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Provide a safe working environment
  
 

Introduction

Occupational Health & Safety Legislation

Hazard Management Plans

Risk Management

Maintaining & Improving OHS Policies

OHS Administration

    

Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

Health and Safety laws form a framework that both employers and employees can use to arrive at a workable solution.


Key Elements of OHS Legislation

This framework fosters a process of consultation and co-operation. The key elements of OHS legislation are:

  • Protection for every worker
  • Duty of care not to endanger the health or safety of self or others, and resolve OHS issues in a timely manner
  • Consultation with workers to discuss the penalties for breaches of the legislation

Legislative Focus

The focus of the legislation is performance based. This focus puts the emphasis on achieving outcomes rather than simply following a set of rules prescribed by a government. This in turn allows each workplace the flexibility they need to respond to their individual safety needs.
Your Store's Approach
The legislation provides a general framework so employers can manage their individual OHS needs in consultation with their employees.

In addition to prosecutions and/or on-the-spot fines, inspectors have the authority to either close the workplace until the hazard is fixed, or allow work to continue provided that the hazard is fixed in a certain time. If the hazard is not rectified, the employer may be prosecuted.



Monitor OHS Legislation

OHS legislation is constantly changing as new laws are passed and current standards are refined and updated. As a manager you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that your team is using current and appropriate work practices. To achieve this it is essential that you keep abreast of the changes and modify your OHS policies and procedures accordingly.

There are many ways of doing this but the most effective is to monitor the Government bodies that create and enforce OHS legislation. Using the www site addresses in this program is a good place to start.
This information can be obtained from your:

  • Store's OHS Representative or officer
  • State Government Departments
  • Federal Government


As the store's health and safety policies and procedures should conform to, the OHS requirements, it is important that you have a sound knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation that applies to your working environment.
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