Are you one of those employers?
In a recent report, “Feedback from the Field” conducted by SafetyCulture and YouGov, 553 Australian workers were surveyed. Apart from over a third of the workforce surveyed not knowing if their employer has a WHS policy, other worrying results include:
- 67% of workers say they are never, rarely, or only sometimes listened to on topics that matter to them most
- 34% of workers feel that even if they did provide feedback, nothing would get done
- Only 44% of workers had received safety training in the past year.
Consulting with employees and providing worker instruction and training in safe work practices are key duties under work health and safety legislation.
Just recently, on 18 March 2022, a transportation and warehousing company was sentenced in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act. Her Honour Magistrate Tracy Mossop fined the defendant $45,000 for failing to train the injured worker in safe work practices for hazardous substance use.
With these worrying statistics in mind and the risk of a fine, conviction or prison sentence, can your staff answer ‘yes’ to Business 360’s top suggestions below:
- We are regularly audited for safety risks and regulatory changes.
- We do have up to date and available WHS policies covering our business functions.
- Workers are consulted over safety matters, and their feedback is considered by management.
- Workers receive regular safety training.
Due diligence best practice tips include:
- Regularly review your WHS systems to ensure they comply with WHS laws and that they are practiced and enforced within your business (staff input and consultation is vital).
- Keep your WHS Management Plan up to date.
- Ensure workers are regularly informed and trained about those systems, and any changes to them.
- Ensure personal duty holders, such as officers, are educated in their due diligence obligations and how they should exercise those obligations.
- Keep yourself informed of WHS legislative updates and the requirements for your industry.
If you need advice on understanding your WHS obligations, contact Business 360:
