As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide a safe work environment for all employees, free from any hazards and complying with all state and federal laws.
Health and safety in the workplace is about preventing work-related injury and disease, and designing an environment that promotes well-being for everyone at work.
Knowledge is the key ingredient in providing a safe work environment—if everyone knows the correct procedures then accidents and injuries can be kept to a minimum.
The following checklists are also available to help you provide a safe working environment:
Employer responsibilities with health and safety
Occupational health and safety procedures must be implemented wherever the work is being conducted, be that in an office, factory, construction site or home.
You should develop and have in place an occupational health and safety policy to meet the following standards:
- ensure that the way work is done is safe and does not affect employees’ health
- ensure that tools, equipment and machinery are safe and are kept safe
- ensure that ways of storing, transporting or working with dangerous substances is safe and does not damage employees’ health
- provide employees with the information, instruction and training they need to do their job safely and without damaging their health
- consult with employees about health and safety in the workplace
- monitor the work place regularly and keep a record of what is found during the checks.
Policies should be developed in consultation with all employees. In some instances it may be necessary to organise support persons or interpreters for employees with disability so that all employees may participate in the consultation process.
It is important that you check your relevant state or territory legislation for more specific guidelines as health and safety legislation can be different in each state and territory, and specific industry sectors may also have precise requirements.
Employees with disability
Employees with disability have the same rights and responsibilities as employees without disability when it comes to creating and maintaining a safe work environment.
Reasonable adjustments
Employees with disability may require reasonable adjustments to ensure safety in the workplace, such as changes to work processes or equipment, or adjusting work schedules.
The law states that, whenever it is necessary, possible and reasonable, as a employer, you should take into account a person's disability and make appropriate adjustment to the work environment to accommodate that person.
Overall, if you are aware of an employee’s disability you have a legal obligation to provide what is deemed 'reasonable adjustment' to accommodate the needs of that employee.
Reasonable adjustments enable an employee with disability to:
- perform the inherent or essential requirements of their job safely in the workplace
- have equal employment opportunities such as recruitment processes, promotion and training opportunities
- enjoy equal terms and conditions of employment.
The limit on reasonable adjustment—unjustifiable hardship
As an employer, you are obligated to make reasonable adjustments unless that adjustment will result in ‘unjustifiable hardship’ to you. More information about the concept of ‘unjustifiable hardship’ can be found on the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission web site (see Related Links).
Tips for a safe working environment
When a new employee starts with your organisation, it is important that they are aware of the occupational health and safety policies and procedures so that they are able to complete their job requirements safely. You should consider:
- briefing all new employees on occupational health and safety policy at induction
- providing a training session to new employees on all safety procedures, including evacuation and other emergency procedures
- making reasonable adjustments if required, e.g. providing clear markings and colour contrasts on steps or pathways, building a ramp to allow access to a building and providing a parking space close to the place of employment for an employee in a wheelchair.
Safe working practices should also be reviewed and emphasised with all employees on a regular and ongoing basis.
To ensure that everyone knows the correct health and safety procedures, and that all employees, including new employees, have access to information about safety procedures, you should:
- ensure that employees have access to information in appropriate formats, for example, screen reading software, enlarged font, audio and Braille
- provide regular information updates and re-training sessions
- provide access to information about safety procedures
- conduct relevant training on any new equipment or machinery.
Managing a return to work
If you have an employee who is returning to work after an injury, you may also want to consider reviewing and modifying the job procedures if required. The employee should also be re-trained on all procedures, including safety and evacuation procedures. For more information, visit:
Small Business Occupational Health and Safety Advisers Program
The Small Business Occupational Health and Safety Advisers Program provides free workplace safety services for Australian small businesses and is open to all companies with less than 20 full time employees (or equivalent).
Consisting of safety seminars, on-site assistance and telephone support, the Program operates in all Australian states and territories and across all business sectors.
To obtain more information or to get involved in the program by registering your interest, visit the Small Business Occupational Health and Safety Advisers Program web site—see Related Links.
Need help?
The JobAccess Advisers are able to provide you with expert advice on providing a safe work environment if you can’t find the information you need or have some questions. Please contact the JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800 or by using the Online Enquiry Form:
Or visit the web site of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council—see our Related Links.
State and Territory contacts
You can also check specific employer information and obtain advice about workplace safety and health by contacting your state and territory occupational health and safety authority. Contact details are available through the links below (please note that these links will take you to an external site in a new window).
Australian Capital Territory—ACT WorkCover
New South Wales—WorkCover NSW
Northern Territory—NT WorkSafe
Queensland—Queensland Government, Department of Employment and Industrial Relations
South Australia—WorkCover South Australia
Tasmania—WorkCover Tasmania
Victoria—Victorian WorkCover Authority
Western Australia—WorkCover Western Australia