What are my occupational health and safety responsibilities?
Section 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (OHS Act 2000) states that as an employer you ‘must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all the employees’. To meet your responsibilities under the OHS Act 2000, you must provide: • Safe premises; • Safe machinery and substances; • Safe systems of work; • Provision of information, instruction, training and supervision; and • Suitable working environment and facilities. The Act also states that you are responsible for the health and safety of people other than your workers, who may be present at the workplace. Note: The obligations on individual employers vary, and employers should seek independent legal advice if they need assistance on the application of the law to their situation. 2. What is Risk Management? An employer has an obligation to identify and assess foreseeable hazards. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, the employer must take steps to control the risk. Risk management is cover