A Fatal Lack of Officer Due Diligence
Two prosecutions of companies and their Officers under the Model WHS Laws may be of interest to anyone who is an Officer themselves. An Offi
Do you need Safe Work Method Statements?
SafeWork NSW give clear and precise definitions and examples of Safe Work Method statements on their website: Prepare safe work method...
$1 Million WHS Prosecution Sets NSW Record High
In early May 2017 the NSW District Court fined a company $1 million for breaches of section 19 of the NSW WHS Act. This is the highest...
Considering Certification to ISO 45001?
Much of the success of an organization is reliant on the ongoing contributions of its staff. ...
How to Chair an Effective Health & Safety Committee Meeting
A WHS committee chairperson’s ability to be effective is dependent on their clear understanding, respect of, and adherence to the duties ...
Court clarifies HSRs right to choose a HSR course
A decision by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on 3 March 2017 has made it clear that a HSR can choose the HSR course they want to...
Compliance With “Reasonable Suspicion”
An officer or employee of a union who is a WHS entry permit holder has the right to enter your workplace if they have ....
How many First Aiders do you need?
The WHS Regulation 2017 requires every PCBU to have an “adequate” number of trained first aiders. It is up to business owners and company di
Solar UV Radiation Risk Management
Australia can endure some very hot temperatures. Records for Australia going back to the 1800s reveal that there were some months ...
How and When to Review Your First Aid Arrangements
There is nothing like a real first aid emergency to test whether your first aid response, treatment and procedures are adequate and ...
When is a Risk Assessment Not Necessary?
It is well known that assessing the risks of a hazard is an important step in the process of managing risks to health and safety in a...
PCBU Primary Duty of Care
Under Section 19 of the New South Wales WHS Act 2011, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty of care to...
First WHS conviction for PCBU not consulting with other PCBUs
In May 2016 a PCBU was prosecuted and convicted for not consulting with other PCBUs – Section 46 of the WHS Act 2011. It is the duty ....
Working Safely in the Heat
In 2016, the Director of the Working in the Heat Study at the Australian National University, Dr Liz Hanna, announced that their...