%20Policies%20in%20AUS%20%26%20NZ.png)
We’ve all heard the saying: Safety First! Providing a safe and compliant workplace is essential to protect your employees, workplace and business.
Legislation and legalese can become challenging. It’s hard to keep track of different laws and regulations, especially if your business crosses states/territories. So, what do you need to know about WHS, and how can your trade business stay safe and compliant?
Let’s go!
What is WHS?
In short, WHS means ‘Workplace Health and Safety’. But there’s more to that question, a whole lot more! Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) isn’t just a name; it represents a set of vital laws and regulations every business must follow, as well as the cornerstone of a healthy workplace.
When it comes to the WHS meaning, the intention of using ‘workplace’ covers everyone involved with the workplace in any capacity. This includes workers, employers, customers and visitors.
But, Workplace Health and Safety sounds like Occupational Health and Safety, right?
What is the difference between WHS and OHS
The first question usually asked about the WHS meaning is the difference between it and OHS.
Broadly, there is no difference in meaning, as Workplace Health and Safety is the updated term replacing Occupational Health and Safety. The change of OHS to WHS and what WHS means for workplaces, businesses and employees is based on changes to the laws surrounding safety regulations.
Updating and educating your team that WHS is the current term is a good idea. Using a consistent WHS meaning and terminology in your training and documents is good practice and will ensure compliance.
In New Zealand, the former WHS is now known as HSWA: Health and Safety at Work Act. The previous Act was superseded after an independent investigation into the Act and is based on recommendations.
Australian and New Zealand WHS Laws and Regulations
Each area has its laws, regulations and specific enforcement. It can be easy to get bogged in the details, but it’s essential to review what is relevant to your business and workplace.
Australia
Previously, all states and territories had their own WHS laws and regulations based on the OHS Act, and compliance requirements differed accordingly. Now, the WHS's meaning and laws are based on the Model WHS Act, which the federal government implemented to be a unifying set of regulations for the country. The hope was that a consistent set of laws would make things easier for employers and employees, no matter which state/territory they’re in.
States and territories opted to adopt the Work Health and Safety Act (2011) model as their laws and adjust their current regulations to meet the standard. To date, Victoria is the only state that has yet to adopt WHS.
SafeWork Australia developed and updated the WHS Act. However, each state and territory regulates and enforces workplace safety laws.
Therefore, each state/territory has its own regulatory body responsible for enforcing the Act and its codes of practice.
Failure to follow the WHS means anything from fines, work shutdowns, imprisonment or further liability, depending on the result of failed compliance.
New Zealand
Workplaces in New Zealand follow the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015), a rehaul of the previous Act. WorkSafe NZ is the regulatory body that enforces the law nationwide, providing a unified system.
Failure to comply with HSWA can result in fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.
Key Components of Workplace Health and Safety
So, we’ve got the laws and regulators in place, but how does the meaning of WHS apply to your workplace and business? Your trade business needs to consider several major components to create a safe and compliant workplace. The relevant Code of Practice for your state/territory outlines how your business can comply with regulations.
These parts create the necessary foundation for your business; the more you know and prepare, the better you and your tradies will be able to handle issues, accidents and safety concerns.
Risk Assessment
The first thing you need to know is what you’re up against. To unpack the meaning of WHS for your workplace, you need a risk assessment. A risk assessment will analyse and identify any and all hazards/safety risks present in the workplace, with the intent of eliminating or managing risks.
A third party should undertake a comprehensive risk assessment using the standardised criteria outlined by ISO 45001. ISO 45001 is the international standard for OH&S frameworks and supersedes the previously used AS/NZS 4801 standards.
The order of risk identifies that all risk management should follow the hierarchy of control measures, as outlined by SafeWork. If a risk is impossible to eliminate due to the nature of the hazard, such as a chemical or confined space, the next step is to isolate or reduce the hazard. The lowest in the hierarchy is the use of PPE.
Safety Policy
Implementing a safety policy is necessary for a unified approach to workplace health. It acts as a reference guide and outlines your trade business’s commitment to safety for everyone on the job.
A good safety policy should include:
- Key WHS meanings/definitions
- Inspection Information
- Employee Expectations
- Required PPE
- Incident Response
- Emergency Procedures
- Incident Reporting Instructions
- Workplace Hazards
- Required Training/Education
- Role of Safety Representative
Want an example of a safety checklist? See our HVAC safety checklist and guide for more ideas on creating your safety policy.
