With the start of a new year, many of us are thinking about the personal changes we want to make for 2025, but it’s also an ideal time to take stock of your workplace. Here we break down the basics of work health and safety (WHS) compliance so you can start the new year with confidence.
Why is WHS so important?
WHS has continued to be in the spotlight this year, with changes including the introduction of an industrial manslaughter offence for both the Commonwealth and NSW jurisdictions, and an increase in the maximum penalties for serious WHS offences in NSW.
Comcare also published its Code of Practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work, which interestingly introduced fatigue, intrusive surveillance and job insecurity as common psychosocial hazards.
Regardless of the size of your business, now is the perfect time to consider how your business is managing WHS risks in order to ensure compliance with its WHS duties and obligations.
What is WHS risk management and legal compliance?
To effectively manage WHS risks, businesses need to consider what could go wrong in the workplace, as well as the potential consequences, then work through what needs to be done to eliminate or minimise these risks. This process is known as WHS risk management, and involves:
- identifying WHS hazards
- assessing the WHS risks arising from the hazards
- putting control measures in place to eliminate, minimise or manage the risks
- reviewing and improving the controls to ensure they’re effective.
WHS risk management requirements for legal compliance vary depending on the size and nature of a business and its unique hazards and risks.
In practice, the best way for a business to achieve effective WHS risk management and legal compliance is by developing, implementing and maintaining a suitably tailored Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS).
Generally, a WHSMS is made up of a set of policies, procedures and plans. When implemented, a WHSMS allows for the effective management of WHS hazards and risks, and compliance with a businesses’ duties and obligations.
Something to remember is that it’s not enough to just put WHS policies and procedures, or a complete WHSMS, in place. It’s just as important to implement them effectively. Achieving this takes effort and investment, but the result is a truly safety-committed culture at all levels of your business.
My business operates in an office environment – does this still apply to us?
Yes, office-based workplaces need some form of WHSMS. However, it doesn’t need to be complex or expensive, since many office-based workplaces face relatively fewer WHS hazards and risks.
Here are some of the common WHS hazards that would need to be identified, assessed and managed with appropriate controls as part of a WHSMS:
- stress / psychological hazards
- slip trip and fall hazards
- poor lighting, office layout or temperature control
- posture / movement hazards and manual handling
- electrical hazards
- infectious illness and disease
- cleaning chemicals
- working from home, client sites or work functions.
The most important questions to ask are: Is our business doing enough to identify, assess, and manage the WHS risks associated with these hazards that arise from our operations? And, is there a clear and systematic approach in place?
Remember, there’s no such thing as perfect WHS risk management – it’s always an evolving process that moves with the demands and growth of your business. For this reason, use the end of the year to check in, re-evaluate, and ensure that your organisation’s safety culture and performance are the best they can be for 2025.
Need assistance with your WHS strategy in 2025?
If you’d like assistance with a WHS ‘health check’ for your business, contact Michael Cole and Renee Compain-Helsoot. The team will review your existing WHS risk management documents and processes, assess the adequacy of these from a legal compliance perspective, and recommend practical steps to address any issues so your business can achieve its WHS objectives and compliance.
