The latest CMTO/CBAA Webinar delved into the world of Workplace Health and Safety with guest speaker Gavin Deadman from Aon Risk Services. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) aims to protect the health and safety of all workers nationwide, including volunteers. Ensuring the health and safety of volunteers demonstrates that their commitment is valued and recognises the vital role they play in community broadcasting. AON Australia is a diverse organisation providing a complete suite of specialised risk management, risk financing and insurance services to a wide range of clients.

1. Work Health & Safety for Volunteers
CMTO/CBAA

2. Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014
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What is Work Health & Safety (WHS)?
 Everyone has a right to be safe at work, including volunteers (Working without payment or reward.)
 Work & Safety Laws used to be different in each jurisdiction. In 2012 the Australian Capital Territory, New
South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth harmonized their WHS laws,
Tasmania implemented same in 2013. This means workers including volunteers in these jurisdictions are
protected by the same WHS laws.
 Work Health & Safety is about protecting the health and safety of people at work or who may be affected by
work. This includes volunteers.
 Work health & Safety laws protect the rights of workers, including volunteers and organisations.
 Work health and safety (WHS) laws aim to protect people from harm to their health and safety arising from
work. WHS laws mean that organisations must ensure, so fare as is reasonable practicable, the health and
safety of their volunteers and workers alike.

3. Harmonised Work Health & Safety.
 Work & Safety Laws used to be different in each jurisdiction. In 2012 the Australian Capital Territory, New
South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth harmonized their WHS laws,
Tasmania implemented same in 2013. This means workers including volunteers in these jurisdictions are
protected by the same WHS laws.
Who is covered by Work Health Laws?
 Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking organisations, workers including volunteers.
Who is not covered by the Laws?
 Volunteer Associations, a group of people working together for one or more community purposes that do not
employ anyone.
Who has duties under the WHS Laws?
 Most organisations that carry out work have duties under the WHS laws but volunteer associations. The
WHS laws require organisation's that employ any paid workers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical,
the physical and mental health and safety of all of its workers including volunteers.
Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014 3

4. Who is covered by Work Health Laws?
 Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking organisations, workers including volunteers.
 This means volunteers are owed the same duties as all other workers and you get the highest level of
protection wherever you volunteer.
 WHS Laws and work all in alignment, both follow the same legislation.
 Volunteers, under the WHS Act, you are a volunteer if you are working without payment or financial reward
(but you maybe receiving out-of-pocket expenses) for an organisation that also engages paid workers.
 If you are a volunteer under the WHS Act you are also a worker. This means that the organisation you
volunteer for must provide you the same protections as its paid workers.
 As a worker you also have duties under WHS Act.
Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014 4

5. Responsibilities of both the organisation & the voluntary worker.
If the organisation you volunteer for is covered by the WHS ACT, it must ensure the health and safety of all of
its worker including volunteers.
Example - To meet its duty of the organisation might provide you with:
 Training, information and instructions on how to do your work safely.
 Personal protective equipment or first aid facilities training and information on emergency procedures, how
to report hazards and incidents.
You the volunteer must make sure you are as safe as possible while you are volunteering, but as a volunteer
you must.
 Take reasonable care for your own health and safety.
 Take reasonably care to ensure you don’t affect the health and safety of others.
 Carry out your tasks in a safe way by following instructions given. Co – operate with policies and procedures.
Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014 5

6. References
 Safe Work Australia website – www.safework australia.gov.au
 Volunteering Australia website – www.volunteeringaustralia.org
 Aon Hewitt – Risk Management Guides.
Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014 6

7. References
 Safe Work Australia website – www.safework australia.gov.au
 Volunteering Australia website – www.volunteeringaustralia.org
 Aon Hewitt – Risk Management Guides.
Aon Risk Solutions | Retail | Affinity - Parramatta
WHS Volunteers Presentation | June 2014 6