Be safe and smart
When you go to work you’d expect it to be a healthy and safe workplace right? Well, safety at work is called Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) and it’s the employer’s job to ensure that the workplace is a safe and healthy place to be.
Why do you need to know about OHS?
Young workers more likely to be hurt at work than any other age group – and their injuries are most likely to result in going to hospital! So it’s important to find out about health and safety before you start work or as soon as you can.
Why is it called Health and Safety?
You may have heard of the slogan ‘Safety First’ – that’s a pretty good start. So the safety bit is about wearing a hard hat on a construction site or where the fire exits are and what to do in case of an emergency.
But OHS also covers your health at work. So that includes working in a smoke-free environment, protecting against skin cancer by wearing sunscreen and hats while working outdoors, or even dealing with work stress. The 1997 ACTU National Survey on Stress at Work found that one in four people took time off work because of stress.
What should you expect from your employer?
While there are some federal OHS laws, each state also has its own OHS laws. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that your workplace is healthy and safe and complies with the law.
The Federal Government is reviewing OHS legislation in order to develop a Model OHS Act.
Some of the relevant pieces of legislation include:
- Australian Workplace Safety Standards Act 2005
- Occupational Health & Safety Act (Commonwealth employees) 1991.
Your employer should:
- Carry out risk assessments (including for work experience students)
- Provide you with appropriate training
- Provide you with protective equipment and safeguards
- Make sure you have adequate supervision.
What can you do to stay healthy and safe?
You can help your employer and yourself with workplace OHS by doing the following:
- Cooperating with your employer on OHS issues
- Following safety procedures that are set out
- Using protective equipment and clothing you are given
- Asking if you are unsure about something
- Making sure you get appropriate training to use equipment or do the job
- Knowing what to do in an emergency
- Speaking out if there’s a problem
- Telling your employer about any risks or hazards you spot (eg: faulty equipment).
What happens if you are injured at work?
You should:
- Report the injury to your boss right away
- Record the details in your workplace register of injuries
- Get a medical certificate from your doctor (that may be Workcover)
- Comply with any return to work procedures.
Unions have helped make health and safety a right for all
Everyone who works is entitled to join a union – this is your legal right. People join unions so they can get information, advice and support in the workplace.
Unions also help negotiate pay increases and improvements at work.
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