ACAS Staff Induction Readings

 

OHS Duty of care

Employers have a duty of care as far as practicable to provide and maintain a working environment where employees are not exposed to hazards.

Employees must take reasonable care to ensure their own health and safety and avoid adversely affecting the health or safety of others through any act or omission.

All staff have a duty of care responsibility to clients.

First, make sure your Occupational Health and Safety system is up to speed. You should have identified hazards, assessed them, and put controls in place. Your access and exit ways should be safe. Your instruction and induction training should be promoting a safety culture in the workplace.

Next, differentiate between places that are open to the public and those which are not. You may also need to specify particular locations that have particular hazards or risks.

Allow only authorized people to enter places that are closed to the public. You may allow visitors admission, but should have duty of care systems in place. Train staff who are responsible for accompanying visitors. This especially applies to all high hazard areas.

You would normally restrict visitors from all high hazard areas. People having access to closed areas should go through a procedure for reporting in, and particular staff should be given the responsibility for monitoring entry.