Duties of Employers
An employer's main duty of care (responsibility) is to ensure employees are not exposed to hazards at work. They should take all reasonable steps to see that work is done safely.
Employers must also ensure that persons not directly employed by them, such as contractors and sub-contractors, are not exposed to hazards in the workplace and they must ensure other persons in the workplace who are not employees, such as other peoples' employees and members of the public, are not harmed by the work.
The Act sets out an employer’s responsibilities, which include:
maintaining work areas, machinery and equipment in a safe condition;
organising ways of working safely;
providing information, instruction, training (including induction training) and supervision of employees to enable them to work safely;
making sure that employees are aware of potential hazards;
providing protective clothing and equipment where hazards cannot be avoided; and
consulting and cooperating with safety and health representatives, if any, and other employees at the workplace, on occupational safety and health matters.
Information: Employers must provide information that tells employees about hazards in the workplace, and improves their understanding of safe work procedures. The information does not always have to be written but can be verbal or include videos and tapes.
Instruction and training: The type of instruction and training to improve safety and health may vary from workplace to workplace.
New employees are often inexperienced and unfamiliar with the new work environment, procedures, equipment and materials that are required. Safety induction training helps employees do their job safely, particularly in the first twelve months when they are most at risk of injury.
Induction is much more than having a one-hour chat, completing a few forms and being introduced to your workmates. General information about personal protective equipment should be part of an induction training program for new employees as well as training in dealing with emergencies.
Supervision: Employers must provide supervision to ensure that employees are not exposed to hazards as they are working. Supervision should include regular checks to make sure safety and health instructions are being followed.
Consultation: Consultation with employees is one of the easiest and best ways to identify and control hazards in workplaces. Employees' experience with a job means they usually know what can go wrong and why.
Employers should consult with employees and safety and health representatives on safety and health matters and make sure equipment and materials are used, stored, transported and disposed of safely.
