CHCOHS501A Manage workplace OHS management ... - vetres

24 CHCOHS501A Manage workplace OHS management systems V1
Duty of care
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the employer must accept a duty of care (or
responsibility) for the health and safety of all people in the workplace. Employers and
managers must take care of the health and safety requirements of:
all employees
colleagues
clients (this includes children)
volunteers
contractors
suppliers
visitors
children being cared for while their carers or parents are attending the workplace as
clients or workers.
According to WorkCover (2007), these groups should be given reasonable information and
instruction regarding:
safe use of the site and equipment
emergency procedures
activities of clients
other OHS issues to which they have exposure.
Therefore, employers and managers must ensure that the principles of duty of care are
incorporated into all management strategies, policies and procedures.
As a worker you must also exercise a duty of care to those in your workplace environment.
You are required ensure the health and safety of all colleagues, clients and visitors to your
service at all times. These duty of care requirements include the following legislation and
Acts:
Disability Services Standards (NSW Disability Services Act, 1993)
SAMPLE
Home and Community Care Standards (Commonwealth Home and Community Care
Act, 1985)
NSW Supported Assisted Accommodation (NSW SAAP Standards 1998).
Further information on duty of care is found later in this guide. As you can see there are a
great number of legislative duties and requirements to be met when creating individual
workplace procedures and policies. The employer is legally bound to follow all of the
above-mentioned requirements, and tailor them to the specific workplace. They also have
an obligation to consult or confer with employees, both formally and informally, regarding
all OHS decisions.
Developed by Community Services, Health, Tourism and Recreation Curriculum Centre
© 2007, TAFE NSW