Albert Einstein + WHS = ?

Weekly WHS Article 19th April 2021

Albert Einstein is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time and the father of Modern Physics. Also, he was very effective at solving problems and his many quotations still live on.

Einstein’s Message

Looking back at what Einstein has said during his lifetime we can tie some of his great and famous statements to the field of health and safety. He said things like:

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

“It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

“You never fail until you stop trying.”

The WHS Equation

Einstein’s equation for energy is well-known and of course nothing to do with WHS. But if he were alive today he might approve of the following "equation."

PCBUs, Officers, Workers, and Others in a workplace

+

All of them complying with their WHS legal duties and obligations

=

Compliance in that workplace with the WHS Act and Regulations

=

All risks in that workplace are eliminated or minimised so far as reasonably practicable

+

All other responsibilities and obligations in the WHS Act and Regulations are met

=

A safe and healthy workplace where;

• illness and injuries are minimised, and

• workers compensation costs are low, and

• your workplace and WHS systems could pass a SafeWork NSW investigation

As we all know, everyone in the workplace is a WHS duty holder and therefore has WHS duties. The results from the above fun, little equation are dependent upon everyone satisfying their WHS duties and responsibilities that they have.

Food for thought?

19th April 2021