Requisite HR July Newsletter 2016
Workplace Health & Safety In this month's edition we will focus on Health and Safety in the workplace. It is critical for the success of your business to create a safe work environment, it is also one of the best ways to retain staff and maximise productivity. Though it may cost to implement safe practices and install safety equipment, the consequences of not taking action can be severe. As a business owner you have responsibilities regarding health and safety in your workplace and it is worth noting that the legal obligations of employers vary according to occupation and industry. It is easy to believe that incidents at work are unusual. Serious incidents are the sort of things that 'never happen to you or in your workplace', however, unpredictable things can happen. A few measures or basic procedures can prevent an injury or fatality from occurring at your workplace. Did you know? In Western Australia, around two people are injured per hour seriously enough to take one or more days off work. This means around 51 injuries/diseases occurred per day during 2012-13. An average of 4,241 people are hurt each year to the extent that they require 60 or more days off work. The average number of days lost for severe lost time injuries and diseases in 2011-12 was 267 days. On average one person is killed in WA as a result of a traumatic work related incident every 22 days. 16 traumatic work-related fatalities were recorded in WA during 2013-14.*
Requisite HR July Newsletter 2016 Businesses with poor health and safety practices could cause harm to workers or in the case of a family business, family members. Additionally, the business may face financial burden and disruption. With already limited resources, a small business might face hardship if it has to deal with just one serious work-related injury or incident. In the case of a self-employed business, the business may have to shut down. Under WHS legislation you are obliged to provide: Safe premises Safe machinery and materials Safe systems of work Information, instruction, training and supervision A suitable working environment and facilities Insurance and workers compensation for your employees.
*THE MAJORITY OF WORK FATALITIES ARE CAUSED BY:
Examples of the benefits of good health and safety practice in small businesses are: Retaining employees and fostering their loyalty by ensuring their wellbeing. Increasing efficiency by reducing workplace injuries that holdup work activities. Avoiding business disruption. Increasing the chance of winning tenders or retaining contracts by meeting workplace safety and health requirements for some business clients. Reducing business insurance based on a good safety and health record; and Avoiding financial burden from fines and other legal implications.
*Statistics based on data collected by Department of Commerce (2015), and Safe Work Australia (2013).
‘HARMONISATION’ OF THE WA WHS LEGISLATION.
Contributor Writer; Farrah Pensabene. RHR's Resident Workplace Health & Safety Consultant.
In 2008 the Council of Australian Governments committed to harmonising the Occupational Safety and Health laws in Australia. The aim of the nationally harmonised OHS laws is to provide: A consistent level of safety for all workers in Australia. Reduced compliance and regulatory burdens for businesses operating across State and Territory boundaries. Workers with licenses or permits issued by State work health and safety regulators the ability to move easily between jurisdictions; and A larger resource of health and safety information, which will help deliver clear and consistent information to all Australians. Every jurisdiction apart from Victoria and Western Australia have introduced the model legislation. Victoria has decided not to adopt the new model at this stage. On 1 June 2016, the Department of Commerce released the 'Work Health and Safety Regulations for Western Australia' discussion paper. The discussion paper recommends 132 changes to the regulations before they are adopted in W.A. The recommended changes include: The removal of some elements of the harmonised model WHS regulations that deal with matters that falls outside WorkSafe WA's jurisdiction (such as mining) and; Retaining some of the current Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (WA). Submissions on the discussion paper are due by 31 August 2016. All Western Australians with an interest in work health and safety matters are invited to make submissions on any of the recommendations provided in the Discussion Paper, or any other matters in the model WHS regulations. WorkSafe WA will then consider all submissions and make any necessary changes before the legislation is introduced to Parliament. It appears unlikely that any changes to legislation will occur before the next state election in March 2017. You can access the discussion paper via this link; https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/work-health-and-safety-regulations-discussion-paper
Interview
FARRAH PENSABENE
Our company is a small HR consulting firm that is
I have abseiled from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
dedicated to providing you with personal and quality
and into open cut mines as a part of rope rescue training. I
service. So we thought, there's no better way for you to get
have been allowed to start fires for the purpose of fire
to know our wonderful staff than by featuring them in our
fighting training and used the jaws of life in vehicle
monthly newsletter. Each interview provides a quirky and
extrication. I have been given a lot of responsibility to
fun insight into how our consultants got into their
look after the safety and health of workers in the
speciality and why they love it.
workplace and my skills have been tested in many real life
To keep in line with this month's topic, we interviewed
emergencies in remote locations. I have even had to drive
our resident Workplace Health & Safety expert; Farrah
an ambulance when it was flooding in the outback. The
Pensabene.
best part of my career is that I never stop learning.
What was your first job?
What difference do you want to achieve in your career?
My first job was as a Checkout Operator at 14 years old
I would like to be able to assist people with realistic and
while I was in high school.
practical based WHS solutions in the workplace. Everyone
What was your most memorable experience in your working
should be able to go home safely from work to their
career?
families.
My most memorable experience was recently volunteering
Tell us a little bit about your family.
my time to assist a school in South Korea to improve it’s
I have two sons aged 7 and 9 years who have lived most of
Health & Safety. It was interesting to learn the different
their lives overseas in South Korea. They can speak
cultural issues in WHS compared to Australia and to help
Korean and have friends all over the world from being
the school to be safer for the children.
expats. They love to do anything that involves outdoor
How did you get into HR/WHS?
adventures such as hiking, riding mountain bikes and
I became involved in WHS when I left the Royal Australian
participating in fun runs.
Navy and went to work in the mining industry in W.A as a Nurse in 1999. I have worked in WHS since this time and
What an exciting career! We are thrilled to have Farrah on
enjoy being able to assist in the prevention of injuries and
board. She can provide your business with practical WHS
incidents in the workplace.
support and solutions. Some examples include WHS
What have been some challenges or interesting experiences in
Toolboxes, Audits, Inspections and implementing
your career?
Systems. To avoid exposing your staff to any risk or injury
My career has provided me with so much variety and
please call us today on 1300 164 737.
adrenaline pumping experiences.
Monthly Competiton
COMPETITION CLICK HERE TO ENTER
Now that you're an expert in Workplace Health & Safety, answer the following question to go in the running to WIN:
"Farrah abseiled off what as a part of her rope rescue training?"
a)A Navy ship b)A Skyscraper c)The Sydney Harbour Bridge Submit your answers via private message on our Facebook page or
RE TO E H CK CLI R ENTE
you can email the answer to info@requisitehr.com.au. Terms & Conditions apply.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION: Each monthly competition's closes 30 days from the published date. Each person may only enter once per month. Answers must be submitted via Email or private message on Facebook. The first 3 people to correctly answer the question will receive 4,3,2 points and every other participant after the top three will receive 1 point. All points will be kept in a tally and added to throughout the year. Competition winners will be announced via Facebook or Email and prizes will be awarded in December 2016. First Prize: Veuve Clicqot Champagne (valued between AUD$99.95-$69.99), Second Prize: Johnnie Walker Platinum Label Scotch (valued between AUD$98.95-$70.99), Third Prize: Godiva Signature Truffles (valued at AUD$50.00). Competition organisers can terminate or exclude entries if they do not meet the T&Cs of the competition.
Requisite HR Pty Ltd ABN: 35 606 293 476 www.requisitehr.com.au
| 5