4 categories of offences for failing to comply with a work, health and safety - depending on the degree of seriousness or liability involved
- Industrial manslaughter - highest penalty under the WHS Act or ES Act where a senior officer commits industrial manslaughter for a maximum of 2 years of imprisonment or $10 million penalty
- Category 1 - the next highest penalty under the WHS Act or ES Act. These include serious breaches where a duty holder endangers a person to risk of death or serious injury. Offences can include $3 million from the corporation, PCUB $600,000 or individual $300,000
- Category 2 - failure to comply with health and sfety duty that exposes a person to risk of death, serious injury or illness. Offences can include $1.5 million from the corporation, $300,000 PCUB and individual (worker) $150,000
- Category 3 - failure to comply with health and safety duty or electrical safety duty. Offences can include: corporation $500,000, PCUB $100,000 or individual $50,000