The Importance of Ohs & the Application of Duty of Care in Workplace Health and Safety
THE IMPORTANCE OF OHS &
THE APPLICATION OF DUTY OF CARE IN
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
All members of the workplace have a right to work free from risks, hazards and harm. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide a duty of care to all employees. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) plays an important role in an organisation and it is about providing safe workplaces to ensure that all people within an organisation are free from risks, hazards that can harm their health and wellbeing. Therefore it is crucial that organisations adhere to current Occupational Health and Safety guidelines, and, more importantly, managers constantly consult with all employees in the workplace regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies, procedures and issues.
What will be discussed in the report is the definition of Occupational health and Safety, the importance of Occupational Health and Safety, consultation and why it is important to consult, the risk management process involved in Occupational Health and Safety, duty of care will be defined, and, the application of duty of care in workplace health and safety situations.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)?
“Several definitions of occupational health and safety, and occupation health services have been produced by professional bodies, international organisations such as WHO and ILO, and national bodies and authorities. If one summarises those definition, occupational health is considered to be multi-disciplinary activity aiming at: * Protection and promotion of the health of workers by preventing and controlling occupational diseases and accidents, and by eliminating occupational factors and conditions hazardous to health and safety at work * Development and promotion of health and safe work, work environment
THE APPLICATION OF DUTY OF CARE IN
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
All members of the workplace have a right to work free from risks, hazards and harm. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide a duty of care to all employees. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) plays an important role in an organisation and it is about providing safe workplaces to ensure that all people within an organisation are free from risks, hazards that can harm their health and wellbeing. Therefore it is crucial that organisations adhere to current Occupational Health and Safety guidelines, and, more importantly, managers constantly consult with all employees in the workplace regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies, procedures and issues.
What will be discussed in the report is the definition of Occupational health and Safety, the importance of Occupational Health and Safety, consultation and why it is important to consult, the risk management process involved in Occupational Health and Safety, duty of care will be defined, and, the application of duty of care in workplace health and safety situations.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)?
“Several definitions of occupational health and safety, and occupation health services have been produced by professional bodies, international organisations such as WHO and ILO, and national bodies and authorities. If one summarises those definition, occupational health is considered to be multi-disciplinary activity aiming at: * Protection and promotion of the health of workers by preventing and controlling occupational diseases and accidents, and by eliminating occupational factors and conditions hazardous to health and safety at work * Development and promotion of health and safe work, work environment
References: * Consultation, Retrieved April 27, 2013 from: http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/Asafeworkplace/consultation/Pages/default.aspx * Grammeno. G, Planning Occupational Health and Safety – A guide To OHS Risk Management, 2006, CCH Australia Limited, North Ryde. * Health and Safety Note – Hierarchy of Controls, Retrieved April 27, 2013 from: http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/hierarchy_of_hazard_controls_205.pdf * Identifying hazards, Retrieved April 27, 2013 from: http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/healthsafety/makingyourworkplacesafer/Riskmanagement/Pages/Identifyinghazards.aspx * McShane, Olekalns, Travaglione, 2013, Organisational Behaviour – Emerging Knowledge. Global Insights, McGraw Hill Australia Pty. Ltd, North Ryde. * Safety Consultation in the workplace, Retrieved April 27, 2013 from: http://www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au/Business-Solutions/OHS/Knowledge/Safety-consultation-in-the-workplace * Archer. R, Borthwick. K, Travers. M, Ruschena. L, 2012, WHS – A Management Guide, Cengage Learning Australia Pty Limited, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. * Six Steps To Meeting Your Duty of Care, Retrieved April 28, 2013, from: http://www.une.edu.au/od/files/OHSRTO.pdf