Health and Safety - She'll Be Right?
There have been big shifts happening in the health and safety space due to the introduction of the Health and Safety at the Workplace Act (2015). This Act was introduced because of the high rate of workplace deaths, particularly in relation to Australia whose numbers are half that of New Zealand. It’s clear that a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude will no longer suffice in.
The Act was brought in primarily to:
• Reduce workplace deaths by 25%
• Encourage a health and safety culture at every level of the organisation.
• Reduce risk – this Act is all about reducing risk and harm to workers.
So what’s new?
Firstly, everyone has a duty of care; Officers, PCBUs and Workers, encouraging all parties to consult, collaborate and co-operate with each other as far as reasonably practicable.
Secondly, Health and safety obligations cannot be contracted out, delegated or insured against. Safety management systems must be operational, reviewed regularly and accessible to staff at every level.
Need Help?
Talent ID can assist you to develop a Health and Safety programme tailored to your industry and your business. This includes assistance in integrating the system into daily work practices, communicating changes to staff and offering periodic audits once it is functional. With over 20 years’ health and safety experience across many different industries, our consultants can act as your health and safety advisor in a contract capacity or mentor your health and safety people, managers, and directors.
Talent ID offer training seminars on the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015). If you are interested in attending, click here to email us.
Reading this at the current time of health crisis is shockingly timely. It is good to talk about this again after 5 years. Thursday, September 2, 2021