Audits and Inspections – clarifying terminology.
Recently I’ve heard the terms audit and inspection used in the incorrect context. This blog aims to provide some definition and distinction between these two terms. Firstly, what do they have in common and why the confusion? Both audits and inspections involve an...
Update on ISO 45001
Development of ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for Use
Hazardous Substances – Registers & Risk Assessments
In this blog we will look at some of the legislative requirements for hazardous substances as detailed in the Western Australian OSH Regulations. Firstly OSH Regulation 5.13 requires Employers to keep a register of hazardous substances. This register must contain, as...
Is it a system or a plan?
Often in the workplace I see confusion between what is a WHS Management System and a Safety Management Plan. This confusion is not only in the terminology used but also in their application. So firstly what is a WHS Management Systems (WHSMS)? WHSMS can be in a...
Employer Sacks Worker for Being Too Fat – Key Lessons
The Fair Work Commission has supported a decision by Parmalat, a national dairy company, to sack one of its workers for being overweight. The worker was a forklift operator and his weight exceeded the maximum safety rating for the forklift he was required to operate....
A framework for organisational risk management
I am often asked the purpose and difference between various risk management tools. Organisations with comprehensive health and safety management systems have a layered approach to risk management. At an organisational level, risks are documented...
Officers under WHS legislation
Many organisations are concerned about the potential implications for ‘Officers’ under the proposed WHS legislation. These concerns particularly involve the fact that an individual can be held directly liable and prosecuted for not exercising ‘due diligence’ – a...
Incident Investigation Training for the Healthcare Sector
On 4th September 2015 WorkSafe WA announced an inspection program to look at manual task incidents in hospitals and residential care. “Inspectors will visit hospitals and residential care services to see how well incidents and injuries involving manual tasks and...
WorkSafe WA Inspection Campaign
WorkSafe WA have announced a proactive inspection campaign to focus on manual tasks in the health care sector. See: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/worksafe-inspection-program-look-manual-task-incidents-hospitals-and-residential-care Crest Training can...
ISO 45001
Many organisations in Australia build and implement their WHS management systems in alignment with AS/NZS 4801 or OHSAS 18001. ISO (The International Organisation for Standardisation) is developing a new standard, ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management...
