Workplace Health & Safety

How does Workplace Health and Safety Management fit into your organisation?

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) faces many challenges including changing economic and regulatory environments.  Challenges include:

• use of multiple contractors
• growth in casual, part-time and temporary work,
• outsourcing,
• job sharing
• use of labour hire
• increased representation of women in the workforce
• the numbers of small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) and micro-businesses (with fewer than five employees).
• globalisation
• new technology
• labour shortages
• temporary skilled migration
• an ageing workforce
• increase in home-based work (8% of the workforce is employed only or mainly at home)

There are two major recent changes to consider – the introduction of harmonised WHS legislation in Australia in 2011, and ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.  In 2011, Safe Work Australia developed a single set of WHS laws to be implemented across Australia (WHS Acts).  These are known as ‘model’ laws.  The model WHS laws have been implemented in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Commonwealth.  Some jurisdictions have made minor variations to make sure the legislation is consistent with their relevant drafting protocols and other laws and processes.  Western Australia has said they will adopt the harmonised laws, and Victoria has not adopted them.  New Zealand has adopted similar laws.

The WHS Act requires that a person who conducts a business or undertaking (a “PCBU”) ensures the health and safety of workers engaged by the PCBU (including visitors and volunteers) while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking, so far as is reasonably practicable.  Regulations and Codes of Practice provide further guidance as well as Australian Standards, which may be incorporated into regulatory requirements.  There are heavy penalties for violation of the WHS Acts with personal liability for Directors and managers.

What We Do

We give organisations the tools to implement and maintain their Health and Safety Management System for improved health and safety performance, legal compliance, standards certification or due diligence. We provide advice and assistance from start to finish including:

Health and Safety auditing – identifying risks and your organisation’s exposure to them, and gap analysis and audits of the organisation and its contractors against legislation or corporate standards

Standard-based management systems – providing a solid framework for your organisation to implement an effective Health and Safety Management System

Training development and delivery – transferring knowledge to staff at all levels, from the Board and management to the workplace

Mentoring – working with staff during and after a Health and Safety Management System has been developed, and mentoring organisations to achieve certification

Consulting – providing expertise and advising organisations on Health and Safety management matters