Occupational Health

and SafetyBy Laura and Joey

Introduction

Occupational Health and Safety is workplace issue related to the health and safety of employees, employers and third parties. Safety is a major issue in the workplace

because of injuries and accidental deaths on the job.

Guidelines

In NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 1990 is a set of guidelines that employers must follow to ensure the health and

safety of their employees. If Employers and Employees

breach laws penalities and fines will occur.

Duty of Care

The industry Commission’s 1995 report is about workplace safety, Duty of Care, which outlines basic responsibilities for the employer. These include:

• Provision and maintenance of safe plant and work systems

•Provision of a safe working environment and continually monitoring safety conditions in workplace

•Ensuring employees are given thorough information and instructions of maintaining work safety

Safety equipment

Different jobs in the work place require different personal equipment to ensure the safety of employees. Employers have the responsibility to provide employees with Personal protective equipment and clothing. Some examples are:

• A Chemical Plant must provide employees with special equipment such as a breathing apparatus, protective clothing and hard shoes.

• A supermarket will deal with having to lift heavy boxes and need to provide a excavator and proper training on how to use it.