Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

Similar responsibilities are required for those organisations that supply
hazardous substances. The supplier is responsible for providing an MSDS the
first time the substance is supplied to the employer and on request from people
that are involved with its use. The supplier must make sure that substances
are labelled correctly and that any other relevant information requested by the
employer is provided.
It is part of the role of OHS committee members and OHS representatives
to be aware of the responsibilities of designers, manufacturers and suppliers.
The employer’s health and safety information system should ensure that all
available MSDS are obtained from manufacturers/suppliers and made available
to the committee members or representative(s).
Responsibilities of Employees
Employees have the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace. In return an
employee also has responsibilities.
Division 3 – Section 20 of the Act states that an employee at work must:
• take reasonable care for the health and safety of other people at the
workplace that may be affected by the employee’s actions
• cooperate with the employer in anything that the employer does or
requires, in order to ensure safety.
Employees must make sure that their actions do not put other people at risk.
They must work safely, use and maintain plant and equipment properly and
ensure that their work area is free of hazards. Cooperating with the employer
may include:
• notifying supervisors of actual and potential hazards
• wearing or using prescribed safety equipment eg. PPE, machine guarding
• carrying out work in a safe manner
• following health and safety instructions
• taking notice of signs
• adhering to speed limits eg. forklift
• participating in safety training.
BACK TO CONTENTS
Safety Matters A Guide for Workplace OHS Representatives
SECTION TWO
RAIL
TRAM AND BUS
9
Monitoring OHS Programs and Procedures
U N
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