Operational Health and Safety is an important area that businesses can not ignore.

1. OHS Employer
Responsibilities

2. Can You Afford A
Prosecution?
As an employer you have the
responsibility for the day-to-day health,
safety and welfare of your employees
and visitors to your workplace.

3. Can You Afford A
Prosecution?
This duty of care is set out in the
occupational health and safety (OHS)
legislation of the various Australian
States and Territories.

4. Can You Afford A
Prosecution?
 You may share this responsibility
because the term 'employer' can
include the whole management chain
from the chief executive officer down
to the supervisor.
 Therefore a business needs to make
each level of management responsible
for OHS within his/her area of
authority.

5. As an employer you must:
Provide safe premises, plant,
equipment and systems of work and
ensure they are maintained properly;.

6. As an employer you must:
Ensure that substances found in the
workplace are safely used, handled,
stored and transported;

7. As an employer you must:
Ensure that the workplace has safe
means of access and exit;

8. As an employer you must:
Provide necessary information,
instruction, training and supervision so
that employees have the knowledge
they need to work in a way that that
doesn't endanger health or safety;

9. As an employer you must:
Look after the health and safety of
visitors;

10. As an employer you must:
Provide and maintain a safe and
healthy working environment; and

11. As an employer you must:
Provide information to employees about any plant,
equipment or substances used in the workplace.
Information should include precautions and
conditions needed for their safe use, potential
health and safety problems arising from their use
and the results of research carried out on
substances or plant.

12. How safe is your workplace?
Are floor surfaces free of water, oil or
other fluids?

13. How safe is your workplace?
Are floor surfaces even?

14. How safe is your workplace?
Are spills cleaned up immediately?

15. How safe is your workplace?
Are walkways and doorways clear of
boxes, extension cords and litter?

16. How safe is your workplace?
Is the tread on stairs adequate to
minimise slipping?

17. How safe is your workplace?
Are stairways kept clear of boxes,
equipment and other obstructions?

18. How safe is your workplace?
Are walkways well lit?

19. How safe is your workplace?
Have you identified emergencies that
may require an evacuation of the
working area?

20. How safe is your workplace?
Have you identified what signal(s) will
be used to start evacuation?

21. How safe is your workplace?
Are emergency procedures displayed in
your workplace?

22. How safe is your workplace?
Have you nominated a person to be
responsible for managing an
evacuation?

23. How safe is your workplace?
Are switchboards and electrical
equipment in a safe condition?

24. How safe is your workplace?
Are all power points, light fittings and
switches in a safe place and free of
obvious defects?

25. How safe is your workplace?
Are main and isolating switches clearly
labelled and accessible?

26. How safe is your workplace?
Are the electrical fittings and electrical
equipment, including portable power
tools, regularly inspected and
maintained?

27. How safe is your workplace?
Can all materials and equipment be
lifted and carried easily?

28. How safe is your workplace?
Is there adequate clearance/aisle space
around machinery and equipment?

29. How safe is your workplace?
Is rotation of tasks used to avoid
repetitive work?

30. How safe is your workplace?
Are work benches at a comfortable
height?

31. Credits:
 NSW Business Chamber. Phone 13
26 96
 web site:
www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au