Coronavirus – Changing the face of Australian Workplaces In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Employers are becoming increasingly concerned about the risks to their workers and customers as a consequence. Regulatory Authorities including the government and state health departments should be the primary source regarding the advice for this virus. As the outbreak continues more and more employers in…
The impacts of the coronavirus are only starting to be fully appreciated. As we activate crisis plans those who haven’t prepared will be scrambling to determine where to start? This simple risk framework is intended to get you started… COVID-19 has been an outbreak felt globally, whether it be directly through illness or the restrictions placed on our everyday lives…
National Program Making A Difference Victual recently presented at Brewcon, that national conference for independent brewers hosted by the Independent Brewers Association, this year held in Melbourne. The presentation highlighted that IBASafe is very much a national program, with a wide spread of breweries involved in the program from around the country. Some high-level numbers about the IBASafe program were…
Modern Slavery legislation came into force on 1st January 2019 requiring organisations with turnovers greater than $100M to report on their efforts to eliminate modern slavery from the supply chain. What is particularly interesting about this legislation is that there are no penalties. Instead regulators have introduced legislation that will encourage market forces to achieve the desired outcome. What is…
In response to tragic building fires such as the Grenfell Tower, regulators across the globe have reconsidered the way in which buildings are regulated to ensure they are safe for occupants. This has led to a raft of changes in Australia, and some of the most relevant for the Food and Beverage sector include the release of new competencies by…
Reference Guide Injury management is an integrated, systematic process of returning injured workers to their pre-injury status. It is highly dynamic and interpersonal in nature and requires active collaboration and co-operation between all involved. It needs to focus on people, positive attitudes and supportive workplaces as much as it does on efficient processes. Injury management encompasses activities which directly affect…
It’s that time of year where we all have our Christmas Parties to celebrate a long year. Whether it is your own event or a third party hosted event at your facility/venue, there is a duty to ensure everyone enjoys a successful and safe event, with no incidents which cause injury. It may be appropriate to develop a venue safety…
Contractor management can be a very difficult area of your business to manage. Your WHS obligations aren’t absolved because you engaged the services of a contractor, as legally contractors are regarded as workers. Recent cases such as Refrigerator Contractor falls to death show how easily it can go wrong and the importance of effective controls being in place. A four-step…
While your business may not require large supplies or varieties of hazardous chemicals to function, all businesses will handle certain types of chemicals, examples include cleaners and sanitisers. These materials can cause serious injury if workers are exposed to them and not immediately treated. Similarly, some flammable liquids may be stored in your facility for specific uses which can cause…
With October now becoming a distant memory, the reformed Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is now well and truly enforced. Under the reforms, everyone involved in the transport function of a heavy vehicle has a non-transferable positive duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their transport activities related to the vehicle. This responsibility is otherwise…
