Everyone
has a role to play in workplace health and safety. Victoria's
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 provides a framework
for dealing with health and safety issues and sets out
responsibilities for employers, employees and site occupiers.
By
law, employers must keep their workplace safe. They
must make sure that what their workers are doing is
safe, how they are doing it is safe and where they are
doing it is safe.
The
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 also requires:
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builders
and self employed persons, including owner builders,
to ensure that members of the public aren't harmed
by their work.
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builders
to ensure their workplaces are safe and that the means
of getting to and from the workplace is safe.
-
employees
to take reasonable care for their health and safety
and for the health and safety of anyone else who might
be affected by their work.
Builders
also have a responsibility to ensure subcontractors
work safely and should regularly check to ensure:
-
electrical
switchboards and temporary wiring meet base standards.
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all portable tools are electrically tested and tagged.
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roof workers and other trades are provided with fall
protection by guardrails or scaffolding.
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fall protection is provided around stair voids.
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no work, including erection of scaffolds or unloading
of trucks, occurs near overhead powerlines.
-
clean toilets and amenities are provided.
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Apart
from the emotional stress that a workplace injury can cause,
the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 provides heavy
penalties for those persons who do not provide a safe work
location or safe work practices.
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If you need health and safety advice, ring the WorkCover
Advisory Service on 1800 136 089
or click on the link below.
www.workcover.vic.gov.au |
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