Workplace Safety - is your workplace risky?

An analysis of SafeWork Australia data has found that workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing are most at risk of being injured at work.  Those in transport, stores and warehousing, construction, and mining were close behind when it came to being injured at work due to a lack of workplace safety.

This study is a timely reminder for workers and employers alike to consider their risks and requirements when it comes to workplace safety.

Employers bear significant responsibilities when it comes to workplace health and safety, and generally these responsibilities cannot be delegated (that is, passed on).

Common Expectations of Employers:

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) contains a number of common expectations of employers to:

• Provide a safe workplace;
• Implement and maintain a safe system of work;
• Provide safe and proper plant (ie factory, mill, workshop, yard) and equipment;
• Provide adequate and proper instruction, training and supervision;
• Perform adequate and proper risk assessments of the workplace and work systems.

Incident Reporting

Each workplace must have a system of reporting incidents and injuries, and every worker should be aware of this process. Having all workers undergo induction at the beginning of employment, and refresher training throughout their employment, maintains a consistent standard of knowledge and understanding about workplace safety. Whether this training was provided will be a vital part of any investigation into a workplace incident. Workers who are unsure of the incident reporting process in their workplace should seek clarification from their employer.

There are many ways for employers to manage common hazards and risks in the workplace. With advances in technology and upgrades to equipment, it may be that the hazards and risks change over time. Therefore it is important to recognize that each workplace is different so a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not recommended.

If you would like more information about the workplace health and safety obligations that apply to your workplace please contact our office on 4963 2000 or via our online contact form.