Tips for Eliminating Risk in the Workplace
Reminder of Employer Obligations:
Your duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) is crystal clear. As a ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBU), you are responsible for the health and safety of everyone on your site – yes, that includes visitors too.
Here’s the deal: It’s not just about ticking boxes. You need to actively work to eliminate or minimise safety risks as much as you can. And if you can’t eliminate them entirely, you must reduce them to the lowest possible level.
Your role doesn’t end there. It’s crucial to provide robust initial safety training, specific task instructions, and ongoing supervision. This means setting up a comprehensive safety induction for new workers, delivering targeted training for specific tasks, and following up regularly to keep safety top of mind.
Remember, staying compliant with safety regulations might seem challenging, but it’s essential. It starts with keeping up-to-date with safety matters, understanding the risks unique to your operations, and ensuring you have the right resources and processes in place to manage these risks effectively.
Make sure your business has solid procedures for reporting and responding to incidents, hazards, and risks, and regularly check that these procedures are being followed.
In short, safety compliance isn’t just a legal requirement – it’s about protecting everyone who steps onto your site. Let’s make safety a priority and ensure that everyone goes home safe and sound.
Practical Examples to ensure Safety Compliance
More practical examples on how to ensure compliance, would be to look at the safety checklists provided by SafeWork:
1. SafeWork NSW – Formwork Safety in Construction – Safety Checklist
2. SafeWork NSW – Working at Heights in Construction – Safety Checklist
Let’s take that extra step and go beyond the blueprints to stay compliant and safe.
More information
For further details on construction law insights and legal case notes, visit Construction Legal Insights.
