New Australian OHS Policy Harmonisation Laws 2012
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by: SignatureStaff
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Word Count: 327
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 Time: 9:12 PM
You’ve heard right. Where each state & territory formerly had its own Workplace Health & Safety regulations, on 01 January 2012, national harmonisation laws were introduced in Australia to give all states & territories a universal standard for workplace health & safety.
In short, every workplace in Australia is expected to have procedures in place and comply with the new legislation.
If you find OHS compliance difficult, confusing or time consuming, you are certainly not alone - many business owners & managers feel the same way.
What happens if my business doesn’t have adequate OHS Policies in place?
The obvious answer is: if a serious incident or accident occurs at your workplace, your business’s WHS compliance would suddenly become your foremost priority. The knowledge that you have demonstrated due diligence can be a relief to you and your business.
Under the new harmonisation laws, non-compliance can result in:
- Up to 5 years imprisonment; and
- Fines of up to $3 million
- A pretty sobering thought for most business owners.
Why does my business need an OHS Policy?
There are many reasons to have an OHS Policy, the most important being to provide your valued employees with a safe working environment and ensure that your business complies with current legislation.
As a business, having OHS Policies in place can reduce the risk of incidents & accidents, help you to identify potential risks and monitor any hazards in your workplace. It also gives your employees a clear understanding of what their obligations are.
What can I do?
Research your options. You can choose to update your existing OHS Policies to meet with the new national standards, create one from scratch (though this could prove somewhat time consuming) or look into purchasing an OHS system from a reputable specialist HR company.
Either way, having a system in place to safeguard your employees and your company makes good business sense.
About the Author
Vlasta Eriksson is a Managing Director, Career Coach, Mother, wife and loyal friend, my passion is life and people and hope to inspire others to succeed in life. I established Signature Staff in 1998. Signature Staff deliver a premium recruitment consultancy service that combines the personal care and attention of a small firm with the resources of a national network of specialist recruiters and consultants.
We place high value on professionalism and integrity, but above all else, we have a responsibility to our Clients and Candidates alike to treat them with Care, Courtesy and Honesty. After all, we are People too.
We focus on developing a business partnership with our clients, which is driven by the commitment to provide personalised recruitment solutions that reflect the precise needs and culture of your business. Just recently we have launched our new online shop within our website where OHS Policy and other HR Resources Products can be purchased.
We invest heavily in ensuring that our people have the knowledge, skills and resources to provide service over and above expectations and we are always looking for people with motivation, drive and zest to join our thriving enterprise.
