“Reasonably Practicable” ... Fried Onions at Bunnings
In 2018 several media outlets ran a story about how Bunnings had changed the way its iconic sausage and bread delicacy could be constructed. Breakfast television hosts, talkback radio shock jocks, and even Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighed in on an occupational health and safety directive that onion must be placed below the snag. Bunnings said the issue was one of reducing danger from any dropped onion that could present a slipping hazard.
Bunnings chief operating officer Debbie Poole said: “Safety is always our number one priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard.”
Bunnings copped criticism, praise, jokes and all manner of reactions after confirming that operators of weekend barbecues outside its stores had been directed to put fried onions below sausages, not on top. Australian media reported that the change "outraged many Aussies" with some apparently even calling the changes to the quintessential weekend snack "un-Australian."
“Regardless of how you like your onion and snag, we are confident this new serving suggestion will not impact the delicious taste or great feeling you get when supporting your local community group,” Ms Poole said.
How did all of this come about?
A 65-year-old farmer from the Mary Valley, north of Brisbane, phoned ABC Radio Sunshine Coast to reveal that he had slipped on onion on a Bunnings shop floor three years before. Shortly thereafter a Victorian woman came forward to reveal that she also took a tumble at one of their stores earlier in the year. She had gone so far as to try and sue Bunnings over the matter.
No matter your view of the story, Bunnings took positive steps in alignment with its duties under the WHS Act and WHS Regulation, namely the requirement of a PCBU (business) as per Section 19 of the Act, to provide a safe work environment for not only its workers but its customers too.
Clause 31 of the WHS Regulation, states that a PCBU must manage risks to health and safety.
Therefore, Bunnings (as PCBU) had a duty to manage risks to its weekend staff and their customers. The measures put in place by Bunnings' CEO were the outcome of consultation on the matter, also a mandatory requirement before making decisions. The recommendation to reduce the risk of slippage could be said to be "as far as is reasonably practicable" which is the requirement for managing risks and hazards, if they cannot be otherwise eliminated.
A revisit in the future would confirm if the control measure of putting onions on top instead of underneath solved the threat, but seeing that Bunnings approached the matter seriously and with due consideration, in accordance with their duties under WHS law, we could expect that Bunnings has since reviewed its measure to ensure that the risk control remained effective. Review of WHS controls come under Clauses 37 and 38 of the WHS Regulation and are the duty of the PCBU.
If you are interested in the original Media stories this article is based on, please see below.
20th November 2018. Updated 23 August 2024
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