Obligations of employers or principal contractor
Employers or principal contractors are required to ensure that the WHSO performs all the WHSO functions specified in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB). The appointed WHSO's name must be displayed while the appointment is current and they must be given reasonable assistance with their duties.
Details of assistance to be given to WHSO's are stated in Section 97 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995. This includes:
- provision of information relating to hazards at the workplace;
- consultation before the introduction of new plant, substances or new work processes; and
- where necessary, access to outside experts on particular hazards, which may exist at the workplace.
WHSO training is all about the statutory obligations of employers, principal contractors and workers with respect to health and safety at the workplace. By itself WHSO training is very broad and would usually not be sufficient for implementation of all facets of a health and safety management system at the workplace.
Employers and principal contractors should be aware that for the majority of workplaces, especially those which are considered more hazardous, professionally qualified health and safety personnel or other specialists with additional qualifications may be required. These personnel may be employed on a part-time or full-time basis depending on the complexity of the health and safety issues and level of risk associated with hazards at the workplace. These people may be resourced from within the company or from external consultants.
The appointment of a WHSO is only one facet of legislative requirements for health and safety at the workplace. Obligations for an employer or principal contractor exist irrespective of whether 30 or more workers or any persons are present.
Last updated July 25, 2005
Other languages