Training and Education
It is compulsory for all employees to have access to safety training and information at any time, as well as supervision for relevant training and processes. This includes equipment use, handling of dangerous loads/chemicals, work at heights, and more.
Safety training isn’t a one-and-done event. Ongoing education is essential for a WHS-compliant and safe workplace, especially for multi-stage projects. When circumstances and worksites change, so too do key safety concerns.
This can look like a regular check-in, like a safety meeting or toolbox talk about a recent issue or a refresher of specific safety tips. Or, depending on your industry, particular safety training is required. For example, HVAC tradies and plumbers need training on working in confined spaces, while construction workers need training about safely using scaffolding and transporting heavy materials.
Incident Reporting
Incident reporting is essential for keeping your workplace compliant and employees safe. Issues and accidents happen, so you need a reporting system in place when they do. Your safety policy should outline the procedure to create and submit incident reports and to whom.
First, make sure your team is safe with the appropriate care and hazard removal. Then, you can assess the details.
SafeWork Australia
Under the WHS Act, you are legally obligated to report serious incidents, also known as ‘notifiable incidents’, to your state/territory regulatory body.
These notifiable incidents are:
- Death
- Serious Injury/Illness
- Incidents that could cause Death or Serious Injury/Illness
More minor incidents must be addressed within your business and adequately documented.
WorkSafe New Zealand
WorkSafe New Zealand also requires notifiable incidents to be reported to them immediately using the direct number 0800 030 040.
Emergency Procedures
If the worst happens, you need an emergency procedure! Emergency procedures cover everything, from the initial incident to post-emergency actions.
A standard emergency procedure needs to outline:
- Emergency Response
- Notifying Emergency Authorities
- Evacuation Procedure
- Emergency/First Aid Equipment
- First Aid/Medical Treatment
- Post-Emergency Response/Treatment
In this vein, emergency procedures and policies should include workplace maps, contact information for relevant emergency services, first aid-certified staff, and supervisors/managers.
Workplace Policies and Procedures in WHS
When asking what is WHS, there are many possible answers and details. Understanding the vital policies and procedures to adopt in your workplace and as part of your overall safety policy is essential.
Personal Protective Equipment
All employees must have access to relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its correct use. You can supply all the PPE you want, but employees need to know how to use it effectively! This includes safely using/storing PPE and disposing of it when necessary. Team members need to know where they can find equipment, and PPE should be inspected as part of routine procedures for any degradation.
You also want to ensure team members on-site are using their PPE; this is where a supervisor can double-check everyone is following procedure. Many injuries occur simply because someone took a shortcut in their safety gear: it’s worth the extra few minutes to keep the team protected!
Safe Work Procedures
All workplace employees need to know how to use machinery, equipment safely, and any other process relevant to their duties. Safe Work procedures are part of the WHS, meaning that your employees must have access to this information in an easily accessible format.
A great example of a necessary, safe work procedure that applies to most workplaces is heat-related injuries. For heat injuries, your procedure could outline the dangers of heatstroke, warning signs and hazardous situations.
Emergency Response
Under WHS regulations, a business must have an emergency plan that outlines its emergency response. As outlined above, your emergency plan must outline the relevant steps and contacts for an emergency.
Your team needs to know where to find this plan, and refreshers go a long way toward ensuring everyone knows what to do in an emergency situation.
Hazard Communication
The WHS meaning and regulations also specifically cover hazardous chemicals workers may be exposed to. Australia and New Zealand have adopted the Global Harmonised Standard 7 (GHS 7) labelling system for hazardous chemicals. The United Nations outlines this system to ensure workers worldwide are informed about chemicals they may be exposed to.
This includes a system of pictograms outlining specific dangers and an accompanying Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
If your business imports or manufactures these chemicals, you must prepare a Safety Data Sheet. For businesses that use these chemicals, you need a complete SDS from the importer/manufacturer that is available for employees and emergency services to access.
For WHS, this means keeping a hazardous chemicals register.
The Importance of WHS in the Workplace
Getting WHS right means a lot of work, but safety needs to be the core of any job you do. A trade business based on safety and healthy work practices is one that will last.
If you show your team that their safety comes first through solid policies, training and up-to-date equipment, you’ll be fostering a great company culture. If you’re there for the crew, they’ll be there for you, and that kind of morale can’t be bought. Safety is the heart of an honest, thriving business, and if you need something to unravel the jargon, AroFlo’s WHS management system is here to help.
Stay safe!
